Cardinal 777 Manual
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How it All Began Zebco wanted to get in on the spinning reel craze so in 1962 they bought the Langley Corporation of San Diego, California. As I understand it, they bought the patents, the machinery, and all parts and reels on hand. The 1963 Zebco catalog included 5 Langley spinning reels: the 777 Spinner; the 822 Spin Flo; the 830 Spin Deluxe; the 860 Surflite, and the 870 Spinator. Langley called the 860 the Spindrift and Zebco changed the name for some reason.
Langley offered the 830, 860, and 870 in left hand versions and put a L after the model number on them. Zebco chose the number theirs with 834, 864, and 874 for their left hand models. These 5 reels are listed in the catalogs through 1970, but gone by the 1972 catalog and I don’t have a 1971, so I can’t say for sure about that year.
Of course, some outlets probably had them in stock for some time after they stopped building them. There was another reel that Zebco didn’t list until 1966 and listed it as new although it was a very popular Langley model. That was the little 850 Spinlite Deluxe, which is a sweet little ultra lite reel. There was one more Langley model that they chose not to make and that was the 810, which you don’t see very often and I suspect that it didn’t sell very well and that’s why they didn’t make it. So the Zebco/Langley spinners, 6 of the at the end, were made from 1962 to 1970 or 71, maybe. These reels sold in 1963 for: 777- $12.95; 822- $17.95; 830- $24.95; 860- $29.95; and the 870 was $34.95 and by 1969 the only one that was raised was the 777 raised to $14.95. The 850 was introduced at $29.95 and stayed that price till the end.
The 1969 catalog is the last one with MSRP prices listed and the 1970 on just show the reels. This is pg.2 of the 1963 catalog showing all of the Langley items that they offered in 1963 after acquiring the Langley Corp. I’ll start at the bottom and work up, although Zebco didn’t show them in order. This is pg.5 showing the 777 Spinner, they didn’t have a special name for it. Now we go backwards in the catalog to pg.4 and the 822, which at $5.00 more, rated the name Spin Flo. Moving back to pg.3, we have the 830 Spin Deluxe at another $7.00 increase and a very sweet reel, I might add. Now we move up to pg.11 and show the 860 Surflite at another $5.00 increase in price.
It is interesting that Zebco changed the name of this one for whatever reason from the Spin Drift, as it was known as a Langley reel, to the Surflite. And finally moving back to pg.10, we have the top of the line 870 Spinator and another $5.00 increase. That is a good name that Langley thought up for this big boy and has a ring of authority, don’t you think?
Now here is pg.8 out of the 1966 catalog and shows the 850 Spinlite for $29.95, which is $5.00 more than the 830 Spin Deluxe, which I think was dropped before the end fro the others. Now here is pg.8 from the 1970 catalog and shows their own 707 and the Langley/Zebco 777. This may have been the last year for these reels as they are gone by 1972 and I don’t have a 1971 catalog, but I think Tommy does so I’ll ask him to make sure. Pg.7 shows the 822 and the 850.
And here on pg.6, we have the big boys, the 860 and 870. You will notice that there are no MSRP prices in this catalog, because the last year to have them listed was 1969. The only 2 reels that had increased by then were the 707 and 777 as I mentioned earlier. Zebco’s First Spinner of Their Own In 1965, Zebco made their first spinning reel of their own design.
I don’t know if R.D. Or someone else in the research and development department designed it of who, but it was a little plastic bodied reel that sold for $5.95 and was the 707. By the 1969 catalog, the price of the 707 was $6.50. This is Zebco’s first ever reel of their own design. It was made from 1965 to 1970 and the 1970 ad is above with the Langley/Zebco models. I will now save this and continue and show the ABU/Zebco Cardinal reels next. When I get this whole list of reels done, I will try to round up all of mine and show them at the end.
