alpha reel

[go]

IAM JUST STARTING TO COLLECT REELS AND FISHING GEAR AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT THE ALPHA REELS. THIS ONE I HAVE IS BROWNY RED IN COLOR AND LOOKS LIKE A FLY REEL.

[fish collector NZ]

Alpha reels are made in Australia, and are similar design to reels made by the Alvey company. Alvey are the icon of Australian reels makers. Like Alvey, Alpha reels are a simple centre pin design, that give years of trouble free use, and require little maintance. I am guessing your one has a bakerlite spool, and chrome back plate, as all Alhpas I have seen are like this. Alvey however made some early reels with a woodern spool, as well as bakerlite, and are now using fibreglass for the spools. Most Alphas have a fixed reel seat, and can be used for fresh or salt water use. I have large Alpha reel that rotates at the reel seat this allows the spool to swivel 90 degrees for casting, and is a surf casting reel. Most Alvey reels on the other hand have the swiveling reel seat, and only a few models that are fixed. Both brands are good robust fish fighters, and I fish both regularly. However in New Zealand and Austrailia these reels are as common as muck, and not considered as collectibles except the very early Alveys with a cast metal back plate that were nickle plated (the more common ones have a pressed metal back plate that is chromed). My personal passion is early Penn reels, and I have a L A R G E collection, the earliest is a Model F.