Crouch Reel, Workshop made Crouch style reels, Australian Antique, Vintage Crouch fishing reels by Bernie Ladd, 2012.
R E E L P E D I A ®™ AUSTRALIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA
Antique Vintage Fishing Reels and Angling Memorabilia.
A comprehensive factual information reference guide, unique and indelibly linked to the spirit of passionate collectors. Presented to you by Bernie Ladd, Melbourne Australia.
This reeLpedia segment on Australian vintage fishing reels describes CROUCH general purpose fishing reels made at Dunolly Victoria, during the 1950s until factory closure in 1968.
Jack Crouch’s initial reel making was carried out in a suburban backyard factory at his home in Fairfield Melbourne. After the war, Jack took his three sons, Jack jr.,Ken, and Arthur, into partnership. By this time, demand for the CROUCH reel had grown considerably and Crouch sought permission to build a new factory at Fairfield. When this proved impossible, the family moved to DUNOLLY, a small Victorian country town, near Ballarat, where they rented an old tin shed for use as their workshop.
The Crouch reel was now stamped: J.T. Crouch & sons, makers Dunolly Vic on side plate. -c.1951. As production progressed, the Crouches relocated their business to a new factory built in Dunolly, where it operated until its final closure in 1968. It is in this newly; established plant, that the Crouch reel was further modified to incorporate the optional clutch drag. In 1964, the reel was completely revamped as the Crouch 77, now with plastic end plates, ratchet control lever and optional right or left hand wind, but retaining all the original features. Two models produced were: standard and slipping clutch. Crouch reels came with 4 spool design option sizes, No.1 standard; No.2 large capacity; No.3 extra large capacity; No.4 special fly spool;
(this reference verified by Jack Crouch Jr).
Below is a visual presentation of the progression in the development of the Crouch general purpose multiplying drum fishing reel as it evolved during the time J. T. Crouch & Sons were based in Dunolly Victoria. The visual display is in chronological order beginning from the first ever manufactured Dunolly reel to the last model prior to the Dunolly final factory closure in 1968. The rows of displayed images below are are marked with anagram "CD” for "Crouch Dunolly”, and numbered: CD1 to CD9, to mark their chronological order.
(CD 1) First series Crouch & sons Dunolly, -c.1951. Hardened steel main gear (used on optional check models only) hardened spool shaft & gear;
cast alloy crank; erinoid cylindrical handle; early brass neck check dial. J. T. CROUCH & SONS MAKERS DUNOLLY VIC stamped on back plate.
(CD 2) First Standard series Crouch & sons Dunolly, -c.1951. Nickle bronze main gear (used on non- check models only) hardened spool shaft & gear; cast alloy crank; erinoid cylindrical handle. J. T. CROUCH & SONS MAKERS DUNOLLY VIC stamped on back plate.
fig 8
(CD 3) J T Crouch & sons Dunolly Vic, Dual aperture model ( two finger use). Optional check (Later standardization shrouded neck check screw. [see fig 8] ; new design erinoid tapered (bulbous) handle knob. J. T. CROUCH & SONS MAKERS DUNOLLY VIC stamped on back plate; -c 1950s. Rare.
fig 3
(CD 4) Crouch Standard. -c.1951. Nickel bronze main gear (see fig 3). {standard on non optional- check models} specifications as all previous DUNOLLY Crouch's reels. J.T. CROUCH & SONS MAKERS DUNOLLY VIC stamped on back plate.
fig2
(CD 5) Crouch & sons Dunolly vic -c. 1950s. Optional check; slipping clutch model; hardened steel main gear (see fig 2). standard on optional check models. Specifications, as other Dunolly Crouch's.
(CD 6) Crouch & sons Dunolly vic -c. 1950s. slipping clutch, non optional check model. Clutch plate tool and slipping clutch schematic sheet. Specifications, as other Dunolly Crouch's.
(CD 7) Crouch & sons Dunolly Vic. Improved Chrome Plated Brass Flat Tapered Crank Arm and new design knurled Gear Lever. Optional check; erinoid bulbous handle. (A non-check model was also produced). -c. late 1950s.
(CD 8) Crouch 77 Standard Multiplying revolving drum reel -c. 1964. Nickel bronze main gear; hardened steel spool shaft & pinion gear; aluminium alloy anodised body; Plastic side plates; bronze bearings; aluminium alloy saddle; 3 leg pronged star spring steel drum (spool) brake; Aperture finger spool control; L/R hand operation; optional check; two models were produced, Standard & Slipping clutch. Very hard to find in Mint condition with box and paper work.