I have many of them, probably about 75% of them and duplicates of some and some boxed ones, so stay tuned, more to come. Jim 3/16/16 The Reel That Almost Was, The Zebco 1970 This is an interesting reel as only 100 were built, plus 12 clear plastic salesman samples. The gearing of this reel is so much like the ABU Cardinals, that in talking with Dick Braun, we wonder if maybe it was reverse engineered after them. For whatever reason, it was never put into production and is very rare as the price they command will attest to. I was lucky enough to get one on eBay around 1999 for a little over $20.00. In those days, you could see who was bidding and all week, spinright, was the high bidder. I snipped and won it and later learned from Randy Heller, who was a spinning reel collector, that spinright was Ben Wright, who has now put out several editions of his spinning reel collector’s guide.
Several years ago, one was listed on eBay in the box and the seller said that Ben valued it at, I think, something like around $800.00 or somewhere in that neighborhood. I’m a poor boy collector and, although it would be nice to have one in a box, I’ll just have to be satisfied with the reel. Tommy has one in a box and Dick Braun has several, including the salesman sample reel in box. Both a Black one and a Clear one were on eBay recently, and I saved 23 photos from there and will post them since I’m not sure where mine is and both of these had boxes. Dick Braun and Leo Tackett both bid on the Black one, but another bidder got it for $203.63 and $8.00 shipping.
The box is rough. Tommy put the first bid in on the Clear one and wasn’t interested in paying a whole lot and it closed at $366.23 plus $18.00 shipping from Canada. It is Ron Shepard’s, and he told me the other day that the guy reneged.
So here are some photos of those reels. The Black reel with the handle on the left side. A close-up of the model number. A front left view with the box. A right side view with the box. A front view with the box and owner’s manual. Here is the left side of Ron’s Clear salesman’s sample reel.
This is the right side view. A front view. A view with the reel standing up on it’s foot. And here’s one with it laying down. And this is an end view of the box. Ron posted 12 photos and the other seller posted 11 and here are 6 of each so you can see the reel and it’s probably the only one most people will ever see, which is why I posted so many. Well I’ve been at this 2 hours and I’ll have to stop for now.
We’re up to 1970 now ant the next series is the ABU Cardinal reels and then the XBs, XBLs, XRLs, XRs, SBLs and then the USA made 800L and 900L series and the 90L, 80L, 70, and 50. Then comes 3 more Cardinal reels and then the 6000, 5000, MS, 4000 series reels all made in Japan. There is also a 4000 series of Lancer reels made in Japan and a 4100 series of them with a rear drag made in Korea. All 4000 series reels are Silver and the 5000s and MS series reels are Black.
Then there are the Sterling reels, 7000 to 7070 again made in Japan and the same reels as the 6000 series except the are silver/blue, while the 6000s are gold. Then there are the 94, 84, 74, 64, 54, and 54 BSA reels. Some of these are made in Japan and some are Korea. The total is now near 95 and Jay Bird has a Lancer 4140 that I may buy and the spool says 1986. It’s now 2:00AM 3/14/16 and I’m done for tonight, lots more to come. Jim The ABU/Zebco Cardinal Reels, 3, 4, 6, 7, 3X, 4X, 6X, and 7X The Cardinal reels are first shown in the 1967 catalog with the models 6 and 7. I have a black and white copy of it and it is 28 pgs.
And Dick Braun sent me 12 pgs. In color and here’s what I have. Here is a color copy of the front cover from Dick. It shows either a Cardinal 6 or 7 on a rod ready to go fishing.
Here is pg.10 in living black and white, tongue in cheek, showing the Cardinal 7 at $45.00 at the start of Zebco’s relationship with ABU. This is pg.11 with the Cardinal 6 at $40.00, about the same reel as the 7, but with a small line capacity. The 1970 shows a Cardinal on the front cover on a dock and a stringer of small bass.
Cardinal 777 Manual
Here on pg.3 is the first time the ever popular Cardinal 4 is shown. Here on pg.4, is a picture that I love. It is a full color cut-away of the Cardinal reels and you can see the Swiss quality built into these reels. At $50.00 or less they have been a favorite since the beginning and a NIB one on eBay will sometimes bring as high as $300.00 today.
