Hi I have a 1936 SENATOR PENN 6/0 MODEL #30-114. IT IS IN EXCELLANT CONDITION YOU SEEM TO KNOW YOUR REELS, MAYBE YOU COULD POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION I AM JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT THE WORTH OF THIS REEL. IF ITS WORTH ANYTHING AT ALL, OR JUST ANOTHER REEL. I HAVE NOTICED THE BRAND NEW ONES ABOUT THIS SIZE ARE VERY VERY EXSPENSIVE IN THE TACKLE SHOPS. I HAD THE BOX AND PAPERS ON IT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY GOT WET AND WHEN I WENT OT OPEN THEM AGAIN THE BOX CRUMBLED AND FELL APART. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS MARY BURK SURPRISE, ARIZONA
I have sent her a link to this thread so she can see the results.
harvey
Hi, Mary...My guess, without seeing it, is that your reel is worth appr. $60 plus or minus 10. That's assuming that it is in near excellent condition without a lot of corrosion on the base, cross-members and spool. If it has line on it, you should remove it as there might be bad corrosion underneath and regardless, will likely need changing.
These reels, although a bit heavy by today's standards, are still used extensively for fishing, especially trolling for tuna. It's not likely to have collector value.
I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK HARVEY FOR HIS HELP. MY HUSBAND AND I FOUND THIS REEL IN A CAMPER THAT WE BOUGHT HIDDEN UNDER THE TABLE IN A STORAGE AREA. I AM GUESSING THAT THE REEL HAD MORE THEN LIKELY BELONGED TO THE GENTLEMANS FATHER THAT WE PURCHASED THE CAMPER FROM. THEY HAD BOUGHT THE CAMPER IN 1967 IN CALIFORNIA AND THE REEL WAS IN THE BOX WITH PAPERS STATING IT WAS MADE IN 1936. I'M JUST TRYING TO DO MY OWN LITTLE RESEARCH TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE REEL ITSELF, SINCE THE CONDITION IT IS IN, AND THE YEAR I WAS PRETTY IMPRESSED WITH IT. THANKS AGAIN HARVEY
I have to agree with John to an extent. I have been watching 6/0's on Ebay and reels from the 1930's with some kind of documentation are starting to go up a bit. I think the reason they do not move too high is because they have been made for so long and there are many 6/0's to be had. But a mint 1936 reel with a story could and should bring more than $70. I hope you save the crumbled paperwork and box. That would make a difference. A 1936 Senator will have parts on it that are no longer available, even though the reel is still made. Just last week I was looking for a stand for a early Black 114 and after 3 tackle shops I found this one old shop that has been in business for about 40 year. The owner spent about 20 minutes looking through his old stock and found an NOS stand buried in a old parts draw. It was the last one he had and told me that I was lucky to find that one. You just can not get the old parts for the early Senators. I think mint reels will go higher in the near future. Now I will try to post a couple of pics of my 6/0 and the stand that took me half a day to find. I feel this is a clean one that should bring over $70 if I put it on EBay.
Mary
Just a few notes In 1936 the first Senator that was made was a 9/0 No. 115 and a 115L left handed The catalogs dont show a 6/0 until #7 1939 If yours is a 1936 model it should have blank rear plate and front should just say SENATOR no model etc. also not a torpedo handle just straight.
As far as value if a 1936 model guess over a hundred if in good shape as few were made. If a 1939 model I would say the other guys are right.
Ok I sent you a message but I have to make some corretions to that post I sent to you. Mine says 29-114 On the actual Reel itself in the middle under neath all of the String it had on it, and 30-114 on the top part where the Rod would lock it. The handle however is Lightly different. I have a Red Wooden handle, and Only one piece to the handle stands out. It is then connected to Part that makes it spin. Yours has two handles on it, Mine only has one. IF my camera weren't broken I'd take pictures of it and post them which I know would help emensly. Unfortunately our three old decided to take pictures and broke it. There are stamps all over each part telling which type of oil to use, for example on the lock its says to use oil 23-60, 23-116 on the handle and so fourth. I dont know if that helps any at all. I could be wrong about the dates, But I could of sworn it stated mae in 1936 on the papers, They were very hard to read due to being wet and Worn and OLD. They were folded so I had to unfold them very carefully to read them.
There is a picture of a swordfish I beleive jumping out of the water and a small boat of some sort. then underneath that there is the Penn Logo and all the writing. It is all black and silver. Nothing is broken and no parts are missing.
Hi, Mary...ok, you can see what Bruce Davis was talking about...those earliest 6/0s just had a plain surface on the "tailplate"...that's the side opposite the handle side. Someone here can tell you when they first started adding the neat etching on that side with the fish and boat...but I'm pretty sure that makes it later than the '30s. If I went out on a tuna trip tomorrow, I'd see several of these still at work...and other than having a bit of a weight problem and less than optimal gearing, would still be doing a fine job of it!
You have a workhorse of a reel. There really is no way to put a exact date on this reel. Somewhere between 1945 and 1955 would be a ball park on the reel. If you want to sell it, get a toothbrush and clean it up best you can with soap, water and a lot of scrubbing. Then put it on EBay starting at $.99. If you get two excited bidders, you may get about $50 or $60 for it. Otherwise, it makes a great heavy duty reel to crank in big fish for the next 100 years.
Actually I was planning on giving it to my father for Xmas. He is an avid fisherman. I swear he should've married the sea rather then my mother. They live in Lake Havasu, Not like he'd really have any use for it except maybe to just show it off to friends, But I wanted to find out how much its worth about if there was any value to it cause my mother loves to insure everything under the sea. Thanks for all the help I really appreciate it much. Mary
Yes actually I dont know if you've ever been there the fish under the Bridge are HUGE. I would guess a good two feet long, and the weight I have no Clue, they weigh more then my three year old son I know that for sure. But then again One time my dad and my son reeled in a turtle. Go figure. Thanks Again I really Appreciate it, I've told my dad about this web site He'd love it.
I'm sure your dad will love the reel. You know what he would also love for Christmas? A membership in ORCA. If he loves fishing, and wants to show off his new reel to his friends, he will love ORCA. Membership is cheap, he gets six magazines a year, and the people are nice. It would make a great gift.
cool-thumb Enjoy your reel, Mary 
