A.F Meisselback & Bro.Tripart 581 Freespool

bassman77 · Post by **bassman77** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 11:01 pm

I found a Meisselbach 581 Tripart Freespool this weekend. When I turn the handleand stop it the spool continues to spin. It does not appear to disengage by pulling the handle out as I am used to with Shakespeare tournament reels. Is this the design of the Meisselbach Freespool or is this reel in need of repair.

Thank you for your help in advance.

Mel Franklin
ORCA Member

SWIM JIG · Post by **SWIM JIG** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:59 am

jump jump usa Is the reel marked free spool? If so try turning the crank back a half of turn! I will look at several of my free spools in the morning, some did have clutch asembly simlar t a Bronson 25 n free spool! I will advise by 3pm tommorw or its posible Phil white will have the answere, he is the PRO on that reel! Your Ohio Conection On Lake ERIE col milton Lorens aka SWIM JIG

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:29 am

Mel, if you unscrew the headplate-clamping ring and peek inside, you'll see the overrunning clutch

patented by Meisselbach and Pliny Catucci in 1909. It also was used in some Meisselbach saltwater reels. The clutch leaves the spool free until the reel is cranked.

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:18 am

As Steve relates, the reel will free spool automatically until you crank the reel. There are at least three versions of the clutch lever - two fit over the post or stud on the faceplate, and the third is screwed to the gear bridge. Just make sure your reel has the little wire or plate over the stud.

There is a chapter in my new Meisselbach book devoted to these three versions. This book will be similar to the Pflueger Pfacts book and will be available in a month or two. It is 140 pages, with nearly 100 color photographs.

bassman77 · Post by **bassman77** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:57 pm

Thanks to Steve, Reel Geezer and The Colonel. I found the overrunning clutch as you described Steve. You guys are the best! Thanks again for the lesson.

Mel Franklin

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:34 pm

Geezer,
Just checking, but you DO remember that you published a book on Meisselbach a few years ago?

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:45 pm

Fortunately there seems to be no lack of new information about these 60 to 120 year old reels.

Did you know there were 3 versions of the free spool clutch arm?
Do you know there are two versions of the Heddon Dowagiac (Meisselbach Tripart)?
Do you know there are 5 versions of clicks in Meisselbach casting reels?
Are you aware of the Meisselbach reels marketed in Europe?
Do you know Gus Meisselbach's opinion of hand made reels? (as if you couldn't guess)
etc. etc.

There seemed to be 140 pages worth of new information, so I thought it was only nice to share all this with collectors. Plus, I had quite a few people urging me to put this information in print and had put it off for about 2 years.

Post by **john elder** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 9:32 pm

...and did you know that Pliny Catucci got his name because his mom lost a bet?

Harvey · Post by **Harvey** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:48 pm

Ok John, I will bite. Tell us the story!
"H"

SWIM JIG · Post by **SWIM JIG** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:43 am

cool-thumb jump usa and the clutch assembly still looks like a J, A Coxe 25n asembly, it was designed like the old fasion push lawn mower! without a motor! It worked with centrifical force if it was kept clean, Only problem the darn rivits if not clean a lighly oiled would get sloppy and the reel didnt work well, and they are a bear to get new rivits in! Your Ohio Conection on Lake ERIE Col. Milton lorens aka SWIM JIG

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:52 am

Col Milt: You've got it backward. A J. A. Coxe clutch looks like a Meisselbach free spool clutch. jump

And John: I'm sure you know that Pliny Catucci was named after Pliny the Younger, a famous Roman historian (62-113 AD). Pliny had two brothers who were also named after famous thinkers of the Golden Age of Greece and Rome, Virgilio and Homero. They were given their names by their father, who like you, was a school teacher.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:52 am

Catucci was named after Pliny the Elder, the Younger's uncle, who, as a Roman admiral, was well known for trolling from the stern of his trireme. He was killed by the tsunami produced by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius while he was surf fishing.

SWIM JIG · Post by **SWIM JIG** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:34 am

cool-thumb

jump jump usa Phil , your are corect however at 3:30 am when I am working on these reels, hmmmm! who cares? ifin its fits, I use it!?!? I have made some new ones with a trusty file and grinder and cold gun blue! Some call it riggin I calls it a fixin! Again you all gits yourn picture back OK? Now I got to gits to workin or dem dare Charter Captains will keel haul ME! Your Ohio Conection On Lake Erie and the Trout are a hittin in the Vermilion River On WAX WORMS! 7lb largest so far) Col. milton lorens aka SWIM JIG

A.F Meisselback & Bro.Tripart 581 Freespool

A.F Meisselback & Bro.Tripart 581 Freespool

if the reel is marked FREE SPOOL??

Thanks

the clutch assembly!!

Phil, your identy pic is xed out?? and you are corect!