ABU sold small casting reels 1500C and 2500C in late 70's in the USA. In later period US market didn't see many of those small reels except modified models like Don Iovino's special models. Instead, ABU Japan continued sales of them in the country. Here are some of the 1500C and 2500C released in Japan, especially in rare colors. Most 1500C and 2500C reels were in silver or blue gray silver, but ABU also had a few colored reels. In '89 and '90, ABU Japan offered black 1500C/2500C reels as Japan special through Olympic Fishing. In 1992, then burgundy 1500C/2500C were offered. These are said to be produced in only 1 lot each. All '92 burgundy (wine) color reels I've dealt with had 020003 foot number.
In 90's, ABU business in Japan was sold to Mamiya, a trading company spcefically dealing with import cameras like Leica. It released a lot of reproduction models of old ABU's, and modified version ABU's. Colored 1500C/2500C were among them sold around 1996-1999 with instant anti-reverse system. To my memory, they had silver, gold, chrome, blue, green and red. Green and red were also sold in other markets. Gold has two models, one with gold frame, and the other with black frame. In 1998 Nostalgia 1500C/2500C with grooved side plate were released in red and green.
Mamiya went out of business around year 2000, and ABU business in Japan was then succeeded by Pure fishing Japan. By the time, the previous owner of ABU Japan, Olympic went out of business, and Ryobi was purchased by Joshuya tackle retail chains. Fishing tackle industry saw severe drought at the time, and Pure fishing has made great transition from those classic casting reels to performance seeking products like Morrum SX Ultra Mag and etc. After long vacancy, in 2008 Pure fishing released Japan special 1500C/2500C reels in Greay, Black and Sunset Orange to my pleasure.
Still 1500C and 2500C are very popular in Japan, even though new reel supply has been stopped since around 2008. Many tuning parts are offered for the cute reels, and you may enjoy modifying projects. The reels are also still on the edge of tournament casting (long distance casting competitions) around the world, and tuning parts supply for the purpose are also abundant.
Hope you join us to enjoy modifying 1500C/2500C reels. The silver reel of the first photo is my personal reel, maybe '89. The handle was swapped to custom handle with 24k gold plating. Cog wheel and level winder were swapped to ball bearing parts. Now it keeps turning forever, meaning city of bird's nest. I need to remove weight from the spool and Avail super shallow spools do the job. Adding magnet brake may be the next step, , , too many things to do, right?