In 1994 I stopped in outside of Nashville at a bait shop and the owner told me he could sell every Cardinal 4 that he could find for $100.00. They have stood the test of time and with only ONE ball bearing. How many of these new high priced reels with all their cheap BS Hype bearings do you think will be as sought after as these babies in 50 years? Here’s a full color ad for the Cardinal 6 & 7 from the 1970 catalog. Here is another of the cut-away views from the 1975 catalog. I include this because it is the first listing that I have for the Cardinal 3.
I may have been offered earlier as I don’t have a 1973 0r 1974 catalog. Now here is an interesting photo from the 1975 catalog because the reels look brown like the X high speed models. I just noticed that the 3 is listed as New, so 1975 may have been the first year after all.
Now we move up to 1977 and I show this page because it has a great photo of the 6X & 7X reels. Page 8 has the 3 & 4 and that cut-away again. Now we move up to pg.16 in the 1979 catalog showing the 7 and 7X models. 1978 has about the same photos, but 1979 has the other skirted spool models that are only shown in that catalog.
There 800L & 900L series were introduced in the 1968 catalog and this may very well have been the end of the Cardinals, what a shame. Here on pg.17 we have the 6 & 6X models and the 3 & 4 models, which are listed as high speed at 5:1, but are still green, unlike the high speed 6 & 7, which were brown. I guess they must have dropped the standard 3 & 4 at 3.5:1 ratio. All of the Cardinals were two-tone with the rotors being a cream color on both the green and brown reels. Now here on pg.14 are the Cardinal Skirted Spool reels. This is the only catalog that shows these and that is probably why you hardly ever see one on eBay. Page 15 shows 3 models of the skirted spool reels, which must not have been as big a hit as the original Cardinal reels.
They show models 554, 555, and 557 all of them rather high speed for the day. Here is pg.12 from the 1980 catalog, the last one that I have that shows the Cardinal reels.
Shows the 7X, 7, and 6X reels’ Page 13 in the 1980 catalog is the last I have for the Cardinals, showing the 6, 4X, and 3X reels. The standard 3 & 4 must have been discontinued and maybe the 6 & 7 continued because they had a stock of them? This concludes the Cardinal reels as far as I know.
They ran from 1967 to 1980 and maybe till ‘81 or ‘82 since I don’t have those catalogs, yet anyway. After introducing the 800L & 900L series of reels in 1978 through maybe as late as 1982, but in 1983 all of these reels were gone and they had the 4000, 5000 & MS, and 6000 series reels listed. But now I have to back up to about 1971 or 1972 when the XB series reels started. There is much much more to come so check back and when I add new info, I will comment to move this blog to the top of the list. Jim 3/16/16 5:00 PM The XB, XBL, XRL, XR, and SBL Series Reels These series of reels started in either 1971 or 1972. I say that because I don’t have a 1971 catalog and they are in my 1972 one.
Cardinal 777 Service Manual
It starts off with the XB, XBL and XRL series. Here is what was available in 1972. Page 16 of this long narrow pocket catalog shows the XB95, XB85, and XB75 and pg.17 gives their stats. You will notice that on the right side of pg.17, you find the best days to fish. Page 18 shows the XB65, XBL45, and the XRL40 and pg.19 gives their stats. The XB and XBL models are a dark Gray color while the XRL models are Green. The series with an L in the model number are ambidextrous.
I’m not sure the difference between the XBL and XRL series at this time, but I will try to find out. Page 20 shows the XR30, XRL30, and XR20 reels and pg.21 gives their stats. There is only one more listed this year. Page 22 shows the beginner’s model XR10 and casting techniques, While pg.23 is a spool capacity chart for their Spincast reels.
