Okay, my education continues. From a post a couple weeks ago, you might know that I acquired a Shakespeare 1740 Model HE (1936 model) Tournament Free Spool reel. The reel was delivered, I cleaned it and reassembled it and was duly impressed with nearly everything about the reel. My goal at that point was to acquire a 1740 Model FK (1951 model) to see what improvements were made.
Well, one came available and I got it along with another 1740 HE.
As I do with all of my new acquisitions, I tore the reels down to clean them, and in this case I tore both reels down to see what the difference was between the two Models. I mean there "has" to be some sort of difference or why would they change the Model Number, right?
After I got the two reels cleaned up, I layed the parts side by side to compare. See below.
The Model FK is on the left side of the image.
Comparing the two Models, there are only two differences I see between these two reels. 1) is that the writing on the FK is on the head plate, where the writing on the HE is on the tail plate. 2) the handle nut on the HE is machined for a flathead screwdriver. Other than those two menial changes, there is no difference.
To me they are the same exact reel. Why the Model Number change?
Now, regarding what I don't like about this reel. I hate that Shakespeare placed a spacer bar at the 12-o'clock position. This is a tiny reel and the distance between the rear spacer bar and the upper spacer bar leaves no room for my thumb. If I had designed this reel, I would have placed the upper spacer bar at least at the 1-o'clock position to allow for us fat-thumbed casters to have more access to the spool. Just my $0.02.
Thanks for any thoughts or comments.
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