I ventured out for a stroll along a creek and spotted this lying on a sand bar. It has a very heavy cast body and all that I could find on it is "Great Lakes" followed by 3 stars and the numeral 1.
Below that it says Lexington, Michigan USA.
Anybody know how old it might be? I can't seem to find a match on a Google Search.
There are no Great Lakes catalogs or other info in the current library. We do have them listed in the alphabetical reference on the public Reel Research page with this notation, relating to rotating spool reels:
GREAT LAKES PRODUCTS, (Detroit, MI and Windsor, ON) reel maker from Lexington, Michigan, made their brand and also many trade reels! Pictured below is a Great Lakes reel that was made for Gambles Auto Supply and branded with their name brand Hiawatha. This style of reel was made in several different colors, we have seen them in green, yellow, red, blue, white and black as seen here. Lakesman was a reel trade name.
Matt Wickham
Collector of Casting Weights, KY Reels and KY Tackle
My first reel, when I was in about second grade (circa 1965), was a Great Lakes bait casting reel. My mom got it for me by saving up S&H Green stamps from groceries purchased at the local A&P and Loblaw’s grocery stores. Now there’s a few nostalgic names.
Mike N wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 8:43 pm
My first reel, when I was in about second grade (circa 1965), was a Great Lakes bait casting reel. My mom got it for me by saving up S&H Green stamps from groceries purchased at the local A&P and Loblaw’s grocery stores. Now there’s a few nostalgic names.
My mother was a manager of our local S&H Green Stamp store for years when I was a kid !! She used to bring me home RETURNED or broken fishing gear and I still have a lot of it. First time I have thought about S&H Green Stamps for years it brings back many memories !! Thanks John Taylor
“The Great Lakes Model 1 spincast reel was manufactured in the 1950’s for stores like Montgomery Wards, Sears & Roebuck, and J.C. Penny. You don't often see them branded with just Great Lakes. That is unique.”
DexDawg wrote: ↑Fri Jan 28, 2022 9:24 am
“The Great Lakes Model 1 spincast reel was manufactured in the 1950’s for stores like Montgomery Wards, Sears & Roebuck, and J.C. Penny. You don't often see them branded with just Great Lakes. That is unique.”
Curious, where did that info/opinion come from?
Love those Open Face Spinning Reels!(Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco)
