Trying to Date a Penn Senator 116N / 116
Trying to Date a Penn Senator 116N / 116
Back of my Dad's garage. Missing parts and well worn. Via several forums I have been able to identify the reel as a Penn Senator 116N or 116 (dia is 5 3/4" by side plates at 4 1/8"). There are no markings on the bakelite and all the chrome is worn from the brass. The spool is not a single casting. Not sure if I should clean it up or leave it as is. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks -
S. Orr
Thanks -
S. Orr
-
- Frequent Board Poster
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 5:43 pm
- Location: Eastern Long Island
Re: Trying to Date a Penn Senator 116N / 116
Looks like a first generation 1938-1942. /great reel, I'm sure it would clean up nicely!!!!! If you ever decide to sell it, let me know. Thanks Anthony
Reeling Thru The Years
- 1badf350
- Advanced Board Poster
- Posts: 310
- Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2017 12:56 pm
- Location: Gaithersburg, Md
Re: Trying to Date a Penn Senator 116N / 116
I agree it’s a first gen Senator. I would date it 1938-40
It looks like a 116A 10/0. There should definitely be a circular logo molded in to the handle side plate that reads Penn Senator and then the size.
Please confirm measurements of width between the side plates. A 10/0 will be 3 1/8” and a 12/0 will be around 4”.
It looks like a 116A 10/0. There should definitely be a circular logo molded in to the handle side plate that reads Penn Senator and then the size.
Please confirm measurements of width between the side plates. A 10/0 will be 3 1/8” and a 12/0 will be around 4”.
-Chris R.
- m3040c
- Ultra Board Poster
- Posts: 2485
- Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2006 10:52 pm
- Location: Long Island, New York
Re: Trying to Date a Penn Senator 116N / 116
I would think the closest you could date the reel is a few years Pre-WW II, possibly post war to about 1947.
Here is a 1939 First generation reel. How yours originally looked.
If you can clean the logo enough to read it. It will give you the size.
Here is a 1939 First generation reel. How yours originally looked.
If you can clean the logo enough to read it. It will give you the size.
mike cass,,, if you can't collect it, it must be food
Re: Trying to Date a Penn Senator 116N / 116
Thanks for the replies. I will post a picture after I've cleaned the reel up and perhaps scoured the garage for a handle.
Susan
Susan
- m3040c
- Ultra Board Poster
- Posts: 2485
- Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2006 10:52 pm
- Location: Long Island, New York
Re: Trying to Date a Penn Senator 116N / 116
Will be interesting to see the reel cleaned up and I honestly hope you find the handle for it. An interesting tidbit of information about the handle for this reel is it is the largest of all the counter weighted handles ever made by Penn. Not easy to find when you lose the original.I will post a picture after I've cleaned the reel up and perhaps scoured the garage for a handle.
The early three piece spool (which you have) is also a special part. Only the early vintage reels have them.
mike cass,,, if you can't collect it, it must be food
-
- Advanced Board Poster
- Posts: 246
- Joined: Thu May 20, 2021 2:21 pm
Re: Trying to Date a Penn Senator 116N / 116
I would be torn over whether or not to touch a thing on that reel. My technician brain says take it apart, study, document, fix, restore. The poet brain says there is a story in every grain of grit and grime that will be lost forever. What a fine dilemma you have there. I, respectfully, suggest you get a professional picture of it as is, frame it nicely and put it next to the restored reel with, of course a picture of your Father....especially if you have any with him and that reel. What tribute that would be. I have two of my Grandfathers first reels from 1931 and 32. Turning a screw on either reel would be very difficult for me. Very nice for you to find such a piece and take the initiative to look into it. Please post pictures when you display it and be sure to tell the story. It'll make a wave.
Re: Trying to Date a Penn Senator 116N / 116
This took me a long time because I was away from the Reel but here are the photo's from my breakdown and cleaning.
I was able to clean the years off of the brass and the bakelite however there were no identifying marks or numbers. I was able to fix the bend in the star nut but never found the handle. Still curious as to why no Penn embossing on the outside.
Thanks again everyone for all the information and help. This was a great project.
I was able to clean the years off of the brass and the bakelite however there were no identifying marks or numbers. I was able to fix the bend in the star nut but never found the handle. Still curious as to why no Penn embossing on the outside.
Thanks again everyone for all the information and help. This was a great project.
-
- Advanced Board Poster
- Posts: 246
- Joined: Thu May 20, 2021 2:21 pm
Re: Trying to Date a Penn Senator 116N / 116
I see that this 1st gen Senator has externally accessible drag. I wonder if any 1st gen 10/0 were made without this. I haven't been able to find when this design feature started among all the various Penn models that have this. The parts lists have been the only "timing" resource I've found where "new" parts show up for this feature. I haven't seen an advertisement showing the "new improved" accessible drag. For now, I assume that's another anomaly in the list of Penn mysteries.
Now, everybody go check your 1st gen 10/0 (s)!
Now, everybody go check your 1st gen 10/0 (s)!
- m3040c
- Ultra Board Poster
- Posts: 2485
- Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2006 10:52 pm
- Location: Long Island, New York
Re: Trying to Date a Penn Senator 116N / 116
The Senator 9/0 had internal drags and then changed over to external drags when it evolved into a second gen style but the big Senators from 10/0 and up all have and always have had external accessed drags.
mike cass,,, if you can't collect it, it must be food
Re: Trying to Date a Penn Senator 116N / 116
The drag stack seems to show a merry mix of friction materials. A few red ones, a few black ones with part of a name or logo typical of gasket material or Smooooth Drag, and a woven washer as per Penn HT-100.
Which in itself doesn’t really matter, but does suggest that the reel has been tinkered with before.
.
Which in itself doesn’t really matter, but does suggest that the reel has been tinkered with before.
.
Robert Janssen
Sweden
Sweden
-
- Advanced Board Poster
- Posts: 246
- Joined: Thu May 20, 2021 2:21 pm
Re: Trying to Date a Penn Senator 116N / 116
I've always enjoyed seeing the rest of the story when getting inside an old reel. Some fishermen were pretty resourceful when parts were out of reach. Many in the generation of that reel would rather make things rather than buy them. A scarce trait in the current times.