Curiosity - Bronson Invader 26 Versions

[Rick H]

Guys....Anyone out there have one of these? Sure would like to see some pictures if you have one, or know of someone that does. We've all seen the various Invader 26 versions (Bronson / Bronson J.A. Coxe / Montgomery Ward 60-6313) but I've never seen an "actual" True Temper 26-BT. This isn't a "Wanted" post, just a curiosity.

[wrong99]

Rick,
The No.26 "Invader", which lasted until 1971, was never marked "True Temper" on the reel itself. The "BT" suffix simply meant it was a carry-over model from the original Bronson/Coxe line of reels that TT purchased in 1967. True Temper's 1968-1969 catalogs advertised it as the "J.A. Coxe 26-BT", which were marked "J.A. Coxe". The 1970-1971 catalogs dropped the "Coxe" name and simply advertised it as the "26-BT" and I assume those were marked "Bronson". The "Invader" name was never used in any TT catalog. Subsequent TT catalogs as late as 1973 still used the "BT" suffix for prior Bronson models and the illustrations of the "Fleetwing" casting reel and "Royalist" fly reel still show them marked as "Bronson", so it stands to reason that the "26-BT" was also marked as such. By 1974, TT never again mentioned the Bronson name in catalogs. Confusing? You bet!
Mark

[Rick H]

Mark....THANK YOU!!! That explains why I've never seen the reel, or have many times, and didn't recognize it.
So technically, there were only the 3 visual versions...Bronson, JA Coxe and the Wards-Hawthorne. Interesting!!!

[Rick H]

Mark, one last question. Do you know "IF" TT, when selling the Invader 26, used the Bronson box? Or did they supply a True Temper box with the 26-BT marking on it. I'm guessing they just used the Bronson reel and original boxes?

[john elder]

Rick, sorry to report that we lost Mark last year… he is sorely missed by friends and the hobby. Hopefully, someone else will have the info. Not sure a catalogue will help, as they might not show a box.

[Rick H]

Thanks John. The catalogs won't help as you said.
I'm just sad now, because Mark was a great guy and he really stepped up when needed.

[Biggamereels1988]

Here is an image showing everything I found on the Invader as well as the 2 Trade reels they made.

[Rick H]

biggamereels1988, Thanks for the effort! I know that TT bought out Bronson, and sold a lot of the stock they'd acquired after that. Most was re-boxed with with the TT Logos & numbering like the "True Temper Bronson No 2475-BT". That was sold "in a True temper Box" with some modified labeling signifying it was a ""BT" version. But I've never seen or heard of, a Bronson Invader 26 in a True Temper box. Nor have I seen the box itself. I know they sold some and had them in their catalog for a bit. Just wondering if the "big giant heads" here, had ever seen "the box" for one.

[Biggamereels1988]

My guess is they had a surplus of these type of boxes where all you had to do was stamp what was inside.

[Biggamereels1988]

I collect Ocean City/Montague/True temper myself. I’ll be on the lookout for it. with this new info that I found about the Invader 26. It’s now on my watch list.

[Rick H]

Yep....Exactly what they did. Just never seen one, for the Bronson Invader 26-BT.
I've got all the others. But not so sure I'll ever find one of those.

[Biggamereels1988]

Do you have the Western Auto Revalation Version?

[Rick H]

Yes, I do. Along with the Bronson Symbol 4700, which is identical to the Revelation.

[Rick H]

And here's a "unique" spin-off of the Invader 26 that I stumble on a few years back.....

[Biggamereels1988]

So I was looking at some True temper catalogs that sold in the past and this one shows up with the invader on the cover.

[Rick H]

Yep. That's likely the '71 catalog. Unlikely they boxed the Invaders that they did get, into TT boxes. They probably just sold them "as received" from Bronson.

[mark bumgarner]

I also have never seen a TT box for the BT26. Went through my TT catalogs and only thing I found was this listing from a 1970 catalog stating it came with vinyl case.

[Rick H]

Thanks Mark. If I recall that particular catalog shows the Invader 26 on a rod at the bottom of that page.
I've always considered the Invader 26, the '57 Chevy of reels.

[mark bumgarner]

Yes Rick the reel is shown on a rod at the bottom of this 70 catalog as well as the 71 catalog. The vinyl case is included in the listing in the 69 and 70 catalogs and gone after that. Not saying it was not still included but it is gone from the BT26 catalog listing, it was still available as an independent item.
Yes the Invader was a standout reel for Bronson, all the bells and whistles. As you mentioned the Revolution reel, Bronson provided Western Auto was just a renamed Symbol 4700, an Edsel perhaps.

[Rick H]

Totally agree Mark. The one thing about the Symbol 4700 (Edsel or not) is that, it holds one advantage for the collector. If your white head-plate spacer on your Invader 26 is scratched up, or cracked.....The Symbol 4700 spacer is an exact replacement. Not the ribbed one, the smooth one.

[Biggamereels1988]

This was ending with only a few seconds to act. $9.99….. jeez that’s cheap. This looks like it’s the Revalation Trade Reel box. I personally don’t own the reel but it seemed like a crime not to find it a home. - Post a picture of the reel that goes in this box and I can send ya the box.