Shimano Bantam - where it all began

[Liphook]

Excellent read and some lovely multies

[Nobby]

Great read, thank-you. The Japanese aren't as honourable as they like to imagine, it seems...the reels are identical!

[Mole-Patrol]

If you can recall; back in that period there was a lot of industrial espionage with the Japanese in particular copying European products and making them better and cheaper. What is interesting in this particular situation is that Lew Childre probably asked them to copy the ABU design and then laid the foundation of Japanese engineering being superior by including the "Made in Japan by Shimano" stickers on every reel. 7 or 8 years later Shimano used that to their own advantage And fortunately for Shimano this market breakthrough came just as the industry leaders, Mitchell were going through financial difficulties. Right, place, right time.

[Trainset]

A fascinating read, are any of the shimano reels classed as vintage or traditional yet?
There will probably be interest in them in a few years time from carp anglers etc.

[EssexMark]

The original sea spin reels Trainset are definitely starting to be sought after, particularly those into "old school" carp fishing. They are up there with those who want ABU Cardinal 55s.

[Olly]

They are very well made - both the ABU and the early Shimano reels.

MP the data on the Bantam is great - thanks.

[Aitch]

Shimano reels are very good... I have had 7 of their Baitrunner series, they are expensive but worth the money... The early 90's 5000 RE's (I still have a pair) were the Barbel anglers reel of choice back in the day... sadly they are not considered as vintage despite being nearly 30 years old, yet I'm sure they will become classics in the future, hang onto them...

[EssexMark]

I have a pair of those 5000 RE reels Aitch. Great reels and going nowhere!

[Mole-Patrol]

Early Shimanos don't yet seem to qualify for 'vintage' status yet similarly aged Daiwa reels do It should change at some point. The old Aeros particularly will fall into the 'Old Skool' carp bracket. When they stopped making them I bought three before they disappeared off the shelves.

[StefanDuma]

I have a couple of Shimano reels for ledgering and bait casting. They are excellent.

Strange when the first lot of goods from Japan were considered inferior, people laughed at the first cars. Reels were thought of as junk as well as the kits with cane rods in them.

Times change.