Hi all, well I have finally collected enough heavy rods to suit all my old Alveys along with a couple of Alveys that people didnt want to sell seperately to the rods. To that end, I have 1 Alvey reel that needs new rubber brake pads and springs (lever and ratchet) and the other needs new springs (lever and ratchet) and a complete drag set (metal washer replacement as well).  It's suprising to see how much the Alvey has changed over the years. Mine were bought for me by my parents around 1978 .. they are fully stainless including the drag washers .. the newer ones that I have picked up have chromed drag washers that have already corroded (the reels in all fairnes are like new even though old). There is even a difference in the thickness of the stainless parts as well and the newer version has a much thinner spring wire (that has failed). I suppose it was the easiest way of saving dollars by reducung quality :-(

Anyway, I have gone off track .. does anybody know how totell the exact model number of the Alveys .. I have several Surf Champions with deep spools and a couple of newer but almost identical that have a different drag washer number? I would also like to know what the rubber washer is made of and if it can be sourced in a sheet to cut my own .. any info would be great