A Real Cord Reel

[Ryan]

So yesterday I gave you the latest in expensive plastic technology and cord reels. Today, I give you old ****... I mean, vintage cord reels that have stood the test of ti...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.

 

[KPSquared]

Amen! This is what a proper cord reel looks like. That thing from yesterday is a horrible box store discount bin joke . . . with a $300 price tag.

 

[ilovevocs]

Very Nice!

 

[admranger]

The new cord reel is also an anti-Darwinism item. The gene pool needs chlorine and these guys just removed some of it.

I like your old cord reel. I have a new, but similar one.

 

[cowboy73]

Cool looking cord reel

 

[Stuart in MN]

I picked this one up at a swap meet a few years ago:

This is a vapor-tight industrial model, built by the Daniel Woodhead Company. I believe they're a division of Molex Corporation today. The price tag on it says $20, but if I got it for $10. These things are ridiculously expensive new, probably around $750 or more. <!-- / message --><!-- attachments -->

 

[GOLF for LIFE]

Now that is a real cord reel! I have one made by snap-on and is made in the USA and has worked great for many years. Say no to Plastic junk.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Amen! This is what a proper cord reel looks like. That thing from yesterday is a horrible box store discount bin joke . . . with a $300 price tag.

I think the one from yesterday was pretty neat...except it was the answer to questions no one was asking! Well, at least not for $329 they weren't.

 

[mtkst19]

here is my cordomatic 900 i use daily at work. came out of an old mg dealership originally then sat in storage for 30 years+. been in daily use for 2 years now.

 

[Flathead Red]

I have one of the Craftsman reels that was pictured in the video yesterday for that plastic one. It has worked fine for me other than pulling it out of the ceiling. But that was my fault.

Red

 

[MULDROW]

I have one just like that.

 

[Eds_tls]

Ha! Exact reel hanging in my garage. Still used all the time...

and under the same "they don't make em like they used to" catagory is our garage door opener. Mfg in 1977 according to the sticker inside the remotes. Both origional remotes just recently died about 6 months ago. But the opener is still used daily in our garage and works perfectly. Not to bad for 35 years old! lol!

 

[Mrnndj]

It is an obsession

 

[Ascinder]

I have seriously been looking into cord reels and an air hose reel as my next garage aquisitions. Where are you guys finding these older beefier models. I would much rather pay for some good old fashioned quality vs. the cheesy stuff out there nowadays. Even metal reels aren't immune as my facility got one several years ago(alledgly quality) and it broke within a year or two. I would relly love to get a hold of some of the older reels like Mrnndj has got, those are BUILT!

 

[bugnout]

I have one of these hanging from my garage ceiling. I think its well made.

Available from Rockler http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10673&site=ROCKLER

 

[zer01]

Ha! Exact reel hanging in my garage. Still used all the time...

This is funny, I have that exact garage door opener in our old home, and I recently went to a garage sale and bought this exact cord reel, for $3.

 

[Mrnndj]

They were all Ebay or Craigslist. Patience paid off and paid between $50 to $80 for each. The yellow one is Daniel Woodhead (Aeromotive) and the red ones are Appleton Electric (Reelite). There is another smaller silver Reelite in the last photo that i use as a pull down overhead lamp. It is way overkill, but they are fantastic to use!

 

[softailgarage]

Now those are REAL cord reels. $300.00 +... I dont think so.

 

[Tjc]

My cordomatic is mounted up right now!

 

[volpster31]

i inherited mine from my grand father..im sure he had it for ages

 

[zcinpa]

very cool. i've always enjoyed adding vintage functioning tools to my collection ... now I have one of these on the list.

 

[marty_p]

zcinpa, you took the words right out of my mouth!

 

[Jack Olsen]

I've been happy with my Craftsman for years now. I haven't experienced any of the 'mishaps' you see in the plastic ball ad.

I also made my own 'reel light' by combining a reel and a Bayco 13Wx2 fluorescent light. I don't miss burning myself on the incandescent bulbs.

Not a great picture, but you can see it hanging low down on the pillar.

 

[xtm10]

Great idea, and safe also, but at $329 I have to pass. I think i'll just pay attention to what i'm doing and use an organized system to keep my extension cords damage free and untangled/knotted.

 

[The Frisco Kid]

I dig the retro style and construction. "They don't make 'em like this anymore..."