This is the range of spinning reels offered for 1972. The SBL Series Reels By 1975 and maybe before, another line of reels had been added, the SBL series, which was also ambidextrous and had a skirted spool, hence the X & L in the model name. It was offered in the large SBL90, SBL50, and the small SBL30. This is from the 1975 catalog, pg.4. The XB Series Reels Page 5 shows the XB95 and XB85 again with their stats. The XBL Series Reels Page 6 still shows the XB65, but the XB75 is now missing from the line up. In it’s place is the XBL77, which wasn’t in the 1972 catalog.
Page 7 has the new XBL39 and the XBL45 from years past. So far there have been 4 XB reels and now 3 XBL reels. The XBL reels have quick change spools. The XRL Series Reels Page 8 has another reel that has been added since 1972 and it is the large XRL80. Page 9 completes the XRL series of reels with the XRL37 and the XRL40. That will make a total of 5 XRL model reels with the large XRL80 on the previous pg., the XRL35 which is on pg.10 and the XRL15 on pg.11. The XRL & XR Series Reels Page 10 has the last XRL reel, the XRL35 and the XR20 reel.
The XR series of reels are not ambidextrous. Page 11 is the last of the spinning reels for 1975, except for the Cardinals, which we have already covered. Shows the XRL15 and the XR11. The XR30 and XR10 are not shown for 1975. Now here is an XR60 which is not shown in any of my catalogs, but since I don’t have a 1971, ‘73, or ‘74, it may be in one of them. I do have a complete parts kit for this reel. This reel was listed on eBay for a $24.99 opening bid and ended on the 15th with no bids.
The seller listed it again for $19.99 or $29.99 BIN and it just ended today at 5:46 PM and I bought it, so I just filled another hole in the set and I now have every XB, XBL, XRL, XR, and SBL reel that I know exists. Here’s a close-up of the left side.
And here is a close-up of the right side. Nice isn’t it? You can’t get any better than NIB. Recap of Models Now lets recap: A letter B in a model name means that it is a ball bearing reel, an L means the it is R or L handed, an S means that it is a skirted spool reel, R probably means it’s regular conventional spinning reel, although I can’t prove it, and I suppose that the X is thrown in because it sounds good. There were 4 XB reels: XB95, XB85, XB75, and XB65.
There were 3 XBL reels: XBL77, XBL45, and XBL39. There were 5 XRL reels: XRL80, XRL40, XRL37, XRL35, and XRL15.
There were 5 XR reels: XR60, XR30, XR20, XR11, and XR10. And finally there were 3 SBL reels: SBL90, SBL50, and SBL30. So that makes a total of 20 reels in the X series of reels. These reels show up in catalogs from 1972 to 1977. They may have started in 1971, but I don’t have that catalog.
They are definitely gone in the 1978 catalog, because that is when the 800L and 900L series reels start. The XR60 isn’t in any of these catalogs that I have, and yet it existed because I have a parts kit for it, but no reel. Because of this, there may have been others that weren’t ever shown in a catalog for whatever reason or there are 3 catalogs that I don’t have, yet that is.
Remember that during all this time the Cardinal reels were still available and until at least 1980, but are not in the 1983 catalog, but for 1981 and 1982, I can’t say at this time. From their introduction in 1978 their new L series reels were in the catalogs to 1980 and maybe as late as 1982 and we will look at these reels next. In 1983 the spinning reels available were the 6000, 5000, MS, 4000 series, and the 94, 84, 64, and 54 reels and somewhere along the line, a 74 was sold also. I also just bought a 620 on eBay and it’s big brother, the 640WL is on there now.
I also have 2NIB 3020s which are the same as the 620 that I just bought and the papers wit it show a 3040 also and that may be the only 2 sizes made in these reels. The 800 & 900 Series and the 90L, 80L, 70, and 50 Reels These reels first show up in the 1978 catalog and continue till at least 1980 and maybe to 1982. All of these reels all made up until now were made here in the good old U.S.A. After these reels were discontinued, from then on the were made in Japan, Korea, and later maybe some in Taiwan. I know that the later Pro Staff reels were made in Taiwan as I have a PS20 that is dated 1989 and marked Taiwan and others that I can check later. This is the cover of the 1968 catalog, showing off their new spinning reels.
