Bearings Revo

Bearings Revo

Abu Garcia

Early history

The factory in Svngsta where there still is production. Photo taken from the north.

Still one of the most recognizable names in fishing technology, A B Urfabriken began at a factory located near the Mrrum River, in Blekinge, Sweden. The company, founded in 1921, originally manufactured watches, telephone timers and taximeters. However, the founder's son, Gte Borgstrm, a fishing enthusiast, soon redirected its focus towards fishing reels during World War II, when demand for those products grew scarce. The reigning outdoor sports participant distributing and manufacturing firm THE GARCIA CORPORATION USA 1947-1978 was the largest fishing tackle company of its time, formerly known under the earlier name Charles Garcia & Company New York. The Garcia Corporation started importing and marketing ABU's many reels in the 1950s, including the famous Ambassadeur reels. Garcia was already the leader in fishing tackle importing and distributing, marketing the famous Mitchell 300 spinning reel from France since 1947. Garcia Tackle Company 1979-1980 was a short-lived partnership between ABU and MITCHELL S.A. of France and in 1980, ABU AB acquired New Jersey based Garcia Tackle Company and changed their name to Abu Garcia. Mitchell S.A. would go their own way, but the two brands would join together again under the Pure Fishing banner only again to be sold to the Jarden Corporation in 2007.

Modern developments

A pair of ABU reels from the late 1960s, the smaller is the Cardinal 33, the larger is the Cardinal, 66, and the Swedish royal coat of arms can be seen clearly

ABU Garcia introduced a series of fishing reels and related products in the early 1950s. The Swedish-built ABU 444, the company's first spinning reel, was introduced in 1955, followed in 1965 by the first model of the Cardinal series of spinning reels.

Beginning in 1957, the company also became known for its advanced spin cast reels (Abumatic) featuring several engineering innovations such as level-wind mechanisms (oscillating spools), under-rod spin cast reel designs (the Abu 500 series) and improved drags for fighting larger gamefish. The famous Ambassadeur series of bait casting reels, which utilized advanced metal alloys, ball-bearing friction interfaces, and precisely-cut gears, was introduced at the New York World's Fair in 1964, and subsequent Ambassadeur models are still produced by the company.

The professional angler Paul Gustafson worked for seven years as chief angling consultant for ABU Garcia.

Today they still make ambassadeur's along with a new model called a revo which is another version of the ambassadeur.

Collections

This section requires expansion.

There are collectors of ABU equipment.

ABU Garcia Collectors from all around the world choose to buy, sell and exchange rare items on popular auction sites such as eBay.com and Tradera.com (Swedish). Rare items can fetch thousands of dollars. Specialist sites exist to aid finding these items such as Auction Angler.

Publications that aid the collector of ABU Garcia merchandise include 'The Ambassadeur and I' and its sequel 'The Ambassadeur and I Final Chapter' both by Simon Shimomura. There is also a book titled 'Vintage Fishing Reels of Sweden' by Daniel Skupien that contains a large amount of valuable information on ABU Garcia fishing tackle.

See also

Fishing reel

Notes

^ "Vintage Fishing Reels of Sweden by Daniel Skupien". Reel's Reels. http://www.realsreels.com/links/danielskupien.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-29. "...of A.B.Urfabriken products since its beginnings as a watch making company in the 1920's." 

^ "Record and ABU Accessories". Reel's Reels. http://www.realsreels.com/accessories/default.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-29. 

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I'm looking to buy a new baitcaster...suggestions?

To those of you who remember my question line, I've gone off and on with using baitcasters.

Are there any with a magnetic breaking system to prevent backlash? If there are, please suggest those.

I'm looking at some Abu Garcia ambassadeurs, under 120 bucks and have good reputations. C3 and C4 specifically. Also, the abu garcia Revo series...

Lastly, can someone explain ball bearings and gear ratios? thanks.

Round or low profile is fine.
Whats with the ambassadeur BCX? I've heard that it's low quality.
Whats with the ambassadeur BCX? I've heard that it's low quality.

Like others have said, most of your low-profile reels have better magnetic casting controls. Low-profile reels are also "easier" on your hands and come in a variety of gear ratio's.

