SeaMartin by ReeLpedia®™

An extensive insight into workshop made fishing reels modeled on the uniquely designed vintage and highly collectable Seamartin Surf Fishing reel invented by Cliff Martin, Lakes Entrance Victoria Australia.

This segment covers an interesting era of vintage Seamartin style fishing reels made at government run and privately operated engineering workshops. The reels below are the examples of Seamartin workshop reels that were made by engineers, toolmakers and highly skilled fitter & turners, who in some circumstances were on emergency stand-by maintenance duties. Some of these skilled employees engaged during their spare time in hobby craft by producing their own much loved models of fishing reels. Seamartin reels, Crouch type reels, Blackfish reels, Fly reels, Game reels and Fishing lures were often popular items created by these enthusiasts during the ‘maintenance and production down-times’. During those ‘down-times’ a floor supervisor would approach an employee and say: “Work on your foreigner”. This was done to create an impression in the eyes of senior production managers that workers were busily engaged in company work projects.Thus these workshop-made reels, or any other items made during these ‘production down-times’, were known or referred to as “Foreigners”.

It is also pertinent to state that especially during the war periods (i.e. WWI and WWII), due to war effort production, there were shortages of fishing items on the retail market. Hence these workshop practices were especially common during those turbulent times. (Ladd, B: 2004.)

J. Bourke, Latrobe Valley Workshop Seamartin Fishing Reel. Comprising of Teflon spool (drum); back plate; side plate- Linen impregnated Teflon; Housing Alloy Ball bearing main shaft; and crank gear shaft. Hardened steel gearing; cast Bronze T-foot. Maker John Bourke, Lakes Entrance Victoria. These specifications are courtesy of retired Toolmaker John Bourke.

Latrobe Valley Victoria S E C workshop Seamartin - Era 1970's.Teflon body & back plate.Ventilated Aluminium spool (drum) Cast Aluminium foot. s/s crank Manganese Bronze Bearing's.

Latrobe Valley Victoria S E C workshop Seamartin - Era late 1960's.

Sinted Bronze bush Bearings.Hardened metal gearing;S/S main shaft.

East Gippsland Grey Box wood,spool( drum);316 grade S/S crank;

Triple Disk drag, Cast Aluminium foot; S/S hook line retrieve.

Aluminium alloy housing -Black type finish.

Seamartin type, maker Guss Suffmayer, engineer.

Spool (drum) turned Linen bakelite; flat S/S oscillating

line retrieve; s/s crank; turned aluminium alloy gear

Housing & cover plate; caliper drag control; Nickel bronze T foot.

Seamartin type fishing reel.

Found in Lakes entrance, Vic, late 1970.

Completely made from recycled materials.

Seamartin Workshop wood and metal Surf Casting Fishing Reel.

Maker Les Collins, Queensland (Circa 2012) by Bernie Ladd, 10/3/2014.

Les Collins is a retired master plumber and an avid fisherman from Hervey Bay Queensland. During his retirement Les's keen fishing interests and passion led him to become interested in the history of Australian manufactured fishing reels and their collectability. One reel in particular that fascinated Les, is the unique "Cedar SEAMARTIN" surf reel, designed and made by Cliff Martin, Lakes Entrance Victoria. Les was compelled to cleverly fashion his own design for display, a hand made wood body & spool drum seamartin type surf reel. A limited edition of 15, were made and stamped with the unique production number. A Certificate of Authenticity was provided stating the unique limited edition number and personally signed by Les Collins. The first prototype stamped L C No. 1 was made from Australian Red Cedar; followed by a second prototype made from Australian Silky Oak, stamped LC No. 2; and a third model in Australian Red Cedar stamped with the new abbreviation LRC No. 3. It became difficult for Les to obtain these timbers and he decided to produce the remainder of 12 reels from Taun, a moderately durable hardwood timber, originating from the Pacific Islands, which has a range of applications including general building, flooring, cladding, and joinery, as well as cooperage, outdoor furniture, and boat building.

In 2015, encouraged by Seamartin enthusiasts, Les created a new improved Seamartin lookalike. Les carefully considered and used in his new design, Australian White cedar wood, and a newly designed Aluminium alloy heavy duty T saddle foot. The housing, spool-drum specifications were measured from an original Seamartin wood reel. The crank and handle-knobs are Seamartin Mark 2 parts, clearly identified by the nut locking tab fixed with a single screw. These aspects were never fitted to the original wood Seamartin's crank arm. The rolled S/S back plate is clearly stamped with the markings L C (initials for Les Collins); S (special) and respective production number. The red id plate copy, is of thicker gauge. These modifications assure Les’ reels, will never be confused or misrepresented as an original Seamartin wood surf casting fishing reel, that was invented, and manufactured by the famous Cliff Martin. Les Collins has stated that he made only five L C Special Seamartins individually stamped, and that he will not produce any more.

Specifications LRC No.2 model. Manganese bronze bearings; triple clutch drag disc's; Tnut drag control adjustment;
solid Taun wood drum front diameter 105 mm, back diameter 112 mm, drum width 55 mm;Taun wood body length100 mm,

width 85 mm; S/S line weave guide; rolled 316 s/s back plate. Weight of reel 716 grms. Mechanical parts recycled seamartin.

6 images depicting the new improved L C Special No.5 model Seamartin.

3-Les Collins Special Seamartin_edited.j

Click far left image above for Specfications on the New L C Special Seamartin.

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For more information on collectable fishing reels, visit website reeLman Australia

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