http://cgi.ebay.com/Ryobi-Baitcaster-Reel-Daiwa-Quantum-Shimano_W0QQitemZ120257485540QQihZ002QQcategoryZ36146QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'm sorry I should have pointed out that this reel, even though it's ugly; that you can switch the cranking side from right to left side.  Why can't mfg's come up w/ a baitcast reel like this that is super top notch?  

Very interesting. You'd think those big companies would pick up on something like this !!!

Boy someone has been digging in the bottom of the junk barrel....

That's the biggest piece of junk that company ever came out with. Thank god they discontinued that reel back in the late 90's, and thank god that company went back to building what they thought they new best "Power Tools"..

Just my .02¢ of bench experience..

Tight Lines!!!!

Didn't Ryobi sponsor Hank Parker many years ago?

Ryobi made the Lew's Speed Spool BB1N and BB1L reels and Ryobi versions 5000 and 4000.

All the time through the 80's and 90's that I followed Hank Parkers career, he was sponsored buy Abu Garcia®, Berkley®, and Mann's®

Ryobi® was trying to make a run in the fishing industry in the early 90's. Mostly with the small style V-spool reels much like Shimano's Bantam (japanese for small) reels. They Ryobi thought they really had something with a BC that you could change crank sides on.

They didn't.....

Tight Lines!!!  

Ryobi made the Lew's Speed Spool BB1N and BB1L reels and Ryobi versions 5000 and 4000.

Not quite....

The first Lew's Speed Spools BB1, BB1n were tooled by Shimano®. Then the licensing for the Lew' reels changed...I was servicing them in the late 80's

Tight Lines!!!!!  

You are correct, but Shimano only made them for a couple of years; Ryobi made them much longer than Shimano. I was under the impression that the BB-1 was made by Shimano and when Ryobi started producing them was when the series was changed to BB-1N.

Also, it should be pointed out that the Lew's was Shimano's first fishing reel they ever made.

thank god that company went back to building what they thought they new best "Power Tools"..

Aren't the new Cabela's Prodigy round reels Ryobi?

Could be wrong but they sure look like a Ryobi.

YUP, based on the Ryobi Varius:

http://www.japantackle.com/Ryobi/Ryobi_Varius_Spectra.htm

Wish the Cabelas version came in a left hand version, I like the looks of that reel.

Sorry but I stand by my quote

"thank god that company went back to building what they thought they new best "Power Tools".."

here is why.................

Please note that Ryobi Limited sold its fishing tackle business to another Japanese Company, Johshuya Co.,Ltd. on September 30, 2000. Therefore, we are no longer engaged in the fishing tackle business.

Johshuya Co., Ltd. has taken over the production, sales and after maintenance of "RYOBI" brand fishing tackle.

If you have any inquiries concerning "RYOBI" brand fishing tackle products and after maintenance, please contact Johshuya Co., Ltd. directly at the following address:

Johshuya Co., Ltd.

ADDRESS: 1-5-6 Sakae-cho Soka-shi Saitama-ken 340-0011Japan

TEL : 81-48-935-1581

FAX : 81-48-935-2136

E-mail : boekika@johshuya.co.jp

Good Luck & Tight Lines!!!!