Pics of Milt's Excellent Zebco Adventure

[john elder]

Here are three pics of Milt getting a chance to fiddle with all those Zebco prototypes..!

[john elder]

I reposted Milt's Pics...he assures me that he will add the commentary...didn't you, Milt!

[Robin Sayler]

Thanks for reposting them. I was in the rat hole with Milt saturday and they didn't come up but I did get the commentary and I think he should post it for everyone

[SWIM JIG]

cool-thumb jump jump jump usa Well the first pic is us working on the new Quantum Bait casting reels, and those Blasted Left handed ones at that, Don is standing over us , he is from Alberta Canada and owns a warrenty service in Calgary , ken is wondering about his reel, I am praying that I will wake up frome this Lefthanded nightmare Or that someone will (SAVE ME)! Oic #2 at last saved by Clint Beeler sr. he has brought in all the ZEBCO PROTO TYPE REELS thats in the Archives! NOW I AM BOSS HOG! The one no one ever could get the back off was easy for me! Don is watching and My Boss Carol Grisham is now my helper! Clint is in his Glory! and saved me from that left handed Quntumn bait caster! The fun begins! Pic the Don is standing over Myself and Ken another warenty center owner, well i finaly found out how to work on that LEFT HAND REEL! My bos Carol is happy, I now will keep my warenty center status! Now let me get back to the real reels! those wonderful PROTO TYPES! My next reward for doing a decent job on all the new reels beside being able to keep my warrenty status! My boss Carol presented me with her 50th year 33 gold imbosed under glass reel! and what a reel it is! It now rest in the upstairs living room for all to see ahead of my mori Bronze of the boy fishing about 1756- 59 era! No he cant use the 33! I am certainly looking foward to next year, rumer has it there is going to be a fishing Contest! after all,ZEBCO owns some nice lakes! And to you Young Guy! welcome To The(RAT HOLE ) anytime! We acn thank John Elder Of California for posting the pics! And for the rest of the viewers, when in the Area , make certain to visit the ZEBCO Musium and most likly Clinton or Carol will give you a personal tour! and the Vist the Carl whaite Musium at the Tulsa Sea Live complex! I am very happy to share this with all of you ORCANS, Your ohio conection on Lake Erie Col. Milton lorens aka SWIM JIG

[Brian F.]

Great photos, Milt, and thanks for sharing your visit!

[clinton_beeler]

Hi Guys,

We had fun with Milt! He and father met on wednesday and hit it off right away. While looking through the museum he became the first person to notice that one of the Cardinal reels doesn't have a foot number. Hey Milt, was that a 4 or a 6 (I've heard it both ways)? Father has a 3 with no number and we know that both reels came that way from the factory. What's up with that?

Thursday father took me out to the port facility where the repairs are done. Remember Steve Vernon's article on the spin cast reels? There was a patent drawing for the model 33. First you make the reel, then the drawing from the reel. I brought in a suitcase full of prototypes and began lining them up in front of Milt. He was speechless! (it was hillarious!) Father stood on one side of him, I was on the other, and we were both talking to him at the same time. Just when he was good and distracted I put that reel in front of him and noted that it had never been apart (and wouldn't you like to have a peek inside?).

I distinctly recall him saying "I should be numbering these screws".

Hey Milt, have you figured out how to get that thing back together yet?

That was actually the second prototype of the 33. We took the first one apart too. It had never really worked very well but Milt got it lubricated and said that the spinnerhead was made by Pfleuger! (and there are differences between that one and a production spinnerhead)

With all the prototypes lined up in a row you can see the development of the spinnerhead clearly (that was fun).

I must appologize for playing phone tag with the historical society. We missed being able to see their stuff by about 10 minutes.

On friday Milt came by the house and looked at my humble collection. Then he looked at my documentation. He said that I have five books worth of material here (probably true). By the way, the guy in the second picture with the vest on is father.

Father gave Milt one of the twelve model 1970 salesman's samples NIB. I could name where half of those reels are.

Milt, do you really have the spare parts box for those? If so you might want to keep it safe as I doubt that any others still exist!

Carol gave Milt one of the 50th anniversary 33s. They only made 1000 of those and they came in a lucite display case. (father has number 10) The engraving on the front cover is very nice indeed.

Warmest Regards,
Clinton

[el Lawrence]

Almost a Where's Waldo? for Orcans... Where's Milt? lol lol... for them that don't know... Col. Milt is the one in the white cap in photo #1.

