Allcock Aerial 4″ wide drum Model 7950 Type 5.
A delightful vintage Aerial, superb to fish with, for a very digestible price. SOLD.
£350.00
This model was made from 1916 to 1925.
The spool of the 7950 Type 5 has six spokes with a sold aluminium rear drum plate. Its spool is actually lighter than the spool of the equivalent twelve spoke 7950 Type 6. I have one and I find it outstandingly good to trot a float from. The spool’s solid back plate prevents bait and muck from getting into the reel’s inner works.
The reel has been well used but remains in very good mechanical order throughout. Its spool spins impressively well and it’s remarkably true for a centenarian. The line pins are straight and the spool is sound and tight.
The Xylonite handles are straight and turn freely.
Overall weight: 246 g.
4″ x 1″ spool weight: 115 g.
The back plate has a roundel stamp containing the following: S. ALLCOCK & Cº LTD. REDDITCH. ENGLAND. “THE ALLCOCK AERIAL”
PATENT is stamped on the spool’s front rim.
Originally, it would have had an aluminium BP line guard. This is absent, as indicated by the three small screw holes on the edge of the back plate. This is not uncommon and unless you are very keen on line guards, its absence is no bad thing. It would have been positioned for right hand wind only and you can’t perform the Wallis cast with a line guard in place.
It has an audibly pleasant calliper check. For some reason lost in the mists of time, whoever fitted the steel check pawl when the reel was being assembled scraped the finish off the aluminium in its vicinity. I expect they had sixpence docked from their wages. This is an ancient cosmetic blemish, unseen until one removes the spool.
A previous owner had attempted to remove the reel’s foot at some stage. They left their mark on the foot but I have taken it off, checked it for straightness, de-burred it, re-finished the screw heads and refitted it.
Much, but not all of the original gun metal finish has worn off on the reel’s exposed surfaces, leaving a pleasant patina.
I’ve serviced this reel and it’s ready to be fished with. Spinning it gives one a frisson of excitement, especially considering that it’s at least one hundred and one years old.