I recently obtained a Model 1494 that was made in the USA. I have read somewhere that the old US made reels are superior to the later models that are made in Asia.
My questions are: 1. Do you agree with the above comment and if so why?
2. Can the US made model be converted from left to right like the newer models? (They appear the same).
Thanks
Tim
Hi Tim…
I like the Medalist. I have three, one is new, a rim control version of the 1494. The other two are 1494, one about 10 years old, and one much older. I have changed them all over from right hand side cranking to left. I also have a Japanese knock-off of the 1494, quite a bit older, but identical. It changes over easily too, same parts inside. I bought it real cheap from a fellow here on this site, with a couple other very old reels.
I don’t know if any are superior. To my eyes, the drags, frames, screws, and all look the same. However, I will always take an old model of whatever, made in the USA, over an Asian made model… hands down, every day…Dan
The American made was far superior. I used these reels for years, & and really put them through a beating !!! I did put some super glue in the screw holes & rescrew the screws (seems to blow the tiny screws easily); you don’t want the reel blowing out on you when you are in the middle of a good fish.
I have 7 Medalists. Some imported, some domestic
I like both and but I probably use the imported ones more often
The USA reels seem to be more solid as if having been made of a higher quality metal.
The imported reels are still of very high quality for the price
The models haven’t changed much over the years
The 1442 and 1442 1/2 are not convertible to left hand wind
The larger models are
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/oldflies/part287.php
Panman - You may find this site useful:
Thanks all. As usual you guys to the rescue of the uninformed. My main concern was the conversion as I am left handed and while the reel appeared the same as my new 1494 I didn’t want to try a conversion unless I knew it would work. After reading the FAOL article on Pflueger reels it appears that I now have the model that was introduced in 1959.
Thanks again,
Tim
Tim,
They will convert to LH but there are 4 slots probably showing and 8 underneath. WHen you flip the drag plate you must also change the direction of the pawl and the 8 indented side will now be the exposed side of the drag plate. It will sound a little different but I have converted all of the 5 or six US made ones that I own. I have also called shakespeare and ordered drag plates but you must say it is for an AK which is the current model. They will tell you that the new parts don’t work in the old medalists but trust me they all do. The new drag plates are graphite and have 8 divets on both sides…THe USA ones are great something about them feel much more solid. BUt the newer ones are just fine as well…I own mostly older ones but do have a couple new ones. The new spools work in the old medalists as well. The RC spools will work on the very old medalists stamped “Patened” on the cage…at least in my experience.
Janus
Pan:
Here’s my “fully pimped” 1494; (vintage 1959) all dressed up and ready to party!
The “full pimping” can be done with the parts available at the One Pfoot website Heritage furnished. Just the foot, drag washer, and counter balance make a big difference but the “extras” add some class to an already classy reel.
Enjoy!
I have seen Bamboozle’s Medalist in person. That thing should be insured by Lloyd’s of London - most beautiful reel I’ve ever seen, and smooth as silk. I was so impressed by it, that I bought one of the same vintage and did the OnePfoot treatment to it (minus the round line guard). One day, I’ll find a rod I like that is worthy of it.
While the OnePfoot stuff is expensive, it makes the Medalist perform better than you’d ever believe - not that the stock ones were that bad.
This thread inspired me to take another Medalist I have (an AK) out fishing today. I had the entire stream all to myself, and caught a nice fat 18" rainbow after only a few casts. When I got it into the net, I reached for my camera and realized it was at home, charging the batteries on my desk, so no pictures today. That old Medalist worked as flawlessly as it has for many fish before.
Very beautiful reel !!!
Hey if you have One Pfoot install a round line guard on your Medalist like I did, you end up with a poor man’s Perfect.
I guess I should have said a REALLY poor man’s Hardy Perfect considering the new for 2009 3-1/8" Perfect will set you back about a grand!!
:shock:
That is a beautiful reel. I was lucky enough to find a late 50’s medalist 1595 which is a LHW model that they made of the 1495 for a couple of years before the DA’s came. No conversion needed for me and am thinking about onepfooting it.
Janus
I like my Medalists because they’re the ‘sow’s ear’ of reels
Personally I have no intention to ever try to make one of mine into a ‘silk purse’
I have two Medalist reels, a 1498 made in 1959 in Ohio, and a current model of the 1595, I find them both to be perfect as is. That is not to say the One Pfoot treatment is not a good idea, it is, it is just not for me. It says a lot for a reel that was made 49 years ago and it is still going strong without any improvements being made on it. Just my 2 cents worth. I would some day like to find a good 1495 made in the USA. The main difference between the 1595 and the 1495 is that the 1595 has the ability to let you palm the spool. They can both be changed from right to left hand. John
I converted the reel with no problem. Now I will put some line on the spool and get ready to fish. Bamboozle that is one nice looking reel - thanks for sharing.
And thanks again to all for your input.
Tim
Just installed several “accessories” purchased from One-Pfoot for my 1494’s . Great quality products. “Made in USA” is the way to go.
Hi Fritz: How about posting some photos of your OnePfoot accessories? I just bought a 1494 and would like to add some accessories, too.
I’ve had a lot of “Made in Akron, OH” Medalists and enjoyed them all – once I installed a One Pfoot on them.
IIRC, the 1496 1/2 was not reversible. It became the 1498 which is my favorite big reel. My 1498 has a bronze drag plate which is much finer than the steel plates and gives a “refined” click rather than the sound of a 1950 Buick with gravel in the crankcase, which is the tone of some of the smaller models. Refined may be too strong a word, you still can hear it in the next county, but it doesn’t set the dogs howling.
Whether the 1494 is reversible depends on the era in which it made. Prior to a certain date, the drag plate could not be flipped over. You could however reverse one of these reels by just buying a replacement drag plate, such as the one sold by One Pfoot. The 1492 was never reversible. Not easily anyway. I heard a rumor awhile back that One Pfoot was going to produce some kind of kit for reversing a 1492 but I don’t know if anything ever became of it.
I prefer the Made in USA Medalists, if only because they have more mojo. I had a 1494 and 1495 from the Shakespeare “Made in Japan” era that I used for quite a few years. They were fine. It’s just that after I developed a real taste for Medalists, the MIJ models started to look cheap to me. It was easy enough to replace them so I did.
