DAM or The Deutsche Angelgeräte Manufaktur was founded by a pair of German brothers (Oskar and Fritz Ziegenspeck) in 1875 as a Berlin-based ironmongery, sport and fishing tackle company in 1875. The company survived both World Wars to become Europe's top fishing brand when they relocated to Gunzenhausen in the 1950s. It took the name D.A.M. in 1902 and became the German tackle company. The factory was destroyed during the war, but the company was rebuilt in 1955 in Gunzenhausen.(Gunzenhausen is a town in the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the river Altmühl, 19 kilometres northwest of Weißenburg in Bayern, and 45 kilometres southwest of Nuremberg. Gunzenhausen is a nationally recognized recreation area.) More later..............
Here are some interesting facts about some of the Reels after 1937
Here is pretty much EVERYTHING you could want on Dam Reel History from Roland Lindenbergh from Holland
He gave us permission to post here .
Here is his website and he has excellent pictures of some of his collection .
http://home.kpn.nl/roland.lindenberh/index.htmlNice guy,Collector in Holland and quite a source of knowledge on these .
History
The history of the Quick Standard spinning reel (according to D.A.M. ‘the oldest German spinning reel’) began as far back as 1937 with the introduction of the first prototype of the ‘Quick-Rolle’ (Quick reel). This prototype is not marked with a brand name and the housing is made from a solid piece of metal.
In 1939 the first production model of the Quick reel (catalogue number 15) appeared with a housing made of cast aluminium. On the side cover of the housing it has the marking ‘Stationär Rolle Quick D.A.M. Berlin SW68’ in relief lettering. Just as the 1937 prototype, this reel has a half bail and does not incorporate an anti-reverse system. The Second World War brought an end to the production of this reel in 1943.
At the end of 1948 D.A.M. resumed the production of reels and introduced the ‘Quick model 49’ (catalogue number 250) in spring 1949. This reel also doesn’t incorporate an anti-reverse system, but it has a full bail arm (according to D.A.M. ‘The first German reel with the really perfect automatic line pick-up.’). In 1950 D.A.M. released a version of this reel with a manual pick-up which was named Quicki model 50 (catalogue number 251).
In 1950 the Quick model 50/51 was introduced with a full bail and for the first time an anti-reverse clutch. With the introduction of the Quick Junior reel in 1951 D.A.M. introduced the name ‘Quick Standard‘ (first used in an ad in a German magazine from December 1951 called ‘Die Fischwaid’). The Quick reel thus became the Quick Standard № 250 (which had been the catalogue number since 1949).
In 1954 the Quick Standard model 54 (catalogue number 250/A) was introduced. This model has the marking ‘Stationär Rolle Quick Standard D.A.M. Berlin SW68’ in relief lettering on the side cover. The last version of the Quick Standard reel was produced in 1956. This reel is a variation of the Quick Standard № 250/A with a plastic brake nut.
For a collector it is interesting to see the development of the Quick Standard reel from the first prototype in 1937, to the last version in 1956.
In November 1956 the Quick Standard was succeeded by the Quick Finessa 280, which was followed by the Quick Finessa 285 in 1960. The Quick Finessa 285 eventually became the Quick Finessa 330 in 1967. This reel was the basis of the famous Quick Finessa 110-550 series of the sixties.
Models [for pictures scroll down to the section in German]
Of the Quick Standard reel the following models can be distinguished:
1. Quick-Rolle № 15, with half bail, without anti-reverse, Quick marking on side cover (1939-43).
2. Quick model 49 № 250, with full bail, without anti-reverse, Quick marking on side cover (1949).
3. Quicki model 50 № 251, with manual pick-up, without anti-reverse, Quick marking on side cover (1950).
4. Quick model 50/51 № 250, with full bail and anti-reverse, Quick marking on side cover (1950-53).
5. Quick Standard model 54 № 250/A, with full bail and anti-reverse, Quick STANDARD marking on side cover (1954-56).
Quick-O-Mat
Next to these models there is also a Quick-O-Mat № 260. Unlike what many collectors believe the Quick-O-Mat is not a separate reel model. The Quick-O-Mat is a side cover for a Quick Standard reel with a built inn line counter. The line counter can be used for measuring the water depth or the casting distance. The Quick-O-Mat was introduced by D.A.M. in 1954 and was produced with a line counter in meters or in yards (the latter for export purposes). It was available together with a DAM Quick Standard reel, model 54 (with the catalogue number 250/B), or as a separate part (catalogue number 260). All Quick Standard reels from 1951 or later can be equipped with a Quick-O-Mat.
Variations
The Quick Standard models have many different variations (see list below). There are differences in housings, flanges, spools, bail arms, brake nuts, crank arms and handle grips. There are also less significant differences in details. Especially between 1950 and 1954 there are many differences and variations. For the collector with an eye for details this can be quite interesting.
Keep in mind that during their existence Quick Standard reels can have been altered by fishermen and collectors (and also by those people who are only interested in making a profit!). As all parts are interchangeable, this is relatively easy to do. Knowing this it’s sometimes difficult to establish if a reel is 100% original.
Serial numbers
Since 1952 all Quick Standard reels were produced with an on-going serial number stamped in the reel foot (the older models had no stamped serial numbers). Because there is coherence between the development of the different models and variations of the Quick Standard reels and the serial numbers, it is possible to establish the year in which the reel was produced (and consequently what it’s supposed to look like!). The lowest stamped serial number I’ve seen is 01 041 (010041) on a model № 250 from 1952, and the highest is 092188 on a model № 250/A from 1956. The serial numbers from 100000 on were used by D.A.M. for the Quick Finessa 280 (the succeeding model of the Quick Standard).
Information requested
• The highest serial number on a Quick Standard reel known to me is 092188. Does anyone have a Quick Standard reel with a higher serial number?
MUCH MUCH MUCH MORE on These can be found on Mr. LINDENBERGH's WEBSITE
http://home.kpn.nl/roland.lindenberh/index.html