Really appreciate your easy to follow tear down and attention to detail. I’ve recently acquired several older reels and have enjoyed rebuilding and servicing these amazing pieces of history. You’ve helped me past some initial hesitation in servicing my own fishing reels and taught me to enjoy a whole new area of my lifelong passion with fishing. Haven’t found a reel that you don’t have a great video on, thanks!
Fascinating history. You tell it well! Unfortunately I only know the Ocean City spinning reels and there weren’t that many of them. I recently got a very interesting book to me. It is “Spinning Reels and Tackle” by George V. Thommen. It has a pencil written date of 1950 inside the cover. It has a lot of information of the early spinning reels from Europe such as Luxor, Centaure, Bache Brown, etc. it is a fascinating book not only about reels but also tackle and fishing technique. Just started reading it. I was written before I was born so the language can be different. I love these videos like this when you do them! I ABSOLUTELY CAN’T WAIT FOR YOU TO DO MITCHELL1!!
Thanks for this information. Today i found a reel that my dad had long ago, is was the Ocean City 925. I was researching the history and found your video.😊
I also did a video to show you how to service this reel if you are so inclined. You can watch it here ruclips.net/video/ZTYydSRXoRs/видео.html - Dennis
Thanks for the video. I inherited a number of old rods and reels from my father. I am working my way through them and am now preparing to do the maintenance on an Ocean City 926. I have fond memories of this reel as it was paired with a steel rod that was my favorite as a kid catching bluefish in the Chesapeake in the 1970s. I am hoping to get the combo back on the water to see if it might still take a few more fish out of the bay.
hey great channel . My dad left me a Ocean City 113 great condition. Using it for the Bluefish tournament next week Long Island . Wait till the guys see this!
My grandpa gave me an Ocean City 985 reel a few years back. I never thought anything of it, recently put it on a 10 foot rod, planning on taking it out in the coming weeks for some catfishing. I can't find specs on the reel anywhere, but after this history video you did I'm pretty sure it will be plenty to handle some eater-sized cats. Not going after monster cats, just big enough to fry up.
I always wondered if Penn violated Ocean City patents or at least had bad blood with them when Penn's founder went solo. The similarities are so obvious, right down to model numbers. I was fishing on a pier when an Ocean city jammed on a guy fighting a huge cobia. He took the reel off the rod, tied it to a 4/0 rod and reel and threw it over like it was a big swivel.
They are not as similar as you may think. The internal gear and free spool release designs are completely different and the look and feel is not the same. I am sure that there was a competitive tension between the two companies, but they addressed different markets. Penn did not do fly reels, bait casters or even spinning reels, until after OC was sold in 1957. Penn was strickly saltwater when they were competing head to head. Thanks for the thought and the comment - Dennis
Ha, I've heard of people doing that back in the day. You clip on an other rod/reel combo to the setup that is being spooled and dump the first rig into the water and fight the fish with the next one. Once you tire out the big fish and get your first combo back. Then you start fighting it on that. Wonder how modern reels (without braid backing) would hold up to that abuse.
Hi Dennis, Good morning. Another 'believe it or not' for you: I have an old Ocean City 'Ocean Master' rod (white w/red & black wrappings)...the label has the Ocean City logo - Circle with fish and the OC banner; the label also reads in very fine print, 'Walker International Since 1937'. (Incidentally, that's the rod that went overboard with the Gar/Mitch 622 if you recall that story.) So, I was just out in my shop doing a little clean-up/maint on the rod and just outta curiosity I decided to research the history of Ocean City Fishing Rods and who do I find? The reel guru himself! Always a pleasure and as always, very interesting and informative video. 'ave a great day! (Sorry so chatty...maybe I'll go have another cup o coffee! :)
Really enjoying your channel. A friend gave me an Ocean City 921. It was not working right so I took it apart. The reel is missing a brass bushing that goes inside one of the side plates for the level wind bar and one screw out of the side plate. Have you ever replaced one of these bushings? Do you know where I could get one? Best regards.
