Seamartin Vintage Fishing Reels, Workshop designs modeled on the iconic Seamartin reel invented and hand made by Clifford (Cliff) Martin, Lakes Entrance Vic. Information, history and reference by Bernard (Bernie) Ladd, 2011.

This segment covers an interesting era of fishing reels made at Government run and privately operated engineering workshops. The reels below are examples of Seamartin modeled  reels that were made by Engineers, Toolmakers and highly skilled Fitter & Turners, who in some circumstances were on emergency stand-by maintenance duties. Some of these skilled employees engaged during their spare time in hobby craft by producing their own much loved model of the classic Seamartin reel that was often a popular item 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 projects. Thus these workshop-made reels, or any other items made during these 'down-times' were known or referred to as “Foreigners”. Ladd B. 2007.

RA 1

Maker John Bourke, Tool maker, Lakes Entrance Vic. Latrobe valley s e c  workshop reel. Teflon drum (spool ); back plate & side plate of Linen impregnated Teflon; aluminium alloy gear housing; ball bearing main shaft & crank gear shaft. Hardened steel gearing. Cast Bronze T foot. A gift (in 2000) from John Bourke.

RA 2

Cliff Martin proto type surf reel -C 1955. One of several prototype reels designed and made by Cliff, before his Unique Cedar patent design. Courtesy Patrick Harrison, Lakes Entrance, Vic.

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RA 3

Workshop Seamartin reel made by Guss Suffmayer, engineer. Modeled on the iconic Seamartin invented and made by Cliff Martin Vc. Drum (spool) turned Linen bakelite; flat S/S oscillating line retrieve; s/s crank; turned aluminium alloy gear Housing & cover plate; caliper Drag control; Nickel bronze T foot -c. 1970s

RA 4

Courtesy

Laurie Fabris, Vic.

Latrobe Valley (S E C) Workshop Seamartin, modeled on the classic Seamartin invented and made by Cliff Martin Vic. Sinted Bronze bush Bearings. Hardened metal gearing; S/S main shaft. East Gippsland Grey Box wood, drum (spool); 316 grade S/S crank; Triple Disk drag, Cast Aluminium foot; S/S hook line retrieve. Aluminium alloy gear housing, black paint finish -C.1960

Courtesy Laurie Fabris, Vic.

RA 5

Latrobe Valley (S E C ) Vic. Workshop Seamartin. Teflon body & back plate. Ventilated Aluminium drum (spool) Cast Aluminium T foot. S/S crank Manganese Bronze Bearing's -c.1970.

Courtesy John Johansson, Vic.

RA 6

Seamartin type fishing reel. Found in Lakes Entrance, Vic, late 1970.Completely made from recycled material.

RA 7

Mint Never Fished model 3 example of the famous wooden  Seamartin Surf reel. Patented design 1960, by Cliff Martin, Lakes Entrance, Vic. Note, Cliff mostly produced his reels from Australian red cedar. There also were models produced in low numbers from Australian Silky oak, and considered very rare.

RA 8

Latrobe Valley [SEC] Seamartin type Workshop reel, modeled on the classic Seamartin reel invented by Cliff Martin, Lakes Entrance Victoria. Maker George Poole, an instrument technician who worked at various S E C power stations in the Latrobe Valley Victoria, during the 1970s. East Gippsland Grey Box wood laminated (joined two piece) drum (spool); 316 grade S/S crank arm; torpedo plastic handle. Seven Disk clutch drag system, operated by S/S hexagonal claw drag wheel  adjustment; S/S T foot; S/S hook line retrieve; Aluminium alloy housing, black paint finish -c. 1970.

RA 9

Seamartin style fishing reel. Body, drum and handle of  polished cast aluminium alloy -c. 2017. Modeled on the Classic Seamartin Surf fishing reel, invented by Cliff Martin, Lakes Entrance Victoria.

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