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Clasmi Fly and General Purpose Fishing Reel Information, Reference, reeLpedia  by Bernard ( Bernie) Ladd, 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.

1-Clasmi Acid etched vintage Fly fishing reel

Acid etched Clasmi.

1-Clasmi Silver anodized vintage Fly fishing reel

Anodized Clasmi.

1-CLASMI Saltwater vintage Fly fishing reel

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.

Saltwater Clasmi.

Specifications: Metal revolving drum multiplier maker Clarrie Smith, Melbourne Victoria. Anodised aluminium body (salt water model chrome-plated) components chrome - plated, finger control spool drum tension adjustment (fingertip spring loaded pin anti-backlash, brake pad controlled) free spool lever, gear ratio 2.25 : 1; diameter 3 9/16 '', drum width 7/8'', Body width 1 9/16", Clasmi inscribed on front plate -c. early 1950.

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

1-CLASMI first production design general purpose vintage fishing reel
2-CLASMI first production design vintage fishing reel
1-Rare early CLASMI vintage fishing reel with box
3-CLASMI first production design general purpose vintage fishing reel
5-CLASMI first production design general purpose vintage fishing reel internal mechanism
18-CLASMI first production design general purpose vintage fishing reel spools

Clasmi  revolving drum multiplying general purpose fishing reel. ' First production design '. Acid etched  aluminium body; early model un-plated brass saddle (foot); 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.

1-Clasmi vintage Gold anodized Fly fishing reel with Box
2-Clasmi vintage Gold anodised Fly fishing reel with Box
3-Clasmi vintage Gold anodized Fly fishing reel
4-Clasmi vintage Gold anodized Fly fishing reel made in Australia
1-Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel user guide pamplet

 Twin knob crank Clasmi reel. Gold anodized  aluminium body; brass saddle (foot) chromed 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.

1-CLASMI vintage Fly & genral purpose fishing reel; Acid etched body, with Box
2-Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel; Silver colour - Acid etched Alumimium
3-Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel; Silver colour -Acid etched Alumimium
2-Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel, Acid etched body finish
5-Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel; Silver colour -Acid etched Alumimium

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

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

1-CLASMI vintage Fly fishing reel; Copper Bronze type colour
2-CLASMI vintage Fly fishing reel; Copper Bronze colour

 Twin knob crank Clasmi reel. copper-bronze aluminium body; brass saddle (foot) chromed all models; bronze bearing; driving gears brass on brass - Clasmi factory specifications.

Saltwater Clasmi Chrome Plated Model. C i - 5.

1-CLASMI vintage Fly fishing reel, Saltwater model
2-CLASMI vintage Fly fishing reel, Saltwater model

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

Black Anodised Clasmi. C i - 6.

1-CLASMI vintage Fly fishing reel; Back anodized model
2-CLASMI vintage Fly fishing reel; Back anodized model
1-Clasmi Black vintage Fly fishing reel
1-CLASMI vintage Fly fishing reel; Back anodized model
4-Clasmi  vintage fly fishing reel Spools

 Twin knob crank Clasmi reel. Black anodized aluminium body; brass saddle (foot) chromed all models; bronze bearing; driving gears brass on brass - Clasmi factory specifications. Scarce.

 Clasmi Double Inscribed . C i - 7.

1-Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel double etch inscription
2-Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel double etch inscription
3-Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel double etch inscription
1-Clasmi vintage Fly fishing reel double etch inscription model internal view

 Twin knob crank Clasmi reel. Acid etched aluminium body; brass saddle (foot) chromed all models; 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 - 8.

1-Clasmi vintage fishing reel Silver anodised
2-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 - 9.

1-Clasmi vintage Black Fly reel with Box
6-Clasmi vintage Black Fly reel with Box
2-Clasmi vintage Black Fly reel
3-Clasmi vintage Black Fly reel
5-Clasmi vintage Black Fly reel
4-Clasmi vintage Black Fly reel with Box

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

1- Clasmi Fly reel Spool sizes

CLASMI  spool size option specifications.

1-Rare Clasmi vintage fishing reel made in Australia

 CLASMI early inscribed flag shape border.

CLASMI Fly reel double etched CLAMI inscription Extremely Rare

 CLASMI double inscription .

1-Clasmi vintage Fly & general purposefishing reel add

Clasmi 1952 advertisement.

1-ReeLmanAustralia.com Clasmi, adobe-flash format website site.jpg
Rare CLASMI Salt water Fly fishing reel, Rare
CLASMI early twin handle-knob fishing reel in Mint conditionwith original box & spare spool, Extremely Rare!
CLASMI early twin handle-knob fishing reel internal view showing the removable threaded side plate; gearing; felt back lash-brake.

Previous Clasmi Adobe-flash format before HTML 5 transformation.

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