You are going to. have problems finding a source for these parts. The company went out of business in 1957 and parts have not bee available from distributors for a very long time. The only source is a secondary market like eBay and/od finding a donor reel there, or at a local garage sale, flea market, etc. Thanks for asking - Dennis
@@2ndChanceTackle Thanks Dennis, I'll keep looking around. At first I did not think the reel was that old, but alas it is. Thank you for doing what you do.
Did the reels with the two holes in the base come with rod clamps? I’m hoping I can adapt Penn Rod clamps to fit these particular reels. My brother in law has quite a few Ocean City Reels. That are in excellent shape but are in need of servicing . Now that I’ve watched some videos of you servicing Ocean City Reels. I’m sure I can get them working as good as new. I really like the idea of adapting certain Penn HT-100 drag washers on some of the reels. Great Videos. The latest HT-100 drag washers are can be easily cut to fit the main gears on many of these reels.
You should be able to make the rod clamps of the Penn reels adapt to the OC reels. If you need to change the long through screws, be sure to get stainless steel ones and wing nuts for easy change over if you can - Dennis
Dennis I love your videos, just purchased a Ocean City 981 Phila and I'm in need of drag friction washers, I tried the 60's and they are too big any suggestions on what I could replace the used worn out ones with?
Yes - the ones for the Penn 155 should be an exact fit. If they are still too big, then go with the round ones from the older Spinfisher 710. - Thanks for asking - Dennis
True Temper purchased OC in 1957 and co-branded for the next few years before eliminating the OC brand, so your reel was made in the late 1950s or early 1960s
Good Evening Dennis...just picked up a Ocean City 981 and a Diawa GS15 this morning they seem to be in fair condition the Ocean City 981 the handle turns but the bail doesn't ...what video do you have that's close to this model...
Bail? There shouldn't be a bail on that reel. Do you mean on the Daiwa reel? If you do, there is likely a broken part on the main or pinion gear on the Daiwa
@@2ndChanceTackle lol...I meant the spool..but I found the problem someone had taken it apart and put the wrong screw in the stud that holds the yoke assembly and it had pushed the yoke down and upper assembly out...soon as I started watching the video I seen what they did...
@@2ndChanceTackle Dennis my friend I got the Ocean City 981 working beautifully but the Diawa GS 15 is a lost cause the gears so corroded nothing left just saved what I could..
What year did True Temper begin to put their name on the Ocean City reels? Because I seen some like the 112 that says Ocean City and True Temper on it?
No. The company went out of business in the late 1950s and some models were still made by True Temper into the 1970s. The new parts distributors are long gone. You may be able to find used parts or donor reels on sites like eBay
Most of the Ocean City reels were made my Montaque in Massachusetts . Ocean City had an on off relationship with them and ultimately bought the company. I would start there
Really appreciate your easy to follow tear down and attention to detail. I’ve recently acquired several older reels and have enjoyed rebuilding and servicing these amazing pieces of history. You’ve helped me past some initial hesitation in servicing my own fishing reels and taught me to enjoy a whole new area of my lifelong passion with fishing. Haven’t found a reel that you don’t have a great video on, thanks!
Glad to help. Thanks for the note and for watching - Dennis
Fascinating history. You tell it well! Unfortunately I only know the Ocean City spinning reels and there weren’t that many of them. I recently got a very interesting book to me. It is “Spinning Reels and Tackle” by George V. Thommen. It has a pencil written date of 1950 inside the cover. It has a lot of information of the early spinning reels from Europe such as Luxor, Centaure, Bache Brown, etc. it is a fascinating book not only about reels but also tackle and fishing technique. Just started reading it. I was written before I was born so the language can be different. I love these videos like this when you do them! I ABSOLUTELY CAN’T WAIT FOR YOU TO DO MITCHELL1!!
