Ocean City “Everything But Reels”

This page will be devoted to all the cool go-with items associated with Ocean City that are not fishing reels. They sold other items and some will be shown below.

In the 1950’s Ocean City sold complete fishing kits and they were marketed for kids. They were sold in attractive blue cardboard boxes or clear plastic cases. The boxes are marked Ocean City – Toy Division. Below are several examples.

This neat gift box is still a mystery. It’s from a time when Ocean City Mfg. Co. was not producing reels and hard at work manufacturing goods for the war. I’ve searched magazine ads and have come up with nothing about the contest or what could have been in the box. If someone can share any information please contact us and let us know. Thanks! – Update – I did get an email from someone who has one of these boxes full of reel slick products but no paperwork has been found to confirm if that’s the correct contents or not. I still want to hear from you if you can help!

These replacement handles could be purchased for Ocean City Big Game reels. The handle shape was more True Temper era and are very high quality. The one with the handle is marked 22A, presumably the part number of the complete handle. These date some where around 1960. Click on the pics to enlarge.

This Anti-Backlash attachment is quite rare. If it was installed on a reel you probably wouldn’t even know it since it looks like a standard bearing cap. This one was found in its original container with instructions. The ad below is from the 1953 catalog. Click on the pics to enlarge.

Ocean City offered several repair kits for fresh or saltwater. This No.790 was put together for their fresh water bait casting line. Click on the pics to enlarge.

These utility scales were found in tackle boxes all over American. Ocean City bought this design from Meisselbach (that is presumed) and has changed the design a bit over the years to using a plastic red handle.  The pic with the 2 scales shows an earlier all metal design. The ad is from 1953. Click on the pics to enlarge.

This is a super rare Ocean City No. 731 Sand Spike. This was a new model in 1941 and probably only sold for about 2 years or so until all reel and metal work production ceased because of World War II sometime in late 1942. Like many of the reels, it was not resumed when manufacturing began again in late 1946. Ocean City also sold a model No. 730 sand spike and it was sold from 1931 or earlier to 1942. They look the same in the catalogs and the description is so similar that the only difference I see is that the 730 is brass and chromium plated while the 731 is brass and has a heavy nickel plated finish. The No. 730 sold for $2.00 while the No. 731 was only $1.00 – Which is almost unbelievable because they are such a heavy duty piece of brass and finished so well. Not many have survived but they must have sold a lot since the price was so low and they claimed to have sold over a million reels by 1935. The spike screws on the inside of the tubular holder when not in use for easy storage in a tackle box (pic 3). Click on the smaller pics below to enlarge.

The Ocean City “Starless” Drag control No.795.  The new “Starless” drag came out in 1957 and was named the Sportsman’s Drag control No.795. Ocean City touted it as the “first major improvement on salt water reels in nearly 50 years”.The handle could be purchased as an add on to certain models or purchased already on the reel.

 These money clips are found from time to time and are a really neat go-with item to add to your reel collection. The money clips are a mystery to me as were they sold or just given away as a promotional item?
Printed on the front is the slogan “Ocean City – Best In Fishing Reels” and on the back – “Ocean City Reels – Montague Rods – world leaders in rods and reels”. Below are 2 money clips, pics provided by ORCA member Doug Whittingham. He found one in its original box and as you can see its marked with the retailers name the clip was distributed from.

This heavy saltwater fishing Jig / trolling spoon was found with the tag intact. The tag is marked E. M. Co. Sample No. 203L2. This was part of the Pflueger archives and is dated – 2/26/31 – Rec’d from The Folsom Arms Co. but the Manufacture is the Ocean City MFG. Co. – a very neat piece of history. Click on the pics to enlarge.

Ocean City sold lures as well as their reels. All the lures I’ve seen are all metal lures which makes perfect sense since they were master metal workers. Below is a super rare display in its original box and 12 lures still intact. What a beautiful display from the late 1950’s. Click on the pics to enlarge.

Ocean city had a full page of spinning lures in their 1957 catalog that you could buy separately. In 1958 you could buy an assortment of 4 called the famous four that came in a convenient plastic carry case. The ad is from 1958. Click on the pics to enlarge.

Although not manufactured by Ocean City – This neat little fly rod lure is marked “Made expressly for” “Ocean City MFG. Co.” then JAPAN at the bottom. It probably dates from the late 1950’s.