JVH B Ocean

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m3040c
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JVH B Ocean

Post by m3040c »

I number of years ago, before so many life events made me more worldly and such, I decided to create a Big Game Reel collection. That collection would have a different brand reel used to fill in for each size between 1/O and 16/O. Back then I thought this was a really great idea but as the years go, my feeling about things changed so I started selling off a few of the sizes. This little collection I created had been sitting on the shelf for many years, needless to say it was dusty but it was also a collection that was put in place as I found each reel. I did not restore the reels. Now that I am selling a few of them off, I want them to be clean and properly working for the next owners and because that may increase their value somewhat. I see nothing wrong with making a bit of money in this process, if I can.
So I started selling these reels off. First I sold a Ocean City Balboa 12/O, then I sold a Pflueger Templar 1420 1/2, next was Ocean City Long Key. Before each sale I would mechanically check the reel and do a cosmetic clean up. After the Long Key I pulled the Julius Vom Hofe B Ocean 6/O off the shelf and suddenly felt like I was holding a historically significant reel in my hand. The old JVH was not restored but was in perfect running condition.
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This reel got me thinking of the story of the star drag and its origins, as told in Harlan Major's writings about Salt Water Tackle. I referred to that story in my book about Penn reels and remembered why the JVH B Ocean was given it model name.
So, I says to myself, "Self", you are now faced with a critical decision in terms of liquidating my Big Game Collection. I decided to take this reel down but not totally. I did not want to disturb a perfectly operating drive train but I did want to look inside this important reel, so I remove the tail plate.
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What I find inside is an absolutely fascinating clicker and brake assembly in wonderful condition. This mechanism is much more complicated than what I am accustomed to in a standard 6/O tail plate. The hand made workmanship was superb and since it was operating as advertised, I did not do anything to this assembly except to clean it.
My next place to see was the 100 year old craftsmanship in the head plate.
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Here is where the writings of Harlan Major show themselves to be true. I was looking at a constantly in mesh gear train with drag washers mounted into the main gear and the constantly in mesh pinion gear being controlled by an eccentric lever connected to a jack plate which moved the pinon gear up and down while staying synchronized with the main gear. This was the same design that Ocean City and Penn used for almost a century of production.
My decision is now made. I cannot sell this reel. I am hooked by it. I know that Julius Vom Hofe identified the B Ocean model with a stamped tail plate oil bearing cover, but the cover on this reel is blank. Be that as it may, I started to clean the reel for a permanent place in my glass case. While cleaning the hard rubber head plate I discover the logo. It is very faint but it is there. That was a happy find for me.
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I knew the reel was a "B Ocean" because the B precedes the serial number stamped on the bottom of the stand, but finding it on the head plate made me feel this was an earlier model B Ocean. I suspect the later versions of this reel are identified on the tail plate oil cover
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So now the cleaning is done and the reel has a new home protected in a glass cabinet.
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But there is now a new problem in my life. How am I going to liquidate my big game collection if I keep falling in love with my reels. I have a feeling I am going to need a bigger glass cabinet :o
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john elder
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Re: JVH B Ocean

Post by john elder »

Nice Mike! Great reels!
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