Hurd Caster

[Dylan Eldridge]

Just picked this up today. Familiar with the Hurd Super Caster values and can find quite a bit of information on them, but I can't seem to find anything on just the Hurd Caster. Put some photos up of it, seems to be in good condition, there is a catch in the level wind though, but could be fixed I think. Maybe a new pawl would do it. Anyone have some information for me? Appreciate it!

[Dylan Eldridge]

Maybe this is a Super Caster? Did the Casters only come with a plastic grip and not a wood grip?

[Dylan Eldridge]

Is this even suppose to be black or has someone painted this?

[Dylan Eldridge]

Can see that someone has painted this now. Found where it should say Hurd Super Caster under the paint job. Hmm...wonder why someone would paint this? At least I got it cheap at a sale I went to today.

[Rick H]

Ya Dylan...you have a painted Hurd Supercaster there. The Caster configuration was a grey aluminum with the plastic handle, (as you already noted).

[john elder]

Well, yes, they made them with plastic handle and although they were originally the cheap version, they are rarer and bring more than the walnut handle ones like yours. I believe you are fine after you strip off that paint and get it cleaned up. Try citristrip...should not take long and tat stripper isn,t as mean as methylene chloride strippers. ...and yes...probably thrashed pawl...or just too tight.

Do you have the rod or just the reel/handle?

[Dylan Eldridge]

I actually just went to get some of that citristrip this morning cause I figured it would work well on stripping the paint. So John, I was thinking the same thing you were. I have been able to get the piant off the spool very easily without even using the stripper. Just kinda peeled off. I don't think there was enough for the paint to ever grab hold of. It looks nice under the paint job so hopefully it will turn out okay. I will upload a new photo of it when I am finished. I am just going to sell it when I a finished so if anyone wants it just let me know or else I can post it Ebay and hope someone will buy it. Thanks for the reply guys.

[Dylan Eldridge]

Forgot to tell you, I do have the rod for it. The rod looks like it is in good shape. I do not have the case though.

[hurdpete]

Dylan,
I suspect John is right - it has been painted. There was, however, a variant of the SuperCaster which was sold as the "marine" version, which was painted black as an anticorrosion measure. Before you strip it, make sure that the paint is not factory, as the marine version is even less common than the Caster. There is a serial number on the underside of the nose, ahead of the spool opening - what is it?
BTW, the handle is not original.

[Dylan Eldridge]

I cannot seem to see a serial number where you are speaking. Must be covered up by the paint. What gives away that the handle is not original?

[Rick H]

Dylan...the handle Pete refers to should look like the one below. They had aluminum knobs, not plastic. Pete is about the most knowledgable guy around when it comes to Hurd rods.

[Dylan Eldridge]

I kinda thought it wasn't original when I bought it. It looks like a typical Bronson reel handle on mine haha

[OCauto]

There was a Black Salt Water Series

[OCauto]

The first 1000 Supercasters had black plastic handles and no serial numbers. The metallic handles did not happen until the second generation which had serial numbers but no letters preceding the serial numbers. Then came the A series and the Serial number was proceeded by the letter "A" and there is more to the chronology......