?’s Regarding Old Baitcasting Reels

Was cleaning out a cabinet and found a couple of old baitcasting reels that I inherited a number of years ago. Both are in their original box and look like they were made yesterday. One is a J.A.Coxe Level Wind Model 25 and the other is a Plueger Level Wind Anit-Backlash (box says #1573). Question is does anyone know a collector of old reels that I can contact who may want these old girls? Also, both boxes contain pieces of cork that are hollowed out (looks like a cork pipe)—– what were they used for? I grew up in the days of modern reels and do not know the level wind ways so to speak. I cannot imagine trying to throw a crankbait or worm with these things but they had to be the hottest things at the time. Thanks for any info you can provide.

Birddog 10,

They are not worth anything….. contact me and I will be glad to take them off your hands for 10 bucks for the two

call AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!j/k great find!!

I’ll give you $10 a piece!!!

Seriously, punch “antique fishing reels” into your search engine and you should be able to access info on them. There are some websites where you can find approximate value.

A quick way to find out the “going” value is to get on eBay. http://www.ebay.com

Sporting Goods>Fishing>Enter the name of the caster in the search box and look at everything that pops up. When you find a similar item, add it to “Favorites” and watch the auction close. It’s the greatest, easiest way to see what a VERY LARGE buying audience is willing to shell out for ANY given item. Collector’s guides are just that………..a guide. Any collectible is only worth what someone else is willing to pay so I’d give an actual buying arena a good looking over. If you like what you see, it’s easy to do. If you’re disappointed, either hang on to them until spring (fishing fever hits and the wallets tend to open up) or donate them for a fundraiser. If neither of these options appeal to you, you could always start a bidding war with Mavzer and SteveO!! J/K guys! :O) Good luck!

OOPS! Almost forgot………….my father uses old casters for ice fishing rigs…………….pretty slick!

bigdog10, really don,t know what the reels are worth, but the cork,as I remember was used on the spools of the bait casters so it did’nt take so much line to fill them. My father used to use cork on his old Pflueger Supremes and I did also on my Pflueger Akrons. SNAKEYES

Thanks for the info on the cork SNAKEYES. Makes sense. I use 20lb test line to do the same on existing baitcasters. Probably cheaper and easier to find that way as compared to the old days. On the same note… What is the vote of everyone for the best baitcasting reel of all time?? I grew up using Abu Garcia with the 5000 being the reel of choice. When the thumb bar was introduced it was like heaven. You didn’t have to reach accross and push the button like with the 5000. What a hoot!! You could even “flip” with it!! One of my early thumb bar purchases was an Abu Garcia Royale and I still have it AND use it. The darn thing runs like a clock to this day despite being denied routine cleaning and throwing a zillion crankbaits in the last 17 years. Sometimes sounds like a Buick that is a couple quarts of oil low but it gets the job done. My vote goes to the Royale. I look in the catalogs and see new baitcasters going for hundreds of dollars and just cannot imagine putting that kind of money out. I have some Diawa baitcasters and they would finish a close second.

So far, I have 2 bait casters that I LOVE! 1st, an Abu Garcia T 3600 C and 2nd, a Pinnacle PK-10. I’ve used each for about half of the last summer season and was really impressed with their ease of operation, quality of performance, and fit. Comfortable, lightweight, and able to adjust quickly and readily to any lure I decided to throw. I prefer the 3600 for spinnerbaits and the PK-10 for crankbaits. Neither have given me any backlash headaches or trouble when a fish is on.

I’m an Abu Garcia fan also. When it comes to bait casters I think they are just work horses. SNAKEYES