Joe Cornwall is the author of a fantastic article about the Medalist. This is the most comprehensive article on the internet that I have seen about this reel & I think Mr. Cornwall deserves an "atta boy" for doing such a fine job. I've read in books about the Medalist & was reminded of things I had forgotten about.
The Medalist is my idea of the perfect mix of angling history & modern fly fishing because you can purchase an older Medalist today & take pride in using a reel as old (maybe) as your grandpa. I especially like the way Mr. Cornwall's article examines the changes the Medalist went through by the decades & eras of it's past. This, & the many photos he's included, make it a valuable resource for collectors or anyone trying to date a reel. If that wasn't enough, he also includes a detailed, step-by-step section describing how to change a Medalist over from right to left hand winding - important information for those who have just bought their first medalist.
Go HERE to read Joe Cornwall's article, written in two parts.
The Pflueger Medalist name first appeared in 1931, & by 1938 the Medalist took on the appearance that we all know. What's amazing to me is that you can still purchase a brand new Medalist today. While the modern Medalists might not be the quality reel their ancestors were, it is still an effective & usable reel.
With so much history behind it, using a Medalist on your fly rod is yet another way to make the sport of fly fishing a timeless endeavor.