Ocean City fans?

Araye50 · Post by **Araye50** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 2:17 pm

Have accidently collected a few Ocean City reels & just picked up another that is fairly unusual. I've found scant information on Ocean City, most interesting was the 1923 starting date for the company. Ebay might be the best source I've found so far, but I could not find any Ocean City like mine there. Wondering if we have any Ocean City fans here who can help answer some questions and/or direct me to websites devoted to OC?

My new acquisition is unusual in several features. It is a 250 yard model apparently called Ocean City by it's brass 'coin' name plate riveted (2) on the crank sideplate. It is also a 'bayonette' single screw quick take down style reel. It has oilers similar to Pflueger, w/rotating holed covers, on crank & spool. It has a round chromed plate supporting the crank & spool shafts, screwed onto the side plate w/2 screws from inside & 2 from outside. Also an odd gray & black marbled plastic knob in the shape of a trumpet mouthpiece. It is spooled w/braided copper over fiber trolling line.

It is otherwise normal OC style w/tip out free spool lever tripped by handle, handle wrench held w/fat counter balance screw, & a 'spider' under back plate bearing adjustment.

Post by **Brian F.** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 4:12 pm

Here's a recent discussion on Ocean City reels and reference to a back issue of the Reel News with some info:

http://reeltalk.orcaonline.org/viewtopi ... ocean+city

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 9:01 pm

This might be a relevant place to place a notice that I have posted a comprehensive Index to the first 10 years of the ORCA Newsletter and The Reel News on my web site, Old Fishing Stuff. The remaining 4 years should be posted next month. This Index will also be available on the Fishing Reel Research Organization web site when completed.

According to the index there were 6 articles about Ocean City and OC Reels between 1991 and 2001.

Incidentally, the 1923 startup date for the company came from one of my reel sales. I have sold all my OC surf casting reels, other than the Hermos ones, in the past several months.

The index can be found here: http://orcaonline.org/images/pixel.gif? ... _index.htm

Araye50 · Post by **Araye50** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 1:13 pm

Reel Geezer, is this website some part of one of your reel sales?

http://www.oldreels.com/ocean_city.htm

That is where I found the 1923 startup date, just happens to be the year my Dad was born.

Incidentally, the 1923 startup date for the company came from one of my reel sales.

That website had some of the better Ocean City information I've found to date.

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 9:52 pm

Yes, that is my website.

Araye50 · Post by **Araye50** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:27 am

A gracious member generously provided photocopies of the key Ocean City articles to help answer my questions. To avoid any possibility of conflict I'd like to thank him here anonymously & also thank Gary Quick for authoring the OC info. The articles were very interesting to be sure, but may have raised more questions than they answered. I've also acquired another old OC reel that created new questions. This Bay City is an early wood handle version & 1st I'd seen w/name & maker stamped into the bottom of the chromed seat.

Does anyone know when OC introduced the 'coin' name emblems?

Does anyone know when OC introduced the pull out FS?

Does anyone know when OC introduced the handle wrench?

An odd feature of the old Bay City is that the otherwise identical S shaped handle is assembled backwards to all the others. Wonder if that was an error or another running change?

Wonder if I'll ever see 1 of the early Club OC reels or Far Kast models? The Dover Club has the unusual chromed plate attached to the head plate as my Ocean City. Can I presume that the odd Far Kast device is raised & lowered by the adjusting wheel?