crosswind reels

[chesters1]

i picked up a Alcocks Felton Crosswind reel yesterday , its a strange conception and very well engineered ,does any old fogies on here know of any other crosswind reels other than Felton?

i`d better explain for the younger readers ,instead of the spool going in and out to lay the line it goes round in a slowly changing arc (theres probably a tech word for it) as it draws in the line the position has changed thus laying the line in a different place.

as you see the spool is angled this changes and also turns as you wind in the reel , quite a unusual thing

i havent tried it but i suspect casting was a problem as i`m sure the line spill in the thing was uneven to say the least

 

[ 18. September 2003, 07:33 PM: Message edited by: chesters1 ]

[Vagabond]

I don't know of any other crosswind reel, but I still use my own Felton Crosswind - usually for perch fishing.

 

Its a beautiful action - poetry in motion you might say.

 

Chesters - you should definitely give it a try - you will be surprised at how well the line lays on it - I use braid on mine - the cross-winding ensures the line does not "cut down" into deeper layers as it does on some fixed spool reels.

 

Provided you fill the spool fairly full, the line comes off pretty well on the cast.

 

[ 18. September 2003, 10:40 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

[poledark]

I think the Felton was designed as a "threadline" reel, i.e. pre nylon.

I had one briefly when I was very young,but quickly changed to an Ambidex.

 

Both were lovely bits of engineering.

 

Den

[chesters1]

yes i was surprised on stripping it to find 2 ballraces ,very well enginered although the obviause weakpoints the gears are not metal ,this is a 1956?is h one as the bailarm is two part but i see they existed in the thirties as a different design ,its a pity they are fading into nothing and just a novelty on a shelf still someone may produce a book dedicated to Alcocks and their tackle (although some are ambidex clones i.e the Duco and delmatic etc) maybe someone out there can put all the info in one place hopefully what i am doing with the intrepids

[Zinky]

Hi Chesters many moons ago and very long time ago my first reel was one of these contraptions I think it was a French make but only had half a bail arm?

[chesters1]

could have been the early mitchell reel before they caught on they had half bails mind you ALL fixed spools did bar Hardy who had the patent untill 1955

[The Diamond Geezer]

quote:

---

Originally posted by chesters1:

I picked up a Alcocks Felton Crosswind reel yesterday , ........ any old fogies on here .........I`d better explain for the younger readers ,instead of the spool going in and out to lay the line it goes round in a slowly changing arc (theres probably a tech word for it) as it draws in the line the position has changed thus laying the line in a different place.

as you see the spool is angled this changes and also turns as you wind in the reel , quite a unusual thing

i havent tried it but i suspect casting was a problem as i`m sure the line spill in the thing was uneven to say the least

---

Chesters

 

Obviously your mouse likes the reel ... so much so I think it's trying to roger it

 

 

DG

 

[ 19. September 2003, 05:05 PM: Message edited by: The Diamond Geezer ]

[Vagabond]

poledark:

I think the Felton was designed as a "threadline" reel, i.e. pre nylon.

Spot on - which is why I use braid on my Felton.

 

I also have a Mitchell with the claw (ie half bail) pickup, which I still use sometimes. Nylon monofil performs better than braid with this reel - the one snag being the half-bail pickup only picks up half the time ! You have to develop the habit of flicking the loose line over the claw before winding the handle. OK provided you are using a style that doesn't require repeated casting - eg spinning with a claw pickup can be a pain.

 

Still a lovely reel to play a fish on though.

[chesters1]

quote:

---

Obviously your mouse likes the reel ... so much so I think it's trying to roger it

---

no wonder its a Felt 0n and why its a cross wind

and i was wrong the spool doesnt turn

 

[ 19. September 2003, 06:48 PM: Message edited by: chesters1 ]