Shakespeare Fishing reels a brief company history

[@ddselvig]

I recently acquired a Shakespeare Marhoff baitcaster. It also has the GE year code. I took it apart for cleaning/lubrication and was surprised how clean it was internally. After I adjusted the reel for the weight of the lure I was casting it was smoothly operating without any backlash. It's a touch of nostalgia from when I was a kid fishing with my uncles and their baitcasters on spring steel rods.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Those are nice reels. The GE is 1946. Interesting, Markoff was a competitor of Shakespeare in the early 1900s and eventually sold the company to them later on. Thanks for the note - Dennis

[@joeschatz6617]

Turns out, I just completed restoration of a Shakespeare Au-Sable fly reel day before yesterday. Had no idea about the decoder chart. Mine is from 1941! Cant wait to use it! Thanks

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Hi Joe. Thanks for watching. Always learning and happy to pass it along - Dennis

[@chesterspradlin6743]

Thanks for the interesting information, Dennis. My first Shakespeare was the knuckle-busting, direct drive Shakespeare 1958 Triumph baitcaster. No freespool, but load the rod up with at least 1 oz. of weight and they'd cast a good distance. Got one of those Shakespeare 1969 baitcasters a while back and it's a good reel. Only low profile I own with a clicker, cast just as well as an Abu. Royal Maroons are my favorite Shakespeare spinners. Later Shakespeare released the Omori Japanese based 2200 series. Those 2200 are an overlooked little ultralight reel that's smooth as silk.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

The Royal Maroons are one of the best. They are nearly identical to the original Penn Spinfisher reels and just as durable as the Greenies.

[@peterschafer5642]

Hi Dennis , thanks for starting a series about the history of fishing tackle! I'm collecting old baitcaster reels and therefore it's very interesting for me. One note about Noris-Shakespeare: Noris was a wellknown german manufacturer of fishing tackle from Nürnberg till the 1940s. Its was sold to the german trader "Angelgeräte Chr. Brink", situated in the Rhineland near Cologne/Bonn. At the beginning of the 1960s Brink was sold to the Shakespeare Company, wich had a representation in Cologne at that time. The Noris brand was retained at least in Germany - as a (alleged) sign of high-quality fishing equipment.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Thank you Peter. I will add this to my file and do an update at some point. I am learning a few things here ant that that better completes the story - Dennis

[@clydecrashcup9202]

Pretty cool. I love the fact that you need a secret decoder sheet/ring to find out when the real was made.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

I'm sure other companies have different coding, I just don't know what it is.

[@julianperez2618]

@@2ndChanceTackle thank you, do you think it will mess up with the salt water though? Just subscribed thanks again.

[@mikemcelveen2973]

I have a few Ohmori green spinning reels and a few USA made 2062 and a 2052 that I restored. The quality of these reels is excellent and competitive with the Penn reels. The burgandy 2052 ec codes go for up to 150.00 on Ebay(too rich for me) Thanks for the thorough information. Learned a lot today! Didn't know about the Norris Shakespeares. Thanks Dennis!

[@chesterspradlin6743]

The burgundy Shakespeare Royal Maroon 2052 and 2062 are some of the finest American made spinning reels. I have a few of both models and also some parts reels. I also have the larger 2071, 2081, and 2091 which are excellent for heavy freshwater and saltwater. And you are correct, those are built just as well as Penn spinners, and can be bought for a fraction of Penn prices on ebay.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

The Ohmori reels were a KJapanese extension of the Shakespeare line. You are correct, they were very well made. Thanks Mike - Dennis

[@2ndChanceTackle]

And now Penn and Shakespeare are part of the same company, Pure Fishing. Go figure!

[@Mandy-Bee-k7k]

Interesting history. I believe the Ugly Stick was introduced in 1976 not 96 though. We all wanted, or had them as kids in the early to mid 80's.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Thank you for the clarification - Dennis

[@SukkaPunch321]

In Kalamazoo the old factory is a bar now called Shakespeare’s.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

It should be called Shame. Of course SKP is now part of Pure Fishing, so what would you expect other than a facade and a shell of a brand. Thanks for the note - Dennis

[@SukkaPunch321]

I have a bunch of the old stuff, Kalamazoo is my hometown. We built a lot of iconic stuff, Checker Cabs, Gibson Guitars, Shakespeare fishing gear. All of it’s closed or moved away now.

[@thejim3501]

Nice video! Your right, the older reels were far better than the newer ones. Shame to see a company go the way this one went. How about the model 2062 and 2052? Worm drive gears, some with 6 stack drag system! They are tanks! Smooth and strong. Love to see a video on those.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

I don't have any of those in my shop. I will add them to my list. Those models were very similar to the Penn Spinfisher "greenies" and just as good! - Thanks for asking - Dennis

[@franciscopeixoto6609]

Very nice info. Thanks Dennis

[@2ndChanceTackle]

You are welcome Francisco - Best wishes - Dennis

[@jaymans3412]

I would like to also thank you for a very informative video. Keep up the good work.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Thank you Jay. I appreciate the kind feedback - Dennis

[@MakeAmericaNiceAgainPlz]

I have recently acquired 2 shakespeare triggerspin models, the ez cast 35u and a synergy steel titanium 1402ti. Are there any videos on how to repair these or an equivalent zebco version? Thanks for all your helpful videos.

