Turned

I let the rotating machine work through the night with a clock-timer, and finished the last varnishing of this rod (Fenwick Fenglass 2053). While I was checking it this morning, I noticed I turned 48. I can't believe 50 is just around the corner. 

 

This reel is almost as old as I am (or a little older). "ABU Ambassadeur 5000" in black color, though you may think it would be a Black Record Ambassadeur 5000 or a common Ambassadeur 5000C. It has some scratches and paint off, but works very smoothly. You can't believe it was manufactured about 50 years ago. I like to be the same, but to understand aging is very difficult for myself, as it is the first time for me to get old. 

ABU 5000C, 1981 model

I finally got an ABU Ambassadeur 5000C made in 1981, which may be one of the last 5000C's made in so-called old style, excluding later replicas like 1984 models. The foot number (811204) shows that it was made in December 1981.

I find three major differences from previous models (1976-1978 ones that I have in my collection, and presumably from 1979-1980 models as well).

(1) The drag wheel has 4 arms (4-point star).
(2) The color of gear plate (brake plate) is silver, not black.
(3) The color of screws are not shinny chrome, but dull-looking brass.

These characteristics look almost the same as another example of 1981 model that Mr. Fred Ribb kindly shows here (#811104). Thanks, Fred!

Put my room straight

In the long night of an autumn day, I started to put my room straight, but it was compounded. I'm afraid I can't finish it, as it is so full of fishing tackle.
 

I have to give the ABU Toby bags an airing. I find I also have green and navy ones.

  

I displayed my ABU Ambassadeur 5000C's in chronological order. It is said that the first model was made in circa 1967, and I have at least one in each production year of 1967-1978, and reproduction of 1984. This reel was also manufactured in 1979-1981, but I have not collected them. 

I also organized fishing tackle collection that I named 'All That Takeshi Kaiko (a prominent novelist, essayist, documentary writer, and fisher)'. 

I tried to do out my Chugger collection, but I gave it up. I have to many to handle. Among my Chugger Spooks, there are some standard colors that you may overlook, if you don't pay much attentions to subtle differences. These colors below can be much more difficult to get than you expect.
   

RH (w/ sprayed pupils and black eye-shadows around eyes, clear belly)

XRW (w/ sprayed pupils)

XRS (w/ sprayed pupils and silver scale on the back)

BF (Yellow-eyed one and one w/ yellow eye-shadows)

ABU 5000C, 1984 model

This is a scan of a 1984-85 ABU catalog distributed by Ebisu Fishing in Japan. According to it, ABU once stopped making Ambassadeur 5000C in 1978, but they started making again in 1984. The 1984 model is so called 'replica' but its parts were mixed through the production ages.
The rims are grooved (-1973), but the spool cap is without a skirt (1976-). The logos on the left plate are those of new ones (1974-).The handle nut is without 'Oil' mark engraved, and the drag star wheel is with angular ends (1972 or 1974-??). The EF decal and an additional engraved mark on the foot show it was imported and sold by a Japanese distributor, Ebisu Fishing. The foot is numbered as 840400.

ABU 5000C, another earliest

This is another very early ABU 5000C. The grid (checker) on the left spool cap is a little deeply engraved, which is different from those of later ones. Unfortunately, the flame of this reel is without a foot number (maybe the former owner replaced it as soon as he/she bought it), but judging from the parts it must be one of the earliest 5000Cs.

ABU black Ambassadeur, engraved as 5000

Who can recognize the earliest ABU Ambassadeur 5000C, if it is not marked as 5000C? This reel is very precious to me.

ABU 5000C, misc

I have a nice decal of Ambassadeur 5000C. Judging from the parts of the picture, the reel painted on this decal must be one made in 1972 or in an earlier year.I also have a beautiful relief (display board) of 5000C. It is mint and has not even been pulled out from the plastic bag. The reel on it may be one of 1974 or later models (The logo design of Ambassadeur is the same as that of one of the reels).

