Ocean City, Fact or Myth?

[Reeltyme]

Ladies and Gents, I have searched for years looking for the elusive Ocean City reels called the “Tampico” and the “Cortez”. I have seen advertising on them by Ocean City but have never seen either of the reels. Does anyone know for a fact (actually saw, touched, or owns) that these reels were ever made? These and the Mitchell 1120, 12/0 seem harder to find than Nesse, (you know, the one from the loch) Lots of adds, no actual reels. Thanks for listening/reading.
Randy McConnell
Reeltyme


ALWAYS looking to buy that Mitchell 1120!

[54bullseye]

Randy
Talk to Doug I think he owns a Cortez. As far as the 1120 I have never seen one. I have a 12/0 Mitchell President but not the Garcia Mitchell 1120. Let me know if you see one eBay I will watch it with you LOL !!!! John Taylor

[Harry Verdurchi]

When you find the Tampico maybe there will be a 12/0 Panama with it so we can look at it too......

[KIWI]

Randy, You have probably seen and held them as well. Or at least a Cortez. The reel is simply a Balboa without the badge and is basically unmarked. I personally have not seen an unmarked " Panama " which is The Montague " Tampico ". I've also not seen a box marked with either Montague version, so don't bet anything on what I just stated. It's only my observation. I actually have a 10/0 Cortez that came in a 10/0 Balboa box. Go figure. If you notice, the old Montague catalogs show these reels without badges. Doug

[Reeltyme]

O.K. Doug. So now I’m confused. Based on the research I’ve done, which could definitely be incorrect, I read that the Balboa was introduced in 1933. The early ones didn’t have a badge and began “wearing” a badge sometime around 1938. I really have no information on the Cortez other than it is supposed to exist. This information was gleaned out of Mr. Mike C’s recent book on Ocean City reels. Mike didn’t mention the Cortez or the Tampico. I purchased a supposed 12/0 Balboa from Butch Carey. The reel, as we both initially thought, was a Balboa that didn’t have the badge. Later Butch contacted me and said that maybe we had been mistaken and that the reel might actually be a Cortez? I disagreed with him and believed it was an early, pre-badge, Balboa. Now I don’t know what it is? Sooo,,, anyone have any ideas on all this?

[Harry Verdurchi]

When you find the Tampico maybe there will be a 12/0 Panama with it so we can look at it too......

Well I'll be a LLama's Mama
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=22948#p106310

[KIWI]

Randy I'm right there with the confusion. That's why I have 2 of each. 1 with my OC reels and 1 with my Montagues. Figure I would cover the bases so to speak. Doug

[Tightlines666]

10/0

[m3040c]

In my humble opinion, I believe the Panama / Balboa and the Tampico / Cortez are the same reels. Pre-1933 they were sold in the Montague Catalog. In 1933 they moved to the Ocean City catalog. Ocean City and Montague were partners.

Here is the 1929 Montague Catalog.


Early Ocean City Balboa's were not marked. Those two companies just like to share and because of that, time has added the confusion.

I always felt this reel was a Balboa, but when I think about it, it may be a Cortezx. Without marking, how would we know? I do think that the reel in this is more likely an Ocean City, because in the Montague Catalog, the Tampico and the Cortez are shown with a integral wrench and a straight slotted screw type counter weight. The 1933 Ocean City catalog shows the Balboa like the reel I pictured. So mine is more likely a Ocean City Balboa than a Montague Cortez. Or maybe not...

[Biggamereels1988]

Dang is this a Cortez or Balboa?

[1badf350]

It’s neither. It’s a Long Key like I told you on Facebook

[Biggamereels1988]

Posted both before you answered. Long Key it is. Lol