top of page

Welcome to REELPEDIA®—Australia's premier destination for collectors of fishing reels and associated fishing memorabilia. Established in 2009 by Bernard (Bernie) Ladd in Melbourne, Australia, REELPEDIA® is a unique platform deeply connected to the spirit of passionate collectors and enthusiasts. Join us in celebrating the art of collecting and preserving the rich heritage of angling gear.
In this reeLpedia® page 44 segment, I have technically featured and showcased 10 different CLASMI vintage fishing reel models for your reference. ( Ladd B. 19/7/2014).

Bob Dunn eloquently described the difference between the original CROUCH reel and the CROUCH lookalike called CLASMI. Dunn claimed in his AFR book, that the creator of the CROUCH reel, Jack Crouch Senior, did not take steps to secure patent rights on his innovative design.The Crouch reel became quickly popular and it was not long before Jack Crouch started to become increasingly disappointed with the considerable margins that the wholesale traders took from the sales of his highly sought reel.

To counter this unfavorable situation, Jack Crouch decided to advertise and to sell his reel at the recommended retail price directly to the retail outlets and private buyers.This of course led the wholesale traders to engage a Melbourne general manufacturing engineer, Clarrie Smith, to produce an almost identical reel. And he did. A CLASMI reel, with its name derived from the first three letters of first and last name of its maker, soon appeared on the market featuring very similar design to that of the CROUCH. On the surface the differences between the two reels were mainly cosmetic:- a twin handled crank on the CLASMI, compared to a single handle on the CROUCH; a spring- loaded pin on the re-movable threaded end-plate of the CLASMI (to control spool speed during casting), compared to the CROUCH'S combination of a spool regulator on the fixed end-plate, and a fingertip control aperture in the removable threaded end-plate. But, the experience of the end-user would prove that the famous original CROUCH was of a superior engineering quality in the way it was manufactured and it's fine smooth ease of operation.

The general-purpose freshwater CLASMI fishing reel came in two aluminium body finishes: i) acid etched; and ii) anodised. The latter included several anodising colour options, which were: silver, matt black, copper bronze or gold.  Both freshwater CLASMI versions are fitted with twin ebonite handles supported on a chrome plated brass crank. It is pertinent to mention that the twin ebonite crank handles were poorly designed as they were prone to breakage if dropped, poorly stored, or subjected to heavy handed use. To address this evident design "cost cutting" anomaly, Smith eventually implemented the heavy duty crank single torpedo handle of erinoid - a standard fitment on the Clasmi saltwater model, which was found to be much more ergonomically superior, and thus became standard on later freshwater models. There is little information publicly available about Clarrie Smith, other than the CLASMI reel was produced by him in Melbourne, during the early 1950s.

 The technical specifications for the CLASMI Metal revolving drum multiplying reel

  by Clarrie Smith in Melbourne, Australia, are as follows:
1. Model and Maker:
  * CLASMI Metal revolving drum multiplying reel by Clarrie Smith, Melbourne, Victoria.
2. Body Material:
  * Aluminum body.
  * Early salt water model with chrome plating.
  * Later models produced with heavy-duty 13 microns thick silver anodising.
3. Drum (Spool) Features:
  * Finger-operated chrome-plated knurled nut for drum (spool) tension control.
4. Brake and Anti-Backlash Features:
  * Fingertip spring-loaded pin for anti-backlash brake adjustment.
  * Brake pad-controlled free spool lever.
5. Additional Features:
  * Optional check button.
6. Gear Ratio:
  * Gear ratio of 2.25 : 1.
7. Dimensions:
  * Diameter of 3 9/16'' for the side plates.
  * Drum width of 7/8''.
  * Body width of 1 9/16''.

  * Weight of reel 354gr.
8. Markings:
  * "Clasmi " inscribed on the front plate.
9. Manufacturing Era:
  * Manufactured around the early 1950s.

Clasmi Acid etched vintage Fly fishing reel

Acid etched Clasmi.

Clasmi Silver anodized vintage Fly fishing reel

Anodized Clasmi.

CLASMI Saltwater vintage Fly fishing reel

Saltwater Clasmi Plated.

1-CLASMI Vintage Salt Water Fishing reel
1-CLASMI Vintage Fishing Reel specification guide

Saltwater Clasmi Thick Anodised.

CLASMI - Flag Shaped Border First Production Design. C i - 1.

CLASMI first production design general purpose vintage fishing reel
CLASMI first production design vintage fishing reel
Rare early CLASMI vintage fishing reel with box
CLASMI first production design general purpose vintage fishing reel
CLASMI  vintage fishing reel internal mechanism
CLASMI  vintage fishing reel Spool

Clasmi  revolving drum multiplying general purpose fishing reel. ' First production design '. Acid etched  aluminium body; early model un-plated brass saddle (foot); crank handle chromium  plated; bronze bearing; driving gears brass on brass.  Clasmi in flag shaped border inscribed on front plate. Extremely rare.

CLASMI Later Version Gold Anodised With Early Box Design. C i - 2.