(CD 9) Crouch 77 Slipping Clutch model, and 1966 Parts breakdown with price list.
Early Crouch 77 Box. Rare.
Later Crouch 77 Box.
CROUCH spool size options.
Left Nickle bronze main gear used on non-check model. Right, case hardened steel main gear used for optional check models only!
CROUCH 77 No. 2 Drum (spool) with original metal container.
CROUCH side plate removal tool.
CROUCH spool size advert.
CROUCH Parts List.
Crouch Dunolly user guide booklet.
Crouch 77 casting and spinning reel, Brochure and user guide.
The "Old Tin Shed" Dunolly 1950s.
CROUCH reels upon completion at the assembly line in the "Old Tin Shed" Dunolly 1950s.
Jack Crouch jr and
Bernie Ladd, 2013.
WORKSHOP made reels modeled on the Crouch reel.
An interesting era of fishing items made at Government run and privately operated engineering maintenance workshops.
Engineers, Toolmakers and highly skilled Fitter & Turners, who in some circumstances were on emergency stand-by maintenance duties at Government run maintenance Workshops . Some of these skilled employees engaged during their spare time in hobby craft by producing their own much loved models of fishing equipment. Blackfish reels, Crouch type reels, Fly reels, Game reels, Seamartin type reels and fishing Lures were often popular items created by these enthusiasts during the maintenance and production down-times. During those down-times a floor supervisor would approach an employee and say: “Work on your foreigner”. This was done to create an impression in the eyes of senior production managers that workers were busily engaged in company work projects.Thus these workshop-made reels, or any other items made during these 'down-times' were known or referred to as “Foreigners”.
It is also pertinent to state that especially during the war periods (i.e. WWI and WWII), due to war effort production, there were shortages of fishing items on the retail market. Hence these workshop practices were especially common during those turbulent times. Ladd B. 2007.
Depicted below are examples of reels modeled on the Crouch reel, that were made at various workshops in Victoria Australia.
Latrobe Valley Vic, S E C workshop made Fly and general purpose reel, modeled on the iconic Crouch reel -c. 1970. Maker John Bourke Toolmaker, Lakes Entrance, Vic. Rare.
HAMILTON Crouch style multiplying aluminium alloy reel. John Hamilton stated he only made one of this particular reel modeled on the Classic Crouch Multiplier, which he used for Blackfish - Luderick fishing. Machined aluminum backplate diameter 3 1/2''; Crouch No 1 aluminium spool-drum width 7/8''; finger spool lever brake. Crank handle drag configuration; free spool lever; Knurled aluminium front ahd rear grease cup; adjustable permanent check. Plastic torpedo handle. Aluminium saddle (foot), inscribed John Hamilton 1956.
Bendigo Ordnance Factory Workshop made Crouch style Fly and general purpose reel, modeled on the iconic Crouch reel created by J. T. Crouch, Melbourne Australia. Body (frame) machined from aluminium alloy stock bar, diameter 3 5/16'', Brass barred Aluminium drum (spool) width 7/8''; aluminium removable threaded back plate; star (3 prong) spring steel tension screw, drum brake; Brass saddle; main gear of phosphor bronze; hardened steel pinon gear; wooden handle; brass nickle plated crank arm; knurled brass plated clutch drag housing -c. 1940. Rare.
Bendigo Ordnance Factory Workshop made Crouch style Fly and general purpose reel, modeled on the iconic Crouch reel created by J. T. Crouch, Melbourne Australia. Body (frame) machined from aluminium alloy stock bar, diameter 3 5/16'', Brass barred Aluminium drum (spool) width 7/8''; aluminium removable threaded back plate; star (3 prong) spring steel tension screw, drum brake; Brass saddle; main gear of phosphor bronze; hardened steel pinon gear; erinoid handle; brass nickle plated crank arm; knurled brass plated clutch drag housing -c. 1940. Rare.
Linen bakelite and brass workshop made fly fishing reel modeled on the CROUCH general purpose reel -c. 1950.
Aluminium alloy and bronze workshop made fishing reel modeled on the CROUCH general purpose reel -c. 1950.
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Aluminium alloy workshop made fishing reel modeled on the CROUCH general purpose reel -c. 1960.
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