Possible Prototype Reel posted on Joe's Board

[Teal]

Michael Satula posted a reel on Joe's Board he's looking for some info on ... with his permission here is his post and photos:

Hello. This reel along with a display of labeled parts was found in Florida. I tried to post pics, but it seems my IQ does not warrant the execution. I would appreciate it if anyone can ID the reel or give their thoughts on whether it was factory or gifted machinist manufactured. I can provide pics. Thanks Joe.









Here's a link to his post:

http://www.joesoldlures.com/wwwboard//m ... 85121.html

[wrong99]

A lot of Bronson components on this reel (foot, jeweled caps, main gearing and crank handle).
Mark

[Midway Tommy D]

From someone who knows zilch about level winds I find that line guide configuration interesting. Never seen one quite like that before.

[Teal]

It appears to me like someone used components from existing reels to save time in creating a novel level wind device. Pretty darn cool.

-- Dr. Todd

[john elder]

Went to school off Heddon with that “windshield wiper” levelwind… cute!

[Steve]

A fair number of "windshield-wiper" LWs have been invented. See The Reel News, Vol. XIII, No. 1, January, 2003, pp. 4-7 Tough to say without being able to view the mechanism clearly, but there's a decent chance the reel includes Samuel Russell's LW. Russell worked for Shakespeare. Other possibilities are the Tschus and the Miller.

This helps, but not enough:

[Lynn Thomas]

I'll toss the "Aqua Sportsman" in the mix. It has somewhat of a windshield wiper effect level wind. Lynn Thomas

[Teal]

There's definitely a Bal-Cli feel to this reel which also points to Shakespeare.

-- Dr. Todd

[Mike N]

The jewelling on the reel side plate is very similar to the method gunsmiths use to customize the barrels of pistols, such as the Model 1911. I have seen this done on Colt Gold Cup National Match .45s, for instance. I would not be surprised if the maker was not also a gunsmith or had a similar connection.

[john elder]

Mike was kind enough to send along this very interesting baitcaster for a closer look at components and mechanism. Below is a pictorial of what I found when opened it up.

First of all, the look of the reel reminds of any number of baitcasters from the '60's (mainly), but close exam failed to yield anything that one could declare as identical to a known example:























So all you good ORCAns have a look and see what you can spot that I've missed. My conclusion is that the reel was made by a good machinist that had spent a lot time thinking about this design. Still the closest I have seen to this type of mechanism is that employed in the Heddon 4-18 reel. One key will be to see how it behaves in attempts to cast it. I'll report in if I can manage a cast without a 10 minute backlash.

[Teal]

Can't wait to see how it casts. Amazing job!!!

-- Dr. Todd

[john elder]

Well, back together, cleaned and lubed… and it just passed an important test. There is some bias toward the middle but it did a serviceable job in distributing line when loading. Tests of casting in the morning!

[Paul Roberts]

Will be interesting to hear how it goes.

[john elder]

Things went better than expected:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bru8rrq3e4urd ... 5.MOV?dl=0

The Reel is tight enough that i would not be setting any distance records. However, i casted to 40-50’ without any backlashes, so i would certainly fish it. One disadvantage of having that plexy shield is that its difficult to lubricate the levelwind mechanism on the fly. I would add a small access hole at either end and in the middle to facilitate oiling.

[Steve]

And the Oscar for the Best Short Documentary on Baitcasting with a Windshield-Wiper Level Wind goes to...

[wrong99]

The bearing caps are Bronson.

[john elder]

Thanks, Mark! I suspect this handle is Bronson too?



Any other parts that strongly suggest Bronson? The machining of the sideplates may well have been done later. Is the shape reminiscent of a particular model? I don’t think the size would be compatible with an Invader.

[Paul Roberts]

The handle and caps look like those on a Bronson Mercury I have. The spacers smack of Shakespeare.

[Steve]

Ta-da!


For the whole story, read the patent.

As usual, the idea was not without precedent. The same idea was used in a yarn-winding machine, a seed planter, and even a fishing reel before Miller filed.

Miller worked for Babcock Aircraft, and after WWII, he drilled water wells.

[john elder]

Wow, you are, indeed, da man, Steve! Great job of sleuthing! Please educate us on how you went about digging this one out. “Levelwind” would not have yielded anything you hadn’t already turned up in your book research, evennthough you concentrated on mych earlier work. What key words led the way??

[kyreels]

Adding the text Joe Wheeler Miller patent reel (JW Miller) to the thread for future searching purposes.

[Teal]

Steve you never cease to amaze. That is an incredible bit of sleuthing. Wow. And we were just talking about patent models!

-- Dr. Todd

[40fordflathead]

This whole thread is very cool. Thank you all.

[Midway Tommy D]

When it comes to reel patent research there ain't nobody better than Mr. Vernon! Well done "Your"!

[Steve]

Please educate us on how you went about digging this one out.

Dr. Baits, I was looking for patents of machines that another reelmaker invented. Miller's patent was lurking in the middle of a list of 650 patents of machines that used similar mechanisms. Like Johnny Cash, I try to keep my eyes wide open all the time ...and there it was. And thanks, Gents, happy to have helped. Also happy that Miller applied for a patent.