Help me ID this unique Reel. Clear side plate -

[Biggamereels1988]

All I know is I saw a clear side plate and thought it was super cool. Now it’s part of the collection… uhmmm what is it?

[Lynn Thomas]

Bronson ? Home made replacement end plate

[Biggamereels1988]

Yeah looks like a Home made piece. I just love it when someone has to fix or modify a reel to get back out! Shows you how many fish this bad boy reeled in… What an amazing piece. All the memories for only $27

[Biggamereels1988]

Yeah I’ve looked at every single Bronson reel I could find and nothing resembles this at all. Is this one the one that stumps all the Reel Guys..?

[Lynn Thomas]

Reel ID : Google up Bronson Salt Water Reels. Check out The early Jolly Roger -No 1200 A or 1200 B. Produced in 1939.

[Biggamereels1988]

Lynn, I’ve looked at every example of the early Bronson including the Jolly. The front plate is unlike any they have put out.

[Biggamereels1988]

I’ve never see the posts between the foot before.

[oc1]

Bakelite side plates are molded. The clear side plate shows tool marks where it was turned on a lathe. It is not a factory part.

[Biggamereels1988]

That’s what we know. Still don’t know what reel the sideplate went too. There’s speculation of an experimental Bronson reel.

[oc1]

It's a one-off. The original side plate cracked (perhaps from over-tightening the tension knob). The center pivot was removed. Then, a piece of plexiglass was turned to specs and the center pivot tapped into place. It's not a complicated piece. Anyone with a small lathe and drill press could make it.

[m3040c]

It is a Bronson Corsair (small 150-yard model) style head plate. The one you pictured must be an early, low-end version. It is a knuckle buster. The free spool lever mounting it there but not used and of course there is no drag, the mold style of the head plate is unmistakable small Bronson saltwater reel, as is the cross bars and stand.



I suspect, whoever made the tail plate did not want to bother with the extra work of including a clicker button and riveting a spring into his work.