Yuku free message boards

SBT59, if you're asking about my photos, no. I just hurried to try to get one or another of the stampings to show. So some of them were wiped with "Solder Seal" brand machine oil, which is more or less like 3 and 1 oil. If you like that gloss, it would be gone pretty quickly anyhow after the least amount of handling or use. Ordinarily, to the extent I do anything to protect the finish, it's to wax it, but that doesn't produce much gloss either.

Thanks sbt59. I haven't paid this much attention to my Pfluegers in a long time. Somebody with a little more patience for setting their camera to macro mode--plus the ability to see the setting buttons and menu clearly--may want to try to photograph the rim stampings better. But going through this it also occured to me to photograph a couple other little incremental changes. The spindle boss used to be unfinished (right) on the AKronO reels, until about the time 3-rivet spools came in, but still with Akron O stamped reels, it came finished satin black like the rest of the backplate (upper left). It was rare to see one that didn't have a bright scuff or two on the dome, even right out of the box, but I see mine is more or less unscuffed. The boss has been all black ever since as far as I know; they were that way on my '70s reels and on the early 1494 1/2 DA reel stamped Made in USA on the lower left. Bulldog may know if this was just a cosmetic change or also corrresponded to some change in material or assembly of the spindle to backplate. Also, the foot used to be screwed to the pillars (right) but about the time of three rivet spools, it was permanently assembled to the pillars (upper left) and has been ever since (crimped and spot-welded or brazed, I guess). Just a few more characteristics that probably make '63 and before reels seem a little more authentic for retrofitting with 1Pfoot parts.

The preference seems to be to use the older reels for customizing, but I agree, Ron; somebody could just as well use a much more recent one. I like mine just the way they are and would only change them if there were a need of parts, which there seldom is with a Pflueger if it gets half-way decent care. Probably the other reason older ones get used is a battered one falls into somebody's hands and it needs repair anyhow. I never had a rod that the USA style reel foot didn't fit, but I guess changing the foot--just as Pflueger has long since redesigned the stock foot--might be pragmatic sometimes. From abuse, usually, the latch covers and drag dials can break and handles get beat up, so there's another reason for a stylish parts upgrade--still mostly cosmetic. I never had one with the metal drag plate--I suppose the click sounds different. I've never had one of the plastic ones wear out; they seem to last fine if clean and lightly lubed. So it seems to be all about vintage charm and style much more than function.