In the early 1970’s Alabama tackle dealer Lew Childre set off to Japan on a personal trade mission. His primary aim was to source some quality bamboo as Chinese goods were subject to an embargo and Tonkin cane was hard to find, but he also made contact with representatives of the Japanese companies Fuji Heavy Industries, an aircraft company set up in 1915 and The Shimano Industrial Company who were founded in 1921 to make cycle parts. Childre managed to do a deal with Shimano to produce a new bait casting reel that he marketed in the USA as a Lew’s BB-1. This ree lhad a stylish low profile teardrop styling and slim rosewood handles reminiscent of the Hardy Elarex salmon spinning reel that had been in production from the late1930’s until the 1960’s. The BB-1 was mechanically virtually identical to an ABU bait caster in all the important areas:– bearings, centrifugal brake and a level wind that could be disconnected during the cast. It might just be that Lew Childre had an ABU reel in his pocket when he met Mr. Shimano along with a photograph of an Elarex. But, there is no doubt that the Lew’s bait caster with its twin bearings and free spool capability was a step up from the rudimentary American made reels of the day and even the most patriotic of anglers didn’t seem to mind the ‘Made in Japan by Shimano’ stickers that adorned every Lew’s BB-1 reel. Childre also imported Fuji rod fittings introducing that company's products to the world markets.
Until the Lews BB-1 came along ABU had been having their own way with bait casting reels in the lucrative professional American bass fishing market. ABU, or AB Urfabrikken had been founded in 1921 to make watches and taxi meters. Just before WWII they commenced manufacturing fishing reels, initially copying American direct drive designs, but during the war years they produced their own reel, the legendary ABU 2100 ‘Record’ that, as its name suggests broke casting records world-wide. The very month that the war ended ABU took out an international patent on the centrifugal brake that allowed tangle free casting for less than competent anglers like myself. This later became known as the ‘Ambassadeur’ brake after the model of reel made by ABU. The strange thing is, that the Hardy Elarex - which was pre-war, in fact had a centrifugal brake - and the centrifugal brake was known in the US long before that.
Lew Childre was killed in a plane crash in 1977 that his son and grand-son survived. The business however carried on as Lew’s innovating and introducing new ideas in the fishing world. But in 1979 controversially Shimano entered the American reel market under their own name with the Bantam 100, identical to the Lew’s BB-1 in almost every way, and less expensive. Shimano and ‘Made In Japan’ had by association with Lew’s become synonymous with quality and Shimano seized the opportunity to maximise on that. Lew’s quickly broke off their relationship with Shimano and successive new models were manufactured by Ryobi, another Japanese company. Shimano as we now know went on to be one of the biggest names in fishing along with Lew Childre’s other Japanese partner; Fuji who still make reel fittings and rod rings for many of the world’s top tackle makers.
The Japanese Shimano Bantam was the first model of fishing reel to be sold as a Shimano in 1978. But as you can see its DNA can be traced back to the 1930’s in Alnwick, Northumberland through Svangster in Sweden to The United States.
Family resemblance or coincidence?
The spool and drive gear of the Bantam can be accessed without tools by loosening two knurled screws as on the ABU reels. This also allows you to change the centrifugal spool brakes. The strange three pointed star drag was designed to allow easier access to the screws and spool adjuster, but it did not prove popular with Hank and Bud and was soon changed along with the slim handles for one suitable for American tastes.
The other side has a plastic cover with chrome paint finish. This is a weak point cosmetically. (Note the fake crest. It is endorsed 'Fishing Tackle')
The Bantam 100 is a low profile bait casting reel designed predominantly for bass fishing. Like many American reels it initially only came in right hand wind versions. As time went on left hand wind models were added to the expanding range.
Shimano and Fuji never looked back.
