YoungMartin’sReels - Herter's Model 109 Service and Lubrication Part 1

[@shawnbarry3893]

Pretty thorough cleaning

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

Shawn, I usually try to get as much dirt and old grease out as I can.

[@ddselvig]

Rick - I'm familiar with a lot of Herter products as I used to go to Waseca to buy hunting and fishing items at their store there. The company folded around 1980, but there are a lot of Herter products that can be found on eBay these days. I recall seeing the 109 spinning reel with that funky crank handle in the past. It may have been an attempt to allow the user to adjust the amount of leverage they wanted to put on the drive gear while fighting a fish. I don't know if it was a Herter design, but it's possible it may have been. Herters was noted for pushing the envelope on a lot of its designs.

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

If that came from the factory it was definitely Ill-conceived. It won’t be going back on. 😀

[@christopherjenkins2373]

How much do you know about George Herter. According to others as I never met the man, George Herter was as they say “a legend in his own mind.” He was quite the character and a gifted salesman with a penchant for hyperbole. I think he actually did have some store locations as well as catalog sales. A guy on Dennis Kuntz’s channel knew a great deal about the man and talked like he actually met him. Herter called his trade reels “Herter’s Professional Tackle.” He bought them from everyone it seems. I have one that I am convinced is an Ohmori reel made in Japan. It is new and absolutely gorgeous in appearance. It is a “Herter’s Profesnsional Tackle No. 1580” and is a large saltwater size reel. You can see this in an internet search but they are pretty rare. I’ve never used it but it is a single ball bearing reel and has a very nice design and construction. I’ve seen a few DAM Quick Juniors before. I own 6 of these West German reels including 4 model 270 Super reels. I also have a 550 and a 331. They are tanks that you couldn’t hurt with a bazooka. I admire the fact that you are resurrecting this old gem. I’ve never seen a DAM Quick reel that wasn’t over-engineered. I know how much I love the ones I own and fish with all of them. That 270 Super is a tough almost indestructible surf reel that are ofen “souped up” into hot rod sealed surf reels. You really must love to work on grease bucket reels. I think you need to invest in an ultrasonic cleaner. With this reel i’ve now seen a DAM reel that wasn’t over-engineered. Could this possibly be meant as a child’s reel? Rick, even Dennis occasionally leaves some old grease in a reel. I have enjoyed your efforts with this reel. PB Blaster is best used to soak stubborn and rusted parts in a closed container. It burns my eyes. - Chris

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

Chris, Until I bought this reel, I had never heard of George Herter. It seems he was a successful promoter of his products. I know that back in the day there wasn’t much “truth in advertising”. He did sell reels from numerous manufacturers but then so did many others. As far as I know non of the reels were poorly made.