Magna Flite Vintage Fishing Reel Reference and History - ReeLpedia® by (Bernard Bernie Ladd, 2012.
Magna-Flite Revolving Drum Multiplying casting fishing reel -c 1957, maker Tom Leckie, [Lexel Electric] St Kilda, Victoria.
Tom Leckie operated his own repetition engineering business Lexel Electric, in St Kilda. Impressed by some of the developments in the USA with magnetically controlled reels, such as the Ocean City inductor Leckie, set out to make an Australian version and successfully applied for patent protection in 1956.
​Specifications:
Threaded removable end plates, Magnetic spool control brake, star drag; phosphor bronze bush bearings; Gearing bronze; Ratio 2 1/4: 1; Diameter 2 3/4 ''; body width 3 1/4''; spool width 2 1/8'' [vernier caliper measured] optional check; free spool knock lever; Adjustable magnetic anti-back-lash Calibration. Aluminium body - anodised, five colour options, Blue, Red, Gold, Silver, and Green.
Magna-Flite Red Anodised Multiplying Revolving Drum Overhead Fishing reel (M 1)
Red anodised Magna-Flite
Nickel Bronze main Gear Steel pinion gear, Brass retaining plate.
Patented Magnetic Brake [back-lash]
Above, Magna-Flite spool and original box
Magna-Flite Gold, Silver and Blue Anodised Multiplying Revolving Drum Overhead Fishing reel (M 2)
Gold anodised Magna-Flite
Clear [silver] anodised Magna-Flite .
Blue anodised Magna-Flite.
Green anodised Magna-Flite
MAGNA-FLITE advert stating colour options available. (reference "The Snapper are on" publication by Lance Wedlick - 1960.
Magna-Flite 1957 advertisement
Magna-Flite original box.
Black re-anodised Magna-Flite (M 3)
Note: No official information exists indicating that the Magnaflite was produced Black anodised, indicating that this reel was in fact re-anodised black sometime after the original purchase. No other black anodised Magnaflites have been sighted.
Magna-Flite Tournament competition casting reel. Extremely Rare (M 4)
This reel was previously used by Max Carter Melbourne, former champion Tournament caster and Tackle shop owner. I of only 2 known, competition reels produced, designed and made for the world championships in the 1950s by Tom Leckie and Max Carter. (ReeLpedia® 2012)
Specifications: Magnetic free spool anti-backlash control. Walnut wooden drum (spool), supported by independent rotating spindles to each aviation grade bearings .Star drag; red anodised aluminium threaded removable gear housing cover; Aluminium frame raw finished; Bronze saddle (foot). Magna - Flite Pats Pend stamped on end plate.
Max Carter Tournament competition casting reel. Extremely Rare (M 5)
Tournament Competition Casting Reel made by Max Carter, Melbourne, Australia, c. early 1950s — extremely rare.
This reel was used by Max Carter when he won the World Record Surf-Spin Tournament in 1953. Carter was the proprietor of Pastime Sporting Goods, located at 103 Grange Road, Glenhuntly, Melbourne.
This particular reel, machined from raw-finished aluminium, features exposed hardened steel straight-cut gearing and represents the only version produced by Carter. (ReeLpedia® 31/12/2025).
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MAGNA FLITE vintage fishing reels information, available at: reeLpedia® R A page 14. Copyright © 2009-2026 reeLmanAustralia.com All Rights Reserved