I enjoyed reading the accounts and now seeing the photos... I think hearing of someones visit to another ORCAns collection (rat hole, etc.) is a real (or reel) treat. We can all talk about our own collections but having someone else give the tour is even better... gives a whole new prespective. Sort of doubles the fun.

[SWIM JIG]

cool-thumb jump jump yay-banana jump usa Clinton, the reel they have in the Zebco Musium is a#4) no sn. mine is a #6, yes your dad and I stopped the first day for a few Hrs! after all reels are to importent to listen to a (NEW KID) Wanting to make reels WITH NO PARTS! If they get broke! (You mised that part> )I rode that guy so hard he must have Ulsers by now! I just told him that if they were going to make JUNK with No parts then dont put ZEBCOs name on it! after I whipped him down, your dad let him have it! That was FUN! Then we took the Tour and your Dad took us into the ZEBCO Musium he put together, I noticed the (4) with no # he said would you bet on it? certanly I said then he looked. Next I found the Zebco Langly with a bad level wind worm, I said give it to me so I can fix it! Next day it was fixed and its back in the musium! He was very happy! As for that 50th anaversery reel of Carols, I had that thing brushing against me for 2 days, ( I had to have one of those reels) money wouldnt buy it! She drove me NUTS with it! hers was 266 of 1000, well as you Know Its now mine to take care of! Upon my passing over to that huge trout farm in the sky, well the card says where and whom to return it to! her card and address is in the box, those handles are ROSE WOOD! Clint, your dad and I have a lot in common, he came by the room, and gave me the 1970 clear see thru reel, You can rest asured its in a safe spot, however over 2200 + people saw it at the Holy Mackeral Tackle Show this past 4 days! As for your collection? hey there isnt a ORCA member that wouldnt be happy with your items( PS I fixed the Messelbach you gave me, I had parts to put it together and IT works as when it was NEW! I will bring it to Tulsa next year! as for those Manuals and Photos etc? Well young man , you best start on the BOOKS yes BOOKS as thats all the history of ZEBCO, ( Note to you ORCAns, holding those books, I could actualy feel the vibrations of the Company when R.D. Hull and Clint ran it! ( It was like that feeling I had a few years back at Dawaijiac when we set up in the Headon Plant! ) Clint, you can be certain next year I am Going to wear out my welcome! ha ha , and you will need to get yourself a nice lockable cabinet with a glass front so all can view those reels! Clint I also got word next year Carol is planing a FISHING CONTEST! HMM! To all you ORCAns, you should make the ZEBCO Factory a point of visitation as you, in my opinion wont find a happier or nicer group of people anywhere! I never saw one unhapy face , all the employes worked together and all of them knew their positions and could talk about it with ease! And Clinton, remeber that Proto Type came apart with ease! seems as if R.D.Hull was guiding my hands! When I get caught up with a backlog of work, I will get the reel repaired , lubed and running as R.d. HULL wanted it, then I will send it back To you! Again to all the Zebco Folks thanks for putting up with me , looking foward to 2007! Your Ohio Conection on Lake Erie Col. Milton Lorens aka SWIM JIG

[john elder]

Here's another Pic of Milt and his "boss".

[SWIM JIG]

cool-thumb jump jump jump yay-banana usa canadian Well now the story can be told! Carol dosent talk about herself very often, however is one of the folks that help set up the anual warenty meetings to see that we are (Trained ) on repair of the new model Reels) She was and still is a prety good repair person, before she went into the Warrenty service side of ZEBCO! Carol, I admit now it was I that put the right handed anti rev bearing assembly in your parts pile on that blasted left hand bait caster! thats why it only turned backwards, also I (modified your ceramic drags ! Ok so you will get back at me nrxt year! ha ha not in your best day! People Carol goes way out of her way to make certain all of us that do warrenty work know these reels as well as the factory, after all we are factory warrenty centers your first point of contact after you buy a ZEBCO REEL! No , you wont talk to a off shore phone bank, you will talk to grumpy ME or others that have the Warrenty shops! Carol , her husban and daughter live in the Tulsa area, john has a super Big ford Pick up that ke hauls the faimly 4 wheeler around in, their daughter now enjoys the park Carol grew up in! I hope to get some fishing i with John next year, Carol is or should be a bonified ORCAn , what does she colect? besides ZEBCOs? I am not telling! Clint you can tell if you like! Your ohio Conection on Lake Erie , Col. Milton lorens aka SWIM JIG