Berkley 500 Reel

Use this forum to share your stuff so round up your favorite reels! Questions can still go to the Reel Talk - General Forum
Post Reply
David M
Advanced Board Poster
Posts: 445
Joined: Fri Nov 06, 2009 7:28 pm
Location: Branson, Missouri

Berkley 500 Reel

Post by David M »

I was recently rummaging around in a sweltering antique shop in St. Charles Missouri, and something caught my eye that was mint green, a mid-century retro color which I'm a real fanatic for. Odd, I know! Anyway, for those that have ever wished to marvel at the inner workings of the Berkley 500 fly/cane reel, today's your lucky day. :wink: Apparently there was also a 500B model that came spooled with Berkley braided fishing line. I searched the forum's search function regarding this simple reel, with no results. However, I didn't go back through any of 'The Reel News', to which there may have been mention of some Berkley products there. Maybe this reel is not old enough for mention yet, I don't know, but it was first designed about 45 years ago. For what it is, it's surprisingly robust and smooth, and would most likely have better longevity from use than anything from their outsourced spinning reel division. I've never fly fished with one, but I've read that certain Berkley metal fly reels were quite respectable for their price.

The reel's patent was filed on Aug. 10, 1971, and granted on Oct. 16, 1973.

Inventors: Paul C. Johnson; Larry L. Lilland; Earl E. Siemon, all of Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Assignee: Berkley & Company, Inc., Spirit Lake, Iowa.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Berkley history, starting in 1937:

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/Berkley-history.html

Info on Berkley Bedell's congressional career, and his clash with President Reagan. Who knew? I didn't!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkley_Bedell
User avatar
Steve
Star Board Poster
Posts: 3940
Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2003 6:11 am
Contact:

Re: Berkley 500 Reel

Post by Steve »

I haven't found any articles on Berkley equipment in Reel News or elsewhere. Apparently, the company was banking on the fact that green reels had traditionally been an important addition to the angler's arsenal.
David M
Advanced Board Poster
Posts: 445
Joined: Fri Nov 06, 2009 7:28 pm
Location: Branson, Missouri

Re: Berkley 500 Reel

Post by David M »

Thank you Steve for checking your archives for Berkley info.

Being Irish, I admire the green reel in your link too. Since it hails from the UK, and by its appearance, it was probably painted over by an Irishman for good luck,...Ha!
User avatar
Midway Tommy D
Star Board Poster
Posts: 3135
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:23 pm
Location: Eastern NE

Re: Berkley 500 Reel

Post by Midway Tommy D »

Apparently there was also a 500B model that came spooled with Berkley braided fishing line.
David,
"The Luck of the Irish" :beer , here it is so you can now own both versions: :mrgreen: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Berkley ... 1a04e7947d

Tom
David M
Advanced Board Poster
Posts: 445
Joined: Fri Nov 06, 2009 7:28 pm
Location: Branson, Missouri

Re: Berkley 500 Reel

Post by David M »

Thanks Tom, and cheers! :beer

This may be one of those cases where the history of the company is actually more intriguing than the reels themselves. I particularly respected that fact that Berkley Bedell founded his outfit by "selling his hand-tied flies to tackle shops and vacationing anglers with hair clipped from the family dog, Stubby, and feathers from the backyard chickens." I mean, talk about starting a tackle company from scratch. Even though, using the word scratch may be more befitting for talking about the dog and chickens. :wink:

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/Berkley-history.html
Post Reply