Anyone have info on my closed face reel?

[Duster]

Hi there everyone. I’m looking for any info on this old closed face reel I have. I can’t find anything.
Anyone have any knowledge on this one ?
Thanks.

[Mike N]

Well, it has a NASA space capsule vibe and reminds me of my pop’s old Bronson. But ORCA has a few actual closed faced reel experts who I trust will be around in due course with solid info, so stay tuned.


Mike N.

[Midway Tommy D]

Can you explain how it works? What' the function of the bail? What does the lever do? As shown in the photos does the handle wind line clockwise, i.e. is it a top of rod or under rod reel? It sure looks like an interesting and unique design.

[Duster]

Well I’m not to sure how it works lol.
The lever on the left in the first pic releases the bail. It is an on top of rod reel. It does wind clock wise. I’m not to sure what the lever on the right side does in the first pic. I’m still figuring it out.
Thanks for all the help so far.

[john elder]

So, when you turn the handle, does the whole front end thrn like a spinning reel or does just the insides turn?

[Duster]

Just the insides turn

[Duster]

Here is pic of the other side.

[Midway Tommy D]

So my first inclination is that the underlever may be a brake/drag activator. Have you tried it in that way?

[arley]

Any writers out there who want to write a book on spinning reel repairs? Bail springs , anti- reverse, bearing replacement , etc.. need lots of pictures . I'll buy the first of the multitude you will sell. Or if there is already one LMK.

[Midway Tommy D]

Any writers out there who want to write a book on spinning reel repairs? Bail springs , anti- reverse, bearing replacement , etc.. need lots of pictures . I'll buy the first of the multitude you will sell. Or if there is already one LMK.

Arley, if you ever run into a problem send me a PM. I surely don't know everything but I've been inside around 300 spinners so maybe I've encountered a similar situation.

[Duster]

Still looking for info. There is no writing or nothing on the reel itself. Any help is greatly appreciated.
No I’m not interested in writing a book if you could take that to another post that would be great.
Just looking for the year, make, and if someone has ever seen one like this before? Or know of someone that can help me.
Thanks.

[Steve]

I can't see where the line exits the closed face. Does it exit at the "nose?" If so, the bail could act as a brake to slow down the line during a cast. Most line-activated brakes, e.g., South Bends, help to prevent backlash, but with a CFSR, you shouldn't need to worry about backlash. Puzzling.

[wrong99]

Need more photos, particularly of the insides. Sure looks homemade.

[Duster]

[wrong99]

The handle is from a Shakespeare Tournament or Sportcast casting reel.

[Duster]

[Duster]

After opening it. It really doesn’t look to be homemade. It seems to be solid copper or something along those lines. The one lever is a brake. The other is the bail opener. It still functions and everything turns nicely.

[Steve]

I'd guess that the bail may raise the line to prep for a cast and is released during the cast so the line exits straight out from the nose. Is the bail spring-loaded? Does it flip forward when you release the lever?

I know of another CFSR with a bail. It's home-made but even more "factory-looking" than this one. Has a similar crank. Will try to learn more.

[Midway Tommy D]

I'm thinking homemade by someone that had access to a really nice machine shop. Some of the design looks crude and bulky (foot & stem) but the workmanship looks pretty high quality. I don't like using the term, and it's highly over used, but I'm wondering if it was some sort of crude design or prototype? It has some vague design similarities, less the open spool & drag design, to the OTCO Slipcast.

[Duster]

The bail is spring loaded. But the spring is shot.
I had a guy tell me he’s only ever seen one other in his life. An older guy from Australia. But he knew absolutely nothing about it.

[Midway Tommy D]

The bail is spring loaded. But the spring is shot.
I had a guy tell me he’s only ever seen one other in his life. An older guy from Australia. But he knew absolutely nothing about it.

Since your visual guy is from Australia you might want to look through their Austrailian Fishing Museum A-Z listing of reels to see if you can find yours or something similar. It will keep you occupied for awhile. If you find something let us know.

[Duster]

I will go have a look.
The same guy is actually the one who referred me to this page to ask about it. All he said was he’s seen another I think on eBay. And it sold for some bigger dollars.
I appreciate all the help from everyone. Just wish I could figure this out.

[Midway Tommy D]

I will go have a look.
The same guy is actually the one who referred me to this page to ask about it. All he said was he’s seen another I think on eBay. And it sold for some bigger dollars.
I appreciate all the help from everyone. Just wish I could figure this out.

Old unique and obscure reels require lots of research. Every ORCA member doesn't stop in here everyday. Someone may check in one of these days that knows something or has seen one before, and you never know when that might be. Keep on researching, you may come across a lead.

Regarding a value, just like any other reel or collectible, yours is worth what a motivated buyer is willing to pay on a given day if you're willing to sell it, no matter what anyone else tells you.