JB Moscrops- "Heavyweight"- Is it real or fake?

[ttrotter]

This is my first post to this board, and what a great way to begin! Ive read all I can find on this much discussed question, but Ive got one of the things in my hand and I still am unsure if it is the real thing or a fake.

The drag mechanism works perfectly and is very smooth. The handle is bone or horn and is not attached in any from the front-only by a rivet from the back of the spool. The backplate disc (thru which the double sided pin goes) has crisp engraving (or pressed) "J B Moscrops Patent Manchester". Tolerances of the spool to frame are very close, particularly the inside spool plate to the backplate- also very even as I wind the reel. The hollow centrepost appears very slightly tapered where it comes out thru the faceplate of the spool. The reel foot is secured with 5 rivets (very smooth on the underside of the foot) but clearly potruding on the plate on the frame. I can barely make out the letters "___SCROPS MANCHESTER"
on the underside of the foot. The check mechanism is not strong, but does function.

This thing weighs in at 10.4 ozs, is 3 1/2" in diameter, 1 1/4" wide. The reel foot is tapered at both ends and measures 3" X 10/16"

Having said all that, here goes with some pics:

















When I look inside this thing, it just doesnt ring true for me!

I apologize in advance for the length of this post! All opinions will be welcome. Many Thanks to all.

Tom - ps when I previewed this post, I reazixed that Ive got to move the thing from side to side to read it and view it. This drives me crazy- how can I size it when posting to fit on the screen!

[Ron Mc]

Tom, resize your photos to no more than 600 pixels wide.

(you don't even have to edit your post if you replace the photos in your photoserver,
if you delete the existing files then use the same filenames on the smaller files.
When I do this I'll add a new folder to my drive to keep both the large originals, and smaller filtered photos by the same filenames)

I would be surprised if that reel is a fake.
The replica reels I've seen have all been bright and clean.
That seems to be an honest hundred-years collection of dirt on your reel.
I also don't believe they would make a replica in this larger size.

[Dustnstuff]

I must say the pictures are great. Nice job.
Now about the reel. I have a number of these reels and in reviewing the photos I am concerned. (Or confussed might be a better word).
The Moscrop I have has a five rivets holding the foot on,(as does yours) but on my sample, the rivets are pressure fit with the heads even and flat. The rivets on your reel look like they were hammered on.
These reels were mostly made by Allcock and show very fine workmanship.
There are some members of this group from Europe who have studied this company and know a lot more then I. Maybe one of them will chime in.
Dustnstuff