know what it is but can not find info on it * zebco model 444 WL open faced spinning

[ivan salis]

made in japan --trying to find out how old it is --rough value --its in very nice shape seems well built too --metal body --not the el cheapo plastic like modern reels

 

[BosnMate]

photo?

 

[Roger Mn.]

It's probably a closed face and missing cover.
Look for threads were cap or closed face would screw on to.

 

[ivan salis]

NO ITS A OPEN FACED TYPE SPINNING REEL with the drag adjustment knob in front * ITS MARKED "zebco 444 WL" on both sides of the body ( it made of die cast metal) with a aluminum type spool --its got" made in japan" on the foot where it would attach to a rod * it is rated for 10 lb test --seems to be very well made and is in good shape --zebco is known for closed faced reels --this one is odd its open faced type spinning and is made of die cast metal and was made in japan to boot. --can't find any info online about it either. hum

there is a zebco 444 listed but its a under the rod trigger type closed face reel --100% totally different than the normal looking open faced spinner type zebco 444 WL that I got

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

take a picture it will help us.

 

[Roger Mn.]

You can Email zebco or call them.

Zebco. . .America's Favorite Fishing Reels

 

[ivan salis]

I called zebco * the gal there could not ID it or tell me squat--she refered me to karltwhite.com --a big time fishing gear expert --I left a message at his website for him

 

[turtlefoot13]

I would really love to see a pic of it. Abu made a "444 Spinning Reel".

Doug

 

[Roger Mn.]

I would really love to see a pic of it. Abu made a "444 Spinning Reel".

Doug

Thanks Doug and here it is.

 

[Gold Maven]

That looks like an old timer, probably somewhat rare if info. is hard to find. GL

 

[Red James Cash]

I looked around ivan,couldnt really find any info on it.The closest I came was a zebco 404.Kind of funny,I have a reel a that I cant find any info on too.

 

[ivan salis]

for a time Zebco was very slip shod about "record keeping" so there are gaps in their "history" of reel making

 

[Roger Mn.]

for a time Zebco was very slip shod about "record keeping" so there are gaps in their "history" of reel making

So ivan salis do you have this reel to post a pic or is it just a memory.

 

[ivan salis]

I'll try to get the wife to photo it and post it soon-- I have it "in hand" --its all metal body type -open faced spinning type reel * made in japan ---seems solidly made --I 'm thinking 1980ish era

 

[Sentrom]

 

[Sentrom]

Zebco model 444

 

[releventchair]

Eventually Abu and Zebco had reels made in Japan sporting the Cardinal name on open faces.

 

[ivan salis]

the photo of the one 444 model (above) is the "under rod" trigger type "closed face" model * -- mine is designed like a typical modern type under rod type "open faced" spinning reel is --so its 100% totally different looking -- when you attempt to look up "zebco 444 WL" that closed faced style 444 shows up sadly its the completely wrong one.--even went soi far as calling zebco * themselves they passed me on to a big time tackle expert (karltwhite.com)-- left him as message at his website but no reply...yet.

 

[clovis97]

Ivan,

You are going to think I'm making this up, but I had a Zebco 444 open face at one time. I couldn't find anything about it either. Mine came out of an estate auction, and I sold it at a flea market.

Wow...that was almost 10 years ago. I haven't ever seen another one like it, but I don't fish, and I don't buy many rods/reels any more.

I grew up with 202, 404, and the 33. At the time I had it, I remember thinking "I didn't know that Zebco made open face reels".

 

[Silver Searcher]

It sounds like the ABU Cardinal 444, Much like the "Garcia" branding in States for the Ambassadeur range of reels, the Cardinal range of ABU reels was imported into states by Zebco and carries with it the brand of its distributor.