CARGEM: From The Origins To The World Success - third and last part

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ANTIPES Italy reel
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CARGEM: From The Origins To The World Success - third and last part

Post by ANTIPES Italy reel »

From 1961-62 onwards.

Thanks to an advertisement of March 1962, taken from the magazine "Alieutica" and published in volume 1 of the "Italian fishing reels" series by our friend Silvano Baraldi, we can establish several certainties, as the range of CARGEM reels of that period is listed; in addition to advertising for the new "600 EMPEREUR".



So let's analyze the 1962 advertisement poster.

- CARGEM 11 -
In the advertisement there is a model of the "second series" which was chronologically preceded by:
1) Model with straight leg and medal (also in a rare version marked BHV).
2) Model with straight leg and with the circle printed in relief on the body with writing inside (rare).
3) Same model as the previous one, but with a gear molded on the body instead of the rim (rare).
The “Econ” model, with internal main gear and removable crank, will follow from 1964.







- CARGEM 17 "Marvel"-
Built starting from the early 1960s. It can be found with the word "MARVEL" or without. For further (small) variants, very frequent in entire CARGEM range, I refer to the aforementioned "volume 1" by Silvano Baraldi or to our website of the ANTIPES Association.





- CARGEM 22 "Falcon"-
In that year (1962) the Cargem "22 FALCON" is already on the list, with a curved leg shank, which will be the last model of the series.
It was preceded by:
1) Model with stright leg and medal on the body (rarely with crank on the right).
2) Model with stright leg and toothed wheel embossed on the body.




- CARGEM 23 "Lancer" -
It is slightly larger than the 33 and, in my opinion, was cleverly kept in production, almost thinking of "alongside" the 33, but at a lower price.





- CARGEM 33 -

We omit the description of the various models, having already talked about them in the second part.



- CARGEM 44 -
- CARGEM 44/M -
A 44 / M is already represented.
The models (with a different shape) that preceded it are therefore, as already seen:
1) Model with "medal" with white writing on a light blue and white background (rare).
2) Model with gold-colored metal medal and "CARGEM 44 SUPER" writing.
Returning to 44 / M, there is a series, more rare, and in my opinion more recent, with the writing printed in a toothed wheel and, at the bottom, the writing "MAJESTIC".








- CARGEM 55 -
A 55 MARINER with normal spool is represented.
The first 55 with a medal was therefore already out of production. Being a "derivation" of the "44 SUPER", it is likely that it left the scene with him. So it is logical that in the 1962 advertisement, where we already find a 44 / M, there is already a 55 “MARINER”.
In any case, the rather obvious chronology is:
1) Model with gold-colored metal medal.
2) MARINER model with normal spool.
3) STEELHEAD model (from the characteristics it seems contemporary to the second).
4) MARINER model with "skirted spool", already featured in an advertisement of October 1964.






- CARGEM 66 "Florida and Magnum" -
We mention it only to finish the list of the important advertising under consideration. There are no "previous or following" models; the denominations "MAGNUM" and "FLORIDA" are almost certainly dictated by commercial needs and, above all the latter, suggests that they want ed wink at the important American market.






- THEN...
Starting from 1966 the last model with bevel gears was built, namely the 404, which was also proposed in France under the name of "RUDIPECH 404".



What novelties can we find in helical gear models?

- CARGEM 600 "Empereur" -
- CARGEM 418 "Lunior" -
- CARGEM 402 "Silver Fish"
From 600 EMPEREUR a rare model was born, the MISTRAL 618 which, upon careful examination, is nothing more than its economic version.
Also from a new model, the 402 SILVER FISH, an economic version will be born, the 418 JUNIOR.It is curious to note that both cheap reels have 18 as their final number and 6 (the largest model) and 4 (the smallest) as their starting number.







They are therefore not random numbers.
Here too, in perfect CARGEM style, there are other models and variants.
The 402 SILVER FISH U. R. (ultra fast) with 6: 1 recovery ratio, which in turn can be found in two variants.
The first has the inscription on the carter in relief and the quick-release spool, the other rarer (which I think the economic version) with the serigraphed writings (and therefore not in relief), the spool without quick extraction and with a different bail arm.




In short, the differences on CARGEM reels are very many, it would take an entire volume to describe them all.
Finally, I want to mention some of them again:
- the 600 EMPEREUR also exists with the quick release reel;
- the rare model 618 MISTRAL can mount (probably in the last examples) a different type of crank;
- in the latest models, 402 and 600, the cranks have a hollow arm, very reminiscent of those of the "ABU CARDINAL" (first generation).


In 1984 ...
Here we are at the apotheosis of the glorious company which had its headquarters in the city of Gemonio (Lombardia - Italy).
It was probably the last Italian company, among the big ones, to surrender to foreign competition and to the world that was slowly changing but which left us a wonderful piece of history.

----
Text written by Roberto Granata with the graphic collaboration of Sergio Di Marco...

Many of the reels exhibited in the photos of the post belong to the collectors Renzo Di Paolo and Sergio Di Marco.

...
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Midway Tommy D
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Re: CARGEM: From The Origins To The World Success - third and last part

Post by Midway Tommy D »

Oh my! Thank you so much for posting that Cargem history! The chronology is a great resource for those of us that appreciate spinning reels, especially Italian made spinners.
Love those Open Face Spinning Reels! (Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco)

Tom DeLong, NE
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robertogranata
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Re: CARGEM: From The Origins To The World Success - third and last part

Post by robertogranata »

It is who thank you and all the admirers of italian reels. I will try' in the future to write other posts on italian brands and old reels, hoping they will help you and do you like. Scuse me for the imperfect language. Good day
Teal
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Re: CARGEM: From The Origins To The World Success - third and last part

Post by Teal »

Amazing post!!!!
arley
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Re: CARGEM: From The Origins To The World Success - third and last part

Post by arley »

Great post, full of facts, interesting and well written.
you can tune a piano,but you can't tuna fish.
Chinook1
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Re: CARGEM: From The Origins To The World Success - third and last part

Post by Chinook1 »

Sergio-

Once again...thank you for your expertise. Cargem's are one of my favorite brands. You wouldn't happen to have an EXTRA Florida, would you???

Steve
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