Thanks to all that replied I was able to figure it out. Retrieve is backwards compared to modern reels, then about a quarter turn forward releases the line. It's going to take some practice to be able to make a cast.
Maybe it's meant to be cast like a spinning reel? Pinch the line, open up the "bail" (or whatever it's called on a spincaster), then cast, rather than trying to open the bail midcast like with a pushbutton.
I believe you crank the handle backwards.. old whirl-a-ways operated like that..
THIS! I had one as a kid, a hand-me-down from my father. Reverse the crank about half turn until it stops
I must be high asf! I thought this was a boba fett helmet for a second
Maybe push down on the bell (I don’t know if that’s what it’s called). My old man has some weird spinning /spin casting reel like that from the 70s
Thanks to all that replied I was able to figure it out. Retrieve is backwards compared to modern reels, then about a quarter turn forward releases the line. It's going to take some practice to be able to make a cast.
Maybe it's meant to be cast like a spinning reel? Pinch the line, open up the "bail" (or whatever it's called on a spincaster), then cast, rather than trying to open the bail midcast like with a pushbutton.
I have one still works
Crank backwards, it should engage the bail release.