Question about Dam Effzett reels

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Reelman
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Question about Dam Effzett reels

Post by Reelman »

:?: I have two different Effzett reels. One is marked Dam Effzett 495 and the other is marked just Effzett 495. And it is a very different reel from the other one as you can see in the pictures. The one not marked Dam is missing the handle. The washer and screw is there. But the washer has a hand cut square hole in it not round. What I am asking are they both Dam Effzett's. Or is the one not marked Dam with the hand cut square hole. A earlier on that Dam bought the rights to.

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Ron Mc
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Post by Ron Mc »

The Effzett is for the initials F.Z., Fritz Ziegenspeck the founder of D.A.M.
(Ziegen is "goats" in German, hence the goat trademark).
http://dam.de/html/e_dam_geschichte.htm
Since he was manufacturing reels in 1902, and the reel bears his initials, I don't think he bought the design.

I have had one of each style. The 3-pillar reel is very nice - it's made for RHW, opening the back of the spool to your thumb for drag. (Sold it to a friend who was fishing it a few weeks ago and used that thumb slot drag on a big catfish.)

I've always though the 4-pillar reel was an earlier design (because the 3-pillar is such a cool idea, it had to come later, right? :P ). Also the level of finish detail is nicer on the older reel. One of those things that had to be given up when competing with cheap Milbro brass reels.

I don't remember a washer on my 4-pillar reel, but those are the kind of pieces that easily get lost over 70 years. Even my 3-pillar reel had the wrong thumbscrew with a round-holed washer underneath by necessity. However, there is no question, my 4-pillar reel did have the DAM trademark on the face plate. Maybe it's been rubbed off on yours - I do see some pretty big scratches?
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Reelman
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Post by Reelman »

No it was not rubbed off. DAM was never stamped on this reel.

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Stefan Duma
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Post by Stefan Duma »

Effzett products were originally the name used for the outboard motors that DAM made and sold. Later it would be used for the second quality/bargain/lower priced brand that the company sold.

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