Shakespeare Hercules #1966

[Araye50]

Anyone familiar with this 200 yd. reel? Picked up a rough example at the flea market, not a Shakespeare mavin, was attracted by the amber jewels & odd 'drag' design. Its been neutered (no level wind parts left on it) but is fair now after some tweeking. Would like to know age, guessing 30's or older. Would like to know what use the odd 'drag' had, guessing it might have been used in conjunction with a leather thumber. Also, would like to know if anyone has any wrecks to salvage level wind parts from, presume there are other models that share parts.

[Harvey]

The Herk. was around from 30 to 34 in two models, both 200yd. the 1966 had a small foot for freshwater rods and the 1966 1/2 had a longer foot for saltwater. The spool pad is worn out and most came with a leather thumber.
And i don't have any parts.
"H"

[Araye50]

Thanks for dating the Shakespeare #1966, however I do not understand what you mean by; "the spool pad is worn out"? Any comments on the odd button in the plastic frame section that engages a fixed rate drag? This unique drag has a drum w/internal spring loaded friction material which engages by catching 1 of 2 notches on an keyed disc.

I presume, from the dearth of information to be found online, that it is somewhat unusual. Only found a minty boxed 1966 in completed ebay auction. Anyone know of websites that discuss this oddity?

[Araye50]

Not that I'd been searching consistantly for another Shakespeare Hercules No. 1966, but happened to find another today. Still think its an attractive model, especially when found on a fair cond. Pat'd 1908 wood deepsea rod for $5! Figured I'd bump this up & see if anyone else has gotten familiar w/this 30's Shakespeare.

[Araye50]

As fate would have it, when it rains-it pours! Today I found a Shakespeare CHAMPION LEVEL-WINDING No. 1967 Model 31, the perfect compliment to the Shakespeare HERCULES No. 1966! Looked like the slippery slope to an instant Shakespeare collection. The CHAMPION was frozen up, but responded to Liq Wrench penetrating oil. Also had a modest bend in tailplate & an upset knob, both quickly remedied.

No Shakespeare fans here? Curious about Shakespeare deepsea reels?

[Mike Franzen]

Did you ever find any info on these reels?

[Bill Sonnett]

My Hercules collection. LOL All items found is separate tackle boxes many years ago. As I recall from taking the reel apart back then, the drag only works when the line is going out and after the switch is thrown to engage it. The thing that I found unusual was that in order to adjust the amount of drag one needed to disassemble the reel and then live with it until the next time the reel was disassembled!

[michaelscott]

Great info! I have one as well and love it in my Shakespeare collection. I have it right next to my 300 yd Shakespeare Jupiter. I always wondered about the age of the Hercules.

[Carl Corey]

To those that like the Hercules 1966 (as I do) - also remember the Champion 1967 that does not have the black spacer. Both had a "1/2" version with the larger foot and the counter-balanced crank like on Shakespeare's Ocean Prince/Ocean Queen and other ocean reels. The Hercules was in Shakespeare's 1927 catalog and I think the Champion followed soon thereafter - both made with nickel silver plates and other parts. In Shakespeare's 1931 catalog both reels had plates identified as being "chrome nickel metal" and later catalogs had different descriptions for the aluminum alloy the plates were then made of. So far as I have seen, a Hercules (or Champion) without a model (year) number has nickel silver plates and the Model 31 has the aluminum alloy type plates. So, the collection can at least double (or quadruple) if one wants to get all of the models of these cool classic reels. And, of course, there were the nickel silver Jupiter 2212 (200 yds) and the Jupiter 2213 (300 yds) introduced as new in the 1927 catalog - as well as the lowly 2202 Sampson made of nickel-plated brass.

[wrong99]

The "New Hercules" No.1966 appears in my 1926 catalog. The No.1966-1/2 and the No.1967 and 1967-1/2 "Champion" show up the following year, as well as the "Jupiter" and "Samson". All very cool reels.
Mark

[michaelscott]

Wow! Really great information! I did not know that the Jupiter went that far back. A really cool reel. I really need to get catalogues like you guys! Any idea when the Ocean Prince made its debut?