Shimano Bantam Tournament 1000 - Baitcaster history show & tell...

[Slazmo]

Hi everyone.

Just wanting to share a recent acquisition from the US of A. Reel was bought on a lot of promises and unfortunately arrived a little worse for wear. A few words from the me to the buyer saw me keep the reel in the end...

So I spent a couple of hours stripping down, polishing and rebuilding and this is for the guys that went through the 1980's and used these reels. Steve Starling for one used these and was pictured in a lot of books with them - a reel image that was burnt into my mind all those years ago when I was 10 years old or so. Fast forward 22 years and now I have one myself...

So I hope that some people enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoy owning the reel and enjoyed working on 1980's technology. To be honest there is some good engineering practices in this reel that see's it into current day reels.

I bought this reel as a collectors piece and because its from my era. Call me sentimental or just mental whatever

[Slazmo]

Pictures of inside the reel...

Last two pictures are of how the reel came. Looks like the reel hasn't been serviced since new? And the drag washer was glued into the main gear? That glue removed and then the drag washer appropriately greased and reassembled.

Drag and reel runs beautifully - nothing alike today's free spinning reels but smooth for a 32 year old bait caster.

[FTP]

Very cool

[nagz]

Fantastic write up and photos SLAZMO

I see a few of these era of reels come across my desk as the grey nomads get amongst some fish whilst in the nt. There's also a few old timers I'm committed to who enjoy using such reels instead of upgrading. I can def understand the feeling of using and maintaining such a piece. The thrill of a decent fish pulling against its drag would be amazing.

Normally get them caked in bull dust after sitting in a trailer or on a caravan whilst travelling across the continent.

The polished wooden handles are a touch of class that I'm saddened to say we don't see too much of nowadays

Def a great reel for the collection

Nagz

[nagz]

Forgot to mention,

Your reel looks fantastic mate

[Slazmo]

Originally Posted by nagz

Fantastic write up and photos SLAZMO

I see a few of these era of reels come across my desk as the grey nomads get amongst some fish whilst in the nt. There's also a few old timers I'm committed to who enjoy using such reels instead of upgrading. I can def understand the feeling of using and maintaining such a piece. The thrill of a decent fish pulling against its drag would be amazing.

Normally get them caked in bull dust after sitting in a trailer or on a caravan whilst travelling across the continent.

The polished wooden handles are a touch of class that I'm saddened to say we don't see too much of nowadays

Def a great reel for the collection

Nagz

Thanks mate,

Touch of class these days means going OS and getting some custom wooden knobs sent over at a cost of $40 each plus bearings plus finish caps - back in those days this was a inclusion more out of class than need or techno mumbo jumbo.

Just cant get my head around how much a reel of this calibre was worth retail? Any idea???

If people looked after their gear there would be more examples of this quality floating around for us to appreciate.

I've seen worse shape Gen 1 Curado's. So thankfully someone looked after this reel somewhat when in the US, pity that its got a few dings and blemishes - but it is what it is...

Thanks,

Andrew

[Ian Sewell]

Looks in pretty good condition, must have been owned by a freshwater bass angler. Here in Oz the saltwater showed the flaws in the old school anodizing pretty quickly especially on the internals.

A great piece to add to the collection.

[Slazmo]

Originally Posted by Ian Sewell

Looks in pretty good condition, must have been owned by a freshwater bass angler. Here in Oz the saltwater showed the flaws in the old school anodizing pretty quickly especially on the internals.

A great piece to add to the collection.

Original condition pictures as from being posted.

Certainly a freshwater used reel thankfully!!! Anything in Australia just corroded out quickly. You'd think the current mfg's would have learnt the lesson quickly after 30 years?

And now on the hunt for a Shimano Fightin Bullwhip 'Light' to mount this onto... Anyone???

Thanks,

Andrew

[CK]

Think I have one Slazmo.
I will have to check if its the light though.
Will look when I am home next week.

[Slazmo]

Originally Posted by CK

Think I have one Slazmo.
I will have to check if its the light though.
Will look when I am home next week.

Awesome thanks!

[unreel]

No plastic parts used in that reel ,used to own one myself, pritty much bullet proof awsome reel Andrew.

[Slazmo]

Originally Posted by unreel

No plastic parts used in that reel ,used to own one myself, pritty much bullet proof awsome reel Andrew.

The drag washer and the main handle shaft bush is plastic like a Delrin material, the LH side plate is also plastic - but nothing you can do about it. Everything else is Aluminium, Alloy, Brass, Bronze or Stainless Steel, bar the handle knobs which are Rose Wood.

Painted the heck out of the inside with Inox MX6 to keep corrosion at bay - not that there was or going to be any in the future.

[gummy guy]

You've worked wonders on the interior finish. What did you use to polish up the main gear( & in between its teeth), drive shaft and all the other little parts....deremel or good old elbow grease?

[redfinfisho]

The guy that owns nutterjuck lures was into the period baitcasters I remember seeing him post his collection a few times could speak to him about the bull whip could possibly help you track one down.

[pipnosis]

Thanks for sharing Slazmo. I was born 71, and read a heap of Modern Fishing and Fishing world thru the 80's. These reels were well featured in articles, and highly sought after.

The bullwhip was also a revolutionary design and a high end choice. Graphite was an amazing new product.

The article I remember most was a trip to Hinchinbrook throwing Storm Wee Worts and wiggle worts to Jacks, Fingermarks, Barra etc on "light" gear. Seemed like radical new stuff at the time.

There was no mention of bream luring in any mag.