Agate line guards

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kevinhaney1
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Agate line guards

#1

Post by kevinhaney1 »

I'm hoping to find out which models of vintage American and English fly reels had agate line guards. The only American one that I know was the Heddon #125 Imperial. I know Hardy had various models, including the Perfect and St. George. Were there others? Also, what makes the Hardy reels with red agates the most eagerly sought after? Was it just a matter of rarity?
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bluesjay
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Re: Agate line guards

#2

Post by bluesjay »

Hi Guys, Some Shakespeare Russells and Meissebach Symploreels had agates. Maybe others, but those two did.

Jay Edwards

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BigTJ
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Re: Agate line guards

#3

Post by BigTJ »

There is a classic reels topic section you might get more responses there.

American makers:

I remember recently a meek with an agate line guard for sale on the board, and there is a beauty that was sold on Jim Adam’s website, so add that to the list.

English - longer list, Young, Dingley, pretty sure Farlows, off top of my head. Plus all the other trade reels made by Young and Dingley.

John
Last edited by BigTJ on 05/30/23 21:00, edited 3 times in total.

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blackdog
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Re: Agate line guards

#4

Post by blackdog »

JW Young made some reels with agate line guards.

TSPEYFLY
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Re: Agate line guards

#5

Post by TSPEYFLY »

I picked up that Meek No.55 that was up on the board, and it's In really nice shape. I'm going to pair it up with a little Howells 7' rod, though it may
be a bit much. I usually prefer exposed rim reels but this one with the agate... couldn't pass it up!

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flyuvo
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Re: Agate line guards

#6

Post by flyuvo »

Young reel …. Restored

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NewUtahCaneAngler
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Re: Agate line guards

#7

Post by NewUtahCaneAngler »

There was an early Rochester reel that had a sliding line guard with an agate, some other Hardy's include the later raised pillar models and the model that is in our classifieds for sale.

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Flyman615
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Re: Agate line guards

#8

Post by Flyman615 »

Some Meek #55s came with red agates.
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LeeB
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Re: Agate line guards

#9

Post by LeeB »

As did some Dingleys and Youngs

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bluesjay
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Re: Agate line guards

#10

Post by bluesjay »

Hi Guys, American?

Jay Edwards

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LeeB
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Re: Agate line guards

#11

Post by LeeB »

Original post: "American and English ...".

bluesjay
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Re: Agate line guards

#12

Post by bluesjay »

Hi Guys, Oh, duh...

Jay Edwards

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Flyman615
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Re: Agate line guards

#13

Post by Flyman615 »

Here are a few more Young (English) red agate reels.
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steeliefool
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Re: Agate line guards

#14

Post by steeliefool »

I believe red agate is the rarest agate and much more expensive to come by, so used on the high end only and not particularly abundant overall.

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Re: Agate line guards

#15

Post by Tommasini »

I believe this is a 2.5" Chinese reel. Looks and feels good quality though .
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Ridgewalker59
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Re: Agate line guards

#16

Post by Ridgewalker59 »

LeeB wrote:
05/31/23 19:58
As did some Dingleys and Youngs

LeeB:
That Dingley is a stunning reel. Love this.

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stickleyboy
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Re: Agate line guards

#17

Post by stickleyboy »

The Shakespeare Russell was available with an agate lineguard in 3” (the 1892) and 3.5” versions (1896) from 1930 to 1935. The one on the left is the 1892. The one on the right with no line guard is the 1894, which was only $3.50 in 1931 (half the price of the 1892).


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Much less well known is the Ocean City 76 (3”) and 77 (3.5”), which was available with an agate lineguard from 1937 to 1939. They are more commonly found under the Sears brand X-pert, as is this 3.5” version. It’s taken me 3 years to find it. Still searching for the 76. Is it a coincidence that Ocean City came out with an agate reel soon after Shakespeare left the market in 1935? Heddon dropped the 1925A a year earlier than Ocean City.

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You had to pay an extra $2.50 for the agate over a steel lineguard (the 1893) in the Russell, and you paid $1.50 more for the agate to upgrade from the Viscoy Creek in the Ocean City line. The agate cost you a whopping $3.50 more in the Heddon Imperial 125. That’s at a time when you could easily find a new reel for $1.50. The Ocean City Wanita 303 was $1.25. So, it’s no wonder that agate American reels are rare.

The only other American reel i know of that was available in agate in the Meisellbach Catucci Symploreel.
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Re: Agate line guards

#18

Post by bluesjay »

Hi Guys, I have a non agate X-pert, and I just suspect some parts from Shakespeare kinda thing.

Jay Edwards

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