Clasmi vintage Gold anodized Fly fishing reel with Box
Clasmi vintage Gold anodised Fly fishing reel with Box
Clasmi vintage Gold anodized Fly fishing reel
Clasmi vintage Gold anodized Fly fishing reel made in Australia
Clasmi vintage fishing reel user guide pamphlet

 Twin knob crank Clasmi reel. Gold anodized  aluminium body; brass saddle (foot) and crank handle chromium plated all later models; bronze bearing; driving gears brass on brass - Clasmi factory specifications. Very rare with box and pamphlet

CLASMI Acid Etched Aluminum Body With Later Box Design. C i - 3.

CLASMI vintage Fly & genral purpose fishing reel; Acid etched body, with Box
Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel; Silver colour - Acid etched Aluminium
Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel; Silver colour -Acid etched Aluminium
Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel, Acid etched body finish
Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel; Silver colour Acid etched Aluminium

 Twin knob crank Clasmi reel. Etched aluminium body; brass saddle (foot) and crank handle  chromium  plated; bronze bearing; driving gears brass on brass - Clasmi factory specifications. Very rare with box and pamphlet.

CLASMI Copper - Bronze Anodised Model. C i - 4.

CLASMI vintage Fly fishing reel; Copper Bronze colour
CLASMI vintage Fly fishing reel; Copper Bronze colour

 Twin knob crank Clasmi reel. copper-bronze aluminium body; brass saddle (foot) and crank handle chromium  plated; bronze bearing; driving gears brass on brass - Clasmi factory specifications.

Saltwater Clasmi Chrome Plated Model. C i - 5.

CLASMI vintage Fly fishing reel Saltwater model
CLASMI vintage Fly fishing reel Saltwater model

 Torpedo handle heavy duty crank saltwater Clasmi reel. Chromium plated aluminium body; brass saddle (foot) and crank handle chromium  plated ; bronze bearing; driving gears brass on brass - Clasmi factory specifications. Very rare

Saltwater Clasmi. Silver Heavy Duty Anodising . C i - 6.

1-CLASMI Vintage Salt Water Fishing reel
3-CLASMI Vintage Salt Water Fishing reel internal mechanism
4-CLASMI Vintage Salt Water Fishing reel Spool
2-CLASMI Vintage Salt Water Fishing reel

CLASMI SALT WATER Vintage Fishing Reel: A Confirmed Classic.  Anodising expert, Garth Collins, based in Melbourne, Australia, has confirmed that the anodising on this reel is 13 microns thick. Specification's: Torpedo handle knob; heavy duty crank (standard salt water models) circa 1950. Hard to find in original near mint condition.

Black Anodised Clasmi. C i - 7.

CLASMI vintage Fly fishing reel Back anodized model
CLASMI vintage Fly fishing reel Back anodized model
Clasmi Black vintage Fly fishing reel
CLASMI vintage Fly fishing reel Back anodized model
Clasmi vintage fishing reel drum (Spool) specfication

 Twin knob crank Clasmi reel. Black anodized aluminium body; brass saddle (foot) and crank handle chromium  plated; bronze bearing; driving gears brass on brass - Clasmi factory specifications. Scarce.

 Clasmi Double Inscribed . C i - 8.

Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel double etch inscription
Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel double etch inscription
Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel double etch inscription
Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel double etch inscription model

 Twin knob crank Clasmi reel. Acid etched aluminium body; brass saddle (foot) and crank handle chromium  plated; bronze bearing; driving gears brass on brass - Clasmi factory specifications. CALSMI dual inscription engraved on front side plate. Rare.

Silver Anodised Clasmi Torpedo Handle Model. C i - 9.

Clasmi vintage fishing reel Silver anodised
Clasmi vintage fishing reel Silver anodised

Clasmi general purpose reel, with heavy duty crank & knob (standard salt water models) Hard to find in original condition

Black Anodised Clasmi Torpedo Handle Model. C i - 10.

Clasmi vintage Black Fly reel with Box
Clasmi vintage Black Fly reel with Box
Clasmi vintage Black Fly reel
Clasmi vintage Black Fly reel
Clasmi vintage Black Fly reel
Clasmi vintage Black Fly reel

Clasmi general purpose reel. Black anodized with heavy duty crank & knob (standard salt water models) Very rare with box and pamphlet.

Clasmi Fly reel Spool sizes

CLASMI  spool size option specifications.

Rare Clasmi vintage fishing reel made in Australia

 CLASMI early inscribed flag shape border.

CLASMI Fly reel double etched CLAMI inscription

 CLASMI double inscription .

Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel ad

Clasmi 1952 advertisement.

ReeLmanAustralia.com Clasmi, adobe-flash format website site
Rare CLASMI Salt water Fly fishing reel
CLASMI early twin handle-knob fishing reel in Mint conditionwith original box & spare spool
CLASMI vintage Fly fishing reel

Previous Clasmi Adobe-flash format before HTML 5 transformation.

ReeLpedia ®  >< )))) * >  Page 44.

Clasmi Fly and general purpose fishing reel, Reelman's rare reels R A PAGE 44,  © 2009-2023, ReeLmanAustralia.com All Rights Reserved.

bottom of page