Play time at the Elders!

[john elder]

John and Dan on the floor of the play room, having fun with Dan’s new toys! He’s holding his Mitchell-Henry prototype reel from the Mitchell-Henry estate and I’m holding his latest acquisition, a HUGE Seven Seas reel he brought back from New Zealand via Australia via Thailand via L.A., in a carryon bag, no less! That reel has a 10” diameter, weighs in at 24 lbs, and is stored in that metal container in the foreground. Who needs Toys r Us!!

[Jonathan P. Kring]

Cool Stuff! Merry Christmas.

[Paul M]

BIG Toys!

[54bullseye]

Cool reels boys !!! Giant !! Congrats Dan John Taylor

[Midway Tommy D]

Holy Smokes! Those things are way bigger than Ed's head!

[Eric J]

Good Grief! I didn’t know they got so big! What a workout!

[Nick in NY]

Ha haaa! Nice stuff! I was wondering who outbid me on the Mitchell! Hey Dan looks like you just got off the plane! We’ll speak soon, Tight Lines Nick
PS See you in July

[Jay White]

NICE!!!

[Mike N]

Yikes. I thought fishing for the blue whale with line and tackle was banned by some international treaty. But, if not, that’s the perfect reel for it.

Mike N

[reeltackle]

Looks like big fun. Congratulations on the new toys Dan, I guess Christmas came early!

[m3040c]

[john elder]

I finally got around to taking more pics of Dan's Seven Seas Super Big Game reel. I'm not inclined to go digging around inside at the moment, but don't expect to find anything exotic in there....but maybe when the deck clears a bit, my curiosity will win out and I'll take a peek! I've included a shot of the info on the original owner from the canister...maybe our ORCA sleuths can read the sketchy printing and track him down!

[Jay White]

That is one fantastic reel. Thanks for the photos John and congrats to Daniel for latching on to it.

[wrong99]

"Richard Butler, Malvern Wells, England". The name of the road is nearly impossible to decipher.
Mark

[john elder]

Well, no one can accuse me of having a photographic memory...was just searching the archives for info on both this reel and the Mitchell-Henry and up pops this thread, started by Mike Cacioppo about the reel being posted on Facebook:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=20382&p=92804&hilit=Mitchell+Henry#p92804

So, the search was started for this owner, but don't know if it was ever chased to an end....and the thread ends with a wish by Dan Z, now come to fruition!

[Dan Z]

THANK YOU ALL for your kind comments and if anyone has more information on the EPIC REEL, I'd love to hear anything at all. Maybe 5 years ago I saw a picture, and tracked it down to New Zealand through another reel i was hunting down. The guy said "I know who has probably the biggest vintage big game reel in the world"... and i made the connection, where is said "I've turned down $10,000 USD for the reel and many people have tried to temp me through the years and Ive said no to all.... but the timing in good, and the door is open to discuss". So i booked a flight, then another jumper flight, then rental car, 5 hour road trip... and alas.. made the deal and have been HIGH ever since. Looks and feels solid and well made- like a Hardy Zane Grey, also made in the UK. It was previously listed at some auction house in NZ where it went..... wait for it... UNSOLD! Until the last owner scooped it up - post sale. It came FULL with Linen Line, and i made 4 flights first with all the line on it (around NZ, Australia, then Thailand), trying to make it seem light as i walked it through carry on... (7kg limit- yeah right).... you should have seen each of the faces of the people X-Raying it though security. I told them its the biggest fishing reel in the world, and it had to stay with me please.... and each time a small crowd gathered and supervisors came around and they all marveled at the reel... then let me pass with a smile. Then in Thailand I took all the linen off and carried it home on 2 more flights. Safe and Sound in my case amongst the other treasures I have hunted down far and wide. I LOVE VINTAGE BIG GAME TACKLE! PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE HAS A BIGGER VINTAGE BIG GAME REEL OR ANY MORE INFO ON THIS MOBY DICK? Thanks! Daniel Z

[kyreels]

If you go in a dark room and expose the can to ultraviolet light, you might be able to read the street name. Its worth a shot anyway.