ABU 5000C, 1977 model

The 1977 models look very similar to 1976 models.

ABU 5000C, 1976 model

In 1976, the spool cap was simplified. The bottom skirt of it was removed, and a dial indicator is made on the surface to adjust the brake correctly.The level winder was also changed. Some dash lines were engraved on the front surface.
Mine is #761104, as you can see.

ABU 5000C, 1975 model

I found no differences between 1974 and 1975 models. My #750603 looks the same as one of the 1974 model.

ABU 5000C, 1974 model

The engraved logos on the left side were changed in the early 1974. The positions of Ambassadeur and ABU logos were replaced with each other, and the font of Ambassadeur was also changed.
The front surface of the level winder looks flatly cut, while older ones have a semi-spherical one.

ABU 5000C, 1973 models

In 1973, some major changes were made. Fine lattice (checkered) pattern was engraved on the top of the skirted spool caps on both sides. At the same time, the number 4 on the dial plate of the mechanical brake system on the left side returned to the same as earlier ones, in which the vertical bar of number '4' is long and the top part of '4' is closed.
The nuts on the right plate were also changed from those hand-screwed to those that need a screw driver.
The rims were also changed from so called 'grooved rim' to 'beveled rim' in 1973. Later ones such as #730902 (below) have the latter, simple 'beveled' rims.
Almost at the same time when the rims were changed, the drag wheel was also changed to one with square ends, but not simultaneously. I sometimes find one with beveled rims and a star drag with round ends.

ABU 5000C, 1972 models

Around 1972, the logo on the left side was changed to a simper one, just marked ABU (with out SVANGSTA). This is a scan of one with a foot number of 057200. The foot bottom is smooth like older ones.Then, the foot bottom started to get dotted (the serial number of this reel is 087200).

This is another 1972 reel with a dotted foot. An angular large drag wheel also started in 1972, but you can find some reels with the older small round drag wheel. I guess the leather reel case was also changed from the buckled brown one to the black double-buttoned one in 1972.
Edit (15 Nov, 2013):
I'm working to clarify when the angular large drag wheels were started to use for Ambassadeur reels. The wheel and handle (w/ retainer) of the third reel may have been changed by the previous owner.

ABU 5000C, 6-digit numbers

I have many 5000Cs with a 6-digit number on the foot. As far as what I have in my collection, the logo of 'ABU SVANGSTA (the former A has an umlaut mark, to be exact)' is engraved on the left side. The later ones may have a beveled-head handle nut marked 'Oil', which is different from earlier ones with a round head. These models were supposed to be made until 1971 or 1972.

ABU 5000C, 96XXX

A very minor change was made in this reel. Please carefully take a look at the number 4 on the dial plate of the mechanical brake system on the left side. In this reel (#96XXX), the vertical bar of number '4' is so short that the top part is open.

Older ones, however, has a number 4 with a closed top (this is a scan of #54XXX). I'm not sure when they changed it, but it is a key to see how old your reel is.

ABU 5000C, 43XXX and 54XXX

I find no differences in these reels compared with those with foot numbers of 3XXXXs. The inner plate is smooth without dots. I also have one of the latest 5-digit numbered ones (96XXX), and it apparently comes with the same parts. I guess no major changes were made among 5-digit ones after around #35000.

ABU 5000C, 3XXXXs

One is with a foot number of 31XXX and the other is with 35XXX. Some parts are different between these reels.
31XXX: 4 pillar screws on the left plate, dotted inner plate, Oil-Oil marked handle nut.
35XXX: 3 pillar screws on the left plate, smooth inner plate, Oil marked handle nut.
The spool is all black with a thin core in both reels.

ABU 5000C, 26XXX

I got this mint reel at a charity auction in Germany, and the specification is that of the European market. The drag wheel is a larger one in black color and the handle is with a single knob. It has the 4 pillar screws on the left side plate, Oil-Oil marked handle nut, and dotted inner plate, but the emblem changed to a bright silver one. The center core of the spool is fat silver.