With a little help from Keith Elliot’s Classic Angling, onto Jeff Dela Mura and other tackle friends we have managed to solve the riddle. Who is BJ the float maker? Bernard J Mason of Totnes, between Torbay and Dartmoor in South Devon, is the artisan float maker/painter responsible for these stunning handmade creations. Chatting to […]
Category Archives: Thomas Turner blog
23
Nov
Nov
With excitement in the air, we loaded the car with tackle goodies and headed out to the Redditch tackle fair. It’s been two years since the last one and who could have predicted the events that would change all our lives. Organiser John Andrews was his usual calm efficient self. I suspect it’s a bit of […]
18
Nov
Nov
National Vintage Fishing Tackle Fair – Abbey Stadium – Redditch B97 5EJ, this Sunday 21st November. We will be at the tackle fair with lots of goodies. As you enter the main hall door, turn left and we are at the bottom of the hall facing the end wall. John Bailey, John and Alison Stephenson will […]
11
Nov
Nov
Let’s face it not everyone has an unlimited budget to spend on fishing tackle. We are buying collections every day and along with the medium to high-end tackle we always have a number of great value items for sale. These are now being collated into our Outlet section Many items are under £99, but you […]
04
Nov
Nov
It’s been a busy week buying tackle in the West Country for Thomas Turner, with one large collection consisting of 17 Hardy Reels and eight Hardy rods, plus a Hardy Pall Mall Centenary Set consisting of an 8’ Gold Medal split cane rod and a 2 5/8” Hardy All Brass Perfect ‘Houghton’ Reel mounted within […]
23
Oct
Oct
In the recent massive collection of 500 rods, I have come across another interesting maker. This 15’ three-piece greenheart salmon fly rod is engraved to the butt cap “J.Jackson, Maker Dumfries”. Who was he? A little research shows John Jackson listed in the 1911-1912 Post Office directory as a Fishing Tackle Maker at No. 4 […]
20
Oct
Oct
It’s not a sentence I’ve heard before, but it signalled the start of an eventful day. Heading down to Hereford’s famous Red Lion hotel for a Thomas Turner annual team meeting I decided to take in a call on the way. Our client had “a lot of tackle” and whilst excited at the buying opportunity, […]
08
Oct
Oct
A client in Wales had decided Thomas Turner were just the people to buy his Hardy collection. Phone call made, appointment booked, car fuelled and off we go. I think we often forget how beautiful our country is. Less than an hour from base camp and I’m in the stunning hills of Wales. Driving at […]
29
Sep
Sep
It’s less than a week since we bought and sold a lovely antique leather creel, and like buses and policemen along comes another. This one however has a fine assortment of antique tackle including many other rarities with it. Looking through the images, only a fraction of what we bought, you will see brass winches […]
29
Sep
Sep
Hardy had much to crow about in 1966. The new Willowburn factory was completed and opened by His Grace the Duke of Northumberland. The new symbol of a fly set inside a castle wall was developed, signifying that Hardy tackle is made to last. They continued the building of Palakona bamboo rods, handmade reels and […]
Hardy of Alnwick Silver Doctor Fully Dressed Salmon Fly 1 (Unused, In Original Sealed Packet, c.1960s) 
Hardy of Alnwick Silver Doctor (LW) Fully Dressed Salmon Fly 10 (Unused, In Original Sealed Packet, c.1960s) 
Hardy of Alnwick Silver Doctor (LW) Fully Dressed Salmon Fly 4 (Unused, In Original Sealed Packet, c.1960s)