Your thoughts

[corbo]

I have been an ORCA member since before 2010 collecting reels that thankfully after a while I limited it to Meisselbach Amateurs, Featherlights, Experts, and little Hendryx fly and RP bait casters only. Having filled the needed collection holes I have bought only three reels since 2020....so I'm done.
Having watched the vintage reel offerings daily for years, it's my opinion that unless a reel is a high end collectible today it has little collectible value and is not appreciated. Ebay today is not what it was and is a joke/loser for a seller....ok for the buyer.
Unfortunately I have no heirs with interest. I intend to offer those of rarity and higher value on this site for sale shipped n/c and to donate the balance to ORCA over time per my CPA. Love the reels and the knowledge gained when acquiring them.
Dave Corbin

[kyreels]

Dave,

Thanks for being a loyal ORCA member over the years. I think your thoughts are reasonable and reflect what we sometimes see in the reel collecting realm, which is evolving like all areas of antique and vintage items. It goes through cycles and disruption in selling place markets and methods.

My experience over the past 40 years or so is that my collecting interests have evolved to accommodate new lines of collecting. I am influenced by other collections I gain interest in, and sometimes have pursued something totally different. About five years ago for example, I started to collect narrow spool tournament reels. I still have not completed that. Most of these reels are $25 to $50, and most all are under $200 except the early german silver ones.

Good luck with your sale, but hope you still find something to peak your interests. There is always another reel!

[Terry Battisti]

Dave,

I'm sorry to hear this. I just joined this great group as well as got into the "collecting" of reels this past year. I say "collecting" because I've been fishing since I was 4 years old (1968) and have never thrown a piece of tackle away. LOL.

When I started acquiring vintage Langleys last year, I knew it was most likely not going to fund my kid's college in 13 years (yes I have a 5-year old named Oops). Heck, I'll be lucky to break even on them. But the enjoyment they give me tearing them down, cleaning them, putting line on them and casting them is worth it to me. Just to take something someone else thought of as trash and rebuild it gives me a lot of satisfaction. Maybe you're beyond that and maybe I'll get there too.

I still have holes to fill in my "round Langley" casting reel collection and maybe when I finally get those few holes filled, I'll feel the same way. I hope not. It's too fun at this point.

Sorry to hear you're done and also sorry to hear you've no heirs in which to hand them off to. Thank you for offering the reels to people here that would appreciate them and I hope you find something else in the fishing world that gets you excited.

Terry

[Paul Roberts]

It's true that we can't take it all with us. I have a LOT to "pass on" too. But no one will quite appreciate it all as I have, in the same way as I have. I remember, as a 16 yr old, stopping at a garage sale to find an elderly gentleman (truly) selling his decades of fly-tying stuff: jungle cock and polar bear amongst it all; He was an Atlantic salmon fisher. He saw my interest and sold it all (what he had remaining) to me for what I had in my pocket. He could see that I would appreciate it more than most. I understood that then, and have carried that with me. I know my day will come too. In fact, I'll start whittling down the "collection" over time. The thrills I have experienced over nearly a lifetime of angling, hunting, ... are the pay-off. And those thrills will continue for others. I most, simply hope, to contribute to that.

[Midway Tommy D]

Corbo,
I started out thinking if I bought right, at some point in mine, or maybe my wife or kids' life, they would be able to dispose of what I had collected and hopefully make a little profit on that expenditure. It only took me a year or two of collecting to come to the realization, and also have the revelation, that I really didn't care about the final tally when all is said and done and my items are dispersed. The sheer enjoyment I get out of gazing at, occasionally fondling and constantly fishing with those reels I have hoarded and collected is more than adequate compensation in my mind.

Some days I just stand there speechless gazing in amazement at the design, engineering and versatility of many of the reels I have on display. I must admit, though, my wife truly doesn't fully understand that fascination, but she does know that the process is much more user friendly than me spending countless hours in the bar.

[corbo]

Thank you all for your kind words. My passion for these works of art has not and will not wane. The knowledge I have gained particularly with regard to Meisselbach's has been very satisfying. There are no doubt a few I will never part with.

To me it's all about the hunt in life whether it is success in business, a 5lb IN river smallmouth on a fly I tied, or breaking par at my club with bogeys on the last three holes. I smile having done all three but know why. I was nurtured by some very caring great people, and somehow it stuck with me.

At now 75 I remember my Grandfather handing me a fishing rod. We were in a little wooden lapstrake rowboat on Lemon Bay behind his house on Manasota Key in FL....I was 3 yrs old. He had a rake and broke off a clump of oysters and put them in the bottom of the boat. He shucked a couple and gave me one to eat, I did so, and must have turned purple.

I will never forget him laughing. I appreciate oysters today and will always appreciate ORCA.
Corbo

[Jason]

Dave,
I sent you my Meisselbach wish list last year. I'm still looking for an Amateur #3, #11, Expert #20, Expert 33 &
Goodluck 600.

Meisselbach fly reels were the first reels I started collecting 25 years ago. I still think the Experts are the best looking reels ever made.

Jason