[Nick in NY]

As you say "EPIC"! I'm sure it's a center piece! Tight Lines Nick in NY
A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year Everyone!

[m3040c]

THANK YOU ALL for your kind comments and if anyone has more information on the EPIC REEL, I'd love to hear anything at all. Maybe 5 years ago I saw a picture, and tracked it down to New Zealand through another reel i was hunting down. The guy said "I know who has probably the biggest vintage big game reel in the world"... and i made the connection, where is said "I've turned down $10,000 USD for the reel and many people have tried to temp me through the years and Ive said no to all.... but the timing in good, and the door is open to discuss". So i booked a flight, then another jumper flight, then rental car, 5 hour road trip... and alas.. made the deal and have been HIGH ever since. Looks and feels solid and well made- like a Hardy Zane Grey, also made in the UK. It was previously listed at some auction house in NZ where it went..... wait for it... UNSOLD! Until the last owner scooped it up - post sale. It came FULL with Linen Line, and i made 4 flights first with all the line on it (around NZ, Australia, then Thailand), trying to make it seem light as i walked it through carry on... (7kg limit- yeah right).... you should have seen each of the faces of the people X-Raying it though security. I told them its the biggest fishing reel in the world, and it had to stay with me please.... and each time a small crowd gathered and supervisors came around and they all marveled at the reel... then let me pass with a smile. Then in Thailand I took all the linen off and carried it home on 2 more flights. Safe and Sound in my case amongst the other treasures I have hunted down far and wide. I LOVE VINTAGE BIG GAME TACKLE! PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE HAS A BIGGER VINTAGE BIG GAME REEL OR ANY MORE INFO ON THIS MOBY DICK? Thanks! Daniel Z





Post Posted: Tue Dec 25

In my part of the world, you have done the impossible and posted this tomorrow. The date on this post is December 25, it is now December 24 in New York. Your buying adventure begins in futuristic fantasy and that is truly where it belongs. In my life I have never seen anyone go through this much time and travel to buy a item. If anyone truly deserves this fantastic piece it is you. Congrats on your find and Merry Christmas!

Mike C.

[Dan Z]

Mike C and everyone who posted here - I’m just reading some of these comments and really appreciate your feedback- it was 2 years ago and I still love this reel and the adventure! But still have not found out anything else on the maker - still on the hunt ! Thanks and take care - Daniel z

[reelsmith.]

... it was 2 years ago ...

That explains why you guys aren't wearing masks !

Nice reel Dan !

Dean.

[Stef Duma]

I remember this reel well. Before it ended up in New Zealand it was sold either at Mullock Madeley or Nock Deigton auctioneers. I believe it was from an estate in the Midlands, similar area to Malvern Wells. I did cover it in the Antique Tackle Observer at the time.
I have over the years tried many times to locate the manufacturer, Bournemouth, I believe with no luck.
Do you have a better pictures of the address. I know Malvern Wells reasonably well and it is a small place with a couple of other small villages so it might be possible to trace the house and the person.

[john elder]

Stef, is there a “peachwood Road” there? Unfortunately, a blowup of the pic above is about all there is. I will look through old pics and see if there might be a better guess.

John

[Stef Duma]

Stef, is there a “peachwood Road” there? Unfortunately, a blowup of the pic above is about all there is. I will look through old pics and see if there might be a better guess.

John

No Peachwood road but I will continue looking. Its about 50 miles from where I live and pre pandemic I regularly visited the area to see a customer.
It looks like there is the name of a house on the address. Its not a large place famous for Malvern Water which bottled there now.

[jr.evansii]

Sorry for intruding, but I love a good hunt! I Googled a "list of street names in Malvern Wells" and found that there is a Peachfield Road listed. Looks like it could fit what's on the lid.

J.