A Much Overlooked Reel of the Past in my Opinion is this 981 .
Possibly the LAST WELL BUILT REEL by the Company in that it has  the Fine Quality OCEAN CITY WAS FAMOUS FOR .

Such as except for the Drag Metals the Guts are ALL STAINLESS STEEL!!!
Even has the Felt inserts in the end Caps to hold Oil . Bridge Guts Plate is held with a C-Clip instead of the swivel retainer with set Screw . The Spool is Fluted to use the Mono Lines that would normally blow out the sides when stressed .



It is in the cleaner right now .
Will reassemble with Carbon Tex Drags and post pix.

 After a 24 Hour Dip in  the Sauce


NEW CARBON TEX DRAGS


This is the start of Ocean City's save a  Dime era
where they started skimping on stuff like leaving out the Check valves on the oilers and soon to  use TRUE TEMPER STICKERS instead of Embossing or using the Quality Metal Name  Plates Pinned in the side plates
 NOTICE there is NO Spring Loaded Deal in the Oil Hole


JUST CHEEEEEP !


Ready to go another 60 Years !





The 981e is the same Reel except for the Spool is Aluminum and has a Cheap Ass Sticker on the plate instal of Embossed or a Metal Tag. CHHHHHHEEEEEEEP.
(The 981 above weighs 13.82 0unces with it's Chromed Metal Spool and the e with an aluminum spool weighs 12.43 ounces .

Here is a direct Link


                              DIRECT LINK CLICK HERE

Henry, thanks for all the great insights on this.  Are you able to share any insights you might have on the approximate years that this transition from Great to Inferior occurred? 

Thanks!!  Great post, appreciate it.

It is difficult to say but when they started making changes and putting New & Improved  in their ads that  meant NEW Maybe but CHEAPER COMPONENT QUALITY .
So in the 60's I think they were Gasping For Air in the OCEAN of REEL MANUFACTURING
  It is clear to me now that PENN made better Quality and Cheaper priced Reels thus contributing to the Demise of old OCEAN CITY Company  plus OCEAN CITY buying out so many other reel companies in the past along with MONTAGUE it just was too much .

Completely Refurbished Ambassadeur 5500 C
This was stripped down to the Gunnels and  ALL Parts  Cleaned, Polished, Lubed and Greased to better than New Condition.
All Corrosion removed ,NEW CARBON TEX DRAGS , Replaced  outer  Spool Bearing . Has New 12 pound Test Mono.
This thing is Smooth as it can be and has a much Higher Drag Rating Now  than factory with the NEW CARBON TEX ones installed .
The Serial Number 89-0  90-91 on Foot according to info makes this Manufactured over 30 years ago !
It has some boat rash but for over 30 years not that bad ........
 

 Others may sell one Cheaper but they know what their Shit is  Worth



























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