Strange centrepin for surf casting

[Ryder]

Hi Raiders,

Just looking around on eBay UK and I found this odd looking reel. 

It the Grice and Young ORLANDO minor, made in England in the 1950's.

To cast you remove the spool and place it over the second spindle at the top of the reel, so it's sort of like the casting position for a side cast. After the cast you replace the spool and fish away. 

To reduce the problems of line twist from repeated casts, the spool can be reversed on the casting spindle from a handles up to a handles down position every second cast. So line comes off clockwise one cast and anticlockwise the next.

I think it's pretty cool, but I couldn't imagine trying to use it in the beach at night.

 

 

 

[Hill373737]

Pretty cool but all I could think of is running down towards the shorebreak to launch a big cast, then dropping the spool as you try and change it while running backwards to avoid getting wet.

Makes you appreciate how simple and effective the Alvey design is.

[Blackfish]

That brings back some vague memories, mmmmmmmm.

Certainly a interesting piece. 

On Ya mate.

[wazatherfisherman]

Great idea re line twist though. Very interesting post

[Green Hornet]

I vaguely remember seeing pictures of one of these many, many years ago.

Interesting concept.