The RECORD reels 1941–1951

During 1939 AB Urfabriken developed four different spinning reels: Record 1500, Record 1600, Record 1700 and Record 1800. The reels shared the same basic construction but differed in size, finish and level of equipment. Göte Borgström took part in the development work himself and tested the reels while fishing, among other places in the Mörrum river.

A total of 25 reels of the four models were made in the first trial series. Göte Borgström packed the reels and travelled to Gothenburg to try to sell them to the wholesaler Paul Berghaus & Co.

The name Paul Berghaus can easily give the impression that Göte went to Gothenburg to meet a person by that name. That was not the case. The founder, Paul Berghaus, had died as early as 21 February 1911, almost thirty years earlier. Paul Berghaus & Co lived on only as a company name.

The person who received Göte Borgström and inspected the new reels was the company's managing director, Hakon Sjödahl.

At that time Paul Berghaus & Co was an established wholesaler selling hardware, firearms, ammunition, sporting goods and fishing tackle, with both market knowledge and a well-developed distribution network.

Hakon Sjödahl examined the new reels and asked how many AB Urfabriken could deliver. Göte replied that the factory could make 5,000 reels over the coming three years.

Sjödahl accepted the deal but set one important condition: the reels sold through Paul Berghaus & Co were not to carry the Record name. Instead they were to be marked and marketed under the company's own brand PEBECO.

The next customer on the list was Wilhelm Denninghoff's purchasing manager. Borgström met purchasing manager Torsten Persson in a hotel room in Gothenburg. Persson asked how many reels AB Urfabriken could deliver. Borgström went for 15,000 reels the first year and 25,000 reels over the following two years.

Persson suggested that Denninghoff would buy 10,000 reels the first year and 15,000 reels over the following two years, on one condition: Denninghoff would have exclusive rights to the reels. Since the factory needed the order to survive, Borgström agreed to the deal. AB Urfabriken was allowed to sell a very small edition without the W.D countermark.

The first reels were delivered during the autumn of 1940. Both companies ran large advertising campaigns for their reels in the spring of 1941.

In 1941 the range was extended with a cheaper reel, the Record 1400.

In 1942 the range was extended with the Record 1550, the Record 2000 and the Precision fly reel.

Record 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700 and 1800 all have MADE IN SWEDEN engraved on the crank side during the years 1939–1943.

All reels have a toffee-coloured crank and a colourless agate stone in the bearing cup during their first years. The shade of the crank can vary.

The Record 1700 got a white handle in 1942 and the 1800 a yellow one.

In 1943 the contract with Wilhelm Denninghoff expired.

In 1943 the MADE IN SWEDEN marking was moved to the foot of the reel. Model A was printed on the reels and a new, lighter spool was fitted.

The reels now received coloured agate stones: Record 1500 and 1550 got cheaper agatine stones, while the Record 2000 got a genuine ruby.

A very rare Record Super 2500 with white spacers. According to my research this reel was a so-called bonus reel — dealers who sold particularly many reels received one as an exclusive gift.

This reel was never sold by ABU — over the years many special reels have been produced.

Royal warrant stamp on the non-crank side. Riveted foot and MADE IN SWEDEN under the foot. Serial number 2133 stamped under the foot.