Here you see a cut-away view of their new Omega spinning reels. You’ve really got to say that the Zebco advertising department was second to none.
They really knew how to sell their reels and other products. They were really proud of these reels and I have about all of them that are available and they are nice looking reels and seem to work well, although I’ve never had one out to use. Page 1 gives the rest of they’re 21 features to convince you that they are the state of the art reels.
Page 2 has the 940XL reel, quite a nice looking reel, don’t you think? Page 3 shows the 900 series of skirted spool reels. The 940XL, 950L, and the non-existent 970L. All of these reels are supposed to be in the Tulsa dump because of a defect found in them when they arrived at the company who was going to distribute them. They were sent back to Zebco and destroyed. What a shame. Dick Braun says that he saw the one and only one known in existence at the Zebco Museum in Tulsa.
Page 4 are the 800 series of conventional spinning reels: the 840L, 850L, and 870L which again is maybe non-existent. Page 5 shows the 840L reel.
Page 14 shows the smaller reels, the 90L, 80L, and the 70. Page 15 shows one more, the 50 for a total of 4 reels: the 90L, 80L, 70, and 50. That makes a total of 10 L series reels made, with 2 non-existent, 870L and 970L. Of the 8 reels I have 6 and am missing the 70 and the 90L. The 50 and the 80L are the same size, but the 80L is ambidextrous and I think the same is true of the 70 and the 90L. Page 9 of the 1980 catalog only shows the 940XL and the 950L.
Here are my 4 - 900 series reels. The 940XLs are both used and I noticed that the one on top of the box is the best one, but the bail is broken, so I think that I’ll switch the bail and put it in the box. The 950L in the box is new and the one on top is VG, but the Anti-Rev doesn’t work. Page 10 shows only the 840L and 850L. Here are all of my reels: 2 used 840Ls one the left, then the only 850L that I have, then a 940XL that looks new w/broken bail and a used one on top of box, and on the right a new 950L which go in the box. I had thought I had 2 each of the 900s, but I had put an 840L in the 950L box when at one time I had all of them hanging on a 3/4″ dowel rod in order and had put the extra 840L in the box.
The 940XL in front of the box with the broken bail is like new so I’m going to switch bails and put it in the box. Page 11 only shows the 80L.
It is interesting that none of the 4 smaller reels are listed in the 1979 catalog and only the 80L is listed in the 1980. I can’t say at this time about the 1981 and 1982, but by 1983, they were no more. Here are my 50 and 80L reels. Still looking for the 70 and 90L reels to complete the set.
From the catalog pictures, it seems that the made different colors a different times. Summery: Thus far we have covered 52 spinning reels made by Zebco between 1963 and 1982 and of them only 50 are available and I have 39 of them and need 11 others, 8 Cardinals, the XR60, the 70 and the 90L. Now we move on to the reels offered in 1983. These include the following series: Sterling 7000s (6), 6000s (6), 5000s (3?)& MS (3?), Lancer 4100 (4?) & 4000 (4?), the 3000 (2?), and a few other reels. I know that the 6000s were made in: 6000, 6010, 6020, 6040, 6050, and 6070 because I have all but the 6070 and Gene has a spool on eBay and one sold in Jan.
I have a Sterling 7010 and 7050 and Ron Shepard has all the parts for the 7000 listed on eBay and I’ve seen a 7070. The other are not all listed in my catalog, but I only have 1983 and just got a 1989 and these were all gone by then. The numbers the I show in parenthesis are what are shown in the catalog or I have seen. There could possibly be 6 reels in every series? I have 2 NIB 3020s and the papers with them list a 3040 also, is that all, who knows. On eBay there is a reel that is clearly marked Zebco 620 and it is exactly the same as the 3020.