 

[strnge]

I too like the fluorescent light -vs- incandescent bulbs. It also doesn't help that I am constantly tossing my light instead of placing it. (Blowing incandescent bulbs all the time. Not a single florecent one since I switched.)

I however do want a Cordomatic set up for an extension cord. I had a craftsman one for years and loved it.

Mike

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I've been happy with my Craftsman for years now. I haven't experienced any of the 'mishaps' you see in the plastic ball ad.

I had my Dad's old chrome Craftsman retractable droplight (with plugs on it)and I was thoroughyl annoyed when it finally died. Then I realized it was AT LEAST 405-50 years old Can't exactly complain.

I've been meaning to replace it but I don't trust that a new Craftsman would last anywhere near that long, though I confess I haven't gone to look at them.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

dad had a cordmatic laying around his barn so i mounted it and then my nephews friend broke the plug off the end . i fixed it and put it in my shed. i use it all the time

 

[DynoDave]

Got love these things...very durable, very convenient.

My Cordomatic 900 came from the Chevrolet dealer I worked at in my home town. When they were updating their '50/'60s vintage service drive, they retired this older unit in favor of a shiny new one. The service manager asked if I wanted it, and I didn't have to think twice. That was in the late '80s, and it's been working for me ever since.

I also have a newer Craftsman unit for the front garage.

 

[raddksn]

Another type of Woodhead coard reel. Got this one from a buddy that was cleaning out his garage.

 

[sooperdave]

I found the exact Cordomatic at a tag sale two weeks ago. The chord was a little dry- cracked but I made a few repairs and hung it near my bench. I love looking at it.

 

[adamentium]

I picked this one up at a swap meet a few years ago:

This is a vapor-tight industrial model, built by the Daniel Woodhead Company. I believe they're a division of Molex Corporation today. The price tag on it says $20, but if I got it for $10. These things are ridiculously expensive new, probably around $750 or more. <!-- / message --><!-- attachments -->

i have 2 of there that are brand new in the box and one has a class 1 dive 2 explosion proof light on it and expensive does not begin to discribe it. but i and lucky and know people or i would have never done it.

Q

 

[beerdog]

Me gots a cordomatic.

 

[Aahz]

http://standardus.com/stdshop/electric-light-reels/

Reelcraft and General Manufacturing both make nice products (steel or plastic, depending on your preference).

The conversation about flourescent vs incandescent hits home, however..We just sold a guy a Rotary MACH 4 Portable Lift (74,000 lbs capacity, REALLY cool) for his truck repair facility and he dropped his incandescent on the floor under the vehicle he was working on. Unfortunately, the truck had a fuel leak and the puddle caught fire and burned down his shop! Insurance is arguing that incandescent lights don't belong in a vehicle maintenance facility (OSHA doesn't approve apparently) so they are fighting paying the bill for the replacement.

Some of the LED lights that are out are pretty good, I think he'll buy those next time..

 

[JohnFreeman]

Here's mine. Anyone rewound it with a 3 wire cord ? I won't use it as is (2 wire)

I haven't taken it apart as I've viewed it as one of those things that will go SPROING when unscrewed, never to be re-assembled .

John

 

[philw]

My dad has an identical Cordmatic and it is till in use. I tried to buy a decent one in the early 90's and all the ones I could find local we're plastic junk.

 

[philw]

(in reply to John)

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but you should be ok if it's plugged into a gfci. Does it have a plastic handle?

That's one instance where I didn't mine tools using plastic. I can remember using my grandfathers old all metal close quarter drill and occasional getting a very small bite. I then realized it was shorting to the case.

 

[PCO6]

This isn't a very good picture but I have 2 cord reels mounted on my ceiling. They are both mounted next to a hose reel. I bought both types of reel at Princess Auto and they've held up well to my hobbiest use over the last 8 or so years.

The cord reels started out as trouble lights. I cut them off and replaced them with 2 plug electrical boxes. I like the rubber plugs I've seen in some of the above pictures and think I will change mine.

 

[Motorhead Extraordinaire]

This my Reelcraft electric cord reel. I got so sick and tired of extension cords. This works fantastic and it's American Made. I mounted it near the garage door; it works great for inside or outside the shop.

Joe

 

[mendoza727]

Can't wait to hang this one!