Nice reel John,
These great little early Fin-Nor reels are pretty hard to come by. I have seen them in the "800 yards of 9 thread" size (like yours) which is about equivalent to a 4/0 size reel and I have seen them in a larger size which is perhaps just a tad larger than a standard 6/0 size reel.
Unless you have held one of these early, small reels in your hands it is hard to appreciate how well they are built and how strong and smooth the gearing is. I personally do not believe that you could purchase a finer built 4/0 size reel prior to World War II, or for that matter, post war too. It is one fine machine!
What makes the early small Fin-Nor reels easy to spot is the lack of the top cross bar with two holes, instead these early, smaller Fin-Nor reels had regular pillars across the top. These early, small reels were custom order only and were never cataloged by Grieten. Some of the early, small reels were produced prior to World War II and the sale of the company to Guetti. Grieten's production at this time consisted of 10/0, 12/0 and 15/0 size reels built to catch giant tuna, marlin and swordfish. More small custom order reels were produced just after Guetti defaulted the company back to Grieten in 1947 and prior to Grieten beginning his production of a full range of reels in several sizes to include 4/0, 6/0, 9/0, and 12/0 all having the trademark top crossbar with two holes. You can date the early reels by some of their features and by their markings or lack thereof.
The inset "Fin-Nor" logo medallion and the single screw holding the handle onto the shaft indicates that your reel was made by Grieten just prior to the U.S.'s entry into World War II - circa late 1940 - 1941. As to the stand or reel foot, they were only used up until about 1948 or 1949 on the smaller special order reels and then they were replaced with the more modern Fin-Nor foot. The odd thing is you see a
very similar foot pop-up again much later on the Gar Wood Jr. built reels and the reels Wood Jr. designed, and or built for Fin-Nor, Sears and Shakespeare.
Here are some examples of other small pre-production custom order reels.
This is the earliest small Fin-Nor reel I have seen to date. This reel has the drag built into the "Small Drum" that spins independently of the side front plate and is just like the Fin-Nor 15/0 first model "Small Drum" multiplying reel circa 1937- 1939. This 4/0 reel was custom built and has the owner's name engraved on the rear side-plate "Gar Wood Jr." The Fin-Nor/Gar Wood Jr. relationship went back a long way. The reel is also stamped with the earliest Fin-Nor logo (not visible in the photos). Also shown here, the reel next to its big brother the 15/0 "Small Drum" reel.
Another early pre-war 4/0 size reel circa 1938. This reel was a custom order and unmarked. Note the pillars and the early style harness clips held on by screws to reel's frame.
This reel was made just after Grieten got the company back from Guetti in 1947. Still a custom order at this point this reel was built in the larger 6/0 size. Note that the reel still has pillars across the top, however, the harness clips have changed to the new, more modern style. Notice too that the rear side-plate has been stamped with the newer Fin-Nor logo and diamond brand with patents.
