Vintage Reel Service Guides

This site's main purpose is to provide detailed, illustrated service procedures for mid‑priced, mid-century American‑made fishing reels. It also provides repair procedures and background information on the various reels. This is a growing and evolving repository for service and repair guides and historical background for spinning, spincast (push-button), baitcasting, and fly-fishing reels.

This repository honors American craftsmanship of the early 20th century and provides resources for those interested in restoring and keeping concrete examples of that craftsmanship in working order, with the intent to use them in the field rather than simply collect, curate, and display them, although these activities are also valued. Line capacities and other specifications are provided to place these reels in the context of creating practical, affordable, balanced tackle for all types of fishing, in combination with modern tackle.

While the main focus is on American reels, another important focus is on highlighting important manufacturers for each type of reel, and in some cases non-US examples are important to the overall story; for example, Swedish maker Abu's baitcasting reels--the 3000s, 4000s, and others of that series--are too influential to leave out.

Background on Reel Types

The various major American reel manufacturers from this era produced a range of different types of reels. The background information is organized by reel type, then by manufacturer. For example, on the spinning reels page you will find general background information on spinning reels and more specific information on manufacturers like Penn and Pfleuger, among others. The service guides that follow provide detailed illustrated procedures for servicing specific reels.

If your main interest is in servicing a specific reel you can easily just bypass all the overview information and go directly to the service guides.

Baitcasting Reels: The first baitcasting reels were made by watchmakers in early 19th century Kentucky. William Shakespeare, Jr. invented and patented the important level-wind mechanism in the last years of the 1800s, which automated the job of reeling line evenly across the spool on retrieve. The baitcasting reel page provides more background information on the features of mid-century baitcastng reels, important manufacturers and models, and how to integrate vintage reels with other tackle into a balanced outfit.

Spinning Reels: These reels became very popular in the US after WWII. Info on spinning reel types--open-face, full-bail, finger pick-up, roller pick-up, closed-face, and important manufacturers

Spincast Reels: Info on spincast (also known as "push-button") reels and important manufacturers.

Fly Reels: Info on fly reel types--automatic, manual, and important manufacturers.

General Information about Servicing

Workspace Setup and Safety: A brief overview of protective gear, work surfaces and seating, lighting, and ventilation.

Tools and Materials: Suggestions for a compact, inexpensive set of hand tools (drivers, wrenches, picks), cleaning and lubricating tools and materials (containers, brushes, solvents, greases), sources for tools and materials, and how to build inexpensive jigs for tasks like line winding and spring compression.

Initial Evaluation: Ideas for a simple but comprehensive evaluation proceess, including taking photos and keeping notes, initial testing, mounting on a rod and test-casting, making a set of test-casting weights.

Removing and Adding Line: Methods for quickly removing line from old reels using a simple DIY winding jig, uses for old line (knot tying practice), and adding line to a reel without twist.

The Service Guides

Each service guide provides step-by-step illustrated procedures for disassembling, servicing (cleaning and lubricating), and re-assembling the reel. The guides also provide information on common repairs.

Penn 720 Spinfisher Service Guide: The Penn 720 is an ultralight open-faced spinning reel, part of Penn's 700 Spinfisher series.

The Pflueger Nobby Service Guide: The Nobby is an ultra-light or sporty baitcasting reel.

Pfleuger Pelican 1020 Service Guide: The Pelican 1020 is a light to medium open-face, full-bail spinning reel.

Pflueger Pelican 1021 Service Guide: The Pelican 1021 is a roller pick-up version of the 1020--no bail.

Shakespeare Silent Tru-arT Service Guide: The Tru-arT is an automatic fly reel.

South Bend 550 Service Guide: The 550 is an ultra-light or sporty baitcasting reel.

Ted Williams/Sears 440 Service Guide: The 440 is a light to medium open-face, full-bail spinning reel.

Zebco 33 Service Guide: The Zebco 33 is a light to medium spincast reel,the iconic spincast, or "push-button" reel.