This topic has always fascinated me as it is always been human nature for some to try to strive for improvement over the last known mark, be it in production or performance ...even when the the present results are good. Companies can do this and individuals also...and for vastly differing reasons!
This is not the modern business model where one keeps lifting performance targets to attain the level where the key resources fail and then come back a notch! Rather it is one of doing it for pride sake, making a better pin so to speak.
This Customization process, I see has been been both organizational and personal in nature. Hey even I have plans to modify/ build a 24kt Gold Ambassadeur of my own , for purely aesthetic reasons! (See below)
I have recently had created my own personal custom painted set of ABU plastic plugs of all types except the Rakan , viz Killer ,Hilo, Snoky, Cello , Kynoch. These beautiful hand sprayed creations are to be seen here and were created by my friend Darcy Menchin who himself is one of Australia's premier wooden lure designer and creators. His creations are varied and works of art which both catch fish and deserve to be preserved in collections. His works fetch from $15 to $100 per items depending on size/colour and time to carve/finish.
Details of his small personal workshop/business are linked here.
(A spare Rakan is still missing , very much needed, and I would love to find one to paint up for my custom display).
My personal indulgence of a created
24 kt gilded 4 screw Ambassadeur 5000
is below
I am already working on my 24kt Gold Collection of Classic ABU lures
My own original set of 6600C , 5600C, 4600C Ambassadeurs can be seen here with my 'spare' set of Custom refinished Champagne Gold models.
My friend Joel from USA loves the 4500 size reel and has created a number of his own personal Ambassadeurs for his own pleasure.
Jerry from Hookless Custom Ambassadeur Reel Building USA also creates awesome modfied Ambassadeur reels, likewise Jay Parker from Australia and I'm sure no doubt thousands of other who tinker.
Jerry has made me a set of three Camo Ambassadeurs. The two factory originals are 6500 C and 5500 C whilst the 4500 C is "created" from with standard camo reel end plates mounted on a 4500 C size frame. neat and not for all but the ways a fan can personalize are endless and really limited only by ones imagination. Nice one, or should I say 3, Jerry!
Watch out for the frauds who try to pass off on E-Bay, reels that seem to be unique or one-off and attempt to sell the same for a handsome profit as an original ABU creation ! Gold 5500 Ambassadeurs have been target of this technique in recent years.
Ask for advice from knowledgeable friends before bidding or investing, especially if unsure of the seller! I have been tricked too!
This is different if the modification is acknowledged and the seller is testing the water for a buyer for his creative endeavours.
It is the only one-off reel I have parted with ever, to a friend in Germany who has been lusting after it since he visited me 2 years ago. In exchange he brokered a deal on a mint teak-boxed Black and gold 1600 size Morrum MM Ambasssadeur. (to appear here soon)
On an organizational level, ABU has been involved in this process since the beginning, it really was part of their Research and Development program. Contented staff were happy to test the products on the beautiful Morrum River. Things tested here ranged from rods, reels and lures. Some lucky collectors have been able to collect such prototypes which never reached the mass production stage. Hey I'd like to be a chocolate tester at Cadbury's too! We saw national pride in International Casting competition, sated by the in house specialized production of the combo casting rod and reel , which would eclipse all other nations. This was made in limited numbers and given or sold (I do not know which) to deserving and upcoming Swedish Tournament Casters. More recently they have released some special events reels.
Tournament Casting
Dave Brown of the UK is paramount among these talented engineers. I hope to talk more with Pete Coogan, in future on his significant role in the continuing development of ABU reels. More details on Dave's special skills are linked here.
Dave Brown's special piece on the history of UK ABU CT type beach casting reels is here.
Tournament Casting efforts, where today casts of more than 200m are commonplace, sees most work in this area taken over by the mag reels from the 80's. Specialized changes, (above) see these reel re-built to be strong enough to withstand the huge pressures placed upon them when asked to cast 8oz leads with heavy shock leaders in beach casting, whether it be to get the bait out over the surf breakers, or to win a competition of distance alone.
Moving on in time, we see other companies come into this market. Notably Japan, not only were special reels made for this most affluent of markets peaking in the 90's , but we saw the development of other Tuning Companies which took an otherwise superb product like the Morrum series of reels and fine tuned it to even great refinement.
Pure fishing have just released the 911 Series commemorating the bravery of Police and Fireman who gave their lives helping others!
I know of Simon Shimomura's operation which is officially sanctioned and licenced by Pure Fishing to produce/reproduce their superb range of faithfully authentic and re-engineered Classic Ambassadeurs , spare parts for these classic as well as the fabulous books of course.
I also know of other lesser operations where it is unsure if the new product created is warranted by Pure Fishing. I am seeking clarification on this. Be careful of your purchases, even if the reel is very expensive and seeming new and better than ABU made them! I have heard horror stories of incorrect fitting /removal of bearings, almost correct alignments, but generally not he real deal, most certainly without the 10 year warranty that ABU once placed upon its reels.
Anyone who wishes to add more detail here please feel free to place your helpful news which will be acknowledged here.