If you are completely traditional in the sense that you have interest only in cane rods (and nothing else) and/or will only use a vintage (or vintage-looking) centrepin reel then I am surprised (having inevitably glimpsed below) that you have made it this far. This post is not an exercise to attempt to pique your interest or wax lyrical about this reel. This is a Traditional Fisherman's Forum after all. The intention is solely to tell the enquirer what I found, given that I feel there may be a curiosity 'out there'.
Strike me down, should you wish to moderators, because this is not a TFF-type reel by any stretch!
Apparently these were Swiss made and I am aware of two colours/types. Mine is the purple (yes purple!) standard version but there is also a gold model with a rotating reel seat that enables side casting. Mine weighs less than five ounces and, coupled with the latest modern rod at 14', the whole outfit only weighs ten ounces. The spool is five inches in diameter stretching to six inches including the spool edges.
The most impressive feature, as well as the weight, is the lack of inertia. It is no exaggeration to say that the spool will rotate on its bearing simply by blowing on it (and it literally only needs a whisper for it to begin to move). It therefore lends itself naturally to being held in the hand all day, trotting a very slow moving river. It will deliver ultimate float control.
Don't think this is a eulogy though, it has its drawbacks. First, that the line regularly gets trapped and wrapped behind the spool on a knob that secures the spindle to the handle, which is uber-frustrating. I developed a system of casting whereby I held the reel face down as I released the float. That way if the line was in anyway loose it would fall away from the reel not round the back of it. That helped. Any breeze whilst using this reel would cause nightmares. The second drawback is just how flimsy it is. Dace, roach and grayling most certainly but I wouldn't want to hit anything bigger than a small chub.
What would certainly help would be to take the line off the top of the spool and retrieve by winding backwards but I can't do that. It also got me thinking about having another rod ring much closer to the reel spool but that would create an angle as the line runs off the spool.
In conclusion, an interesting experience and if I develop tennis elbow with my 13' Aspindale and Rapidex then I guess 'needs must'; beyond that I will leave the reader who has made it through this post to form your own view!
mike
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