Meet the Johnson SABRA Family of Vintage Spin-cast Reels: Part 1

Getting there was only part of the fun. Using the Johnson 160 Guide Accu-cast adds to the fun. But watching the first dragonfly of the season leave its nymph shell on the stem behind as it lets its wings dry in the sun bodes a good omen for the coming season. Its good.

What's in a Name? And a Number.

Johnson Nomenclature

This ad is said to have appeared in an outdoor magazine in 1965. Although it features the Johnson Model 710 spin-cast reel, and as it says, its big brother, the SABRA, the description of what is here called the Shiftamatic is similar to what is referred to as the Power-Shift in literature advertising the Model 150 and 160 Accu-cast models. The verbiage in this ad provides a sense of some of the competitive battles being fought in the reel-wars during this time. 'Backlash is unheard of ' is an important theme aimed directly at bait-casting reels. I hope someone will clarify the chronology of the line-up. I believe these models over-lapped the manufacturer of the 150 and 160 models, but they did not have the Accu-cast feature. Otherwise these reels appear the same.

The ad also raises questions: Colloquial labels are used that may have meant something to Minnesota anglers that are lost on others. The name SABRA means nothing to me although the SABRA model reel was the flagship reel offered by Johnson during this era.

So what does the term SABRA mean? It is not a very common word. It is likely of Hebrew or Jewish or Israeli origin. In Hebrew it is the name of a tough and hardy desert cactus of the same family that Americans know as Prickly Pear. The name came to be a nickname to refere to the new breed of Israeli-born Jews who were idealized in popular Israeli culture between the thirties and seventies. This new generation of Jews were painted out to be the antithesis of the Ghetto Jews who were felt to have allowed their own domination and eradication by Hitler.

Sabra were raised by the kibbutz. They were characterized as being both urban as well as capable of surviving the harsh desert extremes and mixing comfortably with the nomadic Bedoins--sometimes thought to be the remnats of ancient Jews. Sabra were often stereo-typed as versatile, inventive, tough, and native Supermen and Superwomen. 

During the early to mid-sixties with a crescendo during the time shortly after the Famous Six Days War, the term Sabra--surrounding the announcement and production of the Johnson SABRA spin-cast reel--the term and the given name SABRA reached a popular peak. Although it was mostly still confined to Jewish circles, SABRA also came into usage somewhat in general American English slang as being synonomous with such words as new, tough, versatile, and unconquerable. It is fairly obvious from the timing, that this is the meaning SABRA intended as it was applied to the Johnson 710spin-cast reel.

Many consider the SABRA model, which is the same as the GUIDE model less the Accu-cast feature, to be Johnson's crowning spin-cast reel achievement.  While this ad appears directed at beginning fishermen, the 150 and 160 ads are aimed at more experienced fishermen. The reels are virtually the same.

The Automatic Transmission of Fishing Reels

A Sophisticated Double-Drag System

The Johnson SABRA Family of spin-cast reels employed perhaps the most intricate and sophisticated drag system of any fishing reels ever, certainlyof any spin-cast reels.

Johnson used numbers as well as names for their reels. For instance, several reels carried the name Laker model. Of course anyonw who knows Johnson reels recognizes the name Johnson Century 100 and the name Johnson Citation 110 models as the reels that started the spin-cast explosion during the last half of the fifties overlapping the first half of the sixties. This may be one of the first modern examples of setting expectations for products by thematic names as a marketing mthod. Lets face it, for most people a name is more mentally graphic than a mere model number. Of course it what was begun with the Johnson Century and Citation names, became a benchmark for naming Johnson Reels. I get the Johnson Century 100 naming scheme.

The numbers actually did not start here. The numbers began with the earlier, less successful, side-mount Johnson spin-cast reels beginning with 10, then 20, 30, 40 and so on until they reached 80, the last model of the side-mount reels. It must have been mere hap-stance that the revolutionary design that most resembled the spin-cast reels that became popular happened to follow the sequence 1ith 100. It was a bit of marketing genius that made the association with the word Century and the new breed of reels was born. Century could easily imply that it was the greatest invention in a century, or that it would last for a century. Regardless of how planned and solid the name sounded, it was largely owed to chance. But isn't this how many wonderful things come to be? Chance meets action.

