Shakespeare B

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:31 am

fishbugman · Post by **fishbugman** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:45 pm

Nice reel minus the line guide/worm gear shield...maybe someone has a parts reel. Shouldn't be too hard to make one...if you need photos to see what it looks like let me know.

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:32 pm

yes, would like to see one - don't know that I have ever seen one.
The reel works great, and casts quite well.

fishbugman · Post by **fishbugman** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:50 pm

OK, Ron...hopefully pictures are attached. I posted 3, but have had problem with pictures before. If they do not show up, let me know and I will send them direct via email.

Robin Sayler · Post by **Robin Sayler** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 3:54 pm

fishbugman, you have a space between the .jpg and the [/img] thats why they are not showing up.

Great reels. I don't think I've seen one with the guard before, thanks for the pictures Richard. thats kind of a cool little levelwind set up...for a shakespeare anyway.

fishbugman · Post by **fishbugman** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:06 pm

Thanks for the input Robin...I removed the space, still no pictures. However, everything between the {img} can be cut and pasted into browser and the pictures show up. Same problem I always have, just another day...

I think like the Meisselbach Okeh's and all of the other early levelwind efforts, a lot of people were less than satisfied with the newfangled contraption and ended up removing and tinkering with them. They probably weren't perfect then as most of those early levelwind efforts are found now in less than perfect working order. The levelwind guard was supposed to be there...even if most of the ones seen around are missing it.

Robin Sayler · Post by **Robin Sayler** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:20 pm

Thats how I looked at them the first time. I'm about out of ideas on how to make them work. I'm sure brian will show up and work his magic.

What years were these reels made?

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:05 pm

I think the ORCA photo database has a new url - or maybe it's gone altogether?

the levelwind is really cool. there is a pin the slides in the guide. It rides the wormgear down to one end, and the ramp pushes it to the other side, switching direction.

Robyn Summerlin · Post by **Robyn Summerlin** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:53 am

This is a neat reel, and I think Richard is right about early fishermen removing the "newfangled" line guide in frustration. In my collection are both a B and a C in excellent condition minus the guide--both reels are in too good a condition for the guide to have worn out, and the construction of the LW mechanism is solid. I'm always on the lookout for a Style B (or C or A) line guide but every potential "parts reel" I've seen is missing the line guide!

Steve Vernon has a chapter in his Antique Fishing Reels on the earliest level-wind mechanisms and notes that Encylopedia Britannica gives Shakespeare credit for the first one although a patent was granted some 37 years earlier for an "endless groove" level-wind, similar in concept to the level-winds on modern reels. Still, the twin worm gear arrangement is fascinating and as far as I know, unique.

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:03 pm

I don't know why it worked this time, but I loaded each of Richard's photo url's onto a browser, it displayed the image, then I used my browser to copy the image location - tedious, but it worked.

but it did change the argument - here is how it looks now:

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:10 pm

and you're right, here are the pin holes to hold the line guard in place around the worm gear

I think those guys that removed the line guards are like me - they just love watching this mechanism operate...

so can somebody tag a photo of a "C" to this thread?

fishbugman · Post by **fishbugman** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 2:03 pm

Glad the picture mystery is solved...at least until the next time I try to post some. Seems like the same thing happens every time.

I apologize for making it sound like the early levelwinds didn't work properly. On my Style B, the reel is like new showing very little usage and it works perfect. I also have a couple Meisselbach Okeh reels that have perfect working levelwinds to offset the other dozen that have worn parts & sloppy mechanisms or have had the entire levelwind assembly removed. The further we get from point of conception, the harder it will be to find ones that work properly and finding parts are virtually non-existant on some of the earliest. Even buying a parts reel doesn't mean the parts are not worn past tolerances.

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 2:37 pm

I also need to get a photo of this reel on my FE Thomas Bangor rod.
They look sharp. I'll see if I can remedy that in the next couple of days.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 2:38 pm

Encylopedia Britannica gives Shakespeare credit for the first one although a patent was granted some 37 years earlier for an "endless groove" level-wind...Still, the twin worm gear arrangement is fascinating and as far as I know, unique.

As pointed out in Reel News, May, 2004, pg. 15, Shakespeare didn't even invent the twin worm gear reciprocating mechanism. It was patented in 1883 for use in a quilting machine.

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:22 pm

Here are Robyn's photos of a Shakespeare C pair

thanks Robyn

Shakespeare B

Shakespeare B

Trolling for parts???

pictures

Style B