South Bend Reel Schematics
- SOUTH BEND AUTOMATIC FLY REEL BULLETIN - 7.pdf (557.12 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND BCR510.pdf (550.29 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING ABL MODEL 1000 BULLETIN - 9.pdf (556.78 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING ABL MODEL 300 BULLETIN - 9.pdf (556.77 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING ABL MODEL 400E BULLETIN - 9.pdf (556.78 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING MODEL 11.pdf (528.7 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING MODEL 15 BULLETIN - 8.pdf (553.59 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING MODEL 15.pdf (519.51 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING MODEL 16.pdf (533.76 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING MODEL 20 BULLETIN - 8.pdf (553.59 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING MODEL 20.pdf (523.62 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING MODEL 3.pdf (530.55 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING MODEL 300A BULLETIN - 8.pdf (553.6 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING MODEL 5.pdf (529.33 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING MODEL 50.pdf (521.24 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING MODEL 760C-760D.pdf (547.36 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING MODEL 775C-775D.pdf (548.76 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING SMOOTHCAST MODEL 50.pdf (563.33 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CASTING SMOOTHCAST MODEL 795M-795MS.pdf (563.36 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND COMPETITOR - 2.pdf (528.99 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND COMPETITOR 625.pdf (532.95 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND COMPETITOR.pdf (535.95 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CONCORDE I.pdf (552.92 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CONCORDE II.pdf (564.15 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CONCORDE V.pdf (559.25 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CONDOR 500 MINI MITE.pdf (530.74 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CONDOR 510-520-530-540-550-555.pdf (543.41 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CONDOR 560-590.pdf (544.36 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CONDOR 565-585.pdf (531.94 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CORONA C410-430-440.pdf (506.45 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CORONA C410A.pdf (487.86 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CORONA C430A.pdf (502.81 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CRYSTAL RIVER CR2101-2-3 PAGE 1.pdf (516.75 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND CRYSTAL RIVER CR2101-2-3 PAGE 2.pdf (493.01 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND ELITE 900.pdf (519.25 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND ELITE 910.pdf (536.93 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND ELITE 940A.pdf (510.63 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND ELITE 970.pdf (544.64 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND FLY REEL MODEL 1033.pdf (549.4 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND FLY REEL MODEL 1044.pdf (549.4 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND FLY REEL MODEL 1055.pdf (549.4 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND FLY REEL MODEL 1122.pdf (525.27 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND FLY REEL MODEL 1130.pdf (529.02 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND FLY REEL MODEL 1133.pdf (537.22 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND FLY REEL MODEL 1140.pdf (528.45 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND FLY REEL MODEL 1142.pdf (517.84 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND FLY REEL MODEL 1144.pdf (536.91 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND FLY REEL MODEL 1150.pdf (532.21 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND FLY REEL MODEL 1155.pdf (535.93 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND FLY REEL MODEL 1160.pdf (525.8 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND FLY REEL MODEL 1180.pdf (524.04 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND FUTURA 101-202-303.pdf (557.67 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND G2000A.pdf (543.74 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND GINGER QUILL RIM 1154 PAGE 1.pdf (488.16 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND GINGER QUILL RIM 1154 PAGE 2.pdf (477.19 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND HURRICANE.pdf (518.61 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND NORSEMAN 110.pdf (550.25 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND NORSEMAN 110G.pdf (551.24 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND ORENO 355 PARTS LIST.pdf (550.51 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND ORENO 355-365-365(1).pdf (529.5 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND ORENO 365-365(1) PARTS LIST.pdf (553.76 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND ORENO CLASSIC OC0500-OC0505W.pdf (507.98 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND ORENO CLASSIC OC3500-OC3505W.pdf (510.32 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND Oreno Classic.pdf (525.14 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SB235.pdf (542.65 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SEA-MATIC 808 TECH TIP(1964).pdf (523.6 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SEA-MATIC 808.pdf (559.57 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 100.pdf (536.02 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 120.pdf (539.88 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 125.pdf (537.38 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 135.pdf (530.03 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 165.pdf (533.91 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 195.pdf (538.7 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 25.pdf (536.39 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 30A.pdf (544.09 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 40.pdf (538.03 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 60.pdf (537.92 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 63.pdf (546.12 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 64.pdf (546.12 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 65.pdf (546.12 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 65A-B.pdf (531.22 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 65A.pdf (546.93 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 66-67-77.pdf (555.57 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 70.pdf (537.68 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 77.pdf (528.22 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 78-88-89.pdf (557.41 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 85.pdf (539.83 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 90.pdf (538.65 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN CASTING MODEL 95.pdf (541.48 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN REEL MODEL 22.pdf (542.36 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPIN REEL MODEL 23.pdf (548.4 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 2202.pdf (536.46 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 404.pdf (557.5 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 610.pdf (524.8 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 630.pdf (536.46 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 720.pdf (526.19 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 725.pdf (546.27 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 725A.pdf (553.21 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 730.pdf (540.14 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 730A.pdf (553.21 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 740.pdf (539.15 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 750.pdf (541.42 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 750A.pdf (553.21 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 760.pdf (541.92 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 760A.pdf (553.21 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 820.pdf (553.4 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 835.pdf (540.62 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 840.pdf (553.4 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 850.pdf (540.64 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 870.pdf (553.4 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 880.pdf (553.4 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 925.pdf (546.29 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 930.pdf (546.04 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 935.pdf (546.84 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SPINNING MODEL 960.pdf (547.62 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SUP-MATIC 606-707.pdf (552.31 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND SUP-MATIC 606G-707G.pdf (557.71 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND TROLLING REEL MODEL 920.pdf (564.12 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND-DAM QUICK MODEL 110.pdf (552.89 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND-DAM QUICK MODEL 238.pdf (541.03 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND-DAM QUICK MODEL 248.pdf (541.85 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND-DAM QUICK MODEL 330.pdf (552.69 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND-DAM QUICK MODEL 550.pdf (547.45 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND-DAM QUICK SUPER MODEL 270.pdf (559.79 Kb)
- SOUTH BEND-DAM QUICK SUPER MODEL 275.pdf (561.07 Kb)
South Bend Reels: A Legacy of Angling Innovation and Accessibility
For much of the 20th century, the South Bend Bait Company was a prominent name in the American fishing tackle landscape, producing a vast array of rods, lures, and, notably, fishing reels. With a history stretching back to the early 1900s, South Bend reels carved out a significant legacy by offering innovative features, a wide variety of models catering to different angling pursuits, and products generally priced within reach of the everyday angler. While the brand continues today, its historical reels remain a point of interest for collectors and fishing enthusiasts, representing a distinct era in angling equipment.