Citation was another great C-word that denotes notice and accolades. I can just imagine the brain-storming sessions with crative minds that came up with these names. Once set in motion, it must ahve been an effort in one-ups-manship to name subsequent reel models. I can only assume the Laker name refers to the Great Lakes. Of course this is probably derived from the colloquial terminology of those who worked, lived, and fished near the home base of Johnson reels.

In the locales syrrounding the location of the Johnson reel plant in Mancata, Minnesota, the Laker  reference naturally means the biggest and the toughest--both as it refers to the Lakes themselves and the size and species of the fish that live therein. Freshwater sturgeons are the biggest fresh water fish found in North America. Naturally, a bigger and tougher reel would be thought necessary to catch the big fish of the Great Lakes. The reference may have been lost on anglers outside of the immediate influence of the Great Lakes. But no matter. It was a big name to accompany and further define the number that had been assigned to it.

Bait-cast fishermen's irrational preference for inferior reel designs probably also had roots in savvy old-timers' resistance to change after a lifetime of earning their wings using bait-casting reels, spinning reels, and fly-reels

 The Accucast 160 that I have in front of me is called the GUIDE. It is a SABRA with the Accu-Cast feature added. It was obviously positioned to appeal to experienced fishermen--especially the freshly budded Professional Bass Fishermen as per the B.A.S.S. and the Bassmaster. This one is red and on its side in big red capital letters above the much smaller Model 160 GUIDE appears. I can also only assume the meaning of this title. Could it mean that it is so tough and excellent that it is what a guide would use? Or does it more imply that it is so easy to use that the reel itself  becomes the user's fishing guide?

You choose. But this particular reel also has a bright silver star drag knob on the outside of the crank. (Most other 160 models have a black star knob. The 150 Commander has a knurled drag knob instead of the star knob.) The bell is made of a very light aluminum that I think is cast aluminum. It may be an early example of injection molding manufacturing process. The rear body is made of a plastic that I bet is nylon. Nylon 66 is among the earliest and best plastics to be widely used in consumer products. It has a good track record of endurance.

Nylon 66 has proven over time to be is virtually indestructible material within the bounds of normal use. Exposure to certain chemicals or to prolonged sun-light can discolor and deteriorate it. But for the most part, it has poven itslef over time to wear as well or better than most metals. However, at the time of the reel's manufacture, Nylon was still regarded with a little suspicion by many consumers as being a cheap, as in inferior, substitute for metals--in particular steel. It probably was cheaper, but also very durable. The line release button is wider than the earlier Johnson reel models. It is made of white plastic and is recessed to hold a big man thumb. This button also has a black circular target emblazoned on it--driving home the idea of accuracy.

But did you notice that the SABRA is one model of Johnson reel that carried only a name, with no model number. What was us with that. Again, I can only guess. I believe that the SABRA was intended to be the mother of all spin-cast reel. The spin-cast reel to end all spin-cast reels. The apex of spin-cast design and engineering wonders. The flag-ship reel upon which all of Johnsons hopes and aims for winning the reel wars was bet. And it truly may have been the most rugged and best spin-cast reel ever made. The SABRA design was certainly all that. But the 160 GUIDE was all that plus more!

This 160 GUIDE is an attractive reel. I don't know why this reel was not a bigger commercial success. It's production years seems to indicate that it was experimental--overlapping several other successful models. It must not have met the expectations Johnson had for it. It may have been the consumer doubt regarding plastics. I like this reel--now--after the fact. I only vaguely recall seeing the ads in outdoor magazines at the time. I don't remember actually seeing one for real until long after it was discontinued. But I do recall the suspicion regarding plastics in general during this time, and specifically as used with some other spin-cast reels.