Thanks Chris. I would like to learn more on Centaure. That is the first reel that I learned to cast on in Saltwater - Dennis
Thanks for this information. Today i found a reel that my dad had long ago, is was the Ocean City 925. I was researching the history and found your video.😊
I also did a video to show you how to service this reel if you are so inclined. You can watch it here
ruclips.net/video/ZTYydSRXoRs/видео.html - Dennis
Thanks for the video. I inherited a number of old rods and reels from my father. I am working my way through them and am now preparing to do the maintenance on an Ocean City 926. I have fond memories of this reel as it was paired with a steel rod that was my favorite as a kid catching bluefish in the Chesapeake in the 1970s. I am hoping to get the combo back on the water to see if it might still take a few more fish out of the bay.
You should be able to get the reel going and it should continue to catch fish for a long time to come. Best wishes on your restorations - Dennis
hey great channel . My dad left me a Ocean City 113 great condition. Using it for the Bluefish tournament next week Long Island . Wait till the guys see this!
Good luck! Glad to hear the reel has a 2nd Chance! Dennis
I have an old 923c! This is so cool! Thanks for sharing!
YW - thanks for the note and for watching - Dennis
Wonderful and I thank ypu!
Glad you enjoyed it! - Dennis
Thanks for the background on Ocean City.
Thanks Joyce - Have a great holiday weekend - Dennis
My grandpa gave me an Ocean City 985 reel a few years back. I never thought anything of it, recently put it on a 10 foot rod, planning on taking it out in the coming weeks for some catfishing. I can't find specs on the reel anywhere, but after this history video you did I'm pretty sure it will be plenty to handle some eater-sized cats. Not going after monster cats, just big enough to fry up.
That reel should work great for you
I have 6 ocean city reels
981 ,113 and my 603 sistem and gears are very different.
I like those old reels
They were the top of the line in their day. Their quality is still evident today - Thanks for the note - enjoy your fishing with these reels - Dennis
I always wondered if Penn violated Ocean City patents or at least had bad blood with them when Penn's founder went solo. The similarities are so obvious, right down to model numbers. I was fishing on a pier when an Ocean city jammed on a guy fighting a huge cobia. He took the reel off the rod, tied it to a 4/0 rod and reel and threw it over like it was a big swivel.
They are not as similar as you may think. The internal gear and free spool release designs are completely different and the look and feel is not the same. I am sure that there was a competitive tension between the two companies, but they addressed different markets. Penn did not do fly reels, bait casters or even spinning reels, until after OC was sold in 1957. Penn was strickly saltwater when they were competing head to head. Thanks for the thought and the comment - Dennis
Ha, I've heard of people doing that back in the day. You clip on an other rod/reel combo to the setup that is being spooled and dump the first rig into the water and fight the fish with the next one. Once you tire out the big fish and get your first combo back. Then you start fighting it on that. Wonder how modern reels (without braid backing) would hold up to that abuse.
Hi Dennis, Good morning. Another 'believe it or not' for you: I have an old Ocean City 'Ocean Master' rod (white w/red & black wrappings)...the label has the Ocean City logo - Circle with fish and the OC banner; the label also reads in very fine print, 'Walker International Since 1937'. (Incidentally, that's the rod that went overboard with the Gar/Mitch 622 if you recall that story.) So, I was just out in my shop doing a little clean-up/maint on the rod and just outta curiosity I decided to research the history of Ocean City Fishing Rods and who do I find? The reel guru himself! Always a pleasure and as always, very interesting and informative video. 'ave a great day! (Sorry so chatty...maybe I'll go have another cup o coffee! :)
NP - I enjoy the stories - Best wishes - Dennis
Really enjoying your channel. A friend gave me an Ocean City 921. It was not working right so I took it apart. The reel is missing a brass bushing that goes inside one of the side plates for the level wind bar and one screw out of the side plate. Have you ever replaced one of these bushings? Do you know where I could get one? Best regards.
