My old man had one of those...

[Jungle Jim]

Hey guys im not sure how it happened but i think i might have accidentally caught the abu bug.....
:o
all of a sudden i have this curiosity in those small abu bait casters like the 1500c and 2500c.

I’ve been trawling the interweb and am having great trouble finding accurate detailed information on the models. With so many production runs and reproduction runs im more confused than when i started. :-/

Am looking for info like when the originals came out? How to distinguish these- serial numbers -identifying features etc? When the second run came out and so on.

I am trying find out more info with the view to possibly picking up the odd 1 or 2 at garage sales to restore.

There is just something about the look of these little reels that makes me feel nostalgic – and i wasn’t even there. :P

Any info or experiences much appreciated.

JIM

[alphas]

I am sure these models would be what you would like,jim;D
http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv336/nediazanneis/ZPI_AE74.jpg
http://www.japantackle.com/ABU/ZPI_AE74.htm
and....
http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv336/nediazanneis/ABU200901.jpg

8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

[aussiebasser]

The original 2500C was released in the late '70's early '80's. They didn't have Garcia in the name. They had a twin handle. The 1500C was much later.
1500C push button spool release
1600C Thumb bar spool release
2500C push button spool release
2600C Thump bar spool release

IAR suffix is on the later models, meaning infinite anti reverse.

The C in the Ambassadeur range means it has ball bearings, and not brass bushes.

Numbers ending in 1, such as 1501C denotes left hand wind models. There is currently a 2500CDL for sale on the net. This reel has 24k gold plating in place of the chrome. Very rare, and they're asking $899 US. The Tackle Wharehouse had a full set of these stolen many years ago. The thieves left the limited edition case behind.
I still have an original 6000C which was in the first shipment of this model to come to Aus. It was a gift to my father by the importers at the time. I think it was Evans and Balfour. I think I have the following downstairs somewhere:
1500C IAR
2500C
4600C
5600C 2 speed
6000C
6500C
7000
10000C (Original 1975 non-level wind model)
and a 12 which is a 9000 without the casting blocks.

My brother has his original 6000 with bronze bushes. He fitted a set of Erskine High Speed Gears during the '70's.

The original Daiwa Millionaire was a direct copy of the Abu 6000C.

[aussiebasser]

oh yeah, the models finishing in 500 or 501 and 600 and 601 are higher gear ratio jobs. (5000 std ratio 5500 5600 high speed.)

[grave41]

Cant blame once you use one and see how easy they are to use it's hard to put them down.I too have numerous Abu's . Can grab one cheap if you want .
5500 pro roscket 6500 pro rocket 5000 plus some others .i just cant part with the 1500 c iar 2500 and 1600.
Graham

[Horse]

My first reel I bought for myself was an ABU 5000C. This was back in 1974. This reel pulled a huge number of fish ranging from a landbased 25lb Jew to over 30 Trevally in an afternoon. It sits in the cupboard now having a well deserved rest;D

[bayfisher]

You may have already read this page but if not worth a read

http://www.geocities.com/heartland/lane/4448/models/2500c.html

Good luck finding a cheap 1500 or 2500 they are usually hard to come by and are stupidly expensive for what they are. If your going to spend that sort of money and want something that can be modded to become a weapon, then the morrums (especially the sx mag version) are considered the best of abus round baitcasters. I have being trying to track down a cheap 1600sx mag morrum for a while to spec it up to AE74 standard and it is proving to be near impossblie the last 1600sx um i saw go on ebay for some thing like 280usd +40usd postage. Buying a real AE74 well forget, about it they are well over the 1000 mark :o. The good news however is the morrum is being re-released this year, though i beleive prices will be around 500usd :-/.

[BobbyJ123]

Any help?
http://www.japantackle.com/ABU/Abu_1500C2500C.htm

[Noelm]

I got a 2500C way back in about 1980, and it is still going strong, I have caught everything on it from Trout, to Bass and small Tuna, also have a 10,000 2 speed Auto, that also works as new, but is a bit knocked around now, don't think I would part with either reel, even though they don't get used much now, I made the mistake of selling low use reels and regreted it later for on those gloomy rainy/windy days when I could dig them out and fool about with them and remember some "good old times", don't sell any now.

