Thread: Vintage ACE Hose Reel

There are lot's of ways to skin a cat and here is a twist on the very popular spring rewind setup nearly every hose reel disign uses. I thought it was pretty cool...and very well made. Here are a couple of pics. It certainly takes a couple of looks to see just what is happening here. Anyone seen one like this before? I sure hadn't and I doubt ACE made many like it. Ed.

Ed,

Just guessing....the return power is provided by the pressure in the system (air I guess), perhaps that is a regulator sending adjustable pressure to each of the cylinders, which work on the reel via the gear trains (which include a rack?) No retraction if pressure is lost? That doesn't sound correct, so probably a daft theory!

....and what I first thought was a damaged reel rim, look to be notches that the pawl can lock into, the small guide wheels raise the pawl when the hose is pulled out and vice versa.

^^^^ i agree. What a cool design; albeit a little more expensive than a clockspring.

That's a pretty accurate description Peter....and that all the way from New Zealand. After passing it several times at a local swap meet I had to stop and spin the reels to figure it out. I am assuming this was from a service station where air and motor oil were on tap for easy dispensing. The rack travels a little over an inch per full revolution of the reel so it is limited to about six full revs....30' or so of hose. It does seem to retract smoothly full travel bleeding a little air on the way out. To keep the rack square there are guide rolls, back and side, opposite the gear.

Not much info online about Ace Hose Reel Co LA which is cast in both the reels and cylinder mounts. I don't think it is connected to ACE in Chicago. I have a couple air leaks to fix but at least the cylinders work smoothly without leaking. It is at least an interesting conversation piece. Ed.