You are going to. have problems finding a source for these parts. The company went out of business in 1957 and parts have not bee available from distributors for a very long time. The only source is a secondary market like eBay and/od finding a donor reel there, or at a local garage sale, flea market, etc. Thanks for asking - Dennis
@@2ndChanceTackle Thanks Dennis, I'll keep looking around. At first I did not think the reel was that old, but alas it is. Thank you for doing what you do.
Did the reels with the two holes in the base come with rod clamps? I’m hoping I can adapt Penn Rod clamps to fit these particular reels.
My brother in law has quite a few Ocean City Reels. That are in excellent shape but are in need of servicing . Now that I’ve watched some videos of you servicing Ocean City Reels. I’m sure I can get them working as good as new. I really like the idea of adapting certain Penn HT-100 drag washers on some of the reels. Great Videos. The latest HT-100 drag washers are can be easily cut to fit the main gears on many of these reels.
You should be able to make the rod clamps of the Penn reels adapt to the OC reels. If you need to change the long through screws, be sure to get stainless steel ones and wing nuts for easy change over if you can - Dennis
Dennis I love your videos, just purchased a Ocean City 981 Phila and I'm in need of drag friction washers, I tried the 60's and they are too big any suggestions on what I could replace the used worn out ones with?
Yes - the ones for the Penn 155 should be an exact fit. If they are still too big, then go with the round ones from the older Spinfisher 710. - Thanks for asking - Dennis
I found a new, old stock Ocean City/True Temper 604D; when might it have been manufactured? Thanks
True Temper purchased OC in 1957 and co-branded for the next few years before eliminating the OC brand, so your reel was made in the late 1950s or early 1960s
Good Evening Dennis...just picked up a Ocean City 981 and a Diawa GS15 this morning they seem to be in fair condition the Ocean City 981 the handle turns but the bail doesn't ...what video do you have that's close to this model...
Bail? There shouldn't be a bail on that reel. Do you mean on the Daiwa reel? If you do, there is likely a broken part on the main or pinion gear on the Daiwa
@@2ndChanceTackle lol...I meant the spool..but I found the problem someone had taken it apart and put the wrong screw in the stud that holds the yoke assembly and it had pushed the yoke down and upper assembly out...soon as I started watching the video I seen what they did...
Great
@@2ndChanceTackle Dennis my friend I got the Ocean City 981 working beautifully but the Diawa GS 15 is a lost cause the gears so corroded nothing left just saved what I could..
Hello everyone I inherited a OC923 but the pawl and worm shaft is missing where can I get it to buy ?
Good Day Dennis! Ocean city has so many models. Do you know what is Ocean City Imperial reel
Yes - they made that one - Do you have a question on it?
@@2ndChanceTackle i got one and it doesnt reel, how can i fix it?
You are going to have to open up the side case and examine the cause of the problem. There are too many ifs for a simple answer - Dennis
What year did True Temper begin to put their name on the Ocean City reels? Because I seen some like the 112 that says Ocean City and True Temper on it?
True Temper acquired Ocean City in 1957 and started co-branding and then eliminating the OC reference after they merged the firms.
I have an Ocean City reel to be sold at Macy's how old would it be.
It is from the 1950s
Are parts still available for ocean city reels?
No. The company went out of business in the late 1950s and some models were still made by True Temper into the 1970s. The new parts distributors are long gone. You may be able to find used parts or donor reels on sites like eBay
I have an Ocean City Graphite Blend Rod. It's stamped, DBR1055. Anyone have info on it?
Most of the Ocean City reels were made my Montaque in Massachusetts . Ocean City had an on off relationship with them and ultimately bought the company. I would start there
I found a rod with the Ocean City name on it
Yes - Ocean City partnered with several firms to make rods with their branding - Most notably was Montaque Rods in Massachusetts