Red Abu Ambassadeur No. 5000 HOW TO DATE CODE

[fishbugman]

Can anyone tell me how to date these reels. Trying to figure out if I should fish it or pass it along to a collector. The serial on foot is 677782. It is spotless and has the leather case with oil & spare parts. Thanks

[FSREPAIR]

Richard, The 1970s and later models are much easier to date than the earlier ones. I won't get into the 1970s models since your reel is earlier than that. The earlier Ambassadeur 5000s from the late 1950s to about mid 1971 used sequential serial numbers. The only way to give you an exact date of manufacture would be to check the reel foot number with the shipping records from the factory. However by examining the parts on the reel one can get close to when it was made. First off I will need to know how many pillar screws are on the left side plate? Sometime between 1967 and 1968 ABU changed the side plates from 4 screw to 3 screw. Just from what I have read in Simon Shimomura's two books I believe your reel is probably a 3 screw model and made around 1968. If by some chance your reel is a 4 screw model then it is likely a 1967 model. Randy

[fishbugman]

Yes, 3 screw and 1968 sounds right based on the other items it was purchased with. Thanks for the info.

[Jerry J in OK]

Here's a nice Ambassadeur site...

http://www.realsreels.com

Wayne is always ready to talk about these reels. Email him and have a good chat...

Jerry