Albert (Davie) Hall of Hurstville Sydney was a skilled mechanic and started making ‘Hall Reels’ in the late 1950’s. These reels used a small and neat gearbox from the wing flaps of the old Catalina flying boats as the drive. He built a scotch slide into them to give the spool movement. It had an automatic bail-wire pick-up and built in drag. The strong gears and large handle give the user great control in handling a fish or lifting one up the rocks. The one he used had a 6 inch diameter spool and his son Les had a 5 inch model. They are built mainly of aluminium. Bob French of Blakehurst built a lighter model with a 4 and a half inch spool. This also casts remarkably well and is a powerfully convenient reel to use.
