ABU Cardinal 66's and 77's

[Polecat]

Hi Olly,

Spot on, the bodies are identical, it's the spool and rotor housing that are larger - maybe 10% bigger?

[BendSomeCane]

It goes rather like this:- smallest 33 - float/ledgering reel 44 - barbel/carp/tench/chub reel 66 - pike/bass/heavy line 77.

I think, without looking, that the 66 & 77 bodies are either the same size or very similar. It is the spool and associated parts the differ.
Rather like a Mitchell 300/410 and a Mitchell 306 in use.

Olly…

Thank you ..Im grateful..

Clearly .. no 55’s. !!!!


Bendsomecane

[SooperClooper]

Thanks for the info on sending a pm.

[Olly]

The 55 were in the next lot!!

So 53 - 54 - 55 - 57 - - - and 153? - 154 - 155 and 157!!

I have a pair of 155 and sillily sold a pair of 54s!!

[Rockape]

Beautiful reels Polecat.

I recently recieved my first ABU Cardinal, a nice clean 77 model (1970 I think from the serial number) with the torpedo grip.

What is the background on the two different grip types on the 77?

My most recent one is a really nice early 44.
I always heard great things about the Cardinals, and now I finally see what all the fuss was about.

[BeechmereLake]

Thanks for the info on sending a pm.

If your still struggling let us know here and I will send you one which you can reply too
I can give you my phone number and email address.

Regards Martin

[BeechmereLake]

Beautiful reels Polecat.

I recently recieved my first ABU Cardinal, a nice clean 77 model (1970 I think from the serial number) with the torpedo grip.

What is the background on the two different grip types on the 77?

My most recent one is a really nice early 44.
I always heard great things about the Cardinals, and now I finally see what all the fuss was about.

Hi Rockape, the early reels from 1965 to 1975 had the torpedo shaped handle knob then in 75 leading up to the release of the 66X and 77X the bock handle was used, a hollow brick shaped handle knob which gave better grip, 1977 saw the last of the 77's though you may find later Cardinal 7's marketed under Zebco with later serial numbers, these are mainly found in the USA and are the identical reel accept for the name plate.

[BeechmereLake]

The 55 were in the next lot!!

So 53 - 54 - 55 - 57 - - - and 153? - 154 - 155 and 157!!

I have a pair of 155 and sillily sold a pair of 54s!!

Olly, hope your well, there was no 53 sir just the 52 which is probably my least favorite reel of all. Very small is size they never really run well, the gears are for the want of a better word "spikey" and the tolerances are not as less as you would like them to be, if you compare them with a Cardinal 33 they are night and day and with both reels being sought after the 1st version 33 is a million miles up the road, you can work on a 33 just like you can a 44 66 or 77, even a 55 or 57, they can be made to work like a modern day Daiwa match reel in the £400 bracket, just an incredible reel if you can A. find one and B. Afford one, they still demand high prices, the 52 is also highly priced but when it comes to engineering very lacking compared to the little 33

This is the internals of the 52, very fiddly to work on with hands the size of mine but I have done many of them. Made for one year, 1981
Trust me when I say that A/R wire is an excuse for a working part, the slightest bend and you have had it.



This is the 1st version 33 made in 1974, superb reel for small fingered ultralite enthusiasts

[Olly]

I have recovered completely - now with a clean bill of health! Thanks for asking!

I knew there was one smaller than a 54/154 so guessed incorrectly at 53! Now you mention the 52 - (was there a 152?) - I saw one for sale on that auction site!
Which is where Japan sellers have some very very expensive Cardinal 33s for sale! I understood the 'new' 33s were made with Japanese parts not ABU - so copies in fact?

[Tony.J.Newman]

I’m pretty sure Jim Gibbinson was an advocate of the ‘66 for his Pike fishing.