A Storied Beginning and Innovative Spirit
Founded in the early 1900s, the South Bend Bait Company quickly established itself as a comprehensive tackle provider. A landmark achievement came in 1912 with the introduction of their patented anti-backlash casting reel, model 1131. This reel, often crafted from German silver, was a game-changer for baitcasting anglers of the time. The innovative anti-backlash mechanism was designed to sense line slack during a cast and automatically apply brakes to the revolving spool, significantly reducing the dreaded “bird’s nest” or overrun. This feature became a major selling point and a hallmark of South Bend casting reels for decades, with its design principles enduring for over a century, always complemented by the angler’s “educated thumb.”
Throughout its history, South Bend offered an impressive diversity of reel types, reportedly exceeding 300 distinct models. This extensive catalog makes a complete collection a formidable, lifelong pursuit for antique tackle enthusiasts. For a significant period, many of South Bend’s reels were manufactured by the renowned Shakespeare Company, leading to some shared design characteristics and the possibility of interchanging parts between certain models from the two brands. In later years, particularly from the 1950s onwards, South Bend also imported some reels from countries like Sweden and Germany.
A Spectrum of Reels for Every Angler
South Bend’s reel offerings spanned the gamut of popular fishing techniques of their time:
- Baitcasting Reels: Beyond the pioneering anti-backlash models, the “Oreno” name was famously associated with South Bend, appearing on various lures and also on some of their level-wind baitcasting reels. These were workhorse reels for freshwater fishing, valued for their reliability. Left-handed models, being less common, are often of particular interest to collectors.
- Fly Fishing Reels: South Bend produced a notable line of fly reels, with models like the “Oren-O-Matic” (automatic fly reels that retrieve line with the flick of a lever) and the “Finalist” series being well-remembered. These included both manual and automatic designs and were often paired with the bamboo fly rods the company also produced, offering complete fly fishing outfits. Maroon-colored automatic fly reels are frequently inquired about by collectors, and these often had green counterparts in the Shakespeare lineup.
- Spinning Reels: As spinning tackle gained popularity, South Bend introduced a variety of spinning reels. Names like “Microlite,” “Neutron,” “Condor,” “Classic,” and “Infiniti” appeared on their spinning offerings, catering to everything from ultralight freshwater applications to general-purpose spinning.
- Spincast Reels: For ease of use, South Bend also manufactured spincast reels, which offered a simple push-button operation popular with beginners and casual anglers.
Collectibility and Enduring Value
Vintage South Bend reels are a tangible link to fishing’s past and are actively sought by collectors. Several factors influence their collectibility and value:
- Rarity: Certain models, such as early production anti-backlash reels, left-handed versions, or those with unique features or in uncommon packaging, command higher interest.
- Condition: As with any collectible, the physical and mechanical condition of the reel is paramount. Reels in excellent, original working order, especially those with their original boxes, manuals, and tools, are significantly more desirable.
- Historical Significance: Reels that represent key innovations, like the early anti-backlash models, often hold greater historical appeal.
- Materials: Early reels made with materials like German silver can be more sought after.
While South Bend was a large-scale manufacturer, and thus many of their common models are relatively accessible, dedicated collectors appreciate the challenge of finding rarer examples and understanding the nuances of the brand’s extensive production history. Books such as “The Fishing Reels Of South Bend” by Jim Madden offer invaluable insights for those looking to delve deeper into the brand’s reel-making heritage.
The South Bend Legacy Today
The South Bend brand has persisted through various ownership changes over the decades and continues to offer fishing tackle in the contemporary market. Modern South Bend reels and rod-and-reel combos are generally positioned in the budget-friendly segment of the market, providing accessible options for recreational anglers.
However, it is the rich history and the innovative spirit embodied in their vintage reels that solidify South Bend’s place in angling history. From the revolutionary anti-backlash system to the wide array of models that equipped generations of anglers, South Bend reels remain a fascinating chapter in the evolution of fishing tackle, cherished for their ingenuity, variety, and the accessible joy they brought to countless fishing adventures.