An interesting Hardy Zane Grey story.

David M · Post by **David M** » Sun Oct 10, 2010 9:40 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umXvn_m6ObQ

David

Jacob : salmonfisher03 · Mon Oct 11, 2010 11:23 am

Good price for the reel

m3040c · Post by **m3040c** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 12:51 am

Great video. The price was high but that is a very special big game reel that was recreated in the 1970's. The ORCA library has a copy of the manual offered in this EBay sale.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

David M · Post by **David M** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 4:01 pm

Thanks Mike, I had no idea that Hardy had modernized their Zane Grey reel, and here I've thought all along that the Endicott Wilson was the most beautiful big game ever. The drag/clutch in the newer ZG's was in the left plate, very interesting. Here's some neat designer/maker info I rummaged across regarding the '70s reels.

http://handmadereels.wordpress.com/2008 ... ame-reels/

David

m3040c · Post by **m3040c** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 1:04 am

Yes, Hardy created a successor to the original Hardy Zane Gray reel. The successor was a very upgraded work of fishing art. The actual release date for the reel was in 1983. Research and development went on from 1978 to the release date. The 1983 reel was a two speed reel with the clutch / brake assembly in the left side plate. I find it hard to explain this reel, the catalog, (which I donated a copy of to the ORCA library a couple of years ago) can do much more justice to the reel than I can. They were very expensive. A 130 pound class 1983 Hardy Zane Gray had a retail price of $3000, yup, that's 3000 / 1983 dollars.

wuma · Post by **wuma** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 1:17 pm

One of those 1983 Zane Grey reels was sold at Angling Auctions just a couple of weeks back, a 130 lbs reel in near mint condition that had belonged to Wilbur Smith. It went for £5000 excluding premium.

That might be a reasonable price, but the bidding at this year's Fall auction was generally intense. Even Freeman at times seemed nonplussed by the frenzy. I had not attended since March 2008, but one used to be able to pick up some good deals towards the end of the auction. Not so this time around. Just about every lot I had circled seemed to go beyond high estimate, some of them at more than twice that estimate. Reel collectors have apparently recovered nicely from the financial crisis.

Espen

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 3:59 pm

Espen,

Well, that is welcome news indeed!

-- Dr. Todd

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 9:50 pm

I believe there is one of the new Zane Grey reels in Lang's Fall auction.

David M · Post by **David M** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 5:54 pm

Geezey, that newer version Zane Grey reel at Lang's you mentioned just sold for $3,700. Albeit too rich for my blood, it seems as though someone got a decent buy, for the long haul.
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/8068772

David

wuma · Post by **wuma** » Tue Nov 09, 2010 3:47 pm

Well, compared to the one sold by Angling Auctions, the Lang's reel was smaller and in somewhat inferior condition. The Lang's reel also suffered from the serious but fairly common flaw of never having been owned by Wilbur Smith. Could still be a decent buy, though.

What is possibly a different take on these reels: In the book by Douglas and Lauve, Oscar Kovalovsky (Chapter 13: New Lever Drag Reels) stated that "In order to balance the weight and bulk, the drag is on the left size and the control lever is on the right. You might ask, why not place the controls on the left side with the drag mechanism? The Hardy Brothers tried this on one of their reels and it was a disaster, in part due to the location of the control lever." Kovalovsky doesn't elaborate on the "disaster" verdict, but what other reel than the 1980s Zane Grey could he have been referring to?

Espen

David M · Post by **David M** » Wed Nov 10, 2010 4:45 am

Hello Espen,

As far as the Lang's reel having a serious flaw, no offense, but I don't think Wilbur's name carries as much weight on this side of the pond. Personally, and not to be acting in a smartassery manor, I'd rather see my own name inscribed on that reel, than Wilbur Smith.

I'm curious as to who said the Hardy reel was a disaster, was it the Hardy engineers themselves (doubtful), the angling community, or Oscar? If it was Oscar, it doesn't surprise me, I'm quite sure a reel designer/builder of his caliber could have found some fault with just about any reel you handed him. As far as the disaster verdict, I wish I had a definitive answer for you Espen, but it sure seems as though he's speaking of the new Zane Grey. My question is, what reel is Mr. Kovalovsky referring to that had the drag mechanism on the left, and the control lever on the right?

David

wuma · Post by **wuma** » Wed Nov 10, 2010 8:22 am

no offense, but I don't think Wilbur's name carries as much weight on this side of the pond.

None taken, I'm not a fan. Still, his name might partly explain why the Angling Auctions reel fetched £5000. It's a crazy market.

The chapter is in the form of a direct quotation, so the disaster verdict is surely Kovalovsky's personal opinion. Apart from the reference to balancing weight and bulk on his own reel, which may or may not be relevant, the text gives no clue as to why he formed this opinion.

The reel with the mechanism on the left and the lever on the right was built by Kovalovsky for Steve Zuckerman in 1991-92, according to the book. A two-speed reel with an adjustable crank, 230 degree lever sweep, and a special foot design. The drag mechanism "has two internal brake shoes which expand against a drum, rather than a band, and is operated by a rod which passes through the shaft of the spool." The picture caption describes a 20/0 reel while the text mentions a 12/0 reel. It's not clear to me whether two reels were made or whether there's a typo on the size.

Espen

Dr. Rob · Post by **Dr. Rob** » Wed Nov 10, 2010 4:46 pm

Steven Zuckerman... I'll be darned. I've only seen that name in one place before-- on a patent document for a rather well-known reel not pertaining to this thread. I have always wondered who he was, where he came from and where he went. (over to Oscar's house i guess)

I have seen only one other left-hand side lever drag reel (except lefty reels of course). It was in a British fellow's patent, and I don't think anything became of it.

Post by **john elder** » Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:17 pm

Dr. Robb...I highly recommend this book. It's pretty rare we get to hear the actual words of one of the great makers instead of a digest one of us put together...it's worth it!

http://www.whitefishpress.com/bookdetail.asp?book=80

m3040c · Post by **m3040c** » Wed Nov 10, 2010 11:13 pm

Not that I know much about Steve Zuckerman but I find it interesting that his name pops up here. I have a rod and reel combination in my small collection of stuff. The piece in my collection seems to be engineered by Steve Zuckerman and carried out by Neptuna in California. It is a Neptuna 30 pound class rod and cradle which has Steve Zuckerman's name inked onto the rod. The cradle is built to accept a Fin-Nor 6/0. The Fin-Nor 6/0 reel mounted into the cradle has Steve Zuckerman's name stamped into the tail plate spool bearing cover. What is unusual is that the rod (which when assembled to the rod butt is about 7 feet long) has eight Aftco roller guides guides on it, not including the tip top guide, which is double the amount of guides a rod of that size would have. It is probably built in the 1980's or late 70's. Steve Zuckerman, also connected to the IGFA in some way, must have been asking all the best rod and reel people in the country to build things to his own specs.
A friend of mine, that is a Observer in the IGFA, met him back in the 1980's and told me that Steve Zuckerman made his money in the Construction Business in California.

David M · Post by **David M** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 11:05 pm

Thank you Espen, Dr. Rob, John, and Mike, for your additional comments. It's always great to learn something new in the reel world.

David