South Bend Fly Reels

[avgfan]

Someone on this forum will know this: Did South Bend make any respectable fly reels from roughly 1940 - 1955?

Other than the Pflueger Medalist and Shakespeare Russell, what other brands of fly reels are good ones from that same period?

Thanks

[avgfan]

After posting, I realized I had entirely left out the Wes Jordan period at South Bend. So, it would also include 1924 through 1939 and up to 1955.

Thanks

[Ron Mc]

candy apple red and highly desirable

SB 1185 perfect, same reel as the Shakespeare 1900 Steelhead & Trout Reel
'cept its candy apple red.
this reel is a copy of a Hardy perfect, first made in 1936, and is a sweet, sweet reel

The reelseat on my 8-1/2' SB 359 is also candy apple red.




fish and feel fit !

actually, this is my former tackle. I sold it as an outfit - for a bunch - to finance my new Dennis Stone cane - it was hard to part with, but the DR Stone made up for it
(when I listed this outfit on Clark's board as the Ultimate South Bend Combo, it sold at my asking price in 14 minutes)
http://reeltalk.orcaonline.org/viewtopic.php?t=4918

[Ron Mc]

the SB version of this reel, also in candy apple red, is also highly desirable.



OK, somebody help me out here - 1140 or 1120?

[Jim Wiegner]

South Bend Fly Reels

Good morning avgfan and Ron:

Very nice looking reel. And the last one shown is the SB1110, which is their version of the Shakespeare AuSable. A nice one just sold last night on Ebay for $47.00!

Jim

[Ron Mc]

thanks Jim. SB 1110
I've chased a couple of low-usage or Mint boxed reels to over $100 without success.

but the 1185 above was al steal - I paid $80 on ebay and it's easily worth $200+ in that EX-/VG+ condition.



avgfan, you want to order these two back-issues of The Reel News to get these great articles by Jim Madden

Fly Reels - Part I, July/05, p 16

Fly Reels - Part II, September/05, p 16

As far as the Shakespeare Russell goes, there were a couple of years (34-36? or so?) where it wore the SB 1100 badge.

[Jim Madden]

Guys, the reel Ron pictured is specifically the 1110 Model D. Above is the 1110 Model C before the feature changes. The smaller reel is the 1105 shown for size comparison. The 1115, not shown, is identical in features. The reels just differ in line capacity. All three entered in 1938 with identical features but with maroon spools. The aluminum color came a year later with Model B of each. The 1110 series was the only one to make it past 1942, and in 1948, the D model went through the major changes you see in the picture for only that year. It disappeared quickly. You have about ten variations to look for if you want a complete set. Jim

[avgfan]

What reels were made after the demise of the 1110 D's and the introduction of the 1122's and 1133's? Aren't the 1122 and 1133 reels products of the mid 1960's?

Thanks

[Jim Madden]

It probably would help to get the back issues of the articles mentioned, but it only covers pre-war reels. There are pages of information. Other reels of the late 30's and 40's were the Steelhead models 1190 and 1185, the SA 1195 and 1196, the 1155 and 1165, the 1195 and 1196. I haven't done anything with post-war fly reel at all yet, but I can tell you that fly reel numbers drop off dramaticcally in the 50's. The 1165 is the only survivor with one of two Oren-O-Matics. The 1110 appears again in 1954-55, but it's black. In the late 50's the OM's are the only fly reels listed. The green 1120 hits the 60's followed by the cheap 1110 Oreno-lite, (re-used number). The four models of Finalists show up in 1967. An English import joins them in the 70's. This is sketchy but all I can do here. Jim

[Jim Wiegner]

South Bend 1110

Good morning:

As always,a thorough and precise answer from the fine man from South Bend.The 1110 which recently sold on Ebay was the last version, maroon paint and in the late 1950s style box. And the early version of the 1110 was the same reel as the Shakespeare De Luxe Russell.

When Shakespeare discontinued the De Luxe Russell (in about 1947) they did continue making their AuSable, which then became the next South Bend 1110. And the late 1940s version of both the Shakespeare and South Bend models were the last of the anodized versions. From 1950 until their demise, they were painted (maroon SB) and forest green on the AuSable.

Both very nicely made, by the way.

Jim