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Australian Collectible Vintage Fishing Reels: A History Reference on ReeLpedia® by Bernard (Bernie) Ladd, 7/8/2009. Workshop-produced fishing reels, crafted by sagacious engineering technicians and tradesmen, have long been sought after by collectors, forming a fascinating era of Australian-made fishing reels.

Bendigo Ordnance Factory made vintage fishing reels
Bendigo Ordnance Factory made vintage fishing reel
Bendigo Ordnance Factory made vintage fishing reel

Bendigo Victoria Ordnance Factory workshop thread line spinning reel -c 1940. All brass body, rotor, drum (spool) and drag knob. Rotor diameter 2 3/8''; gear housing length 2 7/8'', width 7/8''; horn handle; brass ambidextrous crank; bronze bearing bushes; ball bearing rotor; steel main gear; bronze worm gear; steel cam driven brass leg, level line drum operation; auto half bail arm of nickel plated steel. Highly engineered -  possibly the first Australian factory-made thread line spinning reel. - Very Rare.

Image of BOURKE vintage Game fishing reel made in Australia maker John Bourke
BOURKE vintage Game fishing reel made in Australia

The J.W. Bourke designed and made Latrobe Valley Multiplying Game reel -c 1973. Machined from solid aluminium alloy bar. Side plate Diameter 5''; Spool width 3'' over all side plates frame width 4 1/2''. Multiple aviation grade ball bearing main shaft Needle roller bearing crank spindle; Dual drag discs - Lever cam drag system; 2:1 ratio. - Extremely Rare

BOURKE vintage Game fishing reel made in Australia

John Bourke, a retired Tool Maker and a well-known fishing guru

from Lakes Entrance, Victoria. Presenting here his Bourke  Aluminium alloy Game reel. Only 6  J. W. BOURKE game reels were made.

Bendigo Victoria Ordnance Factory workshop reel.
Bendigo Victoria Ordnance Factory workshop made  reel.
Bendigo Victoria Ordnance Factory made workshop reel.

Bendigo Victoria Ordnance Factory workshop reel. Engineered look-alike of the Crouch reel -Era 1940s. Machined from Aluminium bar; hi-tensile gearing; adjustable clutch; free spool control; solid brass machined saddle seat. Very Rare.

Australian Collectable Antique Vintage Fishing Reels Historical Information & Reference, by Bernard (Bernie) Ladd, 10/9/2009.

A selection of five extremely rare old vintage thread-line spinning reels: Apoid, Vanguard Duck's Tail (Foot), Plum, and Lifetime Surf Reel.

APOID vintage fishing reel with Box
APOID vintage fishing reel with Box

 APOID reel with original box.

APOID vintage fishing reel insription

Apoid Thread-line Casting Spinning Reel -C 1930.

Maker possibly Clive Staples for Alcock & Pierce, Melb, Vic. Aluminium alloy body, rotor & spool (drum); Half bail arm, Auto pick up. Bronze Crown main gear; stem-T saddle, Crank & knob of bronze.  Extremely Rare.

VANGUARD Duck's Foot vintage fishing reel  VanguarAPOID vintage fishing reel with Boxd inscription
VANGUARD Duck's vintage fishing reel with Box
Vanguard Duck's Foot vintage fishing reel with Box & paper work

 Vanguard Duck's Tail Body, Also Known as 'Duck's Foot,' Casting Spinning Fishing Reel - Circa 1937. Maker Clive Staples for Alcock & Pierce, Melb, Vic. Cast Aluminium alloy body, Aluminium spool. Nickel plated brass handle knob; crank arm; Drag control & shaft housing. Half bail arm action; Bronze gearing; Ratio 3 : 1. Original box, user guide & spare spool. Extremely Rare.

VANGUARD Duck's Tail Body (Foot)  Thread-line reel and original box.

PLUM vinage fishing reel with original box.
PLUM vinage fishing reel stamped Plum
03-PLUM reel_edited_edited.jpg

PLUM reel with original box.

PLUM vinage fishing reel with original box.

PLUM Duck's Tail Body Manual Line Pick-Up Thread-Line Casting Spinning Fishing Reel - Circa 1920.

