Ambassadeur Reels
IGFA World Records on ABU
I
don't have a huge collection of Ambassadeurs (130
only) at present, but like my friends, l am trying, whilst
enjoying learning something new from new aquaintences every day.
I receive
lots of questions regarding dating of ABU reels. It is a complex
subject and I hope to help here.
Initially
packaging was of little importance for what were arguably the finest
baitcasting reels in the world.
Record
Ambassadeur 6000 (rarer than the red Record 5000)
Thanks to Jon Steinsnes of Norway
Casting is the Issue to
Master
I strongly suggest that the 4
books listed in my
links page
by Len Borgstom, Simon Shimomura and Daniel Skupien are absolutely
essential to the study and appreciation of these fine reels. They
are very definitely the Universe when it comes to matters ABU.
Unlike a Penthouse which we all know are mainly bought for the
literary articles, buy these (don't loan from a library or photocopy
a friends) as coffee table books at least! I have even found my wife
having a sneek peek and even commenting on the beautiful reels.
The
Classic 70's Ambassadeur Range
Who would
not love to have some beautiful mint treasures like these kind
shared by Gerald Garrett from Texas?
Ambassadeur 10 000 C
and 7000 mint (original packaging from early 70's)
The
world of casting reels or multipliers as we know them in
Australia, changed forever after 1952, with the creation of
the Ambassadeur.
To my
mind, based upon fishing experience, any of the classic
Ambassadeur family of reels is all one needs to be a totally
satisfied fisherman. A perfect reel that maintained and used
correctly teach us a lot about ourselves, as I remarked to
Len Borgstom.
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They make us recognize our own failures (in technique,
maintenance regimes or choice of balanced tackle) and
therefore we grow when we learn to accept our shortcomings
and adapt to change. My world has changed considerably
because of ABU and it's Ambassadeurs.
ABU Ambassadeur 5000 4 Screw
circa late 50's
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Thankyou
Len, Gote, Carl and all the past designers and team in
Svangsta SWEDEN in general.
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Whilst
not technically badged as an original Ambassadeur, I will
always see the Morrum family of reels as merely an
extension of the old bloodlines. Long may they be crafted in
Sweden. So important as an evolution of the Ambassadeur for
me, I have granted it pride of place on the top right of
every page of this site, along with the Admiral soon
to appear floating bottom left and the 70's Ambassadeur of
Sweden fixed top left. This 7700 CL, is probably the most
practical of reels for my style of fishing here in Great
Barrier Reef waters where I live. I would love to one day
get the 7700 CT cage version of this reel for my collection.
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The
Morrums were developed
for the Japanese market and reached their pinnacle
here being further "tuned" and developed into not only
magnificent and very unique pieces of fishing technology but
also the most beautiful and artistic of reels.
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Historically we can see the
evolution of the Ambassadeur from the Record casting reels of
1940 on. The most obvious connections came with the introduction of
high tech innovations such as centrifugal braking systems, automatic
free-spool for re-engaging the spool, thumbscrew access for easy
spool changing in the Record 2100 Sport (1945+) and the introduction
of bearing caps which were very simply micro- adjusted in the ABU
3000.
I own
a reproduction model 5000 SG
boxed with
Morrum and released in 2002 as
the 50th Anniversary of this 5000 SG reel's release. This is
probably the only way I'm to own this mint magnificient signpost
reel among reels!
The
Ambassadeur 5000 Manual Pages
0/1,
2/3,
4/5,
6/7,
8/9,
10/11,
12/13,
14/15,
16/17,
18/19,
20/21,
22/23,
24/25,
26/27,
28/29,
30/31,
32/33,
34/35,
36/37,
38/39,
40/41, 42/43, 44/45, 46/47, 48/49
ABU utilized the fishing cababilities of
champions to promote their reels!
THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF THE 5000
by good friend
Mikael Risberg
A combination of many factors,
including the economic boom after the end of WW2, the high quality
and innovative design and construction techniques, along with the
growth of the
Sportfishing movement, saw
the booming sales of the Ambassadeur series around the world but
undoubtedly the USA popularity assured its place in history.
Like a Ferrari, to many, the
colour of an Ambassadeur should always be
red. It was predominantly found sporting this hue, but
black, green and even annodized gold was produced for this first
model. For many it will always be the
ultimate
reel. Part
1,
2
For me the 7000 fits this bill. See
cut-away view
Where does one start to discuss
variations in the Ambassadeur reels? Sidepate colours/engraving/foil
label stickers? Handles? Nuts and bolts? Models, capacities of
spools? 4screw V 3screw? Bearing Caps, Plain/Agate?
Prototypes/Packaging/Cases? Accessories? Gear Ratios? Commemoratives
Delux CDL's? Export models? and so on.........
Close up views of parts of the
Best Reel (Ambassadeur) in the World:
Part1,
Part 2,
Part 3,
Part 4
Parts ordering numbers
view 1,
view2
Other major Ambassadeur models included in my
fishing armoury and collection.
The standard Models
First Ambassadeur
5000 (detailed above) ,
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
I also have collected the 1500, 2500, 3500
,4500, 5500, 6500 , 8500 . Still looking for a 7800!
other little beauties are the
tiny Red Record-like 1750, 1750A, 2000, 2050, 2500, 2600, 2650
Og couse there are the myriad of
tear drop shaped reels and the other modern low profile reels like
Revo's!
UPDATE from my friend Lonnie mills USA
Hi
Wayne,
For your review and
records, I have attached a pic of an Ambassadeur 5000 I have in my
collection with GREEN side plates. My good friend, Simon Shimomura,
provided me with the lead to the person that owned the reel and we
made a deal. Simon told me that shortly after buying out Record, Abu
made (not produced) some 5000 reels with red, champagne, green and
black side plates and distributed them to select houses in an effort
to determine which color would be the most marketable. As we now
know, they chose the color red for the side plates and the rest is
history.
Back to my green 5000.
After personally inspecting the reel, Simon could not absolutely say
for sure the green anodizing was original but did say it was
definitely professionally done. Could it be ?????? I will think so
until proven differently, what say you??
The second pic (front view) is actually
closer to the actual color of the plates. Condition of the reel is a
9.5.
Cheers,
Lonnie
Rare
Champagne Ambassadeur 5500 and box marked G for gold!
'Why have one when two are twice as
nice?"
"From The Collection Of Lonnie Mills,
USA"
The photographs are just stunning
and let's face folks that's the only way most of us are ever going
to enjoy many of the these classics....not to mention the
prototypes... ..ah a quick flight to Svangsta, Sweden to the Museum
to drool?