Need info on a new-to-me Reel

[Charon76]

I recently received this Shimano BGX 2200 SG reel.  It is a great reel to cast.  I really enjoy the ability to back reel like some of my spinning reels.

 

I would like to know its approximate age and gear ratio.

[MN Fisher]

A little Googling and this is what I could come up with

 

Age - reel was released in 1985 - so about 37 years

Ratio - 6:1 was considered 'High Speed' back then...so probably that or less.

[Reel]

It's funny how backreelers praise the technique when it's about spinning equipment and how backreeling with this kind of reel really never caught on.  

[bulldog1935]

With Lew's BB-1, they went through A/R dogs before one-way roller bearings arrived in the BB-25. 

It was disconcerting when your A/R quit, and tough to land a fish with less than 3 hands. 

I'll agree the first thought of full-time A/R was that it would be inconvenient not to be able to turn it off and wind backwards, but it was never missed in practice - A/R roller bearings were next-level. 

[casts_by_fly]

I learned to cast on basically that reel.  I think it was the next model newer.  This was around 1988 or maybe 1989. I think the gear ratio on mine was 5.1:1 (maybe 5.6:1) but also the spools were smaller than todays spools so actual retrieve was around 24-26”.  Give it a good clean and lube and it’s perfectly fishable.