Whats the deal with gear ratio's & ball bearings?

Ball bearings? In the "old days" (25 yrs ago), how many ball bearings in any given reel , (spinning AND BCing), would usually determine how SMOOTH and long lasting the reel was. In those days, if you had a reel with 3-4 ball bearings it meant you had a fantastic reel.

Today, HOW MANY ball bearings isn't nearly AS important as how well-built the bearings are.

About 15 years ago, "certain" reel manufacturer's started adding tons of bearings to their reels in hopes of luring fishermen to purchase their reels. Ironically, company's like Shimano, Daiwa, Abu Garcia, Etc didn't HAVE to add many more bearings to their products because the bearings they ALREADY were using were more than sufficient, (and of better quality).

In this day and age, (with all the high tech designs & metallurgy), if your purchasing a reel in the $100 plus realm you don't really need to worry about "bearings". "Bearings" have become a "selling point" for the uninformed.

For example? Shimano Citica E only has 3 Ball bearings, (and 1 roller bearing). Those 3 bearings are GOOD bearings! You don't NEED 12 bearings in a reel for it to be super smooth or work well- unless your initial reel design is total crap!

In other words, don't worry about bearings, (esp if your spending over $100 on a reel). If your budget was (say) $30, maybe THEN counting bearings might come into play..........otherwise...

Gear ratio?

Simply put- the higher the "numbers" the quicker the retrieve rate of your line. The highest (and fastest) reel gear ratio is 7:1:1 and the slowest would be a 3:8:1. Very few reel company's are making super slow ratio's like a 3:8:1, (esp for light-tackle/Bass fishing), now-a-days.

Why would one need or want a "slower" retrieve rate?

#1. When fishing for BIG fish a slower ratio helps you fight fish better- your lower ratio helps you "winch in" the fish MUCH easier.

#2. A lower gear-ratioed reel generally has a "stronger" drag and the drag system will (95% of the time) last much LONGER than a higher ratioed reel. That is why you see many of your Inshore and Offshore conventional reels have low gear ratio's.

Generally, low ratio reels are deemed "powerful".

So, WHY would you WANT a high ratio reel? Esp for Bass/Pike fishing?

#1. Lures- Lures have CHANGED dramatically in the last 25-30 years. Today, there are a VAST array of "reaction strike" lures we use as fishermen that we didn't HAVE back in the "old days". Most of those lures work MUCH better with a higher rate of retrieve. Why not just "speed up" your retrieve on your older 5:2:1 or 3:8:1 reels?

Have you ever tried to "burn" a Spinnerbait, Buzzbait, Crankbait with a low ratio reel? It's a nightmare!

#2. Playing "catch-up" with fish swimming TO the boat- How many times have we "barely" hooked a monster fish only to have the guy swim directly AT us and end up losing him at the boat? A higher ratio reel helps to eliminate the frustration of "playing catch-up" and losing fish.

#3. Hookset's- A faster ratio helps you drive the hook home easier.

In my opinion, unless you intend to do quite a bit of "deep cranking" in waters deeper than 18Ft forgo purchasing any "Bass reel" that has a ratio lower than 6:2:1. (All my Bass Tourney outfit's are 6:3:1 or better.)

I own C-3's and C-4's and they are generally used for Big Pike & Musky fishing AND when I go to Florida to fish for Trophy Bass using 8-10" Shiners. As far as I'm concerned, "round style" reels really don't have a place in an arsenal for "everyday" Bass fishing. Low-profile reels are MUCH easier to cast and "palm" than ANY round-style reel. Plus, low-profiles have much better magnetic casting controls, (allowing for "finesse" fishing with super-light lures if need be). Try CASTING a 7" weightless worm in the wind with a C-3...(lol)!

The BCX is a "pseudo" Abu crafted from Chinese parts. (I'm not sure if it's also "made in China".)

The way I look at it- If your gonna spend $50 on a "questionable" Chinese-made P.O.C. why not spend $30 more and get something more reliable with a solid reputation.

Lastly, I think Backwater's suggestion of a Shimano Citica is right in-line with the Revo.

Thumbs up to Bc.

Hope this helps ya?

Abu Garcia Ambassadeur Revo SX Review