[Jungle Jim]

Many thanks to all who have replied.
Aussiebasser that kind of detailed info was exactly what i was looking for. At least i’ll have half a clue when i go hunting for them.

Grave41 pm sent...thanks

Thanks to everyone who has posted links and pics. I’ll be sure to check them out.

The ae74...i’ve promised myself that if i see one for sale i’ll do everything i can to grab it.

So if anyone happens to see a few Nib daiwas listed for urgent sale you’ll know something’s in the air. ;D

In all honesty i have never even played with a 1500 2500 let alone cast one. Come to think of it i don’t think i’ve cast any abu. But there is just something about the look of them. I saw those pics on Japan tackle of the old ones and can’t stop dreaming about them. :smitten:

It makes me think of the halcyon days of glass rods, handmade lures and unpressured fisheries. The sort of things you’d find in your Dad’s or Grandad’s shed.

The good old days ... and I’m only 26:P

JIM

[Noelm]

yep, that's why I don't sell fishing gear anymore, lots of memories come back when you get something out of hiding/storage and clean it up or use it again, when it is all said and done, second hand gear is not worth a lot and the memories are priceless.

[Pete62]

Many thanks to all who have replied.
Aussiebasser that kind of detailed info was exactly what i was looking for. At least i’ll have half a clue when i go hunting for them.

Thanks to everyone who has posted links and pics. I’ll be sure to check them out.

The ae74...i’ve promised myself that if i see one for sale i’ll do everything i can to grab it.

So if anyone happens to see a few Nib daiwas listed for urgent sale you’ll know something’s in the air. ;D

In all honesty i have never even played with a 1500 2500 let alone cast one. Come to think of it i don’t think i’ve cast any abu. But there is just something about the look of them. I saw those pics on Japan tackle of the old ones and can’t stop dreaming about them. :smitten:

It makes me think off the halcyon days of glass rods, handmade lures and unpressured fisheries. The sort of things you’d find in your Dad’s or Grandad’s shed.

The good old days ... and I’m only 26:P

JIM

Ah Jim, the good old days, 21 yrs your senior, I can remember sprinting along the coral beach on Fitzroy Island casting my trusty 6500 into the marauding GT's and Turrum as they smashed the bait schools.
Think I will go and have a lay down...............:)

[aussiebasser]

You're all just pups. I can remember when they first brought out the Abu's. I think my 14 birthday present was a Cardinal 44. I've still got it. My first Barra was landed on a 2500C with 14lb Fireline, it was 73cm at Teemburra. They are no longer the best reels to use, but they certainly bring back a few memories.

[bayfisher]

The ae74...i’ve promised myself that if i see one for sale i’ll do everything i can to grab it.


There are always a few for sale on the Japanese yahoo auction site. (there is a pretty sexy red one on there at the moment)

http://search4.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/search?p=ae74&auccat=2084064407&submit222=%B8%A1%BA%F7

Im sure one of the tackle sites like ichiban or japantackle could purchase one on your behalf for a small handing fee, the price however is scary :o.

[Jungle Jim]

There are always a few for sale on the Japanese yahoo auction site. (there is a pretty sexy red one on there at the moment)

http://search4.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/search?p=ae74&auccat=2084064407&submit222=%B8%A1%BA%F7

Im sure one of the tackle sites like ichiban or japantackle could purchase one on your behalf for a small handing fee, the price however is scary :o.

yeah that yahoo site has all the best stuff but unfortunately i can't speak japanese. i tried to bid on a tdz type r+ once couldn't find the button that said BID.:-[

the price yeah it is scary but they were such a limited production that it could be worth it. . . . . .

I'd say $1000 aud would be a cheap one but i can see that $1000usd is just as likely.

just thinking of what i could sell to raise that dough....3 NIB pixies, left kidney, half my liver (apparently these grow back)

JIM

[aussiebasser]

This is worth owning.

[Jungle Jim]

This is worth owning.

thansk aussiebasser i think i saw that yesterday...is that the one for $899USD or there abouts...????


