I found this reel a few months back and played with it for about 10 minutes trying to figure out how the drag worked and if there was a click. Turns out it's an anti-reverse reel (sort of). I never expected that from a reel of modest quality. Note the large arbor and the McVickar-like drag knob.
No matter how hard I tried and using every trick I knew, I could not get the reel open ...and trust me, I spent far too much time and effort trying. Just before smashing it to bits to see what lurked inside, I sold it to a buddy of mine.
Having been at this for some 35 years and only seeing one MacBlane reel, I figured there was little possibility of seeing another. Thankfully I was wrong and I found one (unmarked) on FleaBay ...
This one is missing the spool retaining screw on the front plate ...so getting it open wasn't a problem. Well, not a big problem. It did take some doing and a quite a lot of lubrication.
The two pieces that make up the drag are beveled at the edges where they meet the metal piece (also beveled) that is attached to the drag knob. When the knob is turned it either pushes the pieces apart (creates drag) or is loosened and friction is lessened. Very simple, yet very effective.
The final picture shows the spool fully seated. The gap is there to let the spool spin while the handle-plate remains stationary (anti-reverse) ...so long as you hold the handle. So, not a true anti-reverse reel where the handle only turns in the retrieve direction. Very cool, nevertheless.
Dean, that "sort of" anti-reverse is an overrunning clutch, much like the ones used in some Liberty Bell, Meisselbach, and various other reels during and after the 19-aughts. See pat. 724,208 for an example.
Steve wrote:Dean, that "sort of" anti-reverse is an overrunning clutch, much like the ones used in some Liberty Bell, Meisselbach, and various other reels during and after the 19-aughts. See pat. 724,208 for an example.
I just found another one (!) ...a parts reel. Like the first, which I could not open, it is anti-reverse. I got this one open and the difference between it and the black one pictured above is the "two" pieces that make up the drag are a single piece.
I assume the two pieces were originally one.
And now I have a proper spool retaining screw too.
Hello, I wanted to give you some information on the MacBlane reel you have pictured. My grandfather, James MacBlane, was the inventor and manufacturer of that reel. He was an immigrant from Auchinloch, Ayrshire, Scotland and arrived here in 1912. He was a machinist by trade and an avid fisherman. He worked for Hardinge Bros., Bendix, Corp., and NyLoc to name a few and lived most of his life in the Southern Tier of New York State. He, along with his friend, James Burke, (hence "Bur-Mac") manufactured this reel shortly after World War II in Elmira, New York. The version you have there is the very earliest one. The next model had a red stripe around the edge of the side. The last models built were anodized aluminum and they came in black or dark green. I've heard that they came in maroon as well, but I have never seen one. My grandfather was well before his time. He invented the "Startex Starter" for Bendix Corporation taking the starter from the floorboards and putting it on the dash. He also the mechanical two-hand safety controls for punch press machines, a deburring machine, and the machine that makes NyLoc screws among others. He even put a motor on my grandmother's egg beater well before there were electric mixers--but he never patented it. He had approximately 16 patents, this fishing reel was one of them. I note that you mentioned something about the knob on the side. That is a left thread tension knob to regulate the line tension. It is my understanding that in addition to being sold in the Elmira area, they were sold through the Ambercrombie and Fitch catalog--when it was a high-end sportsmen's catalog and not a low-end store in the mall that sells cheesy, imported clothes. My dad thought that they went for about $45. That was a high price for the time, but it was a unique reel. My brother and I have been trying to get a few of these to give to our sons, but finding them now is nearly impossible. Before he passed away, my uncle, who worked on manufacturing these, guessed that there weren't but 1,200 to 1,500 of them made. I was able to find a brand new one still in the box with the instructions at an antique show and sale in the Rochester, NY, area about 20 years ago. But other than that, they are difficult to find. I know several people in the Elmira area who had one of these reels, but when I locate them I almost always hear the same story, "Oh, I had one of those, but I just sold it on a garage sale, or I gave it away." I'm wondering where you got that one, because it's almost the "beta" version and much more difficult to find than the red striped or the anodized version--unless the red stripe is just worn off. I would love to locate a few more... Hope this gives you some insight into the reel. Feel free to respond to me if you have more questions. Marilyn
I've had four or five of these reels now. Some found at a flea market and one or two on eBay.
Speaking of which, I sold one on eBay once and received this message from someone I suspect you know ...
My best friend is McBlane's great-granddaughter. Somehow nobody in the MacBlane family was in possession of a reel, and finally after literal years of waiting a green BurMac reel went up for auction, and I was able to win it for the family. Then suddenly this one popped up right after, but this time my best friend's father (MacBlane's grandson, Michael) said he would try to bid himself.
He just called me and asked if there was a way to retract any bids because it turns out he and his niece were unknowingly bidding against one another. Ultimately they are willing to pay the max prices they put in, but since it's two family member just trying to get the reel back to the family I figured it was worth asking if you'd allow one of them to retract their bid. They are the two highest bidders at the moment.
Thanks so much for sharing the very interesting history of this reel. We exchanged emails briefly back in 2016 when I was researching these reels. Coincidentally, I was just getting it ready to fish. Here is the one I have.
As much as I like this remarkable reel, I would be delighted to gift it to your family. Just send me an email and I will get it in the mail.
Reely Easy Going ORCA Member