Emblem Z-T series

The finest of the Emblems, and among the most sought-after today. They are sometimes referred to as the ‘blue baboons’, although it’s not really an accurate nickname. As the new flagship of the Emblem series, replacing the (white) Emblem Z, they combined the classic character of the Emblems with a distinctly high-end look and excellent performance. The deep metallic blue finish, gold detailing and wooden handle knobs give them a premium feel, with the gold-coloured screws adding the finishing touch.

History

The (white) Emblem Z series were high-end long cast reels, introduced in Japan in 1994 and released for export in 1995. The Emblem Z-T series is their successor.

In 1995, Daiwa introduced Twistbuster, a TiN-coated line roller designed to reduce line twist. Like many others, the white Emblem Z series was re-launched with the new roller as the Z-T series. ‘T’ stands for Twistbuster. They also gave the reels a new look. First appearing in the 1996 catalogue, it carried the tagline: “A high-end model delivering exceptional casting distance and power.” Both the line-up and the gear ratios remained identical. In terms of specifications and technical design, they were also very similar to their predecessors. In fact, the only change was the improved line roller. The worm shaft gear was not changed to a plastic one, unlike on all the other updated T-Emblems.

Like their predecessors and the ones before them, they stood out from the other models and were also priced at roughly twice the price of the entry-level variants. They featured super duralumin gears and a premium wooden handle knob with two bearings in the handle knob for smooth, play-free rotation. Furthermore, the drive gear used two bearings, while the line roller also featured one, bringing the total number of bearings to six, just like the Emblem Z.

In practical terms, the Z-T series can be considered to sit just below the Tournament TS5000T, released in the same year, with the most notable differences being the bearings on the worm shaft and the click-adjustable drag knob on the TS5000T. With a balanced rotor, a bearing on the line roller and some other advantages, the Z-T series could arguably even be considered the better choice in practical terms.

The Z-T series was discontinued after 1999 in Japan and succeeded by the Emblem Z-A series. In Europe, it was still sold in 1999, but it may have remained available longer.

Releases

In Japan, all four sizes in the series were released in 1995. The smallest models, the Z4500T and Z5000T, share the same body size and use a 30 mm stroke. The larger Z5500T and Z6000PT also share a common body size, using a 35 mm stroke instead. The smaller models have a standard 4,2:1 gear ratio, the larger Z5500 has a slighty different 4,3:1 ratio while the Z6000PT has a 3,5:1 power ratio. All reels were supplied with a cloth bag and spool reducer.

In 1996, the Z-T series was introduced in Europe. In the UK, all but the Z4500T were introduced in 1996, while all sizes were sold in France. Information regarding Germany is currently unknown. The Emblem Z-T series was discontinued in Japan after 1999. The series was sold in both the UK and France until at least 1999, possibly longer. As far as is known, unlike the S-T and X-T series, the Z-T series was never manufactured in Thailand or re-released. Any additional information regarding these markets would be greatly appreciated.

Model comparison

Compared with other updated T-Emblems, the Z-T series stands out visually thanks to its metallic blue finish with gold accents. The bailkicker features a roller, unlike the others. They are also the only ones with a wooden handle knob.

Technically, the Z-T series sits at the top end of the updated T-Emblem series. With 6 ball bearings, including two in the handle knob, these reels run smoother than other models. But there are more features that set this series apart. The body is perhaps made from lightweight Whisker Carbon. The drive gears are made from super duralumin with a black almite finish. All sizes use super duralumin worm shafts and black almite worm gear shafts, unlike the other series, where only the larger models use these components. The gear ratios in this series also differ from other models, with all but the largest using a standard ratio. Like the X-T/PT models, the polished metal spool lip helps reduce friction and line wear.

Collectability

The Emblem Z-T models are among the most sought-after Emblems, alongside the S-H series and the black Emblem X5000T. They are still very popular on the banks today, valued for both their looks and performance. As they were never re-released and were considerably more expensive than the cheaper Emblems, fewer are around today than, for example, S-T or X-T models. Within the Emblem range, the Z-T series is relatively highly priced in good condition.

Specifications

All models in this group are very similar in terms of technical design. Click the button ‘Emblem series’ for general technical information, or further info on certain subjects below.