Johnson Reel Collectors Assn. (J.R.C.A.) since 10/10/14

I was a little lax towards the end of 2017 about adding a new picture of the month. I am going to do better this Year with your help.  I am going to ask you to submit pictures along with a short crisp write up about some feature that you like or something we may not know.

Photo of what we might never see

Were the Anniversary Models all made in China? If not, which ones were made in the U.S.A. ?

You should be able to get all the help you need right here. We have some folks that could disassemble, clean, lube, and reassemble blindfolded.

As it appears to be a Princess evidenced by pink, I would suggest that it would/should be a 100 AP.  Did they make a Princess that was not marked as AP or BP?

All you need is an ohmmeter or a multi-meter set on the ohms scale, or even an automotive electrical conductivity tester available at your local auto parts store. Just touch the parts in any two places with the two leads, just far enough apart that they won't touch each other. A non-anodized surface will read about 0 ohms or light the test light of the conductivity tester. An anodized surface will show essentially infinite ohms, or of course will not allow the test light to light. Don't put the leads on sharp edges, or you might get a light on an anodized part. If you think there is a slight amount of anodize on a part, hold one lead on a sharp edge, and try to scratch a flat surface with the other. You can sometimes scratch through a very thin coating.

If you are wondering where the RT comes from, It is something I picked up from  blog on Todd Larson's blog site that was posted by Dick Braun. I cannot find "LT" in any Johnson Literature. It was basically to indicate which side of the reel the word DEMO was located.

Just to dispel some theories that there is a major difference, Here is what is written: The first commercial spincast reels were introduced by the Denison-Johnson Reel Company and the Zero Hour Bomb Company (ZEBCO) in 1949.[19][20] The spincast reel is an attempt to solve the problem of backlash found in baitcast designs, while reducing line twist and snare complaints sometimes encountered with traditional spinning reel designs. Just as with the spinning reel, the line is thrown from a fixed spool and can therefore be used with relatively light lures and baits. However, the spincast reel eliminates the large wire bail and line roller of the spinning reel in favor of one or two simple pickup pins and a metal cup to wind the line on the spool. Traditionally mounted above the rod, the spincast reel is also fitted with an external nose cone that encloses and protects the fixed spool.
With a fixed spool, spincast reels can cast lighter lures than bait cast reels, although friction of the nose cone guide and spool cup against the uncoiling line reduces casting distance compared to spinning reels. Spincast reel design requires the use of narrow spools with less line capacity than either baitcasting or spinning reels of equivalent size, and cannot be made significantly larger in diameter without making the reel too tall and unwieldy. These limitations severely restrict the use of spin cast reels in situations such as fishing at depth, when casting long distances, or where fish can be expected to make long runs. Like other types of reels, spin cast reels are frequently fitted with both anti-reverse mechanisms and friction drags, and some also have level-wind (oscillating spool) mechanisms. Most spin cast reels operate best with limp monofilament lines, though at least one spin cast reel manufacturer installs a thermally fused "superline" into one of its models as standard equipment. During the 1950s and into the mid-1960s, they were widely used and very popular, though the spinning reel has since eclipsed them in popularity in North America. They remain a favorite fishing tool for beginners.
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SpinCast Reel Operation
Pressing a button on the rear of the reel disengages the line pickup, and the button is then released during the forward cast to allow the line to fly off the spool. The button is pressed again to stop the lure at the position desired. Upon cranking the handle, the pickup pin immediately re-engages the line and spools it onto the reel.
This would absolutely include the Dennison Johnson  Sidewinder Series came out in 1949. The Humphrey’s closed face “sidewinder” also falls into this topic as it has to have a small tad pushed to cast.
Note:  Humphrey’s did not call their reel a sidewinder. I am using that term because of similar operation  as the Johnson Sidewinders.

My point:. A closed face reel and a spin caster by definition are one and the same.