Super- Lex Modele Depose Made In France

Question
Hi Marc.

I am a follower of your expert comments and indepth explanations about fishing. Wondering if you could help me out here. I intend to buy a vintage Super-Lex Modele Depose fishing reel. It is a side caster made in France. Will be my first of its kind. Would you be able to shed some light over how good this reel is, how I can optimize usage and any information on its make, history and value.

Advance thanks and warmest regards
Alan

Answer
Hi Alan,

I knew nothing about the reel till I started to investigate it for this question.  I did find a couple for sale for less than $20 US which I thought was awfully cheap for something that old.  I couldn't find a date on them but the engineering appears to be possibly 1940's or 1950's.

I do have some experience with sidecasters.  I was testing them for Alvey back in the 1970's when they were considering the US market.  

They are a mainstay with surfcasters in Australia but even after several decades of marketing here in the US, they never got popular.  

As you probably know, the concept is that they rotate forward on the cast and then rotate back for the retrieve.  My Alveys were a direct 1:1 retrieve ratio which I found a little slow for retrieving lures.  The two Super-Lex models that I found on Google had a 1:2.5 gear ratio making it easier to gather line.  

I'm not sure on the diameter of the spool on the Super-Lex.  Even my small Alveys were very large in comparison to normal spinning reels. The typical size #30 gathering guide on common spinning rods were too small.  I built special rods with a larger gathering guide and it helped a lot.  I also added an item called an open runner which is an open guide that is attached right in front of the fore-grip.  You place the line in here during the retrieve and it helps get the line on the reel at a better angle.

It is a unique concept and there is a small but dedicated group using sidecasters throughout the world.  I think you are going to have to try it and see how you like it over a traditional spinning reel.  If not, you have a great conversation and collector piece in the Super-Lex.

Check out Alvey's website for more information on side-casters. www.alveyusa.com

Good fishing!

Marc