Old Conventional reels

Does anyone remember when the old conventionals were used for surfcasting? Some of the reels used to have a leather strap that slid over the bar on the reel to save your thumb from line burn. My question is did they use to put them on the top bar and let them hang down onto the spool or were they on the bottom bar and you pushed it up when casting and let it flop down out of the way after the cast? I seem to remember having them on the top bar resting on the spool. I figured there are enough "old farts" here on the site like me that would remember this. My memory has left me though because I used to have one but cant remember which way I had it on. Early stages of Alzheimers starting to set in I guess.

Hey Andy I use to have one sold it two weeks ago the
patch hung from the top bar hanging toward the foot of the reel
hope this helps ya