*******attention Mr B. Sheep ***********

if you are reading this i will swap the td ito for this...pm to arrange a time and place to trade.;D

JIM

[sleepygreg]

i am now kicking myself for selling my anniversary edition 1500c and 2500c. But when you fall on hard times...some things have to go. They were my all time favourite bass and bream reels. So damned easy to cast...pain in the butt to pull down and service, but hey.......those that love british bikes(trumpies etc) will understand the feeling.

Greg

[Jungle Jim]

Well i finally got to cast a 2500c. And don’t they cast beautifully.:thumbsup:

Jeremy brought over his old mans for me to try out. I was in the front yard making a few practices cast when i said “i wonder how far i can cast this thing.”

So off the cast goes...... across my front yard........ over the road.......... onto the traffic island.

When some boy racer comes around the corner at mach 2 in his Skyline GTR.:devil:



So im retrieving line off the road when we hear.
WAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR PIISSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
WAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR PIISSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

ZIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZ for about 15 seconds. :oops:

Yep the line or plug was caught on the GTR and it was on for young an old. :o

The fastest run i have ever had. ;D

Needless to say we ended up spooled by a GTR

and both of us in hysterics. :LMAO:

Top little reel though i can't wait to get one.

JIM

[Pete62]

Classic.................. how did the drag handle it??

Can see the headlines now "Car burns in suspicious circumstances, smell of burnt nylon"

Team "Solo"

[childers]

You're all just pups. I can remember when they first brought out the Abu's. I think my 14 birthday present was a Cardinal 44. I've still got it. My first Barra was landed on a 2500C with 14lb Fireline, it was 73cm at Teemburra. They are no longer the best reels to use, but they certainly bring back a few memories.

think i may have seen you in a home made dvd , big barra dam ?

[Jungle Jim]

Classic.................. how did the drag handle it??

Can see the headlines now "Car burns in suspicious circumstances, smell of burnt nylon"

Team "Solo"

fortunately the drag wasn't screwed up. there'd be no washers left....

partly my fault.......... partly lewis hamilton's fault for driving like a moron through my peaceful neighbourhood.

i can just see him cleaning his mortgage machine wondering how on earth that 1/4 oz plug ended up wedged in his intercooler. :-/

more so to the point .........the 1600iar i bought arrived today. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

wow

i have a comfirmed case of Retro abu fever.

it is beautiful :smitten: and certainly a nice addition to the family.

now if i can only find a a second one to actually use. :P


JIM

[Noelm]

I wonder if anyone has still got an old ABU lever drag Game reel still in active service? Except for the average line capacity, they went OK, I had one for years.

[84mick]

Hi guys, I have a 6500c abu (made in sweden). How much drag do these have and are they any good? I swapped it for a cheap sp rod ;)

Cheers, Mick.

[aussiebasser]

Hi guys, I have a 6500c abu (made in sweden). How much drag do these have and are they any good? I swapped it for a cheap sp rod ;)

Cheers, Mick.

The drag lets the Abus down a bit. You should be able to get Carbontex washers for it though. Back in the '70's when 5 minute araldite first came out, it was supplied with a teflon mixing plate. This was just the right thickness for Abu 6000 drag washers. We weren't fishing for big fish, but we were using light line. This stuff made the drag the smoothest around but we couldn't get much drag pressure.

[aussiebasser]

think i may have seen you in a home made dvd , big barra dam ?

Yep, that was Randall's DVD. Back in the days when there were only a couple of boats on Awoonga.

[sleepygreg]

Jim, you have caught the bug REAL bad. Just dont fall for the trap of the drags being ok as standard....they werent..they were basically crap. Get onto the Erskine site and get the upgrades. We always upgraded our drags....but the rest of the reel....smooth as silk. i think Todd Young won his first national casting championship with an ABU. Its a case of what you want the reel to do!

Greg

[Noelm]

kind of funny how "way back" fish were caught with reels that did not 100KG of drag huh! we seem to have this "thing" for big drag pressures these days.

[reggy]

it`s a bit ironic, but Omoto, who used to make ABU 7000 reels for ABU,now make reels for PENN that are 99% identical to the 7000 inside.