Maker Clive Staples for Alcock & Pierce, Melb, Vic. Cast Aluminium body, Rotor, and crank arm. Bakelite handle knob & spool - Brass drag control. The letters PLUM are stamped in an oval circle on both sides of the reel and rotor back plate. Extremely Rare.

Plum vintage fishing reel made in Australia
Plum vintage Ducks Tail spinning reel
Plum vintage Ducks Tail fishing reel
Plum vintage fishing reel Bakelite spool

Unbranded PLUM Duck's Tail Body Manual Line Pick-Up Thread-Line Casting Fishing Reel - Circa 1920.

Maker Clive Staples for Alcock & Pierce, Melb, Vic. Cast Aluminium body, Rotor, and crank arm. Bakelite handle knob & spool - Brass drag control. Extremely Rare.

LIFETIME SURF REEL HISTORY.
The Lifetime thread-line spinning surf fishing reel is believed to have been created around 1950 by C & R Carthew, Moonta, South Australia. After a careful examination of the LIFETIME components, it became evident that the maker had invested much ingenuity and creative engineering thinking into the task of designing and producing casting moulds for the manufacture of the reel’s cast aluminium gear housing, rotor, crank handle, and it’s unique conical drag knob. The internal spindles are supported by sealed ball-bearing races, and the cast metal main drive gear is thoughtfully purpose-designed. 

 

There is no doubt that the maker had in mind a mass production of the LIFETIME surf reel for the retail market, however, this plan sadly had never crystallised. There are three LIFETIME surf reels today, in existence, but it is pertinent to state that it is unknown as to how many reels were produced around 1950 before a decision was made to abandon the LIFETIME reel's full production. Why this decision was made, is yet another mystery.  Ladd, B. 13/10/2021.

1-LIFETIME vintage surf spinning threadline fishing reel
2-LIFETIME vintage surf spinning threadline fishing reel
3-LIFETIME vintage surf spinning threadline fishing reel
4-LIFETIME vintage surf fishing reel made in Australia
5-LIFETIME vintage surf spinning threadline fishing reel
1-LIFETIME thread-line spinning Surf vintage spinning reel

Lifetime Thread Line Spinning Surf Reel. Cast aluminium and metal body; four sealed ball-bearing races.

gear housing diameter 2 7/8''; rotor diameter 3 1/8''; drum (spool) width 1 13/16'', conical shaped clutch drag knob; manual pick-up line guide; die-cast aluminium crank; aluminium handle; cast metal straight bevel main gear, ball bearing supported; hardened steel straight bevel pinion gear; pinion spindle and rotor ball bearing supported; gear ratio 3 : 1; anti-revese pawl (dog); removable T saddle (foot) of aluminium; weight 642 grams.The Lifetime Surf reel  C & R Carthew Box 116 Moonta dymo-taped to gear housing plate -c. 1950. Extremely rare.

REELPEDIA® QUICK LINK: Click the relevant reel pictured to see further detailed information.

Spinall vintage spinning reel in Mint condition Rare

Spinall reel.

Surmaster Eildon vintage spinning reel with original box Rare.

Surfmaster Eildon reel.

Rare vintage Alvey Wedge-lock fishing reel.

Avey Wedgelock reel.

CLASMI vintage saltwater Fly fishing reel rare model

Clasmi reel.

SEAMARTIN vintage wood & metal fishing reel

Seamartin reel.

Alvey vintage Wedgelock fishing reel with wooden spool

Wood fishing reel.

ALVEY Rare vintage wooden Game fishing reel, Rare model

Alvey wood game reel.

CROUCH vintage Folding Handle fishing reel. Rare modell.

Crouch  folding handle

CAPSTAN vintage spinning reel with original Box Rare

Capstan reel.

HALCO vintage Blackfish star drag fishing reel Gold anodized model

Halco reel.

DAWSON vintage Fly fishing reel information at reeLmanAustralia.com

Dawson fly  reel.

Alvey vintage metal Big Game fishing reel

Alvey game reel.

ReeLpedia ®  >< )))) * >  Page 53 .

Rare Spinning Fishing Reels information available at: reeLpedia® R A page 53. Copyright © 2009-2024 reeLmanAustralia.com  All rights reserved.

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