The pre-war Bond appeared in 1928 and ran until 1941. Despite the long run, I haven’t seen that many of them, and even less information in terms of old print ads. The Great Depression I suppose?
Some have puzzled over the different markings on these pre-war Bonds. I suspect it was the very earliest Bonds that had: no model number inscribed on the faceplate, full patent numbers on the tailplate, and "100" stamped into the foot? Maybe someone can verify? A 1931 ad shows the "2955" and "2915" models already in place. However, I found one lone example with a completely different pillar arrangement, and fewer and heavier pillars. No model number and it appears no patent stamp.
Mine is inscribed 2955, the satin nickel silver version (the 2915 was polished), a simplified “Patented/Pats Pend” on the tailplate, and no foot stamp.
This one has an optional 2543 "Cub" handle attached, instead of the standard counter-balanced handle. The 2543 was intended for the Bond -and presumably other small SW reels. The knob on the handle appears to be hard rubber like the plates. The standard handle knobs on other old Bonds look to be wood.
The reel has been well used , and cared for. But of course it had long since dried out inside and needed a good cleaning, burnishing of the important internals, and proper lubing. Externally, there is some corrosion (surface rust) on the pillars. The Cub drag plate is missing much of its plating. I suspect a real fisher had owned it, evidenced by the optional Cub handle -some added high tech for the day. And the fact that the foot is bent askew a bit suggesting, perhaps, an attempt to stop a big fish? If the reel had been dropped it would have shown elsewhere on the reel. The screw heads were in fine shape so possibly he/she was a careful one too? It's fun to speculate on an individual reel's history. Accurate or not it breathes some life into it. I hope to add a few more stories to its history, for future anglers to speculate on.
I took the reel down completely, finding it a simple design. The freespool apparatus is interesting. At first sight I thought that the faceplate, where the main gear post comes through, had been damaged. Then I could see that it had been machined into an oblong shape. Uh oh! How am I going to deal with that?
Then, as I got fiddling with the FS mechanism, I found that the mechanism simply pushes the main gear down out of the way of the pinion, via a rotating cam. The oblong shape of the opening in the faceplate allows the main gear post to slide forward and down, taking the main gear with it away from the pinion. This clutch mechanism is called a Koph/Kopf? Clutch, thanks to Steve (oc1). Which, according to Steve, had it's issues of the nuts holding it in place loosening causing the gears to potentially lock up. This could explain the bent foot! A spot of non-permanent LockTite might be a good idea before fishing with this reel.
After cleaning, burnishing, and lubing, and adjusting the controls, she runs pretty well. There is a bit of gear noise -a buzzing, grinding sound- that I assume is due to somewhat worn gear teeth, or to the tolerances required to have the freespool mechanism engage easily(?).
Adjusting spool controls is pretty important in these older reels. It’s important to first balance the spool at both ends. Otherwise, one end or the other will be noisy, as the spool spindles loll around loosely in the bearings. Or, you’ll hear the spool wall “ring” against the inner plate slightly. Once balanced, this old Bond freespools silently, and for quite a long time -12 seconds with a hand spin on the spool, and 24sec cranking her up with the handle then popping it into FS. I was happy to see that. I think it should cast quite well. The handle and main gear, when disengaged (in FS), are also silent. Engage the gears and it buzzes. Possibly a thicker grease on the main gear might help? Regardless, I believe it will be a fun, and pretty, reel to fish with.
I have the lever on backwards. Thanks for the heads up.
It is fun. But there’s also some trepidation, puzzlement, disappointment, and horror, thrown in, usually culminating in some level of satisfaction. That is, until I discover the lone screw at the bottom of the tray, after the reel is supposedly all back together! Luckily they are beautiful little machines, with an awe inspiring purpose. Well worth the effort.
That’s funny. Looking at that patina, looks like that lever flip was done some time ago.