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I forget the year Shakespeare ownership started, but there are several Pflueger history websites that have that. It didn't become evident until, as best I recall, the mid or late '70s, when "by Shakespeare" was on the latch plate, which was a paler whitish plastic. I think this was about the same time that rim control versions of the Pflueger models became available. The date code/manufacturing code reels go back to the mid-'60s, DA, AK, and so on. There's a CJ frame ring in the photo below (I can't remember; that might be one of the first Asian-made designations). I had several mid '70s reels with the Made in USA rim stamping. Functionally and quality, just as good as the earlier ones as far as I could ever tell. They were in the 1495 and 1495 1/2 and 1498 sizes which I never use anymore, so I sold them. Bottom line for the USA made reels, the '63 and before models just have more vintage charm to most folks and best harken to the earlier models with all metal parts. The most distinct evolutionary changes are from the six rivet to the three rivet spool (3 posts as bulldog termed it), the revised latch medalliion without the circular "trademark" stamp (way later Shakespeare/Pflueger completely lost the color tone and style of the latch by abandoning circular lettering and instead running "Pflueger" straight across the latch plate between the screws), and a change in the fitting of the spool-mounted click plunger. As you can see in the photo, the six rivet spools had an open fitting, pressed into the spool, in which the spring and plunger were housed. Easy to lube; easy to foul with debris and not quite so easy to repair. The three-rivets went to a complete plunger subassembly that just dropped in place in the spool and is retained by the latch cover. You can see it in place in the reel on the top left, and removed from the spool in the reel on the right. Either style works fine, but I'm guessing the later design made for easier manufacturing and assembly, as well as easier repair. Within the family of US reels, spools and parts interchange.