The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

For those with an interest in the Iconic Abu Cardinal 55 I have completed the treble of hard reels to find for my collection, with help from Abu collectors around the globe I have secured these three wonderful reels that you just dont see every day.
So with time to spare I thought I would share them with you since its a very good chance you wont come across these reels anytime soon let alone see all three is the same photo.

First up is the Abu Cardinal 55 "Cut-away" one of only three known reels that exist today



The second reel is the "Clearplate" Salesman reel, yes not so rare as a clear plate can be found if your very lucky and added to the correct reel
This one came from Sweden from a top Abu collector who said he had thought I searched enough to own one ( 10 years)



This third reel is from the USA, again another top collector sent it in for repair and in the end thanked me for all the help I had given him and told me
to keep it in my collection, just a wonderful gift. This reel was made for 1 month and was a test reel for Zebco, again 4 are known to exist.



To see them all in one photo Im told is very special, enjoy

A wonderful set of rare ABU reels. Congratulations on this collection.

Astonishing!
That little trio must be totally unique?
You must be thrilled to have them in your collection.
Now you can see the the internals you'll understand how they work

Jeremy Croxall wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 9:59 pm Astonishing!
That little trio must be totally unique?
You must be thrilled to have them in your collection.
Now you can see the the internals you'll understand how they work

Funny that Jeremy, I can build them with my eyes shut now and get them 10 times better than Abu did, so Im told

Polecat501 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 8:00 pm A wonderful set of rare ABU reels. Congratulations on this collection.

Yes they truly are rare, I had the two cut away and clearplate reels before but just recently this Zebco 555 was sent to me by a guy in the States who runs a Facebook group, he said it didn't work and was in need of some TLC so he sent it to me to sort out, thanks to those hateful customs people I got a £30 duty fine and had to drive 40 miles to pick it up, Steve said well for all your troubles keep it because I have a mint boxed one in my collection, thats how I came to own it, I also got to know all about the reel and how it should look due to his mint boxed reel. Some story but Im glad I was part of it.

Well well - - the "Holy Trio"!!
With the right person after all those years searching and possibly begging!
ENJOY!

But why oh why did they use plastic/nylon? If it is plastic or nylon.

BeechmereLake wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 10:16 pm

Jeremy Croxall wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 9:59 pm Astonishing!
That little trio must be totally unique?
You must be thrilled to have them in your collection.
Now you can see the the internals you'll understand how they work

Funny that Jeremy, I can build them with my eyes shut now and get them 10 times better than Abu did, so Im told

Indeed you can sir

What a lovely story and pictures! I can understand how pleased you must be to have them, after searching for so long!

Congratulations on acquiring such rarities BL

Lea Dweller wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 8:49 am What a lovely story and pictures! I can understand how pleased you must be to have them, after searching for so long!

Pleased is an understatement sir, over the moon with them.