I have an addiction, not a bad one I don't think.

[BilletHead]

      Yes, I bought more vintage fly-fishing stuff. I like Vintage useful stuff. Like my cast iron deal. I will tell you right now I have less money in my vintage fly rod stuff than I do in my most expensive piece of cast iron cookware. I have two close friends that call me a tight arse because I won't pay up on some things and miss out on an auction or for the asking price. I say that is just being smart. If I don't get buried with this stuff Pat is going to have one giant garage sale. Date still to be determined.

     This first item I bought the day I took my 3wt for it's first fishing trip. On way home I stopped for a package of chips and soft drink on way home.  This was a tackle shop/camping supplies and some other outdoor stuff. Most everything was new and a good selection. In one glass counter was two fly reels. Both Scientific Anglers. One I could tell was newer and in bad shape the other I took out and looked at it. Both had a tag of 10.95 each. 

  It was soiled and needed cleaning. Line looked ok. It was an Air Cell 7wt WF bass bug taper. Reel said Scientific Anglers across the top. One Thirty in center and across the bottom Custom Crafter in England by Hardy Bros Ltd. I tried to google it but no signal. Made up my mind to buy it. Pulled over down the road when hit signal and WOW. I will let you know guys do the same. I did good here. I shot a text to @kjackson and he filled me in on what he knew about it plus contacted a friend that workes for Scientific Anglers. Reel is from 1969 to 1972. Vintage you bet ya.    So forward to last Saturday. Pat and I went for a ride. A few miles from home we ran upon a auction. On the signs that had been up for a couple weeks it said Real Estate, but I did not know it was everything else the place or owners had. We stopped just to look it was already hot and miserable.  I asked a friend who was helping if any fly gear. Down the hill way to the west a bamboo rod and some fly reels. Yep there was. Three-piece Shakespeare with a reel and the bundle was zip tied together, heavy zip ties. I looked it over and had my buddy bid for it. We left and were gone for hours. I called him on way home and auction was still going on. So much stuff to sell. I went by and picked up my prize. 

   I looked it up and here is what I found. Thank you Mark on the Classic Fly Rod Forum. 

 

The No.1362 "Spring Brook" was introduced in Shakespeare's 1932 catalog, available only in 9 ft. "Bass" action. By 1935, it was offered in three lengths (8, 8-1/2 and 9 ft.) and recommended for either trout or bass, depending on the line weight used. Beginning in 1950, it was available in 8-1/2 or 9 ft. lengths in EITHER Trout action (No.1962-T) or Bass action (No.1362-B). It would be one of the last models available in 1952, after which Shakespeare discontinued bamboo rods forever.

    I have since thrown the 7wt with the SA reel on the bamboo rod. I am impressed with the rod. Would like a older reel to go with the older rod.  Which broings me to the reel that was on the rod. Non marked RH retrieve it has been cleaned up and junk like stripped off. No drag, no clicker. Here is the reel any ideas. I don't do RH so if anyone is interested in reel let me know.        Story over. I may use this rod some and catch a fish. 

[fishinwrench]

Well 😉. That's pretty darn cool!  

Does Cortland still offer those lines specifically designed for cane flyrods ?

[BilletHead]

28 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Well 😉. That's pretty darn cool!  

Does Cortland still offer those lines specifically designed for cane flyrods ?

              Courtland has the 444 Sylk that is a modern version built for bamboo rods. 

444 Sylk - Freshwater Floating Fly Line – Cortland Line Company

 

[tjm]

406 Fly Lines  has SA build true to weight lines in small diameter, with their coatings, that he designed for older 'glass rods with small guides, that should work fine on the bamboo as well, since the early glass were designed specifically to imitate bamboo. The main thing Sylk claims is the small diameter. Both are also available in DT. I think from stuff I've read that  either of those lines would also work well on any modern rod. 

The reel has a pre war look with that round line guard. Surprised it has no check. Are there parts missing or it just never had?

[fishinwrench]

3 hours ago, BilletHead said:

              Courtland has the 444 Sylk that is a modern version built for bamboo rods. 

444 Sylk - Freshwater Floating Fly Line – Cortland Line Company

 

Yeah that's it. 👍

[BilletHead]

9 hours ago, tjm said:

 

The reel has a pre war look with that round line guard. Surprised it has no check. Are there parts missing or it just never had?

        @tjm, The RH reel in question looks like it never had the click parts at all. It does have a brake though. Here is a couple pictures of the inside of reel and spool and you can see the place where it rides on the brake/drag or whatever it is called. If you look closely on the spool there is a PC on the reel about two o'clock. Might help in ID. 

[Ham]

That older gear brings you joy. That's Great ! I hope you enjoy it. You might have to set up a formal rotation to use them all. 

[tjm]

6 hours ago, BilletHead said:

there is a PC on the reel about two o'clock. Might help in ID. 

Yes that makes the manufacturer Ocean City. I've never seen that particular kind of drag/brake/?? before in person or in images on the net. If I were a collector, I'd want that reel just for it's unusualness. Now my curiosity will have me searching images of early OC reels for that kind of "drag" because all it does is drag, very lightly I'd guess. I want to know what they called it. 

[tjm]

11 minutes ago, Ham said:

You might have to set up a formal rotation to use them all. 

I suspect you're right, I'm not sure that I've fished all of my  rods in the past two years combined. And I only have a couple dozen rods. I'm sure I have more old reels than I have rods, but the reels are mostly either Medalists or Sal Trouts.

I often open up a tube and think "wow, I haven't seen that rod in a while." And truthfully I'm not a collector, I just like old 'glass fly rods and there were so many good ones made that I want to try.  When I load up for a fishing outing I randomly choose 5-6 tubes to haul and at the location randomly chose a rod from the ones I brought, but I might change rods a time or three through the day.

[tjm]

Reel is not as unique as I thought nor quite as old as I thought; Ocean City   Sturdibilt "Wanita" #305 (apparently Sturdibuilt was an Ocean City predecessor) and I think the "Silent Drag" in your reel dates it to 1946-48 per one source, going by changes stated in catalogs but without pictures. The chromium plated round line guard is consistent with the "Deluxe" version.

I think I've seen that reel in images before but having a different drag/check. And now I have seen something "new"

And in the search I came across this quote that kinda  fits me- "I never met a fly rod that I didn't like"