New Collection

[Chad J]

I pretty recently started collecting vintage reels and wanted to share with you all in hopes of dating them and maybe gain some knowledge as to what I have here.

Langley Lakecast Model 350
Pflueger Summit No.1993
Pflueger Akron No.1893
Unbranded steel reel
Unbranded bakelite reel

[Chad J]

[kyreels]

Chad, welcome. You have started on the vintage baitcasting reel collecting journey. My first collector reel interest was Pflueger. You have some nice reels going. How are you searching them out? What made you choose these particular reels?

[oc1]

There are so many vintage reels available that it is wise to focus on only one maker or one type or one something. It provides focus and a goal. Otherwise, it will get out of hand.

[RonG]

Hey Chad, you have listed your reels pretty much in order of being collectable. Langley's are nice reels. Pflueger reels are easier to come by in general. Your last two reels are inexpensive models with maker unknown. Maybe someone can help ID them.

If you are an ORCA member, you can go to the ORCA library online and look through the Langley and Pflueger catalogs to find all the information about their reels.

[Richard Lodge]

As Ron said, if you are a member there are a lot of resources available on our website. One places to search would be on the Reel News Member Index Online. Searching by keyword (Langley or Pflueger) would bring up quite a few articles from past issues of The Reel News, our member magazine.

[Chad J]

Chad, welcome. You have started on the vintage baitcasting reel collecting journey. My first collector reel interest was Pflueger. You have some nice reels going. How are you searching them out? What made you choose these particular reels?

I first came across a Plueger Capitol locally on OfferUp that was in good shape for only $10 and bought it. And, I've always like "old stuff", fishing and tinkering...so, it seemed like a fairly inexpensive hobby to fulfill all those things. I've picked up a couple dozen or so more since. I seem to be drawn to the Pflueger, Langley and Shakespeare reels but there are some other odd balls that are just too cool to pass up.

[Chad J]

There are so many vintage reels available that it is wise to focus on only one maker or one type or one something. It provides focus and a goal. Otherwise, it will get out of hand.

Agree.
I'm sure at some point soon, my search will become more focused. Right now, I'm just "playing the field", so to speak.

[Chad J]

Hey Chad, you have listed your reels pretty much in order of being collectable. Langley's are nice reels. Pflueger reels are easier to come by in general. Your last two reels are inexpensive models with maker unknown. Maybe someone can help ID them.

If you are an ORCA member, you can go to the ORCA library online and look through the Langley and Pflueger catalogs to find all the information about their reels.

Thank you. Will definitely look into it. But people like pics and talking about reels.

[Chad J]

As Ron said, if you are a member there are a lot of resources available on our website. One places to search would be on the Reel News Member Index Online. Searching by keyword (Langley or Pflueger) would bring up quite a few articles from past issues of The Reel News, our member magazine.

Will do, thanks.

[mark bumgarner]

Chad, Welcome to ORCA! The last two reels in your pictures are Bronson reels. The next to last reel appears to be a Bronson Arrow Jr. #4400, manufactured 1935-59, and the last reel is an Early Bronson Altoona #4200 manufactured 1934-41, the square shouldered crank handle puts it in the earlier years. All of this information is in the ORCA Bronson Site.
You can find a world of info on the website as mentioned above, takes a little time navigating the site to discover all that is offered here. Again welcome aboard and collect whatever strikes your eye it will come to you.

Bummy

[Chad J]

Chad, Welcome to ORCA! The last two reels in your pictures are Bronson reels. The next to last reel appears to be a Bronson Arrow Jr. #4400, manufactured 1935-59, and the last reel is an Early Bronson Altoona #4200 manufactured 1934-41, the square shouldered crank handle puts it in the earlier years. All of this information is in the ORCA Bronson Site.
You can find a world of info on the website as mentioned above, takes a little time navigating the site to discover all that is offered here. Again welcome aboard and collect whatever strikes your eye it will come to you.

Bummy

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

[Terry Battisti]

Chad, welcome! I'll jump in here on the Langley 350. Most of this information I have gleened from Alan Baracco, Colby Sorrells, and Nello Artmstrong's book, Langley Field Tested Tackle.

