Hardy Altex no.1 mk IV mechanical bail/ complete teardown and restore

[Woodbilly]

1935 Edward Broadfoot Hardy Altex no.1 mk IV
with mechanical bail.
Complete teardown and cleaning of every part and there were a bunch! Look at those tiny bearings! Lol
Original finish was long gone, so
I am going to repaint body and flier dust cover and leave flier stripped/ polished and polish all brass fitments/ hardware.
It has repaired handle and added knob. Looks like an old repair, as wood knob is crazed and looks vintage.
I have a new correct handle en route, so no big deal.
More to come with reassembly.

BTW: I had to make 2 different tools to disassemble this 90 year old technical beauty. It has been the most challenging one to date, next to my Swiss made 2 speed 1954 Benora Standard.
Cheers!!

[Crucian]

Good post, watching with interest

[Woodbilly]

More teardown pictures

[Woodbilly]

More pics

[Woodbilly]

Good post, watching with interest

Thank you! Very fun reels to work on. I have a no.2 mk V up next on the table!

[Tengisgol]

Brave man, with plenty of time and patience, hats off to you Sir for perseverance and ingenuity.

Looking forward to seeing it come back together.

[Nigel Rainton]

I wouldn't paint it, looks good with age / wear :-)

[Woodbilly]

I wouldn't paint it, looks good with age / wear :-)

After cleaning, I have come to the same conclusion.

I will be leaving it as is. Since I'll be using it, I figured why make it a cabinet queen.

[Cat]

You are brave and skilled. Good luck with your endeavours!

[Banksy]

Just looking at all those bits ... makes me dizzy.
As someone who is not naturally mechanically minded - I can take the screw top off a bottle, then forget which way it should go back on again - it is wonder to me that all those pieces can go back together to make a functioning reel.
Some people would say that when they look at the parts, there is only one way they can logically go back together.

Even when I take the various washers and springs off to remove the spool of my Altex No.2, I have to lay out the parts in sequence on the bench top. And even then I have been known to replace them upside down.

I would be interested to know whether you rely on instinct / experience alone, or whether you make sketches or take photographs, when you are taking a reel apart and reassembling it?

Another vote for leaving the base metal surface finish as it is!
Is that what is known as 'Spitfire' colour, or is Spitfire colour usually an applied finish?