Vintage Johnson Reels

The Century

Model 100A

The model 100A was introduced in 1956. It is assumed that the plastic shoe based drag system was developed for the 100A, but the transition period involved “using up” parts from the 100. The development of the 100A covered a wide range of design changes both in form and function. It came in the 4 variations listed below and was replaced by the 100B in 1963.

The 100A came packaged in one of 3 packaging variations as shown on the Packaging page.

The reasons for the variations have yet to be authenticated. We will assume them to be “official” factory variations as transition units etc., though there is a high possibility that they are the result of subsequent repairs using whatever materials were provided, or fakes. Follow the links on the left to read about each model.

If you have a variant not listed, or have reasons to prove any to be false, please contact Justin Crouse at justinc@vintagejohnsonreels.com.

Var. 1

This variation is identical to Var. 3 of the 100. We presume that the new plastic shoe based drag system initiated the revision to “A”. The drag is detailed in patent #2959370. Basically, the drag shoe expands as the dial is turned from 0 to 8 (Numbers are reference for line weight.). The screw in the thumb knob pushes down on the brass tang. The tang forces the sides of the shoe apart, increasing friction pressure on the inside of the aluminum spool.

Drag Knob: Plastic Thumb Knob                                    Push Control Lever: Thin Black

Drag Dial: 8 Digit Green Metal                                       Cover Vents: Side Vents

Bearing: Aluminum With Brass Insert                              Cover Stripe: None

Spool: Monotone Smooth Metal                                      Line Grommet: Oversized Chrome

Spool Clip: None                                                            Artwork Style: Vertical Block

Drag Shoe: One Piece Plastic                                          L/R Location: Bearing Plate

Pickup Spring: “U” Shaped Wire                                    Plate Screw Orientation: Artwork Plate

Rotor: Smooth Side                                                         Plate Screw Type: Straight Slot Pan Head

Crank Handle: Single White Cylinder                              Housing: Rough Textured Black

Handle Nut: Plain Acorn Nut

Var. 2

This variation is mainly the same as Var. 1 above. Outwardly, a single white cylinder crank handle and a smaller, gray line grommet identify it. The pickup “U” shaped pickup spring inside the rotor is replaced by a copper “leaf” spring.  This would add greater durability from the thin wire used previously.

Drag Knob: Plastic Thumb Knob                                    Push Control Lever: Thin Black

Drag Dial: 8 Digit Green Metal                                       Cover Vents: Side Vents

Bearing: Aluminum With Brass Insert                              Cover Stripe: None

Spool: Monotone Smooth Metal                                      Line Grommet: Standard Gray

Spool Clip: None                                                            Artwork Style: Vertical Block

Drag Shoe: One Piece Plastic                                          L/R Location: Bearing Plate

Pickup Spring: Copper “Leaf”                                        Plate Screw Orientation: Artwork Plate

Rotor: Smooth Side                                                         Plate Screw Type: Straight Slot Pan Head

Crank Handle: Single White Cylinder                              Housing: Rough Textured Black

Handle Nut: Plain Acorn Nut

Var. 3

The changes that define this variation are mainly aesthetic. The bearing on this and subsequent models is a brass faced insert. The reason for this is likely to be a manufacturing improvement. It was probably more efficient to machine the eccentric surface in the smaller brass insert than in the face of the aluminum housing. A two-toned color scheme is used on the spool to help the fisherman keep track of the direction that the line is wound on for that fisherman that might continually change the handle orientation.

