Just curious as to what people have to say on this. My oldest reel was also my first higher dollar reel. I have used my Gen 2 STX 6:4:1 since 2011. It started out as an all purpose reel for everything from trigs to cranks. In 2013 I replaced the stock spool bearings with some Boca ABEC 5 ceramic bearings. Ever since then it has been my cranking reel for shallow to medium divers. My STX has seen hundreds of hours on the water and still keeps on going.

Longest reel i kept was my first highend purchase, Core 51. Kept for a few years and recently sold to fund another reel purchase. A few weeks later i knew i messed up and picked up a new one 

Shimano black magnum BKM201FS and Shimano Brush Buster 11. Both since late 80's and are still on flippin' sticks and work like new.

This one. 1959. I still take it out about once a year. It reels in dinks now just as well as it did 55 years ago...

 

Mitchells. 400s.  Now 3 ultra lights. 2 for guests to use.

Recently retired a Mitchell 300 that I'd had since early '70s.

Choporoz

 

Did you also only break the Bail Springs ?

the old shimano Sedona.

Dad's Bantum Magnumlite has been in the family 30+ years. His first, and later passed down to me.

Shimano Sahara bought in march 2006 is the oldest that I still use regularly. I have a Sedona 2000 that my dad bought me when I was about 15 that I still have.

Daiwa ss 1300, my oldest is close to 25 years old.

I still have an old Abumatic 60 that my Grandmother gave me as a child.  I received it in about 1970.

I've got a Bantam Curado from... When were they released? 2000'ish? Yeah, it's been that long. Still works like a charm.

Choporoz

 

Did you also only break the Bail Springs ?

Yes.  I tried to replace one a few years ago with disastrous results.  Never tried another.  Besides, they're so heavy, I found them better suited for the 'vintage fishing stuff' displays than for use on the water, so I've now retired all that I had.

I have an old Mitchell light action, probably a 500 size I got back in 94, still use it when I take my son trout fishing or decide to go catch them instead of bass.  And if we are talking saltwater gear, I still have a bunch of Newell's I bought in 93, some older then that as the older earlier models were bettter quality.  So probably still have reels I fish with from the late 80's.  Put those things through a lot and they keep on going.  

2 Ambassadeur 4500c's from the 70's.

Had nearly all of my fishing stuff stolen a while back...  I give away a lot too if it's not used much.  As of now my oldest is probably a Citica 200D. 

Mine is a Mitchell 300, the first reel I ever bought back in the 60's. As for a baitcaster, I still have and use the first low a profile Daiwa I've owned.

A Shakespeare Model 1920 from 1951. It was given to me by my grandpa about 1960 or thereabouts, along with a Shakespeare steel Wonderod. It's hanging on the wall in my office. 

 

Tom

Shimano Symetre FH 1000.  Probably 14 years old now. Still use it for ultra light fishing and it's smooth as silk.

A Ted Williams that my grandpa gave in 87 or 88. Never could cast the thing worth a darn, but I'd use it for catfishing off the dock at the cabin. It was made in Japan, back when that was worse than being made in China.

 

Ive got a Citica D, that Ive had for a while now. Its a beast of a reel.  Feels like it will never fall apart. My only issue with it is a little too big for my small hands

Up to a few years ago, I had an old ryobi saltwater reel.  Not much of a treasure but it lasted.  After that I had a my Zebco 33 and Zebco bullet.  All of these reels got a proper burial.

 

Currently though, I have a Shimano Stradic and Core that are 8 years old.   These reels are like new and still going strong.

Shimano sahara and a Shimano Bantam Curado 201B

Old Daiwa Triforce given to me by my uncle. When 5.X was super high speed! Around 15 years. I also have bantam curados and castaics but those were given to me later down the line so I don't include those.