I got married in April and was going through some boxes in the garage after the move and found this:  

 

 

 

 

This was the first baitcaster I had bought. It's a Ryobi, bought  approx. in '80. It feels like It weighs 18 lbs. lol

That's pretty cool.

It takes some skills to cast on of the older model baitcasters.  That is pretty cool.  I use to have some Ryobi saltwater spinning reels.  They were nothing fancy but they got the job done.

I've got an early 1900's Pfluegar with the old silk line still on it. Took it out one day with the old steel rod that it's on and tried fishing a plastic worm. You have to pull line off and basically throw the bait at your target. I had a couple bite but couldn't ever get a good enough hookset or keep up with the fish. Really makes you glad we have the gear we have now.

Very similar reel to the Lews BB1,in fact Ryobi built some of the original Lews.