Heddon... Hardy Knockoff?

[Freeman1111]

Can anyone help identify this reel? The only markings are "JAPAN" stamped on foot. Having trouble dropping pics in... so have included photobucket link.
http://s1162.photobucket.com/albums/q540/cspeckels/

Thank you

[reelsmith]

That's looks like an Eagle Claw.

Berkley made one like it as well, which is dark gray.

The Heddon is green.

Dean.

[Frank Longcast]

I agree with Dean, although it looks like someone attached a green Heddon handle to it.

[Rockthief]

Yes, a Lightweight series clone. I agree about the handle.

[fishingthefly]

Since it's been "worked on" it could be a respray.
I don't see a ghost where the Eagle Claw label
should have been on the backplate.

[Freeman1111]

Interesting about the handle... it is an exact look a like when held against a Heddon 320.

I'm not disputing the respray theory but know for a fact this reel has been wrapped undisturbed in the bottom of a tackle box located in attic for at least 40-45 years possibly longer. Not sure why anyone would spend the energy to repaint when you could purchase one new or at least decent shape at that time.

I have researched all afternoon looking for an original photo of of Eagle Claw lightweight series... cannot locate nor can I find when they were produced. Anyone have any ideas?

Amazing there is no ID or model numbers... no markings other than JAPAN.

[reelsmith]

Here is an Eagle Claw ...





I have always thought that this reel, the Heddon and the Berkley were all made by the same company. Some are stamped "Japan" on the foot and some are stamped "Assembled In The US From Parts Made In Japan.

Parts from these reels would certainly be interchangeable.

Dean.

[Freeman1111]

Thank you Dean

[bulldog1935]

Sorry Dean, the reels were made by Olympic-Seiko, which eventually became Daiwa-Seiko. Though at one point they were marked as assembled in the US from Japan-made parts.
I have a Berkley 530 nicely matched with a Heddon 300 spool - fits it better than the original Berkley spool; however, it doesn't fit another Heddon 300 I have (varied spindle lengths). Q/C was pretty rank on the earliest of these reels, and they seem to vary from batch to batch.




Many brands in addition to Berkley, Heddon and EC - Roddy for one. They even branded some Olympic.
Daiwa is still making and selling these reels, and still with various brands.
Climax (the tippet company) is one of the more recent brands.
If you replace the pawls on these with Hardy, pawls, it really improves their character.

[Sparquero]

That's looks like an Eagle Claw.

Berkley made one like it as well, which is dark gray.

The Heddon is green.

Dean.

I bought this 2 3/4" reel in 1975 and thought it was a Heddon, I'm guessing now that it's a Berkely. Any value or collectability?

[bulldog1935]

We used to place the value on these reels at $45, and $75 for near-mint.
They've had a really crazy couple of years on ebay with exceptional (crazy) prices pushing $200, and realistic prices around $75-100.

[reelsmith]

Sorry Dean, the reels were made by Olympic-Seiko, which eventually became Daiwa-Seiko. Though at one point they were marked as assembled in the US from Japan-made parts.

So they were all made by the same company, as I suggested, or no?

Dean.

[Flyman615]

Although it's hard to know for sure, parts from these reels are NOT always interchangeable, as has been noted. Also, the castings, rivets, screws, line guards and spool latches can be quite different, depending on the reel, and ostensibly, manufacturer or date of manufacture.

I've always preferred either the Berkley or Heddon versions of these Hardy Lightweight clones. Their performance is very close to the "reel" thing.

Pictured are the Berkley 530 & 540 and the Heddon 300 & 310, the "Featherweight and LRH" sizes respectively (2 7/8" and 3 1/8" dia.)



Scott

[bulldog1935]

OK Dean, no worries. Yes, I believe Olympic/Seiko/Daiwa made them all, and was at least recently still making a version
http://www.megafishingtackle.com/origin ... n-nib.html

Even within the same brand and general appearance, spindle lengths vary, screw pitches vary, even drag gear diameters.

[reelsmith]

No worries ...I'm just learnin'.

I should not have said parts were "interchangeable" and should have qualified that statement with "some".

Dean.