Top Ten freshwater BAITCASTERS?

[john elder]

I have no illusions about agreement here and these are not even in order of my favorites, but they all are bait casting reels that tickled my fancy at one time or the other and I still like 'em all. I hope this will inspire many of you to add your favorites to the thread!
1. Henshall Van Antwerp


2. Meisselbach 4-1 Takeapart


3. Wheeler & McGregor #3


4. Pflueger Early Raised Pillar Summit


5. B.C. Milam #3 (this could have been any of 50 Milam/Meek KY reels!)


6. Pflueger (Sonnett says second model) Levelwind Summit


7. Al Foss Easy-Control 3-25


8. Deluxe 4-screw by Montague (could have been any Monty 4-screw!)


9. Tomahawk Vim by Talbot


10. Rochester 9-Multiplier

[Wayne B.]

Nice reels! John, what is the black material on the Take-apart. I have never seen that model.

[wrong99]

Still my favorite from the 1930's, the Bronson German silver prototype made for Von Lengerke & Antoine. The only example known.


And, from the 1920's, the Heddon No.4-18 "Windshield Wiper" model with rare box.

[Steve]

Well, if you're looking for fancy ticklers, here are a few of my favorites...

Boardman

Howard & Sievers

Marhoff Marhoff

R. & L. Lewis

Wisner

[Jay White]

Man, I love that Boardman! Thanks for sharing.

[Low Profile]

A few for consideration

ABU 5000

Coxe 25N

Shakespeare 1744

Pflueger Supreme

1131

[john elder]

Fantastic !!! And so rare, Steve and Mark! Nice adds.

Wayne, the black stuff is hard rubber that, in general, was not hard enough on this early model. The threads are in the hard rubber and are usually thrashed... so lucky to get this minty one from Ed Pritchard!

[Midway Tommy D]

As most of y'all are well aware, I am far from a conventional style/baitcaster aficionado, but here's a neat example I found recently, a nice Abu Ambassadeur Sweden 5000D Champagne Gold.

The Abu Ambassadeur 5000D (Direct Drive) was produced, pointedly for the bass fisherman, between 1974 and 1977, and basically only came in green. The 5000D did not utilize a star drag adjustment but rather a knurled thumb washer. This was to compensate for the reverse handle turn when line is being payed out. Since it is a direct drive it has no standard anti-reverse function other than drag set against the handle spinning backward.

This Abu Ambassadeur 5000D Champagne Gold example was produced in limited quantities for one month in 1974 exclusively to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Gamble–Skogmo Department Stores, St. Louis Park (Minneapolis), MN. The Gamble–Skogmo Champagne Gold reels were produced with a unique serial number, 741100, which is found on the dimpled foot of all those reels.*






*It will more than likely be finding a new home in the coming weeks.

[wrong99]

One I've posted several times, but still one of my top ten. An early Shakespeare "Style B" with the original case with level-wind instructions and the original chamois bag.

[reelsmith.]

My preference is for fly reels, but I am partial to this baitcaster and I’m a big JVH fan.

John, is the front rim on your Meisselbach only partially screwed on ? I really like that reel !



Dean.

[Wayne B.]

Wayne, the black stuff is hard rubber that, in general, was not hard enough on this early model. The threads are in the hard rubber and are usually trashed.

That’s the reason I asked. It would be so easy to cut those rubber end-plates with the metal rims. But it is definitely a nice looking reel.

[Low Profile]

I don't have a top ten so I'll just keep this going

Union Hardware front and rear - Nicest one I've come across




Early Julius Vom Hofe front/rear




Tiny Hendrick parked next to JVH

[John Savu]

Here are a couple of Heddons to keep the list going. One of the first Heddon, Welch level winds, complete with a glass vial to hold the Sperm oil recommended by Heddon.


Secondly, a very unique and appealing Heddon Pal.

[Mike N]

Here is a subset list of my 5 favorite visual features from among the reels pictured above:

1. The Al Foss decal on the cork arbor.
2. The spiked rubber spool ball on the Heddon 4-18 windshield wiper (always a fav).
3. The bump out gear box on the brass R. & L. Lewis.
4. The white side plates on the Heddon Pal.
5. The black spiral grasp on the Meisselbach 4-1 (It’s Art Deco,really).

The longer I collect, the more I appreciate the little aesthetic things that a reel designer/maker took the time to include to make the reel unique.

Mike N.

[Brian F.]

Maybe not freshwater and maybe not a baitcaster but it's the closest I've got in a while.

[Ray Hencken]

Although I consider myself to be a collector of early fly reels, here are a few of my favorite baitcasters. Left to right: JVH, Henshall Van Antwerp, EVH, Kosmic/Crook

[reelsmith.]

Maybe not freshwater and maybe not a baitcaster but it's the closest I've got in a while.

Super reel Brian !

U.S. Net & Twine ?

Dean.

[Ray Hencken]

Here are a few more.
Kopf on the left JVH on the right.


Narrow JVH Casting Reel stamped Wm. Mills & Son

[Brian F.]

Maybe not freshwater and maybe not a baitcaster but it's the closest I've got in a while.

Super reel Brian !

U.S. Net & Twine ?

Dean.

Thanks, Dean! I believe that was the last consensus. I asked about it in a post a while back. If you need details, you'll have to ask Elder about it now, lol.

[reelsmith.]

Thanks, Dean! I believe that was the last consensus. I asked about it in a post a while back. If you need details, you'll have to ask Elder about it now, lol.

Dang ...Elder is like a magnet for quality reels.

Dean.

[Jay White]

Great reels Ray! Thanks for sharing.

[Jay White]

Dean, thats a Beauty!! Love the knurling on the rims.

[oc1]

I buy baitcasters to fish with and my current favorite for casting ability and easy of maintenance is the Langley Target (with a few minor modifications).







-steve

[Eric J]

Some really great reels there!
This has given me an excuse to get some out and oil them up.
Here’s my top 10:



Early Shakespeare Style C 1897





Shakespeare’s second reel “The Rubber Standard” 1901





Shakespeare Standard with optional oxidized silver plating 1902




Mr. Shakespeare’s personal SB Anti-backlash SN#3080





This Shakespeare Style B SN#96 belonged to Mr. Shakespeare’s fishing partner Dr. Augustus Warren Crane, x-ray pioneer who didn’t become one of the x-ray martyrs because he used leaded glass in his machine.





Mr. Shakespeare’s personal Marhoff 1922 Model with experimental internal bridging on the faceplate. Several of his own reels had one handle broken off and he may have done this on purpose.





Personal reel of Mr. Shakespeare’s with experimental foot.





Mr. Shakespeare’s diminutive Tournament Reel.





I just love these hand engraved Shakespeare’s. This one came from my friend and mentor Bill Sonnett. Note the gold accents.





This reel belonged to Shakespeare VP of Sales Mr. A.E. Ford. The leaping bass is in raised relief. I’ve never seen another like it.

[Alan Baracco]

Good to see the Target, here is a display we had in San Diego in 2014, the Baker's Dozen of Langley Streamlite Model 310-12 versions. Picture by long time ORCAN Nello Armstrong.

The Langley Guys!