I was only talking about Pflueger and I guess I generalized a little when I said japan. I should have said asia.

It is a known fact that the American made Pfluegers were superior to the Shakespere Pfluegers. I have one of each in the 1494 1/2 series and you can easily see the difference.

It could be that the Asians are not accustomed to producing uncomplicated, over simplified reels like the phluegers were... I don't know, Maybe the parts were to big or something.