Neptune 60 Reel-your input needed

[chatelaine2]

Hi, I'm new here, I hope you all can give me some good input to the rarity and value of this reel I just came across. All it says on it is Neptune and the number 60. It is german silver, has a ivory balanced handle and jeweled agate? beads on each end. I can hardly find anything on Neptune reels and cant find any like the one I have. Do I Have a treasure here? Also, it is in excellent condition.

[SWIM JIG]

cool-thumb USA They apear to be bait casters and list 7 different styles an a 8o yd one NO 60 YD. List a counter bal handle only one knob the other end of the handle has a counter bal weight, some are listed as ( Kentucky style ) they list a expert, professional and a special. trust this helps! Your Ohio Conection On LAKE ERIE Col. M. lorens aka SWIM JIG

[Bill Muth]

Your Neptune reel is probably a high-end Montague reel, the second most likely culprit would be Horton Mfg. Co. If you posted a picture, one of the experts would be able to tell you with more certainty. I haven't been following these lately, but assuming that your reel is Kentucky style with the click and drag buttons on the handle-side face plate, it's a pretty good piece. A while back they seemed to bounce around between $125 and $300 on eBay. Hope this helps.

[Teal]

Hi,

Your Neptune reel was sold by William Frankfurth Hardware of Milwaukee, WI. It was very likely made by Montague. Frankfurth marketed a whole line of fishing tackle under the Neptune trademark, none of it of its own manufacture. They sold some very nice high-end reels marked Neptune, although most (not all) Neptune reels I have seen also carry the "W. Frankfurth, Milwaukee" marking as well.

These reels have been going up in price and probably will continue to become more expensive as more people learn of the history of Frankfurth. WI made tackle is also becoming more collectable--if you are interested look for other WI trade reels such as Pritzlaff, Ph. Grosse, and Water Witch. You definitely have the start of a nice little collection.

In the July NFLCC Magazine (should be arriving right now) I have written a lengthy article that covers the history/fishing tackle of Frankfurth Hardware, along with six other major hardware wholesalers. If you are a member it should be there already; if you aren't, what's keeping you from joining?

Sincerely,

Dr. Todd E.A. Larson

[SWIM JIG]

cool-thumb USA Ok DR., I have compleatly raed the article and now you have answered another mystry,I hope! (TEAL) a pic of your reel will help the rest of us to see what we are looking for! Dr.As a colector accumulato of Neptune Outboard motors I like the 1&1/7 hp the best they are cute and will start with the greatest of easy I have them up to 7&1/2 hp. Ok I also have some spinners with Neptune on them I thought they were take offs of the bull dog line of Pfluger(Note I am NOT a lure person) These reels, are there or do you have any paper work on them? Photos etc? Bill Muth,do you have any? And what other reel are they like? do they resemble the Pfluger Buckeye993? Could it be that another (major player made these and that the pars were assembled by Frankfurth Hardware CO.? And Dr. your sugestion to Chatelaine2, he should join ORCA & NFLCC , he already gas a start with that nice reel! please post a pic of it! Your Ohio Conection Col. M. Lorens om lake ERIE at 89 degrees aka SWIM JIG

[Teal]

Hi Colonel,

Glad the article helped, do you have any other oddball fluted spinners lying around the shop? I am doing a book on them which is how I got into the hardware thing in the first place...they go for $15-$30 each recently on eBay. I am trying to chart the different variations so if you can shoot me a pic of the fluteds I will check against the varieties I have. Any fluteds with oddball or strange markings float my boat...and any reels with "unknown" trade names as well.

A fellow collector has sent me some pics of Frankfurth reels, with his permission I will post some pics of them. I am certain Frankfurth did NOT manufacture any reels but merely had reel makers stamp them with Frankfurth/Neptune markings. The reels I have seen are really beautiful.

I have uncovered tons of cool information on tradenames...anyone interested in who marketed the Ben Hur reels? Just discovered this the other day...

Cheers,

Todd

[chatelaine2]

Gosh, I appreciate you guys! I am going to go take a pic now.

[chatelaine2]

I THINK IM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS[/code]

[chatelaine2]

I DONT THINK IM DOING THIS PICTURE THING RIGHT. I have sent some of you pictures in your email if you had an email listed. Just ask and provide an email and I will gladly send you pictures. Sorry that my lighting is terrible. Also, besides Neptune being written on it , under the toungue? the is the number 60.

[SWIM JIG]

cool-thumb USA CHATELAINE, I have compared your pis with my Pfluger Buckeye and they are remakably alike except for some embelishments: the actual handle be it bone or other material yours is strighter sided, the buttons on the head plae for the drags are the same, the foot is marked 60 and shaped the sameThe bearing caps are a bit different however that was a common ocurance in shops of the day,if it fit and worked or a buyer that bought enough to stock a store did have choices on caps , styles of handle nuts etc, again your head plate holding srew patern is the same as the buckeye, the handle hold down screw is the same! your reel is embelished with a floral and rope patern and as the back plate is not showing, I cannot tell if the screw patern is the same as Buckey. also take some mesurments between the spool etc, your spool has the line hole in the identical spot as the buckey. its definetly a very nice reel! the piller count is the same amout as the Pfluger buckeye! Some of our more computor savy members can help you get the pics on the site! again thanks for the email pics. Your ohio conection on Lake Erie Col.M. lorens aka SWIM JIG

[Phantom Fisher]

[chatelaine2]

Well I am not a collector so I think I will sell. Can anyone give me an idea of what it might be worth?

[SWIM JIG]

cool-thumb USA Ok, if its a sale you want then condition is everthing, it would have to be taken apart to see how the gears are, how those front drag and brake itims are worn, how much wear is on the spool from the drags, the bearing caps need to be inspected for the posible chiped in the see thrus of them.wear on the main gear, slop in the handle bushing in the frame, all screw slots must be non marred, pillers must be corosion free, and not scratched or bent, all plating or finish must be present, the embelisment design must not be damaged, the material of the handle must be identified! Ivory, plastic? With the pics you sent me and the one on the ORCA site, well unless its established for certain whom or what the actual reel is or sold by, I would place it sight unseen at $35.00 to $50.00 ( now the flack starts and the wet noodle will sting, if you are not satisfied with a bid From ORCA , then palce it on the E-Bay FLEA market the world will see it! With some wild verbage like ASHLY uses who knows! what it will bring. Am I interested? No, as its to much like a Pfluger Buckeye and I have several of these. Trust you will make a good sale! Your Ohio Conection on a 97 degree day on LAKE ERIE Col. M. lorens aka SWIM JIG

[Reel Geezer]

Col. Milt: You need to re-read Teal's post. The reel was made for Frankfurth Hardware. It is a Montague. The crank knob is made of Ivoroid.

Chantalene: Just put the reel up on eBay and describe it as Teal did. Selling it that way you'll find out how much it is worth at the time. It will sell for $100-200, or maybe a bit more depending upon who needs or wants it. It's a nice reel, and they are in demand.