Our recent hard work and good fortune brought a huge collection of vintage modern and classic big game fishing tackle from Spain. At the top of the rarity pile is this Hardy Fortuna 9” ex wide reel with factory auxiliary brake. Launched in 1921, the first series of reels were called the Hardy Tuna models. […]
Category Archives: The Thomas Turner Collector’s guide
31
Oct
Oct
There are few times in life when you are offered a huge big game sea fishing collection like this one. A comprehensive varied selection of approx. 100 tuna, marlin, shark and tunny rods, tackle and reels including 3 of the rarest I’ve seen for many years. The star of the show is a 9” Hardy […]
14
Oct
Oct
It’s a popular theme with Hardy to name the tackle items after the designer or its practical use application. The “Perfect” reel, because they considered it perfect; the “Zane Grey” and the “Barton” after the designers; a “Simplex” net as it was simple to operate, and so on. The bait shown here is the Ideal Phantom […]
23
Jul
Jul
The importance of this Hardy Patent cannot be emphasised enough. This development was for what we now refer to as the full bail arm. It automatically picked up the line when the handle was turned. The Patent lasted until 1948 where an extension was granted covering the war years for a further 6 years. The […]
18
Jul
Jul
Almost unbelievable in length and weight, this week we sourced a rare Hardy Palakona 4’4” two section split cane rod. A tiny wisp of a little thing yet it works. Identical to its big brothers in finish and style it’s truly remarkable. It is line rated #5 and having put it together and fitted with […]
09
Jul
Jul
The Hardy Sea Silex reel has always been on the wanted list for both Silex and big game collectors. This set is unusual and rare in that the Hardy block leather case is rarer than the reel itself. The reel is a genuine find, not cleaned, played with or altered and features the extended brass […]
13
Jun
Jun
THeralded as the “best all round rod for general purposes” in the Hardy Anglers guides, it’s as popular today as ever. Hand built in the Alnwick factory it came in 3 standard lengths, 11’, 12’6” and 13’6”, the 11’ being the rarer of the range. The 1960s rod is the most collectable/ desirable with modern […]
09
Jun
Jun
One of the firm favourites for wall decoration or classic angling use is the Hardy Simplex Landing Net. Supplied in two basic varieties; the first and early model being a short handle version with bamboo handle and alloy pear shaped alloy frame. The 1923 Hardy Anglers Guide (containing some of the best bedtime reading a tackle […]
19
May
May
If there is one thing that’s a given, midges will always bite anglers. Gadget collectors worldwide love midge treatments and bottles. This one here is by Hardy Bros of Alnwick, England and dates c 1910. It’s a friendly curved glass bottle to fit in the waistcoat so it’s always to hand. Standing 3” tall with […]
Ephemera & Misc., Hardy, Reels, Rods, Thomas Turner blog
Hardy Miniature Palakona rod & reel set 1 of 3 with Royal links
01
May
May
It seems like millennia ago that I sourced this fabulous miniature Hardy Palakona rod & reel set, one of only three made. This is the original miniature Hardy Palakona rod and reel set that spurred Queen Mary to order the very same for her Royal Dolls House. This set includes a scaled down version of […]