Langley “Lakecast” Model 350

[Bobber Bandit]

Hey, I was digging through some very old buckets and found an old langley lakecast model 350 baitcaster. I have no idea how to work these older baitcaster reels, can anyone help me out with how these open reels work as there is not release button and am unsure how to cast. 
Also anyone familiar with this model knows if it is supposed to have bait clicker going off even when reeling? I haven’t ever seen a baitcaster have a bait clicker drag, I’ve only seen them just quiet; compared to most spinning reels have the drag clicker and I wasn’t sure if this model baitcaster is supposed to click with the line going both out and in direction on spool.

Thank you.

[redmeansdistortion]

This is what we affectionately refer to as a knuckle buster.  There is no clutch or drag, your thumb does it all.  When casting, the handle will be spinning, same thing with fighting an angry fish, hence the knuckle buster term.  Spool it up with braided dacron.  This reel comes from a time before mono and those nylon lines are too springy for the spool.  Modern braid might work, but it is very abrasive and may cut into the line guide.  The clicker in question isn't for drag purposes, but to be used as an alarm when fishing live bait or to simply keep the spool from rotating during storage.  I may be wrong so take what I say with a grain of salt.  @bulldog1935 and @WRB are much more well versed in these old dogs than myself.

[bulldog1935]

Langley has a big fan club because of the light alloy spool. 

A photo to share would be fun. 

I  like the non-level-wind reels made in the ninteen-teens and 20s, especially Meek, Shakespeare, and Talbot. 

If you want to find the historians and collectors of this stuff, visit this website: 

https://reeltalk.orcaonline.org/index.php

[redmeansdistortion]

Here's a Langley Lurecast I got recently, a customer gave it to me when he picked up his reels.  I do plan on using it, just need to clean, lube, and get the proper line.  I'm going to weigh the spool when I get it apart so I can get a feel for how low I can actually go with it.

 

[WRB]

^^^^330 Lurecast^^^^ the reel I learned to bass fish with in the  mid 50’s. Light weight reel 4 1/4 oz.

Langley 340 Target is a free spool without level wind, my 1st reel and changed to the 330 for ease of retrieving lures with a level wind. The Target is amazing casting reel.

The parts that wear are the level wind pawl and worm gear.

The 330 holds 50 yards of 10 lb Dacron line and you can cast 50 yards with this reel using 1/2 oz lures.

The reel is in good condition from the exterior.

Tom

The 350 Lakecast is a wider spool reel that holds 100 yards of 10 lb Dacron line and heavier then the narrow spool models.

The clicker is disengage when casting and like the 330 has a level wind with direct drive handle to the spool and no anti reverse, your thumb does all the breaking. As noted the 350 is a knuckle busted like the 330, only the 340 has a free spool that disengages from the handle.

The clicker is used to make noise and prevent the spool free spinning. The 350 wider spool and heavier design doesn’t cast as good as the 330 & 340.

Tom

[Bobber Bandit]

Here’s some photos, If anyone can point to me what each knob is for id appreciate it! 
So with casting you literally just cast it out no steps needed ?

[bulldog1935]

The button on top is just a clicker that engages a pawl into a caliper spring - it's the closest thing the reel has to a drag brake (use your thumb on the spool). 

The front cap is access to the LW worm gear. 

The bearing (bushing) cap adjusts spool tension, along with the bearing cap on drive side

should be nothing else to it - use your thumb and adjust spool tension. 

If you chase the thread I linked, there's some discussion of soft braided lines.  Green Spot dacron, ice-fishing nylon braids, Gutebrod Meatmaster - all are better choices than mono with these reels. 

[PressuredFishing]

Langley was founded in sandiego ca before being bought out by zebco

[redmeansdistortion]

16 minutes ago, PressuredFishing said:

Langley was founded in sandiego ca before being bought out by zebco

Yep, Zebco wanted them so they could enter the spinning reel market.  It kind of makes you wonder what the reels would've evolved into had Zebco left the baitcast reels intact.

[Bobber Bandit]

3 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

The button on top is just a clicker that engages a pawl into a caliper spring - it's the closest thing the reel has to a drag brake (use your thumb on the spool). 

The front cap is access to the LW worm gear. 

The bearing (bushing) cap adjusts spool tension, along with the bearing cap on drive side

should be nothing else to it - use your thumb and adjust spool tension. 

If you chase the thread I linked, there's some discussion of soft braided lines.  Green Spot dacron, ice-fishing nylon braids, Gutebrod Meatmaster - all are better choices than mono with these reels. 

I’m sorry they came out so blurry, it was causing an issue uploading the photos. I appreciate it bulldog! 
Last question, anything I need to do differently when I open and oil her up to get it back out on the water?

[bulldog1935]

Since the drive turns during cast, most grease is too stiff. 

Best idea is to oil both gears and bushings. 

[PressuredFishing]

5 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

 It kind of makes you wonder what the reels would've evolved into had Zebco left the baitcast reels intact.

Yeah, I got two from an older man that did alot of fishing but had no use for them, i hung them up on my wall in my room, it came with boxes manuals and a tool. 

[Linewinder]

On 7/10/2022 at 8:50 PM, bulldog1935 said:

Since the drive turns during cast, most grease is too stiff. 

Best idea is to oil both gears and bushings. 

 

Will modern reel oil be good or did these reels use a heavier weight?

[bulldog1935]

@Linewinder

Something like Phil Tenacious will stay on the gears a long time. 

Lower viscosity reel oil will need more frequent application.  If you chase my old reference, Meek, Talbot and Jack Welch Heddon benchmade reels all had ports to oil both spool bushings and main gear for daily use. 

You can also see the main gear oil port on the Meek #30 LW in my earlier post. 

It's also the only Marhoff-copy LW that will cast distance with the earlier NLW reels. 

[WRB]

On 7/10/2022 at 9:09 PM, PressuredFishing said:

Yeah, I got two from an older man that did alot of fishing but had no use for them, i hung them up on my wall in my room, it came with boxes manuals and a tool. 

Zebco started Quantum reels after having Abu Sweden build the Cardinal series spinning reels with rear drag.

Jason Lucas was a Langley reel fan and wrote to me when Zebco bought Langley suggesting to purchase spare reel parts from Bumble Bee tackle in San Diego who had Langley inventory. I bought enough parts to make up 2 complete new reels.

Tom

 

[PressuredFishing]

22 minutes ago, WRB said:

Zebco started Quantum reels after having Abu Sweden build the Cardinal series spinning reels with rear drag.

Jason Lucas was a Langley reel fan and wrote to me when Zebco bought Langley suggesting to purchase spare reel parts from Bumble Bee tackle in San Diego who had Langley inventory. I bought enough parts to make up 2 complete new reels.

Tom

 

That's epic, you where around back then? What was the fishing culture like that long ago equiptment wise, would love to hear the full scoop!