Penn 49A History.

Hi Ed

Welcome to Sealine.

The Penn 49A is still alive and well and fishing in South Africa. Come down to a launch site when you see the snoek (barracouta, Thyrsites atun) running in the Cape and you will see quite a few boats with a 49 or 49A in the mix

I am a bit young to offer advice on its use in the 50's

I would imagine that to understand the use of the Penn 49, it would help to understand the recommendations of fishing writers after WWII

South Africa made the transition from "Scarborough" reels to nylon and geared multiplier reels.

There were a few prominent writers at the time who recommended the Penn 49.

Charles Horne was an angling journalist for a news paper in the Cape and he included the Penn 49 as his suggested basic piece of equipment for "entry level" fishing.

This must have a profound effect on sales and "market acceptance".

My personal view is that the Penn 49 was at the right place at the right time in South Africa.

It was a multipurpose reel and South Africans were starting to explore their waters in recreational boats in the 50's, 60's, and 70's and the Penn 49 probably fitted in well given the species that most people were encountering.

I have also seen very few Ocean City reels or Pfluegers in SA and I would imagine that these would have been direct competition to the Penn 49 in the USA.

Drop me a PM and I will put you in touch with some of the older commercial and recreational fishermen who were operating in the 50's.

I love this thread! Continue posting gents!

Apparently the Penn 49 A was made specially for a man named Scott (can't remember his first name) who fished at Cape Point. He used to spin for Yellow Tail, and emptied his old 49 on every cast.I read that for exercise he would do a handstand against a wall and then do push ups and clap his hands on the up stroke. He was the one who requested that a Penn 49 be modified to a wide spool. I don't know who did the modification.

Guppigetta wrote:

Apparently the Penn 49 A was made specially for a man named Scott (can't remember his first name) who fished at Cape Point. He used to spin for Yellow Tail, and emptied his old 49 on every cast.I read that for exercise he would do a handstand against a wall and then do push ups and clap his hands on the up stroke. He was the one who requested that a Penn 49 be modified to a wide spool. I don't know who did the modification.

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Hi Guppigetta

I wonder if Tromp Van Diggelen wasn't the guy. He was a tuna fisherman and one of those strongman types.

I think most of the older lifetime anglers 40 yrs plus, must have gone through the Penn ranks eg. 180 or 85......500...eventually ended up with a 49.

@ Ed, you should pm FRITZABU, here on Sealine, he knows all the history regarding these older die hard reels.

Serra Moz wrote:

I think most of the older lifetime anglers 40 yrs plus, must have gone through the Penn ranks eg. 180 or 85......500...eventually ended up with a 49.

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I started fishing with the Penn 49A and eventually got the 49(narrow spool). I still have the narrow spool.

Joker wrote:

Serra Moz wrote:

I think most of the older lifetime anglers 40 yrs plus, must have gone through the Penn ranks eg. 180 or 85......500...eventually ended up with a 49.

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I started fishing with the Penn 49A and eventually got the 49(narrow spool). I still have the narrow spool.

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I think, I was about 14 when I started with a 49r.... spooled with those thick sea green maxima...after quite a few "kraaineste" and blisters on my fingers - I could operate then pretty well. I have used them on boats as well.

Ed Barrett wrote:

Thank you very much for the information regarding the Penn 49 and 49A reels.

It is good to know that these reels are still being used today.

We appreciate the information you furnished us.

Best regards,

Ed Barrett

Member of the Old Reel Collectors Association

Rio Vista, CA 94571

USA

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Ed I take it you've seen the reel collections on Sealine? I have bought some older reels from the States on eBay, however with the exchange rate/postage/tax it can be very expensive. Please do post some pics of the reels (Old Reel Collectors Association)

I will be sure to pass this on to some major collectors of Penn reels.

 

Thanks again,

 

Ed Barrett

Hi jb2, the guys surname was Scott.If someone has all the old Stywe lyne/Tight lines in their possession they can look it up. Round about 1950's. I'm sure the story is in one of them.

Sorry guys,1960's. I remember Stywe Lyne had an article on the history of the Penn reels a little while ago, I think there was something about Scott in there too.

Guppigetta wrote:

Apparently the Penn 49 A was made specially for a man named Scott (can't remember his first name) who fished at Cape Point. .

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Mike Scott

Expat wrote:

Guppigetta wrote:

Apparently the Penn 49 A was made specially for a man named Scott (can't remember his first name) who fished at Cape Point. .

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Mike Scott

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Hi Expat

What is the full story. Was he behind the wide spool development?

Was it linked to spinning at Rooikrantz?

Thanx Expat, that was the guys name. Jb2, Mike used to throw spinners at rooikranz and other places on the peninsular. Whenever Mike went fishing, he would draw a crowd of onlookers to watch his powerful casting, early day pendulum cast. Apparently he was the one to request the wide spool 49 be made.

My first salt water reel was actually a shopping bag with all the components for 3 x 49A reels
I built one reel out of the lot which I used at Pearly beach with absolutly no sucsess whatsoever
The guy who taught me how to cast was left handed and , although I am right handed , he taught me as a south paw and I still sometimes revert with out thinking

Guppigetta wrote:

Apparently the Penn 49 A was made specially for a man named Scott (can't remember his first name) who fished at Cape Point. He used to spin for Yellow Tail, and emptied his old 49 on every cast.I read that for exercise he would do a handstand against a wall and then do push ups and clap his hands on the up stroke. He was the one who requested that a Penn 49 be modified to a wide spool. I don't know who did the modification.

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Chuck Norris's oupa I presume

I typed a moer of a long story here now, before the stove shorted the house DB and my :fbash:fbash:fbash reply!

So, here is the short version:

Penn 49A: Bacelite spool...sharks could crack it

Penn 49M: Metal spool...casted a few nautical miles, but unstoppable, so big groot kraaineste

Now, MY kwestjin: is the Penn 49 the same reel as the 6/0 Senator?

PS: Kraaines = overwind in Americanese

PS2: Nothing better in the whole world than taking a knife to a kraaines!!!!!