Centaure reel model identification and company history

[Smitfla]

I have 2 centaure reels. One is a mint green Pacific (name is on side plate). The other is black and other than a few small differences, it looks identical so I believe it is also a Pacific even though it doesn't say it on the side plate. Both are half bails. I think they may both be model 200's. I took both down completely and cleaned them and they both have the same internals for the most part. The black model's main gear as well as the clicker/anti-reverse flat spring are slightly smaller so I'm thinking the black one is older. The rationale being that they probably made them more robust after they manufactured them for a few years and made improvements...just a hunch. If anyone can point me to a site that goes over the company history, what years each model was made, photos that ID each model year (from what I can find, there are several Pacific models 200, 500 , etc.). It looks as though they were imported by Booth export and import in Beverly Hills but I can't find much on them either. I ultimately want to find the correct boxes for both as well as the correct paperwork since the reels are in VG+ condition. I'm posting this from my phone so pictures are tough to attach...at least for me. I'll attach them later from my computer if anyone wants to see them. I didn't set out to collect Centaure reels but came across these 2 a few months back for a VERY nice price and they looked cool with the skirted spools so I grabbed them not knowing anything about them...now I have become somewhat possessed with learning about these reels! Any help or direction will be greatly appreciated!

[Smitfla]

Scratch that it appears I'm not quite as thick as I thought I was... It seems the photos attached.

[Midway Tommy D]

You are correct, the black reel is older. They were made by La Compagnie Francaise des Conduites D'eau (C.F.C.E.) (i.e. French Water Pipes Company), Paris, as noted in Ben Wright's Spinning Reel Reference. They were distributed by Booth & some others. In 1963 C.F.C.E. became Gerbelot (i.e. Weekend). There was a lot of mixed manufacturing at that point & subsequent history, if you can find any, is pretty confusing to most researchers.

The black reel, Centaure, was introduced in 1947. It came in a couple of different colors, black, brown/bronze & green like your Pacific.

The Pacific came out in 1953. It is basically the same reel as the Centaure, as you noticed. The Pacific-5 (500) is a full bail. The Pacific came in half bail, LH-RH retrieve and PUM (manual line pick up).

Boxes & paperwork for those examples are tough to come by. I've only seen a few reels with their original boxes, etc. over the years.

[Smitfla]

Thank you very much Tom! You just advanced my knowledge tenfold! I actually have some paperwork for a model 200. if you're up to it I would like to get your opinion on whether it matches the green Pacific reel or not. And to confirm the black real I have is simply a centaure and no other model name or number to go with it correct?

[Midway Tommy D]

Correct, just Centaure.

Make a good legible scan of the paperwork and post it so we can review it. There were only a couple of Pacific variants.

[Smitfla]

Will do. Thank you Tom. I'll scan them tomorrow morning and post it. These are the manuals and paperwork I have...

[Smitfla]

Just sent a PM to you Tom.

[Carpman67]

Hi I've just acquired a centaure in black I would really appreciate if you wouldn't mind sending me the information on the reel you have.
Kind regards Adam