Shakespeare 1899 Steelhead Trout fly reel

Para_Adams

Para_Adams

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I found a Shakespeare 1899 fly reel today after having my "radar" searching for one for years. It's as cool as they say. It's an American made reel that is a take on the venerable Hardy Perfect. Turning the spool while reeling in is very smooth with a purring light clicking sound and the outgoing drag is clearly built to stop sizable fish. And it weighs a whopping 10.6oz on my scale, a good amount to balance a 9' bamboo 6 or 7 wt rod. From what I can tell these were made in the mid/late 1930's and mid/late 1940's with a time out during WWII. Of course, it is right hand retrieve (darn it!), but maybe I'll have to try to use it anyways.

It came with an old silk line on it, I'll inspect that more closely soon and figure out if its really silk (vs the similar looking poly stuff), if its a level or tapered line and if its in good enough condition to clean up and retreat for fishing. So cool. Ron
 

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I really like that reel. I had a nice example of the 1899 and the narrower version which I think was the 1900. I like the models like yours with the exposed palming plate. I think the later ones had a cage over the spool with a break button. They also came badged as South Bend reels and the ones I've seen were red. A nice reel to balance longer glass as well.
I was stuck on the East Coast for a while and found my way up to PA to fish for steelhead. I was using this reel on elk creek and a fish hit so hard and took off so fast that the pawl on the reel flew off the post. I had to fight the fish with the reel totally freespooling and me using the spool to apply overrun control. Lost it at my feet. Great memory.

Russell
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Para_Adams said:
I found a Shakespeare 1899 fly reel today after having my "radar" searching for one for years. It's as cool as they say. It's an American made reel that is a take on the venerable Hardy Perfect. Turning the spool while reeling in is very smooth with a purring light clicking sound and the outgoing drag is clearly built to stop sizable fish. And it weighs a whopping 10.6oz on my scale, a good amount to balance a 9' bamboo 6 or 7 wt rod. From what I can tell these were made in the mid/late 1930's and mid/late 1940's with a time out during WWII. Of course, it is right hand retrieve (darn it!), but maybe I'll have to try to use it anyways.

It came with an old silk line on it, I'll inspect that more closely soon and figure out if its really silk (vs the similar looking poly stuff), if its a level or tapered line and if its in good enough condition to clean up and retreat for fishing. So cool. Ron
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It would be nice to get a thread started about silk fly lines. I have several coiled lines taken off of reels I have moved through my care. How do you determine if it is silk? How do you determine if it is in worthy shape? How do you restore it? Figure you mic it for size but what are you looking for where?
 
Russell said:
It would be nice to get a thread started about silk fly lines. I have several coiled lines taken off of reels I have moved through my care. How do you determine if it is silk? How do you determine if it is in worthy shape? How do you restore it? Figure you mic it for size but what are you looking for where?
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The "silk or not" test, as I've heard and use, is to hold a a lighter flame under the end. If the result is ash, it's silk. If the result is melted goo, it's nylon.

I've tried to recondition a couple old silk lines. Success or failure depends on whether it has rotted out in areas or not. One attempt was successful, the other attempt was not and that line easily broke in many places under tension.

It's been years ago since I last did this so I will need to google the process again, but my faded memory recalls first soaking the line in some type of cleaning solution...it might have been a white vinegar solution or just mild soap? Then running the cleaning solution soaked line through your fingers with pressure to remove the years of grime and grease, then rinsing, then hanging out to dry (this works better in summer, LOL), then applying multiple coats of linseed oil, then giving it days and days and days to dry. Others on this forum will probably know the best treatments for cleaning and prepping for fishing.
 
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Porter2 said:
Cool looking reel. What are the specs on that? Just curious.
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The spool inside diameter is 3" across x 1-1/8th" wide. The outside diameter of the entire reel is 3-1/2' x 1-5/8". As shown above, it's 10.5oz. It's built with ball bearings like a Hardy Perfect. To open the reel up you twist the outer plate with the turn handle counter clockwise, same as you would a Hardy Perfect. Here's a pic of the innards...
IMG_2186.jpg
 
Another pic of the innards after removing the line and pulling the spool out of the frame. Also, the silk line is a surprise to me...it appears to be very long, possibly over 100 yards (?) and level, so I think its actually a type of backing but definitely silk. I've never seen this before. Anyone have any ideas if it's worth saving? It's in excellent condition. RonIMG_2187.jpgIMG_2188.jpg
 
FWIW, my online research indicates that prior to Dacron backing it was common to use braided silk level and thin line as backing. Such line was also used for bait casting reels. I won't be using this line since it's not worth messing with as a backing line, and its not a fly line that has use and value, so if anyone would like the old silk backing line just let me know. You'd have to swing by to pick it up in the north Bothell area. It appears to be in excellent condition. Ron
 
Para_Adams said:
Based on the stamped date code this reel appears to be made in 1935. It should pair well with my Granger Special 9053, a stout 9’ bamboo rod for 7/8 weight line. A fun kit for Skagit bulls.
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I'm done with high school soccer coaching after this weekend. Let's put your 9053 and Shakespeare reel to work! I've never cast a Granger 9053. I'll bring along my Phillipson 9' 5 and 5/8's or Granger 9660 or Sharpes 10' spliced.
 
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