Although ZEBCO produced their basic reel models constructed of metal, they quickly adopted platics as their material of choice in an apparent cost-saving measure. ZEBCO's attempt to corner the low-end of the spin-cast market was very successful. They have sold an estimated hunnard-bazzzzzillion-trazillion-mazillion-hunnard-hunnard-trazillion reels--as some of my grandkids might proclaim--in my lifetime. I have a vintage metal ZEBCO 33 that I once got in a box of vintage reels. I can find no fault with it, but I still nurse irrational disdain for this and all such ZEBCO reels. Just sayin. This is an example of the power of early advertsing and early opinions of old-timers shaping a lifelong predjudice toward spin-cast reels. In my case, Johnson's models dodged the bullet that some of us passed on to ZEBCO's models. What kid growing up in the fifties and sixties wanted a cheap toy plastic fishing reel aimed at girls, women, and sissies! Not me.

There is one other curious design difference in the Johnson GUIDE Accu-cast 160 spin-cast reel and the smaller 150 Commander version of the model 710. Did you get that? Yep, just as the SABRA has no associated model number, the model 710 has no associated thematic name. And where did the chrobology go. Whaaaa? 710? What was the significance of this model number? And woo-hoo! The Guide 160 Accu-cast has three labels as did the 150 Commander Accu-cast. These guys were having too much fun mixing it up while naming these reels. Is there rhyme to the reason? You got me.

Anyway, these two models have that previously mentioned little sliding button on the plastic body main, just under the line-release button. The first such reel I ever encountered had the numbers worn off and painted over and the button was rough and not fully functional. Even after examining and using pristine examples of models of Johnson reels that utilized this mysterious button--ones that had clearly imprinted labels and models emblazoned on them--I am not sure that this feature was ever very useful. I am not even sure that it was ever even very functional. I am not even sure that it ever worked much at all. It may have been one of those good ideas that didn't work. Or, just as possibly, I don't know, nor never knew or understood exactly what this feature was intended to do. I hope someone will edify me. [Note I wrote this paragraph before I added the paragraph above about the use of this button dawning on me. However, since this dawning is only speculation, I am letting this earlier observation stand.]

 

As noted in the earlier paragraph, the sliding plastic button located just under the line-release can be slid up as if to scotch the line release from being pushed down--unless a greater pressure than one would normally expect--is applied. Call me stupid--but I just cannot determine the possible utility for such a button. [Now I have thought of a possibility, to lock the line-release from accidental release. Simple. Correct? I dunno. More later.]

Comments

[PapaD]

Thank you, Jeff, for your comment(s). I know where the Sanga mistake came from, but it is a major one. Thanks for pointing it out. Big difference. Sanga is an Abumatic Model produced in Sanga Sweden. Only half a world and a brand off. I'll correct that. I would admit to smoking something, but I don't smoke--anything. Wow. I sure need an editor.
Regarding the guide 160, there's a guy on here from time to time, and on Fishing Talk, who swears by the 160. I have two models of the 160--one with the earlier style release knob and one with the later streamlined style. I did not use them back in the day, but I have run these through their paces with small bass only--but without problems. Nylon66 gears don't necessarily equate to "broken". It wears pretty well, although it does flex more and I suppose it could slip because of that. I heard the same stuff aobut the Nylon 66 Semi-Automatic 22's made by Remington when they first came out back in the late 50' or early 60's. Turns out it was just speculation. They are still going strong while the wooden stocks are rotted out and warped. But that's wood--not metal. Nylon 66 is also subject to deterioration caused by ultraviolet light and/or certain solvents. Solvents could get in there, but not light. maybe you got one wiht a bad run of gears. Did it happen with more than one? I am not arguing with you--if you have had firsthand experience with broken ones. I am just not hearing much of that though. In fact yours is the first. You are certiany right in that they did not last long in production.
I'd like to hear more from you regarding this and pix of broken stuff (and unbroken ones too) if possible, with more background and details. Firsthand information is getting harder to come by as people who used these reels are disappearing. You are right-on with other opinions and my own experience about the 710 and Sabra models. Great Reels. I have broached the little and big brother aspects of the reels in one or more of these posts.
I am still shaking my head about Sanga. Dang. Regards, PapaD

[Jeff Turner]

The 710 is the smaller brother of the Sabra. The Guide 160 was a piece of crap. It had nylon gears and was not a success because the reel stayed broken. I know cause I have and still use Johnson 710 and Sabra models. The drag/shift system is the best fish fighting invention ever designed for a reel.