That reel is a generation 1 350. You can tell by the handle screw, the spool only having three ports per row, plus the letter A is missing on the model number. Your reel was made between 1947 and 1950. After that, Langley went with a handle nut on all their reels (or until they ran out of short gear shafts and handle screws) and started putting in the 5-port per row spool. Also of note, the reel was discontinued in 1951 but most likely brought back into the lineup after that.

Value of this reel is anywhere between $10 and maybe $25 for a real nice one with box, cloth bag, tool and paperwork.

These gearbox reels are not as high quality as the 310, 330, and the 340. Based on my limited experience (I have only been collecting Langley for a little over a year) for every 350, 360, 370, and 380 I have bought, 90% of them have a loose main gear shaft that cannot be fixed unless you have a press and the die needed to tighten the shaft back into the main headplate. This means to fix the reel, you have to find a headplate that isn't broken, which is very difficult to find.

On the 310, 330, and 340, the main gear shaft is located on the yoke, and if it loosens, all you have to do is find one and they aren't too hard to find.

I noticed that you're missing two screws on the tail plate. Send me a message with your address and I'll send you a couple new ones. terry.battisti@gmail.com

Good luck with your collecting!

Terry

[Chad J]

Chad, welcome! I'll jump in here on the Langley 350. Most of this information I have gleened from Alan Baracco, Colby Sorrells, and Nello Artmstrong's book, Langley Field Tested Tackle.

That reel is a generation 1 350. You can tell by the handle screw, the spool only having three ports per row, plus the letter A is missing on the model number. Your reel was made between 1947 and 1950. After that, Langley went with a handle nut on all their reels (or until they ran out of short gear shafts and handle screws) and started putting in the 5-port per row spool. Also of note, the reel was discontinued in 1951 but most likely brought back into the lineup after that.

Value of this reel is anywhere between $10 and maybe $25 for a real nice one with box, cloth bag, tool and paperwork.

These gearbox reels are not as high quality as the 310, 330, and the 340. Based on my limited experience (I have only been collecting Langley for a little over a year) for every 350, 360, 370, and 380 I have bought, 90% of them have a loose main gear shaft that cannot be fixed unless you have a press and the die needed to tighten the shaft back into the main headplate. This means to fix the reel, you have to find a headplate that isn't broken, which is very difficult to find.

On the 310, 330, and 340, the main gear shaft is located on the yoke, and if it loosens, all you have to do is find one and they aren't too hard to find.

I noticed that you're missing two screws on the tail plate. Send me a message with your address and I'll send you a couple new ones. terry.battisti@gmail.com

Good luck with your collecting!

Terry

Email sent. Thanks.

[Paul9591]

I pretty recently started collecting vintage reels and wanted to share with you all in hopes of dating them and maybe gain some knowledge as to what I have here.

Langley Lakecast Model 350
Pflueger Summit No.1993
Pflueger Akron No.1893
Unbranded steel reel
Unbranded bakelite reel

You are begining a wonderful (but dangerous...lol!) journey Chad J.

I just recently (past year or so) got into collecting those little Pfluegers, and I have around 15 so far; particularly the very onamental Summits, so I certainly approve of your choices there, mind you, not before I had amassed a healthy collection of Mitchell's, ABU's, Mepps, and Intrepid's, including a few old random reels (need a bigger house!).

Enjoy!

[Eric J]

Nice start to a great collection! You’re right, guys like to look at pictures and talk about reels. So….if you are in the mood to talk about reels you should come to the ORCA Nationals next month. I’m sure you can register your membership there. BTW did you find the spare pawl on your Pfluegers?

[Chad J]

Nice start to a great collection! You’re right, guys like to look at pictures and talk about reels. So….if you are in the mood to talk about reels you should come to the ORCA Nationals next month. I’m sure you can register your membership there. BTW did you find the spare pawl on your Pfluegers?

I did find the spare...and was very excited to do so. Ingenious.