So how many others there are is anybody’s guess. It is nearly 4:00 AM on 3/17/16 and I started on this at about 6 PM yesterday, but then Paul bent my ear for over 3 hours on the phone.:) Blame it on me will you.
Tomorrow, I mean later today, I’ll start on these last series. Jim The Sterling 7000, 6000, 5000 & MS, Lancer 4000 & 4100, 3000 and Other Series Reels Made Into the Mid to Late 80s It is now 12:30 PM, Friday 3/18/16 and I will try to finish this blog. I was into the Lancer reels yesterday, when I accidentally did something and lost it all, so here we go again. The Sterling 7000 series reels were the same reels as the 6000 series, only in a Blue/Gray color, whereas the 6000 reels are Gold. They are not shown in the 1983 catalog and the next I have is a just acquired 1989 and these are all gone by then.
I have 2 of them, the 7010 and the 7050 and I have evidence from schematics that they ran from 7000 to 7070 for 6 sizes, the same as the 6000 series reels, I might add. Here are the 2 that I have. A 1981 Zebco Catalog just came on eBay late 3/19/16 at about 11:00 PM and the same seller has a 1981 Ryobi Catalog listed also. Ryobi has reels listed in it that appear to be the same design as the 7000 & 6000 series of Zebco reels. They have another that looks similar to the 5000 series, so they may have made all of them for Zebco. The Sterling 7000 Series Here is a Sterling 7000 that I found on eBay that is less than perfect, but shows that they do exist.
Here are my 2 reels in a right side view, on L the 7010 and P the 7050. The small was at local yard sale in May 2003, while the large one was an eBay purchase in Sep. Here are my 2 reels in a front side view, on L the 7010 and P the 7050. Here are my 2 reels in a rear side view, on L the 7010 and P the 7050. And finally here they are in a left side view, on L the 7010 and P the 7050. The 6000 Series As I said before, this series is the same as the Sterling 7000s.
Here are the 3 largest of the 6000s: the 6070, 6050, and the 6040. You can see from the pictures, that this is the same reel as the 7000 Sterling reel. I think that cosmetics were the only difference, at least that was the case with the Omega Spincast reels and the Sterling series of them. These are the 3 smaller sizes that they were made in. The 7000 and 6000 reels were made in Japan by one of the major Japanese reel manufactures. Ryobi made most, if not all, of the X series of reel for Zebco in the 70s and may have made these, but I’m not sure about that at this time. The 5000 Series The 5000 series of reels came in these 3 sizes: the 5050, 5020, and 5010 as shown here.
Whether they made the 5000, 5040, and 5070 is unsure, but it seems possible. These reels were also made in Japan. The Tom Mann Signature Series Then we have the Tom Mann Signature Series of reels which were the same as the 5000 series with only cosmetic differences. Again, the same 3 sizes: MS50, MS20, and MS10 and like the 5000s, possibly the other 3 sizes and also Japanese made reels. The Lancer 4000 Series Now here is the 4000 series and they show 3 sizes here: the 4040, 4020, and the 4010, but I know for a fact that there is a 4050, because I have a new one in the box. Because of this fact, I wonder if they also made a 4000 and 4070 size? More Japanese made reels.
Here are some of my Lancers: L to R NIB 4050, NIB 4040, NIB 4040, VG 4020, and in front a very rough 4010 missing it’s bail. These reels are also from Japan, but the 4100 series, which I’m showing next out of order because, I think this series came later and were made in Korea.
The Lancer 4100 Series Here are my only 2 - 4100 series reels: on the L the 4140 which I just got from Jay Dunlap and on the R the 4110 which I’ve had for quite a while. Back between 1999 and 2003, I was trying to collect all the reels from 1963 through the mid to late 1980s and probably have around 2/3 of them.
