KALUA FISHING REEL HISTORY.

In 1949 the KALUA revolving drum multiplier was created in Sydney by Manly Casting & Surf Angling Club member George Philip. Philip later sold his business to John Stevenson at S & S Engineering, who redesigned the reel and continued its manufacturing during the 1950s.

 

An interesting observation regarding the KAULA is the end float nut bearing adjustment, and it is also evident that level-wind mechanisms are interchangeable with the GRAEME. It is not clear, however, if there was an arrangement with Bennett Engineering to use some KALUA parts for their GRAEME production, or if Philip and later S & S Engineering had arrangements with Bennett Engineering to use some GRAEME parts for the Kalua manufacture, or if either simply copied various components for their respective reels.

The KALUA  internal mechanism was of a high engineering standard. Unfortunately, the bakelite end plates were highly prone to cracking or breakage if dropped, and in a worst-case scenario, the metal pillar-supported frame became distorted and/or misaligned, thus causing the level-wind mechanism to seize or jam. Because of these design weaknesses, and the limited production of the KALUA during the 1950s, the reel today is very hard to find in a completely undamaged working order. All up, there were 7 different KALUA models produced: The Philip Kalua minor; the Standard, and a level-wind version; followed by the S & S Engineering redesigned level-wind models: Superflex 850;  Kalua 900; Kalua 1000; and a non-level-wind model option. The KALUA bakelite end plates came in these colour options: Black (most common), Maroon, and Brown.

This KALUA segment below features detailed images with technical specifications covering all 8 different models produced (Ladd, B. 2/10/2021).