Meisselbach’s functionality

[Paul Roberts]

How are the Meisselbach’s (480, 580) for using? Casting, and potentially, fishing?

[wrong99]

According to Phil White, 123,612 No.480 and No.580 reels were produced over the years. I believe 123,610 are still working fine today. One of the greatest basic designs ever made. Widely used for tournament casting early on. Never fished with one, but they are so basic that I'm sure one could learn to handle one easily. Can be taken apart and serviced in the field, with no problems or fear of losing anything. Has your ABL or tension control. Handle can be positioned at 3,6,9 or 12 o'clock. Not many reels offer all this. Just have to get used to one.

[Paul Roberts]

Thanks. Waiting on line to test my 480 out. It’s the smoothest, longest spinning, old reel I own. Only issue I see is retrieve speed. I believe it’s the slowest old reel I own.

[Paul Roberts]

I cobbled together a 581 from two reels (580 frame, side plates, a screw, and 581 internals). It works. But, there's a fair amount of play in the gearing. It's the loudest reel I own, sounding like a choking duck (best description ), on a power cast. A bit scary, for fishing purposes, trying to manage line lay, thumb braking, and the free-spool feature on this reel.

Both the 480 and 581 cast well, nearly as well as all my other old reels. Seems I get 100ft out of all of them easily (1/2oz and 12lb line). I have something like 20lb on the Meisselbach's so they may cast further with lighter line.

As to retrieve speed, they both get 16ipt. Seems all my vintage reels (pre-1960) get about the same.