Reel surprise!

I have a box of old fishing gear I got from my father-in-law a while back.  I was going through it because I remembered a couple casting reels.  I was going to set one up on my bigger pole for sturgeon next year.  I found them both and they had some salt corrosion on the spindle, so I figured I would check on a replacement.  Much to my surprise, it turns out both of these reels must have belonged to HIS dad.  They date from the beginning of WWII!  One is a Penn Bayhead and the other an old Belmont.  The Bayhead isn't decorated so it probably dates around 1939.  Guess I'll put those on a shelf somewhere and buy a new reel next year :-)

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Are you going to leave them with their well earned patina, or polish them up? I love old fishing gear.

Actually operationally they are both fine, they just have some salt corrosion on the spindle from being put away with wet line.  I understand they were used for surf fishing "back in the day".  They are both right handed and I don't know that I want to risk losing one overboard since they have some history.  On the other hand, I am a big believer in practicality.  Guess we'll see if Christmas comes with a shiny new left-handed reel :-)