McCarthy Reel was made by Mick McCarthy from his non-ferrous foundry. Metal Products, in Albion, Brisbane around 1946. Mick Was born in Sydney in 1907 and died at Hastings Point in 1972. He moved to Hastings Point from Clayfield in Brisbane in 1955. Most of his fishing was done in the Hastings Point area. The Sidecast reel is distinctive for its size of 7’’, its weight of 7kgs, the use of aluminium rather than wood or Bakelite, and its gearing of over 2:1. It also came with a non-geared spool which had two lugs that the handle sat into for direct drive. McCarthy also made a quantity of smaller wooden Nottingham reels as well as cedar and aluminium centre pin reels of 10’’ and 15’’.