As I said earlier, these reels are made in Korea and have a rear drag system. The 3000 Series This series is another made in Korea and according to the papers with them, came in 2 sizes: 3020 and 3040. There may have been more, but I can’t confirm that at this time. I only have these NIB 3020s that I bought from Dave Jadwin in 1994 and they had come from Tackle King in Tampa, Fl., which Dave said specialized in buying close-out merchandise, so these reels were made sometime before 1989. The Zebco 94, 84, 74, 64, 54, and 54 BSA Reels This 1983 catalog shows the 94, 84, 64, and on the next page, the 54BSA reel.
I have a regular 54 and a 74 and both are marked made in Korea. Of the 3 larger ones, I only have the 84 and it was made in Japan, so who made the other 2 is up for discussion.
Here are the 54, 74, and 87 reels and I still need the red & white 54 BSA, the 64, and the 94 reels to complete the set. Here are combos offered in 1983 and the red and white reel is the 54 BSA reel, which it the Boy Scout reel. The 202 BSA reel was also offered in a kit reel which the scout had to assemble and could customize with decals that came in the box with it. They earned a merit badge for this project. I have one NIB that still has the wrapper on it, but I did cut it on one end to see what was inside.
I don’t know if they sold a kit reel in 54 BSA spinning reel as I have never see one or heard of them. Here are some more combos offered for some of the other spinning reels listed here.
Other Models or Variations Made During This Time Here is a reel on eBay that at first I thought was just a 6010 with a damaged marking, but both sides look the same, so it must be a 610C? See what I mean? This is another reel that I think must be the same as a 3020, what do you think? Update: I bought both of these tonight 2/19/16 and added them to my collection.
The mate to the 620, the 640WL is on eBay right now and I’m watching it. Now if I could just find a 3040 to go with the 2 NIB 3020s that I have. Note: There may be more and if you see one, tell me about it and send me a link or photo. Thank you, Jim A photo of all of these reels in one photo to come later All the Reels and When Made Years, Model No., Number of Reels, Country of Manufacture, What I Have 1963 to 1970?, Langley/Zebcos 777, 822, 830, 834, 850, 860, 864, 870, 874, 9 Reels, U.S.A., I Have All 1965 to 1970?, Zebco 707, 1 Reel, U.S.A., I Have 1969 or 1970, Zebco 1970 (Prototype), 1 Reel, U.S.A., I Have a Black One, but not a Clear One 1967 to 1980?, ABU/Zebco Cardinals 3, 3X, 4, 4X, 6, 6X, 7, 7X, 554, 555, 557, 11 Reels, Sweden, I Need a 7, 3X, 4X, 6X, 7X, 554, 555, and a 557 (8 Reels) 1971? To 1977?, XB95, XB85, XB75, XB65, 4 Reels, Japan, I Have All 1971? To 1977?, XBL77, XBL45, XBL39, 3 Reels, Japan, I Have All 1971? To 1977?, XRL80, XRL40,XRL37, XRL35.
XRL15, 5 Reels, Japan, I Have All, Note: Gene has a XRL35 made in Korea 1971? To 1977?, XR60, XR30, XR20 XR15, XR11, XR10, 6 Reels, Japan, I Have All 1975? To 1977?, SBL90, SBL50, SBL30, 3 Reels, Japan, I Have All 1968? To 1980-82?, 970L, 950L, 940XL, 870L, 850L, 840L,90L, 80L, 70, 50, 10 Reels, U.S.A., I Need a 70 and 90L (2 Reels) -1983?
To????, Sterling Series 7070, 7050, 7040, 7020, 7010, 7000, 6 Reels, Japan, I Need a 7000, 7020, 7040, and a 7070 (4 Reels) -1983? To????, 6070, 6050, 6040, 6020, 6010, 6000, 6 Reels, Japan, I Need a 6000 and 6070 (2 Reels) -1983?
