Just arrived from sunny Northampton is this curious friction drive spinning reel showing the influences of Illingworth, Rudge and Stanley. Scratch built, well-engineered and completely over the top in terms of weight and strength. The machined parts are well made, if a bit on the heavy side. I wonder how many reels were turned out […]
09
Oct
Oct
Here’s a rarely seen pair of late Victorian Hardy fishing brogues that really are invincible! The advert catalogue caption states “All hand-made, Block Toes, Wide Welts” – in 1914 these cost 27/6p, a princely sum and they were made for many years thereafter. Well, I tried these on and its like walking in deep sea […]
08
Oct
Oct
This is one of a very few of these early Cowan of Edinburgh, Scotland, all brass reels have appeared recently. This example, a 2-1/4” diameter reel, is the trout version from a range reaching to over 5” for salmon. The trade mark Shield logo is nice, similar to other Edinburgh makers – Phin and Wilson […]
03
Oct
Oct
Interesting things are cast packets, we should all read more of them! A pair of Milward’s Tiger Trace packets with contents dropped from a wallet and can’t say I’ve seen too many like this. A waxed paper envelope with inner black paper wrap, the cast still has its Tiger Trace tag attached. The famous […]
01
Oct
Oct
An unusual reel popped onto my desk this week, I’ve seen similar before, but could I remember – NO! With the help of Andy Crisp, he identified the reel as The Smith & Wall 3 Part Reel. He spotted the fold-over bracket foot assembly, good lad! Basically a copy on the lines of the Hardy […]
24
Sep
Sep
The Sterling Nottingham Reel is a bit of an odd ball but what a great looking vintage fishing reel. It was manufactured by Reuben Heaton of Birmingham and retailed by many others. This reel was often referred to as ‘The Wilkes Osprey reel‘ because it appeared more with their mark than any other makers. Initially […]
21
Sep
Sep
The Allcock’s Duplex reel is probably one of the simplest of all ideas. On the surface it’s to convert a reel from left to right hand wind, or is it? Allcock’s in association with a Mr B J Wakeflied of Plymouth jointly sealed a Patent on May 10th 1932. The production reel became the Allcock’s Duplex […]
20
Sep
Sep
Filming is underway at the moment on the final series of the BBC hit series Poldark. We were contacted by the production company as they had a sea fishing sequence planned and were looking for some correct period fishing equipment. Thomas Turner Fishing Antiques to the rescue! We sent along a lovely 2 piece Farlow […]
20
Sep
Sep
Being of a certain age I remember the 1960’s, 70s & 80’s as a time of tackle innovation and no personal funds! Nose pressed against the tackle shop window lusting after the iconic Hardy rods I would one day be able to afford… Back to the current day and there is a resurgence in the […]
17
Sep
Sep
One of the best tools any tackle collector can have is the now out of print reference book, To Catch A Fisherman by the late Jamie Maxtone-Graham, 2nd edition 1984. Allegedly all the fishing tackle patents compressed into one book, by name, Patent no. and application design. When I told him in 1986 I was […]