ABU 999 Spinning Reel

[Dr Rob]

Anybody know anything about this one? Purportedly a three-speed spinning reel. (nomenclature makes sense. The popular 333 model x 3 = 999)

Here's an auction pic: http://orcaonline.org/images/pixel.gif? ... id_7460382

I'm not interested in buying it; I was wondering more about the mechanical aspects of the reel. Looks almost as though it has your choice of two (?) driving gears, by moving the handle around.

[FSREPAIR]

Dr Rob,

I wish I could read Swedish but the pictures of the reel look like other ones I have seen on Ebay. Ben Wright can tell you a lot more about this reel than I can, but it is very collectible, highly sought after, and very valuable. Just out of curiosity what is the high bid on the reel in dollars as I haven't the vaguest idea what the conversion ratio is between sek & dollars is?

[Harvey]

http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/conve ... it=Convert

[FSREPAIR]

Harvey, Thanks for the currency conversion link. Now I know how many Swedish seks it takes to make a dollar! Sorry couldn't help myself.

[Ben]

hi Dr. Rob,
the abu 999 is a 3 speed spinning reel.
take another look at the pic's, you will see a green knurled sleeve between the body and the handle. this is the 3-speed adjuster. it is stamped with the #'s 1-2-3. by pulling it out and turning it you can change the speeds on the reel. these were made by Zangi of Italy for abu from 1958 to 1964.
Ben

[Dr. Rob]

Ah, thank you Ben, for that post! Appreciate it.

All right, so if it has a knob you turn in three increments that affect axial displacement, that sort of suggests to me a single planetary unit in sun-planet-cage driving arrangement. Is that a fair guess?

Thanks for the Italian connection too, it explains why I've never stumbled upon this reel among ABU's patents. (On the other hand I don't usually look at spinners anyway). I did know though that ABU went shopping in Italy at that time, since that explains the Admiral reels made by Everol.

I'll go look up the Zangi company at the PTO, maybe there is something there.

Thanks again!

Addendum: Zangi is apparently an engineering / machine works company. Nothing about reels.

[Stefan Duma]

Zangi was acquired by the Coptes company in 1972. Zangi sold this model as the V3 and I have over the years seen 3 of these reels and used it on a few occasions. Fiddly is the term I would use to describe its operation

Regards

Stefan Duma

[Ben]

Hello Stefan,
Did you know that the early zangi 3-V has an external bail trip?
I have the only one I've ever seen in my collection
Ben

[Stefan Duma]

Hi Ben never noticed, I assumed they were all the same. I usually see them on my trips to Europe. Never saw any when I did a show in Italy in May this year. How you keeping?

Regards

Stef

[Ben]

hi Stefan,
things are good. If you would like I can e-mail you a pic. of my Zangi 3-V with the external bail trip. just give me your e-mail address.
Ben

[Stefan Duma]

Hi Ben



cheers

Stef

[Soulstar]

Hi! I am putting this link alive again. I have read some info about the rare ABU 999 with the 3 gears, which I find very interesting. I have not found so many pictures though, but here is a link to realsreel, which have some pictures;

http://www.realsreels.com/reels/spinnin ... %20box.jpg

If I were to source one, mint or near mint with box, what do you think would be a reasonable price? I.e. do you know the current value (approximately)? Yes I know the old saying that it is worth whatever one is willing to pay, but given it being quite rare and technical interesting, are we talking a few hundred dollars or, perhaps even above one thousand?

Every help would be much appriciated! Appoligize for my english not being in "mint" condition!

Regards

//J

[Midway Tommy D]

Probably mid hundreds & up, if you can find one.

[Dr. Rob]

Yes, this ^^

The ”mint with box” part is a big game changer for some collectors.

The reels themselves in all versions come up from time to time. Not a lot, but sometimes. I have one, as do many others. They just don’t change owners very often.

Just wait; yours will find you. But mint with box? Might take a while.

Edit:
I see one of these, maybe even the same one as in the pictures linked above, got a new owner just last week. You have anything to do with that, Mr Soulstar?

Edit, again: ah, it is for sale now. That won’t be cheap.

PS: here is a pic of it in Napp & Nytt from 1958

[Soulstar]

Thank you everyone, for your info and answers!

Regards J

[Soulstar]

Update: The auction ended up with a sales price of approx. USD 750. And here are some pitures of the reel itself.

Regards J

[Soulstar]

Sorry, had 7 pictures but was unable to upload them, eventhough the size were small.....?

[kyreels]

@soulstar, did you review the instructions for posting images? viewtopic.php?t=15596
Most people can get the images under 3 MB and upload, but some forget to insert the link into the message. You can use the preview function to make sure the image tags are inserted.