The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 6:34 pm**

My latest acquisition is this Allcocks Delmatic 2. The paint is off in a few places, which doesn't bother me personally because the price of £20 isn't much. However, the reel didn't work. So get to work. I completely disassembled the darling, cleaned it of grease and dirt and reassembled it with reel grease. The steel shafts were already a bit messed up, so they were smoothed out with 1200 grit paper. I was surprised by the built-in plastic sprockets. They hadn't expired. So now it's working again and I'm pretty happy with it. Here some pics...

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 6:42 pm**

Nice job! I never got used to the swan neck and gave mine to my brother!

Phil

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 7:01 pm**

Hi Phil,
thank you...It's my first delmatic and the first thing I thought was that an awful lot of plastic was used. I don't like that. I find goose neck interesting. But I haven't fished with them yet, so I can't say anything about the technology yet. Why don't you like this fishing reel?
Best regards
Markus

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 8:08 pm**

I have a Delmatic 2 and I can't decide if it's the most stylish or the ugliest reel I own.....
Either way, they are interesting pieces of English fishing tackle history.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 8:43 pm**

Gone Fishing wrote: ↑Sat Dec 10, 2022 7:01 pm Hi Phil,
thank you...It's my first delmatic and the first thing I thought was that an awful lot of plastic was used. I don't like that. I find goose neck interesting. But I haven't fished with them yet, so I can't say anything about the technology yet. Why don't you like this fishing reel?
Best regards
Markus

I find the way you hold it on the rod, hand in front of the swan neck, awkward and uncomfortable. Others will know more but I seem to recall reading that the Delmatic 2 was the last fixed spool mass produced by a U.K. company in the U.K., so deserving of its place in history even with the, presumably cheaper, parts.

Note added 11/12/2022 - I just recalled that the plastic used for the gears is Delrin (Polyoxymethylene), which is still used for gears and bushes today. It was only invented in 1954 and I’m guessing the reel was named for it. Probably considered very high tech at the time.

Phil

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 9:40 pm**

Delmatics ....I really enjoy using them.
I have three last count all mk2

The point raised regarding the swan neck reel stem .I too struggled at first but these reels came in to play when rod handles were a bit shorter in length.
I find if you place the reel a little further down the rod handle this allows room to hold just above the first reel band nearest the top of the rod cork handle and the whole feel of rod and reel changes and is very comfortable to handle.

As an example Anyone who owns a Allcocks Lightcaster spinning rod and a Delmatic will demonstrate this point well especially when a more conventional reel is tried to compare the difference

Enjoy your reel whatever your thoughts.

All the best-Nige.

Posted: **Sun Dec 11, 2022 3:52 pm**

TrentFisher wrote: ↑Sat Dec 10, 2022 9:40 pm Delmatics ....I really enjoy using them.
I have three last count all mk2

The point raised regarding the swan neck reel stem .I too struggled at first but these reels came in to play when rod handles were a bit shorter in length.
I find if you place the reel a little further down the rod handle this allows room to hold just above the first reel band nearest the top of the rod cork handle and the whole feel of rod and reel changes and is very comfortable to handle.

As an example Anyone who owns a Allcocks Lightcaster spinning rod and a Delmatic will demonstrate this point well especially when a more conventional reel is tried to compare the difference

Enjoy your reel whatever your thoughts.

All the best-Nige.

That’s extremely interesting. I have a W A Allcocks Light Caster and may have to try it out on that next time I fish with my brother.

Phil

Posted: **Tue Dec 13, 2022 7:43 pm**

That is very interesting information and opinions from you. Thank you

. Now I understand why plastic gears were used. And the best thing is: I also have a Light Caster...

Posted: **Tue Dec 13, 2022 7:49 pm**

I loved my Delmatic and, if I remember correctly, the first fish I had on it was a barbel which it dealt with very well. However, I broke the bail arm later and, it would seem that replacements and unicorn eggs are stored on the same shelf.

Posted: **Wed Dec 14, 2022 1:43 pm**

The material used for the gears is a hardwareing Delrin machined .Terry

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