Belmont 3123500 Bronson reel made for Sears

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mark bumgarner
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Belmont 3123500 Bronson reel made for Sears

Post by mark bumgarner »







Pictured is a Sears Belmont 3123500 made by Bronson. All the info I find says this reel has plain head and tail plates, however this reel has the engraved fishing scene on both head and tail and also the engraved crank. I have surveyed all the Sears Roebuck catalogs I can find on the web and can't even find a 3500 or 3600 reel. I did find an engraved reel in a Sears Roebuck 1942 Spring and Summer catalog listed as item 3125, which matches an empty box I have. The catalog picture is faint and I can not make out any model info on the reel itself. Our Bronson page mentions this oddity but I fear it is with some skepticism so if anyone can clear this up PLEASE DO!
I ran across a web site, Fishing4thepast.com, which advertised the 3600 and 3500 came in a box marked 3125 in the Canadian market. I have no reason to doubt anyone more honed than myself, also this would mean I have a box for the reel.


Last edited by mark bumgarner on Fri Dec 17, 2021 11:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
wrong99
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Re: Belmont 3123500 Bronson reel made for Sears

Post by wrong99 »

Mark,
Our website is in error, sorry. I'll need to correct it shortly. The first four photos are of the 312.3500. The last two photos are of the 312.3600.
Mark
wrong99
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Re: Belmont 3123500 Bronson reel made for Sears

Post by wrong99 »

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, Mark. The listing in our website has been corrected.
Mark
mark bumgarner
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Re: Belmont 3123500 Bronson reel made for Sears

Post by mark bumgarner »

Thanks Mark
I added a couple additional pics I found on ebay showing a plain 3500 and an ornate 3600. I am wondering if the difference in model numbers is the ABL. Further investigation required!
Back to the box issue, I have found the Sears 3125 catalog # used for the Belmont reel in 1942 and then the same 3125 catalog # for an Ocean City 2000 in the 1949 catalog so it reinforces the idea that the 3500 and 3600 may very well came in this box also.
Boy, never thought I would spend so much time on such a common reel, but here we are.
wrong99
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Re: Belmont 3123500 Bronson reel made for Sears

Post by wrong99 »

Read the paragraphs at the top of the Sears reels page, which explains that the Sears numbering system is basically unexplainable. Reels were stamped with Sears catalog stock numbers, while the boxes were stamped with the Store stock numbers. Makes sense, right? As for the 3500 and 3600 models, both pre-war, Sears could have reversed the numbers every year up until the war, for all we know. Crazy. I'll go back in the site in the morning and probably change it to each model can be found either engraved or plain, and be done with it. Madness. Thanks again, Mark, and keep an eye on my listings after Christmas and have a Merry one.
Mark
Paul Roberts
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Re: Belmont 3123500 Bronson reel made for Sears

Post by Paul Roberts »

Isn’t this reel a SB and made by Shakespeare? Where does Bronson come in? Thanks.
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wrong99
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Re: Belmont 3123500 Bronson reel made for Sears

Post by wrong99 »

Bronson built all the "Belmont" reels exclusively for Sears. Visit ORCA's Bronson website under "Reels Made For Sears".
mark bumgarner
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Re: Belmont 3123500 Bronson reel made for Sears

Post by mark bumgarner »

Yes I agree Mark, MADNESS, CRAZY, $#%@%%%, but I think it worked out well for Sears Roebuck for a good spell.
The ABL bail makes one think South Bend, as it was their innovation, however, others quickly caught on to its popularity.

Mark I am always watching your listings, and if they gave awards for 2nd place I would need more walls.
CASE CLOSED
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
Paul Roberts
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Re: Belmont 3123500 Bronson reel made for Sears

Post by Paul Roberts »

wrong99 wrote: Sat Dec 18, 2021 9:36 am Bronson built all the "Belmont" reels exclusively for Sears. Visit ORCA's Bronson website under "Reels Made For Sears".
Thanks, Mark.

I have a question about the AB bail apparatus I'll start another thread for.
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