First South Bend fly reel

Jim Madden · Post by **Jim Madden** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 6:24 pm

I've been working on an article on pre-war South Bend fly reels and it was a larger undertaking than I expected. Pictured is the first reel for SB. There are four models, three of which can be traced to Shakespeare. This first model cannot. Can anyone attribute a maker to this reel? Thanks, Jim

orourke · Post by **orourke** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 10:26 pm

Jim:

When ever anybody on ebay doesn't know who made it they say "maybe Bronson" I don't think Bronson made yours I just like to see Bronson in these postings. Bronson, Bronson, Bronson, Bronson. There ... I'm better now.

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 10:56 pm

Jim, if the date coincides, that reel sure looks like an Ocean City Wanita. Not the Wanita that is marked with Ocean City on it, which was an inexpensive 1940s-50s reel, but a very nice early reel. It came out about 1925, and is marked only "Wanita". I have several of them, and they are a decent reel. Your reel looks exactly like those early Wanita's on my shelf.

SWIM JIG · Post by **SWIM JIG** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 11:11 pm

Jim is you all gona be at Holiday this SAT? if so I will bring 2 that looke like that one with the pics. also a south bend bait caster thats a wee bit of a mystery, hmmm advise , as I will be there unless this snow keeps falling down ! 4 ins in the last hr! NUTS! we had enough this year! your snowen in OHIO conection Col. M. lorens aka SWIM JIG

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 8:33 am

Jim: The above post was written from memory. This morning I looked on my shelf, and my reels are identical - if your reel has a nickel plated brass foot held on my a since screw. My reels are marked "Sturdibilt Wanita", and my belief is that they were made by Ocean City for Montgomery-Wards. Wards used the name Sturdibilt on much of their fishing tackle in the 1920 era. I know that they were made by Ocean City, for it is pictured in early advertising and catalogs.

Jim Madden · Post by **Jim Madden** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 5:21 pm

Well, Dave's post got me laughing, and Milt's post got me hoping. I'll be there early, Milt. Put 'er in 4 wheel, and *D.A.M. reel* the torpedoes!

Unbelievable, Phil! This is the first early connection I've ever heard of to Ocean City. The reel remained in this form from 1924 till 1928 so the time frame fits. The foot is nickel over brass with a single slotted screw in the middle. There's a click button at 12:00, and the click itself was the 3-point version that could be turned twice. I'll see what Milt has, and then talk to you about what's on your shelf. I'm still in shock! Jim

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 9:31 pm

Jim: Maybe this photo will take you out of shock

They sure look the same to me.

Jim Madden · Post by **Jim Madden** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 12:18 am

Thanks, Phil. There's no doubt now. That's the Oreno Fly Rod Reel by another name. I've got my work cut out for me. Thanks for the pics. Jim

Jim Madden · Post by **Jim Madden** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 9:47 pm

At Montpellier, another first SB fly reel came in off the street. I couldn't see any obvious differences between it and the one pictured above, but the auction price was right so I picked it up. When I got home, I noticed a grain in the knob. The one above is clearly bakelite. What would the one in my close-up be, bone? It has a "grain" you can see. I don't know what they used in the early 20's, but this isn't plastic. Any ideas?

JeffK · Post by **JeffK** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 9:56 am

Jim, it might be ivoroid (ivory celluloid). My SB looks almost identical.

SWIM JIG · Post by **SWIM JIG** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 1:31 pm

Jim, the way to test the differance take a ordinary (large sewing needle) to keep your fingers from burning, heat it to very hot red, and put it on a place that wont show if it smells like burnt hair or skin them its not synthetic, if it has a arcid smell like acid or other then its not a NATURAL product, now some mfgs. before all this do gooders animal rights folks came into play, 1 used deer antlars2 elk antlers3 cow horns4 or the bone of some animals, now they grind the bone into and mix with pet food. Dont take my word on it check with any meat processing plant! I will add a word of caution if that handle is of acitate material it could catch fire with a rapid decomposition1 BE CAREFUL! your ohio conection Col. M. Lorens aka SWIM JIG

Jim Madden · Post by **Jim Madden** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 2:12 pm

Thanks, Milt. That's good information. I'm sure it's bone. I can't see Phil's very well, but his looks bone also. The knob is removable so I'll test it where it hits the reel. This one has no sign of plating anywhere on the brass foot too, so I'm sure it's the earliest variation. Thanks to all who helped. Milt, I have the same camera you do. They sure are good on close-ups, aren't they?

SWIM JIG · Post by **SWIM JIG** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 2:33 pm

Yes jim, and with the help of a UV light it will also on the correct setings bring out welds brases bad paint on lures, and modified parts, I have 2 other ones and 1 I dont like the memory card on the other one, and i also have the film kodack that realy does high resolution on coins, stamps, reels and lures and can make wide very wide views, However I stll favor the one like you &I have its FAST! and Floppys are cheap and esay to mail! Ok go play with that handle , Jim you missed on fantastic aution last night, it was a real education and I learned a lot about lures and their boxes etc! That stuf is OK for the RICH guys like well you know BILL? and that HEDON wooden lure box for a $1000.00? hay I dont have that much in all the lures in the tote box! You take care, COL. M. Lorens aka SWIM JIG on the shores of LAKE ERIE OHIO

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 2:17 pm

there are many similarities between the Wanita and Meisselbach Rainbow - especially the check mechanism.
I'm not disagreeing about Ocean City, I'm just thinking the development of this reel was something like Meisselbach --> Ocean City --> South Bend, and not necessarily in that order?

p.s. must be a bone handle.

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:59 pm

That's an interesting observation Ron. I wrote of two boxed Sturdi-bilt casting reels that I feel very strongly were made by Meisselbach. They are shown on another thread, but to refresh:

Since I have found several other items (rods, bait cans, tackle boxes, etc) that were labeled Sturdi-Bilt and were sold by Montgomery-Wards, I have always assumed that these reels were also. Perhaps you are correct and the Sturdi-Bilt Wanita was made by Meisselbach originally and for M-Ws. Ocean City ended up using many of the parts and the E-Z 2 part name in their first bait caster, so maybe they ended up with all the Sturdi-Bilt stuff.

I have finished an article about the early OC Casting reels, and I hope that Richard will publish it sometime later this year. You'll see the similarities to the reels above. The checks (clicks to a geezer like me) in the Wanita sure are similar to those of the Rainbow. I had never noted that.

Incidentally one of my reels has a bone knob and the other what I assume is celulloid.

First South Bend fly reel

First South Bend fly reel

yikes!!

Fly reel

Spittin' image

Bone knob?

SB knob

do a test!!

knob

next to a zray machine yes!!