Vintage Reel for Vintage Rod

[chrishanlon9301966]

Hi all - last week at the flea market in Salunga PA I picked up an Ocean City 76 ($5). I'd been looking for a good match for an older #4 cane rod for some time, but Ocean City? - was not hopeful. I tried an early 80's Madison and it was okay, but for me a little too lite - almost felt floppy. Anyway, this is a really nice piece of equipment. It uses a pressure felt drag system akin to their spinning reels and bait casters. I did not expect to see that, but wow can you dial that thing in, and i am a big fan of simple to use drags on the water. Aluminum cassette and inside cleaned easily, and a tiny dab of marine grease on the post did the trick. Anyway, if any of you are looking for a nice match to that Sears cane rod, or your first yellow Eagle Claw fiberglass, i can highly recommend this reel.

 

[shakey]

I have one of these,I need to break it out

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

I own a #35, because round line guards are classy, which is the same but for the felt disk.

I assume the ":drag" is both directions, right? Just presses against the toothed gear based on the hex bolt?

(in a similar story, i went to ebay for some cheap 1494 spools and left with a whole prewar 1494 because i can't be trusted with that website)

 

[Tups]

I have an OC77, which is larger but otherwise identical. These are well built reels indeed. They have a basic caliper clicker and the felt drag washer as shown by the OP. When the drag is cranked tight the ratchet gear sets down against the black felt washer but continues to engage the clicker.

Like many old blue collar reels, the spool release is designed so that the fisherman can use a coin to remove the spool - a penny or a dime work well, a nickel or quarter are too thick.

Inside, the spindle has a tiny weep hole so that you can drip some lightweight oil (3 in 1 is good) into the hollow spindle. There is a machined recess in the spindle allowing the oil to exit the weep hole and continuously lubricate the shaft. A nice feature.

Here is a pic of the black felt drag washer.

This reel also has a unique Line Size Reminder located on the back plate. You can loosen the screw holding the silver dial in place and move the dial to indicate which line size you have on the spool. The reel was designed prior to the AFTMA line size standard so you need to translate the old line size designation.

For instance a modern DT4 would translate to HFH.

 

[Tups]

I should add that the larger OC77 is designed for 5 through 8 double taper lines, so the HFH (DT4) is not included on the dial. I use a DT6 on my OC77 (HDH).

Also note that, at the time this reel was in production WF lines were not commonly used. Therefore, the dial shows only DT and Level lines.

 

[chrishanlon9301966]

I own a #35, because round line guards are classy, which is the same but for the felt disk.

I assume the ":drag" is both directions, right? Just presses against the toothed gear based on the hex bolt?

(in a similar story, i went to ebay for some cheap 1494 spools and left with a whole prewar 1494 because i can't be trusted with that website)

Yes, correct