surf fishing relic

My dad came home from his mother's house today with what appears to be a very old, pretty cool Pfleuger surf caster.  the patent dates (see photos below) Jan 22, 1907 and April 3, 1923.  It has a wood break that is used as a drag.  I found it on Pflueger's website under the antique section, it appears to be made in 1935.  I'm thinking that i might have to catch a fish on an old reel... might be fun... anyway, i was just fascinated, thought it would be fun to share...

That's a clean reel, are the side plates stainless?
Someone took very good care of it. What about history to go along with it?
Do you know who it belonged to?

Great pics and energy - I think you'll get a special fish with it.   

My grandmother is notorious for keeping junk.  the joke with the family is that the garbageman drops stuff off not picks it up.  She is always trying to give stuff away, and we are so used to just saying "no, i don't need that".  well, this time around, it was offered to my dad, and i'm sure received the same response. true to her form, she pulled it out anyway, and it appears to be a wooden handle and fighting butt on a broken very old fiberglass rod.  the reel does appear to be stainless, and has been very well taken care of.  Anyway, i was just talking to my dad about his grandfather, and he told me not only had he never met him, but had never even seen a photograph of him as he died young.  it was apparently something my grandmother saw fit to keep, and has remained inside her house pretty much ever since.  I asked my dad if he or his dad had ever fished with it, and he said all the fishing that they did, he did not remember ever using the manual brake, so my guess, is that it has not been used in 30+ years, if ever.  

When you can land a fish with a wooden block as your drag....you're the man.

would a bamboo rod, with this reel qualify?... that might be a blast from the past... so to speak

That is cool! Yeah, that should be paired with a bamboo surf rod for sure!

thanks for sharing that.

would a bamboo rod, with this reel qualify?... that might be a blast from the past... so to speak

Very collectible piece. Don't forget that these reels and rods defined today's equipment and in good shape can still be used. I would! The equipment has changed but the fish haven't and catching on this type of setup to me would be a absolute experience. Oh and by the way that reel alone is worth more monetarily then most bought today.

That is beautiful craftmanship.  How cool is the bulldog logo???

I'd totally fish it.

That reel is beautiful and someone took good care of it. You can see the slots on the side plate screws are worn from being removed for servicing.

I'm with Eric, I'd fish with that reel. Of course both of us fish with old Penn reels now...

Hi Yakers:

        I would use it for Display only. I wouldn't go fishing with Gear that might fail and finding replacement parts that will be hard  to find.
                                                                      Sea-ya
                                                                      Ernie
        I

That reel was around before most of us were born, and will be around after we die. 

I'd fish it, like it was meant to be used...  at least once, before putting it on display.

I think Ravensblack been around longer....

i want to catch one day's worth of fish with it then retire it.... if i can get my hands on a decent bamboo rod, i will make sure that i get pictures of it being in use...  i was pretty excited when i realized how old it was... I will for sure have to put a leash on that thing!

I also have the same reel, but without the brake.  Mine does not have a spot for the brake.  Did you look under the reel seat for any numbers, mine has 200 stamped there?  I don't remember where or when I got mine.  It would definetely need cleaning as it has some corrosion all over.