[@nowetfingal]

very informative video THANK YOU

[@2ndChanceTackle]

You're welcome - Thanks for watching - Dennis

[@TylerSnyder305]

The royal maroon series were some of the best spinning reels of the time next to the pen greenies and Z series.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Yes they are.

[@jakobmaceoin6923]

Hey great video. Do you know something about the old noris Shakespeare spinner lures? I just bought a really old one. But i cant find eny info on the internet abou it. Thanks

[@2ndChanceTackle]

I don't know much about lures. The Norris reel company was based in England. Shakespeare bought the company as an extension of their business and the reels and lures became Norris Shakespeare. I think this was the late 1960s or early 197os Try searching with England or English in the title.

[@jakobmaceoin6923]

@@2ndChanceTackle thanks :)

[@colinphilpott3700]

Thank you for that. Very interesting.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

You are welcome. Please stay tuned for more to Coe. Next up is the Langley fishing reel company - Dennis

[@easyfishing9152]

I have one Shakespeare service 1944.its in a very good condition But I don't know much about it.. Well thanks for everything.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

The 1944 reel was a standard reel of the time. It is not the year the reel was made. If you can give me the model number, I can tell you the year. Thanks for watching Rey - Dennis

[@easyfishing9152]

@@2ndChanceTackle it's a model ge....it's beautiful reel.thanks for all

[@christopherjenkins2373]

Great video - really interesting. I’ve known about ORCA for several years. It is a great resource. I own and use 3 Ugly Sticks. My oldest one is my best one. (A 12 foot) I didn’t like it when the Ugly Stick went to all metal line guides on the rod a couple of years ago but I still bought one and use it all the time. I like the vintage Shakespeare spinners like the 2062. Those worm gear reels are fantastic. Thanks Dennis. I absolutely love this new series. Can’t wait for the next one. By the way, I wanted to know if you have ever worked on a reel I recently acquired - a Daiwa Emblem X 5500T. It is more modern than the reels I collect but got a real deal on a mint condition one for $11.00 and couldn’t resist. It is a big saltwater reel that should be great in the surf. It is one of those long cast reels but only has 3 BB. Incredibly smooth reel! Ever seen one?

[@2ndChanceTackle]

I haven't worked on the Emblem, but I have an older Tournament that is very similar with the wide and tall spool. The mechanical stuff inside is pretty standard in design. Dennis

[@mike2457]

Hey Dennis, the Ugly Stiks were introduced in 1976.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Yes - you are correct Mike - I must have misread the notes when I was doing the talking. Shakespeare revolutionized the rod building industry for the mass market in 1947 with fiberglass rods and yes, the Ugly sticks did come out in 1976! Thanks for the editing - Dennis

[@Aweber87]

Any chance you could help me find some information on a Shakespeare 1898 model CE (fly reel) Truing to figure out if it’s able to reverse retrieval sides from right retrieve to left retrieve. Internet have very little info that I can run across. But if you can point me in the right direction you’d be a hero! Thanks

[@julianperez2618]

Do you know if the Shakespeare 2062 NL-2 can be used for salt water?

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Yes - it is strong enough to be used inshore. It is limited by spool capacity, but the gearing is strong enough to support inshore fishing - Dennis

[@bradfordsimms715]

Good job Dennis. Question , I see lots of the spinning reels are left handed handles. What is the idea behind that ?

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Ah! the question that has so many answers. Here are a few. The majority of the world is right handed. When casting a spinning reel, the right hand controls the line prior to release and is the dominant hand for holding the rod, so the crank went on the left side of most reels. Second, spinning reels were introduced mostly in the 50's and well after the conventional reels. A lot of users simply put the spinning reel on the pole and fished it in what we would call upside down and the crank was on the right side. Manufacturers finally came up with the interchangeable handle after a few decades of making both left and right side cranks.- I am right handed. We constantly have the debate on the low profile bait casters since I prefer the left sided crank, but use the right sided crank on the other conventional reels. My logic is simple, when flipping for bass and jigging, I don't need to change the pole from one hand to the other to start the retrieve. Thanks for asking - Dennis

[@bradfordsimms715]

@@2ndChanceTackle Thanks for such a detailed response. I am pleased to hear it is a complicated matter. I am a leftie so I had to wind with my off hand. Last thing I would want to do is have to re learn what should be an automatic drill. We only had Alvy side cast reels in OZ back in the old days, so learn to be a righty or pick another hobby. I was thought the FANCY imported reels would not hold up beach fishing with all the salt and sand plus the side casters go way further which is the key in heavy surf

[@doug42780]

I got a 2210 reel from a yard sale. I would like to know some information on it. From what year . Is it. I cant find any information on it

[@2ndChanceTackle]

I saw an ad in a Field and Stream magazine that showed this reel. The magazine was published in 1976. - Dennis

[@bosweat75]

Are their reels still made in the USA?

[@2ndChanceTackle]

No. The Shakespeare company is now part of Pure Fishing along with Penn, Abu, Pflueger, Mitchell and others. Almost all production has been moved to China under the new company. Thanks for asking Jackie - Dennis

[@nahuelarevalo5351]

Hola yo tengoelShakespeare 2741

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Do you like it?

[@davidogle7247]

I got a shakespeare ture blue 1956 model ge made by john inglis co limited toronto canada witch blot from stratford canada i payed 20 dollars for it

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Sounds like a fair price. That is a nice reel and can still go fishing today - Dennis