To????, 5050, 5020, 5010, 3 Reels?, Japan, I Need All (3 Reels) -1983? To????, Tom Mann Series MS50, MS20, MS10, 3 Reels?, Japan, I Need a MS10 and MS50, (2 Reels) -1983? To????, Lancer Series 4050, 4040, 4020, 4010, 4 Reels?, Japan, I Have All -1983? To????, Lancer Series 4140, 4110, 2 Reels?, Japan, I Have All -1983? To????, 3040, 3020, 2 Reels?, Japan, I Need a 3040, (1 Reel) -1983? To????, 94, 84, 74, 64, 54, 54 BSA, 6 Reels, Japan & Korea, I Need a 54 BSA, 64, and 94 (3 Reels)???? To????, 601C, 620, 640WL, 3 Reels?, Japan, I Need a 640WL (1 Reel) 1963 to 198?, Total of all reels made in this period, 88 Reels?
I Have 63 out of 88, 71.5% and Need 25 Conclusion: It’s 2:00 PM 3/17/16 and I have to run to town and I will finish this later. When I got back, I was down to the 3000 series and accidentally lost it and didn’t get back to it until today, 3/19/16 at about 2:00 PM and will finish it as well as I can today. I will comment on this from time to time for a while to move it to the top so everyone will be able to see it and know that it is, for all practical purposes, done. It is now 5:30 PM and I will add some more photos later and anything else that I may find. I have all of the Langley and Zebco reels and most in boxes and will add of photos of them later.
I also have many of the others and will add photos of them also. I think that this is a fairly comprehensive study of the reels from this time period and I think will be a good help to identifying these reel. It has been quite a job, but a lot of fun for me, hope you like it. Jim Later Model Reels After 1983 the spinning reels changed so much that it’s hard to keep up with them, but here are a few that I got from Dave Jadwin in 1994. I laid them out from right to left not thinking, so starting on the right back is a Pro Staff 70 with the spool dated 1983 and made in Korea. In front of it is a Pro Staff 40 with it’s spool dated 1986 and also made in Korea.
The next 2 to the left are a QG 40 in back and a QG 05 in front and both dated 1988 on their spools and made in Korea. Then to the left again, we have in back in the blue box, a QP 70 Quantum Predator, then a PS 40 Pro Staff, then a QG 2, and in front a PS 20. All of these reels are dated 1989 and all are made in Korea, except the QG 2 and it was made in Taiwan. The last reel on the left is the Quantum SLS 5 Slingshot and it is dated 1991 and was also made in Korea. This is just a few of their spinning reel and I listed them because the big black Pro Staff 70 is dated 1983, so the reels shown in the 1983 catalog may not have lasted past that year. If you look at the 1989 catalog that I have posted, the only one of these reels in it is the QG 2. The show a PSG Pro Staff series that looks like these PS Pro Staff series reels, but are marked PSG.
It seems like every few years, they have different models, so it is hard to keep up with. This is why I loose interest after the 80s. Top image of Zebco SpinFlo 822 by So. What do you think?.
Is a master administrator and an all time top contributor at Fishing Talks. Alpenflage: I like this Jim.
Zebco spinning reel history has seemed lacking compared to their spincast reels. For just getting this started it’s a really great start. This topic alone can easily be a book. Looking forward to more history and pictures in the future.
The Zebco 1970 pics are a spectacular way to get started with the pictures for this blog. I never knew those reels ever existed until you told me about them this year. Those see through salesman samples just mesmerize me. If I had to fish with a see through reel I would never know what was going on around me because I would constantly be watching the inside of the reel functioning. TheReelDeal: Very informative blog, and, judging by all the feedback, well received.
Raises lots of questions, too, as something like this naturally should do. One that comes to mind: on one of the Cardinal ads, it talks about the Delrin spool being stronger than metal; do you readers find this to have been the case? I have always been partial to metal spools, although have used Delrin/plastic and recognize their lightness and being inexpensive to manufacture.
Another question: I have seen many rave about the drag setup on the Cardinals, but when I look at it, I see basically a rear drag with the dial in a unique spot & nothing particularly special beyond that. Am I missing something?