Penn Surfmaster 200 Variations

[BigSpur]

I recently purchased two Penn Surfmaster 200s. The strange thing is that one is much wider than the other. The stand on one is a 30-200 as would be expected. The other is 30-66, much more narrow.

Were there variants of the 200 or did someone mix and match parts?

[m3040c]

All in all, there are four different Surfmasters. They are the Models 150, 200 & 250 shown here in the 1946 catalog, and later the small Model 100.

[BigSpur]

Are the handle sides interchangeable? My handle sides are both marked 200 but the reels are different widths.

[m3040c]

Are the handle sides interchangeable? My handle sides are both marked 200 but the reels are different widths.

Head and tail plates on the Models 100, 150 and 200 are all interchangeable. Only the Model 250 is a larger side plate reel. So, if you take the spool, stand and cross bars off a Model 200 (wide reel), you can use the spool, stand and cross bars off a model 100 to make a narrow reel with a Model 200 head plate. That was commonly done.

Penn did this with a few different models. It enabled the manufacture to offer different size reel with off the shelf interchangeable parts. Everything thing remains the same except the logo on the head plate, spools, cross bars and stand (foot), creating different width models.

When a reel is used, the interchange does not matter. If a model becomes a collectible reel, like reels from the 1930's and 1940's. Reels built with the improper logo plates deeply affect the collectible value of the reel.

[BigSpur]

Outstanding. That’s exactly what I was looking for. I appreciate the insight.

[m3040c]

Outstanding. That’s exactly what I was looking for. I appreciate the insight.

You are welcome, and welcome to ORCA.