..You haven't seen any pictures of the old Myford lately, so here are a few showing the construction of a custom centrepin!
This reel is very free-running, based on the second (?) model, 4" Hardy Conquest with parallel side plates and the 'wheel-in-the-hole' friction adjustment. The original was an excellent reel, but suffered from what was held to be a poor line retrieve rate, having a line drum core diameter of only 3". It was also not always easy to operate the small, tapered ratchet knob with cold or wet fingers.
This is a version which has set out to address these points, by having a rim-operated and adjustable strength check, both adjustments may be instantly made with the finger tip of the rod hand.
The line drum diameter has been increased by 3/4" and the core diameter is now 3.820", which, if my mathematics are correct, will give a line recovery rate of three turns to the yard. A quick flick on one of the handles will pull line in as quick as a fixed spool!
These pictures are mostly self explanatory, so, starting from two billets of very high quality metal, without further ado we begin by roughing out the backplate...
Now to hack out the line drum...
Both parts have now been part finished and here you see the comparison between the new reel and an original Conquest, albeit one which has been drilled out by a previous owner..
The reel has in fact been completed and posted off, but I will not post pictures of it until I have confirmation from the new owner, that he has received it..
With regards,
wm+
