A&I reel question

[Mike Campouris]

I would like to get some thoughts on a A&I reel I have, I'm not sure if it's the real deal or if someone has stamped it. It looks just like some of the early brass reels I have except that there is a hole on the side of the spool that a pin goes thru when you move the lever and causes the reel to stop, the others have a bar the rides against the spool and it just slows the spool down, the only other difference is the stamp on the reel, the others are unmarked, thanks for any help and I hope the link shows up. Mike
http://orcaonline.org/images/pixel.gif?8653148

[Steve]

Mike, the logo was A&I's first and was used from 1875 to 1883, according to Mary Kefover Kelly's article in Fishing Collectibles Magazine, Summer, 1992, pg. 18. At the time, stops like that were not too uncommon, though most little reels like yours included the pin brakes you describe. And they were still making external stops--rods that slid sideways on the frame and engaged holes in the cranks to keep them from rotating. As to the maker, your guess is as good as anyone's. Maybe someone has an identifiable reel with a tailplate groove or internal features like yours.

[Mike Campouris]

Thanks for the info Steve !

[Lillawill]

Hi Mike

This is a really sweet little reel. Thank you for showing it, unique reels like this are always nice to see. Especially with the great pictures you sent along.

I was going to post a question to the members but your reel makes it a great opprotunity to get two birds with one stone. I would be interested in thoughts from other collectors on whether to clean old reels like this or leave the natural petina on them. I have a few old brass reels and part of me wants to clean them up and another part wants to leave them as they are. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Bill Turnbull

[m3040c]

When I get an old reel my first personal want is to clean it and make it as pretty as I can. Most of the time I do not. I just clean it as if I was doing a yearly overhaul. I never polish or remove patina. I remove salt deposits and dirt. Then clean it, lube it lightly and hope that it operates the way it should. I have seen 100 year old reels on Ebay that look better than the day the were made. To me that raises doubts about the reel. An old used reel should look old and used. Not beat, bent, abused and destroyed. Just old, used and clean.

I think total ground up restorations should be left to the world of automobiles.

[Steve]

Gents, we've discussed this subject before. If you use the "Search" button near the top of this page and search for "cleaning," you'll find the threads. There are no simple answers. Widespread interest prompted the creation of a separate forum for cleaning and restoration threads, and most of the older threads have been transferred to it.