Drag Knob: Plastic Thumb Knob                                    Push Control Lever: Thin Black

Drag Dial: 8 Digit Green Metal                                       Cover Vents: Side Vents

Bearing: Aluminum With Brass “Faced” Insert                Cover Stripe: None

Spool: Two Toned Smooth Metal                                    Line Grommet: Oversized Chrome

Spool Clip: None                                                            Artwork Style: Vertical Block

Drag Shoe: One Piece Plastic                                          L/R Location: Bearing Plate

Pickup Spring: Copper “Leaf” Spring                              Plate Screw Orientation: Artwork Plate

Rotor: Smooth Side                                                         Plate Screw Type: Straight Slot Pan Head

Crank Handle: Single White Cylinder                              Housing: Rough Textured Black

Handle Nut: Plain Acorn Nut

Var. 4

This variation represents some significant aesthetic changes to the Century. It is identified by the plastic drag dial, molded black plastic push control, “Fancy Script” artwork, and dual, black plastic, round handle. Functionally, this reel is quite similar to those above. The exception is that the drag click has changed from an on/off, controlled by the button on the artwork plate, option to an always “on” functionality by way of a slotted spool and copper ring with a tang between the spool and the housing. Based on the amount of reels listed on Ebay that have the original on/off button missing, we presume that the thin wire clicker on the previous versions was easily broken when the click was engaged. 

Drag Knob: Plastic Thumb Knob                                    Push Control Lever: Molded Black

Drag Dial: 8 Digit Black Plastic                                      Cover Vents: Side Vents

Bearing: Aluminum With “Faced” Brass Insert                Cover Stripe: None

Spool: Two Tone Slotted Metal                                       Line Grommet: Standard Gray

Spool Clip: None                                                            Artwork Style: “Fancy” Script

Drag Shoe: One Piece Plastic                                         L/R Location: Bearing Plate

Pickup Spring: Copper “Leaf”                                        Plate Screw Orientation: Artwork Plate

Rotor: Flanged                                                                Plate Screw Type: Straight Slot Pan Head

Crank Handle: Dual Black Cylinder                                Housing: Rough Textured Black

Handle Nut: Plain Acorn Nut

Known Fakes:

This variation shows a 100A with single black handle, but with a metal pointer type drag knob. The 100-A was never sold with this type drag. Inside the spool is on a drag shoe, which would have no purpose in this drag. The housing does not have an opening for the original 6-position drag. In the first photo, a gap can be seen between the dial plate and the housing. This is a Var. 3 reel with a 100 drag.

Drag Knob: Metal Pointer                                               Push Control Lever: Thin Black

Drag Dial: 6 Digit Green Metal                                       Cover Vents: Side Vents

Bearing: Aluminum With Brass Insert                              Cover Stripe: None

Spool: Two Tone Smooth Metal                                       Line Grommet: Standard Gray

Spool Clip: None                                                            Artwork Style: Vertical Block

Drag Shoe: One Piece Plastic                                          L/R Location: Bearing Plate

Pickup Spring: “U” Shaped Wire                                    Plate Screw Orientation: Artwork Plate

Rotor: Smooth Side                                                         Plate Screw Type: Straight Slot Pan Head

Crank Handle: Single Black Cylinder                              Housing: Rough Textured Black

Handle Nut: Plain Acorn Nut

This reel is nearly identical to Var. 1 and 2 of the model 100. It has the added “A” on the artwork and the smaller line grommet. The white nylon spool is a bit confusing. Why would nylon or plastic show up again if the 100 had moved on to metal? We have never seen another white nylon spool. 

Drag Knob: Metal Pointer                                               Push Control Lever: Thin Black

Drag Dial: 6 Digit Green Metal                                       Cover Vents: Side Vents

Bearing: Aluminum With Brass Insert                              Cover Stripe: None

Spool: White Plastic                                                         Line Grommet: Standard Sized Chrome

Spool Clip: None                                                            Artwork Style: Vertical Block

Drag Shoe: None                                                            L/R Location: Bearing Plate

Pickup Spring: “U” Shaped Wire                                    Plate Screw Orientation: Artwork Plate

Rotor: Smooth Side                                                         Plate Screw Type: Straight Slot Pan Head

Crank Handle: Single White Cylinder                              Housing: Rough Textured Black

Handle Nut: Plain Acorn Nut

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