Ambassadeur 8500

[Pallenpool]

Hi Banksy. your post made me smile.. back in the early 80's I bought an Abu 6500,As I remember it was about £70.00 -


David are you absolutely sure you spent £70 on a reel?

[Old Man River]

[quote="Old Man River" post_id=394336 time=<a href="tel:1555063311">1555063311</a> user_id=3724]

Hi Banksy. your post made me smile.. back in the early 80's I bought an Abu 6500,As I remember it was about £70.00 -


David are you absolutely sure you spent £70 on a reel?





I must have been having an "off day Peter , and , I have not recovered yet......

I do actually have some , nay quite a few rods that would put the most expensive Avon to shame in the value stakes, but they are made from high end "C" word materials, bought new , for beach work....

Sometimes I do wonder why though.....

David

[BeechmereLake]

I've just bought an Ambassadeur 8500 and was wondering what type of fishing it is designed for. I guess light sea boat work? There is a code on the reel foot 730100... does this allow the reel to be dated? Any information gratefully received

The serial number dates your reel like so, 73 = 1973 01 = January and 00 = no revisions, means the reel is a first version

[Reedling]

Thats a nice combo Reedling, although I would find the 7000 be just a bit big for the standard Flick Tip, unless of course its the 'Super Flick Tip ", a friend of mine used the 7000 and the "super" off Filey Brigg, and you would be hard pushed to find anywhere rougher than the "Brigg " to fish. The rod handled it very well, I borrowed it a few times and it was one of those rods that you felt was made for you ( me )

I really like older sea angling gear,to collect and use, and really have more than my fair share ...... If I could find another "Super" at the right price I would have it,now that Conoflex are no more I have noticed their rods are becoming collectors pieces... I have a couple that I would not part with.

OMR

My 7000's are a bit on the large size for the flick tip really OMR, but I just like using them, they are the bush bearings type. I sometimes use 6500 types as well. Not sure which rod I have but here is a picture of the butt section.

PS... I have a couple of older Conoflex Carp rods, I shall have to dig them out.

[Old Man River]

Hi Reedling.... that looks like the spigot I had on my previous standard Flicktip, 8ft tip and 4 ft butt , lovely rods, and quite desirable these days , unfortunatley mine ended up smashed to bits after it flew off the roofrack ,on the motorway, along with a lot of other stuff.There are quite a few Flick Tip Variants around, built on the same mandrells but different lengths and weaves.

I now have a limited edition, in fact the blank was made for me, (quite a few years before Conoflex went bust ) 3 piece Flicktip, it is just under twelve feet, and ideal for clean beaches.

The 7000 is perhaps a bit big, but it will still do the business, as well as any comparable reel, mine has bushes too,, as I dont use it to blast baits to the horizon it works very well,its very smooth, and a good ,well used part of my vintage collection, in fact it will be going to Cornwall with me in a couple of weeks for some rough ground fishing, along with a vintage original USA Penn 525 Multiplier, centrifugal brakes, fixed spindle, not floating as the modern ones have....that reel gets used on my Flicktip, a nice combination as it really is a bullet proof reel.


OMR

[Wagtail]

I've just bought an Ambassadeur 8500 and was wondering what type of fishing it is designed for. I guess light sea boat work? There is a code on the reel foot 730100... does this allow the reel to be dated? Any information gratefully received

The serial number dates your reel like so, 73 = 1973 01 = January and 00 = no revisions, means the reel is a first version

Thank you, Sir

[Wagtail]

I got so distracted by the discussion of different multipliers that I completely omitted to thank OMR and Watermole+ for their contributions to my knowledge about the 8500. Thank you, to you Gentlemen, along with all those who chipped in

I should add that mine has blue side plates and a black handle

[Old Man River]

HI Wagtail..

It very much sounds like your reel is an early American import, and as such is well worth keeping , either as a "user" or display piece.. I am the slightest bit green with envy....I cannot see there being too many of them about.

I would be a bit reluctant to use it myself, then again, quite a bit of street cred amongst those of us that love vintage sea gear, and to see it being used for what it was designed for..

OMR

[Reedling]

Any chance of putting up a picture of your 8500 Wagtail.

[Wagtail]

I will try to post a picture at the weekend