Help and Hello!

[stidog]

Hello, my name is Larry and this is my first post, I'm a professional lurker here. Usually when I have a question I scour the archives and I am able to find the answer, alas this time it eludes me. I recently picked up a H-I box on ebay and it came with a reel. Unfortunately the box and the reel did not match like I thought. The first thing I noticed about the reel, other than the salty air loved it, is that it was etched only with "Surf Casting" on it, and 150 on the foot. There are no patent marks, mfgr marks, or anything. So I turn to trusty old google. While the construction of the reel is similar to the Pflueger Pontiac, it doesn't have the same markings. The foot is fastened with a flat head screw, so that once again indicates Pre WWII Pflueger. Delving further into the reel type I came across a bunch of photos of old Montague Reels, which have the same script upon their face as the reel I have. So hmmmm. Keep digging. I found an almost exact reel on a another website called it a Gus Habich designed by Talbot. So I guess in essence, i'm lost. I believe I've exhausted all my available avenues of research. As i'm new to the hobby, there may be avenues I have no clue about, but i've bookmarked most research links I've found on here. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

[Teal]

Great to have you "out of the shadows" to to speak. We can safely eliminate the Gus Habisch/Talbot connection, as it is most certainly not a Talbot reel. However, when I saw it without clicking the pictures my first though was a Pontiac. Then when I clicked on the first photo, I thought Montague. Then when I looked more carefully I saw that there are two different end caps on the reel. I suspect one of them is not original. If the end cap on the face plate is the original one, then I believe it is a Montague. If it the end cap on the end plate is original, then ... Pflueger?

[stidog]

Ok, that helps, I am at work at the moment, but I will see what I can figure out when I get home about the end caps. We didn't do any work on the reel so maybe that is where the mystery lies. Which brings to mind the next question. I've seen other posts, actually quite a few commenting on end caps, screws, handles, etc... not being original. Is this knowledge that comes with experience, or is there like a quick reference manual? Like I said i'm new to the hobby so I'm not quite sure. I know I have a south bend that one screw isn't original as you can tell by the depth of the head of the oddball. This question is more for curiosity than anything else.

[john elder]

this looks very much like the Montague "Surf" reel and the reel was given several other names, typical of Montague. I'll see if i can find a pic to add.

[john elder]

this is the similar reel I think is like yours? It's a Montague...this one labeled "Tampa", but they put a lot of names on their similar models:

[stidog]

The only difference other than the name is the thumb brake. How I wish it had the thumb brake, to me that is neater than a peanut butter and miracle whip sammich

[wrong99]

The pillared and tapered foot on Larry's reel differs from the illustration. That's what puzzled me from the outset.
Mark

[Midway Tommy D]

How I wish it had the thumb brake, to me that is neater than a peanut butter and miracle whip sammich

They are pretty darn neat, the sammich that is. , but the thumb drags do show up on da 'bay now and again: http://www.ebay.com/itm/FACTORY-BOX-CAS ... 7675.l2557 , so keep your eyes open.

Tom

[Wayne B.]

Mark:

The top of the foot appears to slant down a bit from left to right possibly indicating a ground foot.

[wrong99]

Mark:

The top of the foot appears to slant down a bit from left to right possibly indicating a ground foot.

That makes sense, Wayne. Montague it is then (I think!).
Mark

[BILL HOERTER]

Pflueger made a lot of saltwater trade reels that look similar to the Montague saltwater trade reels & it gets very confusing until you get a number of these reels in your collection. I have several Pflueger & Montague trade reels stamped Surf Casting & the stamping looks identical on each one. Even the end caps on the Pflueger sw trade reels will look different than the Pflueger stamped sw reels. Some will even look like Montagues. To confuse the issue even more I am finding on the Pflueger sw trade reels end caps that look like they are made by another company, like Pflueger made the reel for another reel manufacturer & used the other manufactures end caps. Even the reel foot on the Pflueger sw trade reels will be entirely different than the Pflueger stamped reels. I have some that even have the Vom Hofe 3 hole foot. Also the reel handles will differ on the Pflueger trade reels.
So how do I tell if it is a Pflueger or Montague? By the location of the rivets & the size & style of the click & drag buttons on the back plate. I usually verify my id by taking the reel apart & the mechanical parts inside will verify if it is a Pflueger or Montague. Looking at the reel pictures I say it is a Pflueger

[wrong99]

Photos would be really nice. Any way to provide some, Bill?
Mark

[BILL HOERTER]

Mark - Not at this time. I am wintering in Punta Gorda Fl. & all of my reels are in Virginia. Hopefully you will be able to join us at our ORCA National show in Florida in June. Also the Florida Antique Tackle Collectors National show will be in Daytona Beach the last week in this month. Let me know if you are interested in attending these shows & need some more information on them.
Bill

[stidog]

That helps a ton, I thought Pflueger initially from the foot and engraved fancy stuff on it, but the lack of markings indicating Pflueger baffled me. I'm glad you guys are here! Just like my OC St Cloude I thought was a Sears reel! Lol. Always ask the experts! Neat thing is today my 2 Montagues came in the mail so now I'm a happy camper!

[Brian F.]

Bob will be able to confirm and remind us about which Reel News issue that he wrote about it, but I believe your reel is a Pflueger. There is a "Surfcasting" model in the late teens or early 20s catalogs and it does indeed look like a Pontiac. Not sure what the differences were, if any. I don't think the tailplate end cap is correct as it should be the same as the headplate end cap.

[Midway Tommy D]

Welcome Larry, to ORCA's Reel Talk Forum.

I'm glad you guys are here!

If you enjoy all the information cataloged here in the forum you should seriously consider obtaining a membership. Then you can take advantage all the additional benefits ORCA has to offer like the Reel News Magazine, present and past, use of Library documents, courtesy of Librarian Kring, admission to the yearly convention, voting privileges, etc. Most importantly, though, you can become a part of keeping this great organization possible for others to learn from and enjoy. I, too, skirted the edges for awhile but finally realized all I was missing by not becoming a member. Wish now I would have joined a lot sooner, the membership fee is minuscule compared to the comradery and knowledge gained!

Tom

[stidog]

I know, it was the same way with me before joining the Team Shelby, I sat on the forums for awhile before I actually pulled the trigger on the membership I know I will, just a matter of time.

[Bill Sonnett]

I have a lifetime supply of Pflueger leather thumb brakes if you you need one. Need a name and address to send it to you.

[Brian F.]

I believe this is the same reel in the original post except it is stamped "Pflueger" above "Surf Casting". It appears in the 1907/1908 Pflueger catalog that I have, courtesy of Craig Barber.





Bad Bob has a Pflueger Pfacts column on saltwater Pfluegers and notes that they were sold initially unmarked.

[stidog]

Exact same reel except it doesnt say pflueger.