​Ajax Nottingham Fishing Reels – History & Technical Information Reelpedia® Page 60

Introduction:
Ajax Nottingham wooden and metal fishing reels were manufactured in Newcastle, Australia, by reel maker Jack Richards from the early 1940s through to the 1970s.

A distinctive feature of Australian-made wooden Nottingham reels—including the Ajax models—was the use of cone-adjustable ball bearings. To our knowledge, this bearing assembly was unique to Australian production. English-made Nottingham reels did not incorporate cone ball bearings; instead, most used a fixed centre-pin spindle within the drum assembly, and in higher-end versions, ball bearing races.

The adoption of cone bearings in Australia—often salvaged from bicycle pedals or front wheel hubs—reflected both ingenuity and resourcefulness during the post-Depression era and the material shortages of the 1940s. Ajax reels embraced this practical, cost-effective solution, preferring cone-adjustable ball bearings over the traditional sleeve bearings used in earlier Australian Nottinghams.

While many Australian ball-bearing Nottingham reels were custom-built one-offs or workshop-crafted pieces, Jack Richards distinguished himself by producing a wide commercial range of reels—from 3½" to 9" in diameter—over several decades. These reels were typically branded AJAX, with the name stamped on the bearing cover plate, cast brass cross back, or brass T-saddle neck support. AJAX reels featured spools (drums) and backplates primarily made from teak—often salvaged from shipwrecks along the Hunter River. Laminated wood and other marine-grade timbers were also used, depending on availability or, in some cases, the customer's personal preference. A newly designed back made from cast aluminium was later introduced, incorporating a brass T-saddle semi-strap back. Handle knobs were originally turned from cow horn and later produced in wood or aluminium—materials used across both the early brass cross-back models and the later cast aluminium-back reels, depending on what was available at the time.  As noted by Bob Dunn in Australian Fishing Reels (page 22):

“The AJAX reels seem to have been promoted and sold virtually by word of mouth. No brochures have been discovered. No advertisements appeared in fishing magazines of the period. No tackle catalogues carried the reels – or at least by name.”

Depicted below are 17 distinct AJAX reel models, each presented with full technical specifications and detailed photographic documentation. (B.L. 1/5/2025)