I have used them and still own a couple. Made On Vancouver Is. since 1924, they are wood/brass "knuckle-buster" type reels like the excellent Nottingham winch or (later) Hardy Silex types. Peetz also makes a metal version, the 2000.
There was a book printed about them in 1997, "Peetz, A Reel for All Time," by Douglas Pollard. Hope this helps.