Ibjamn, thanks!

I have a few old 201s and 251s that are in dire need of parts, and as far as I'm concerned, there was never a better nor is there a better reel now. I'll give those guys a call immediately. Tried all the new shizzle...151 Calcuttas, the drag keeps wetting the bed, no direct drive on nuthin!!!
The main reason, so I'm told by one of the northwest Shimano reps is we steelhead/salmon anglers make up less than ONE percent of national reel sales, bass and walleys are 99, obviously, the rest. What they want, we have to suck the #### and use it. Yes, Shimano is very aware of the demand for the old reels, the problem is the dies and tooling would cost over several million dollars to re-introduce. And this part will really kill you...Shimao had all the dies and extra parts for all the Bantam series destroyed!!! Straight from the reps mouth, boys and girls. You may go hurl now.

The greatest reel of all time...the direct drive Shimano Bantam 201. Nothing else even comes close. Except my like new 251!!!