Question re those little raised pillar reels

[john elder]

I've been cleaning up a bunch of those little 1 3/4-2 inch diameter raised pillar reels. Most of them have a tensioner in addition to clicker. I'm finding the some only turn smoothly if turned counterclockwise, with the crank on the right in typical casting mode for a right-handed reel (reel on top of the rod). Were these really left-handed reels or were they used below the rod in fly reel fashion?

[drexelantiques]

I do not think they were smooth enough for baitcasting, so I really think they were meant to be used below the reel as flyreels, for bait using a flyrod, or in flyreel fashion on a cane pole. They mostly were just for line storage, not for fighting the fish.

[Reel Geezer]

John, I fished one of those reels. The outfit below was actually my first rod and reel. The reel is a Montague 40 yard and the rod is unmarked. I always used it in the "casting" position, and not with the reel in a fly reel position and under the rod.

We did try to cast with those reels, with the reel on the top of the rod. We would use mostly old nuts scavenged from my dad's shop to provide enough weight to sort of make a cast. However, most often the telescopic rod was extended and we made "casts" by lobbing 6-10 foot of line with very enthusiastic style. I did catch lots of fish on that outfit, but all were panfish. They were caught on worms using the cork bobber. I was never able to catch any of the bass I could see swimming around in those old gravel pits. This rod and reel was bought in the late 1930s, and as was my dad's fashion, my name and home town were scratched in the backplate of the reel. It is one of my favorite fishing collectibles.

[john elder]

wow..what a great thing to still own, Phil! ..and thanks for the input from both of you. I think, in a way, you affirm what Jeff was saying..probably not made to put up with much tension and strife, but kids have a way of making lots of things happen that might not have been intended! At any rate, a couple I have would work fine as left-hand crank, but would likely end up in the water after a few minutes trying right handed, even tho these don't have and "official" anti-reverse.

[Dale Noll]

Also found that these type reels would wind smoother in one direction. I attributed that to gear wear, but never got into actually doing more detailed study. The single action reels seem to be equal since no gear wear. If one looked at a gear under magnification, what wear differences would one look for?

Almost all my Hendryx reels have faily smooth action in either direction. Also have some older unmarked (probably Montaque) reels that are quite smooth. These smoother reels are of heavier metal gage.

Just some thoughts.

Dale.

[Ron Mc]

I throw this one on an emmrod and the combination is just a hoot to cast. (It's a Pflueger merchant reel marked Peerless, same reel as a Portage Cascade).



the tensioner? It's an on/off spool drag used to keep your reel from backlashing for storage, when you're walking around with it; but it could work as a fish drag.

My youngest daughter (7) is casting a Hendryx 40-yd on a 3' steel rod.

the trick with casting these is just getting a decent braided line onto them.

[Don Champion]

Phil - What? You never used an old spark plug for weight? No wonder you only caught panfish.
John - One of the reasons they wind tight in one direction is that the front spool pivot bearing wore easily since you couldn't get much lube to them. If you grasp the spool with a couple of fingers and the reel with the other hand, you will be able to move the spool up and down at a 45 degree angle on the handle end. The gears make it wear in that direction and when you try to retrieve line, it tends to bind.
Don

[john elder]

aha! makes sense, Don.

Well, here at Vegas and there are a sprinkling of ORCANs...and more reels than i have ever seen here. Bad news is that they are mostly the same ones I'm trying to sell! Buckets and buckets of fly reels...I was absolutely right...they are breeding asexually! Dave Gaustad is here with his normal repertoire of drop-dead reels...need a Templar in the maroon box, Brian? Good price...but I only need 8 or so :-]...call me if you want me to snag it for you. got a killer SW Meek I'd love to have, but just can't pull the trigger at the required $.

Good to see old friends and great opportunity to give Bob Perkins a hard time...life is good!

[Brian F.]

I'm guessing these were raised pillar fly reels, right? (saw them on Joes)