An email followed by a few phone calls saw me driving to the county of Angus in Scotland to buy a fine mixed collection of 95 Hardy reels with a few rods included. The owner was initially was going to try eBay, however when he considered listing 95 items, taking approx. 500 good photographs, making […]
Category Archives: Thomas Turner blog
21
Dec
Dec
Curious thing wood reel collecting, there must be hundreds or even thousands of pattern variants to be had. Good news for woodies like me. This oddity appeared on the desk last week: a 4” diameter wood and brass Nottingham pattern “anchor back” reel with optional check. Not seen another – could be English, could be […]
20
Dec
Dec
Rummaging through a long-lost box of papers marked “JS Private”, a huge pile of old adverts, press cuttings and ephemera relating to my tackle shop, The Tackle Exchange, which I launched in 1988, made interesting reading. The concept was simple: we specialised in used and antique tackle as well as new, and you could buy, […]
19
Dec
Dec
Spinning as we know it today was generally frowned upon in the late 1800s and early 1900s era. PD Malloch of Perth launched his popular and ingenious side casting reel in the late 1880s, but fly fishing was still the elite art form. That said, it can be argued that spinning with a lure for […]
19
Dec
Dec
As worldwide travel became increasingly easy around the 1900’s it was important for anglers to retain their fishing habits whilst in India. Hardy, Farlows, Army & Navy & others supplied, generally from London, the Royalty, gentry and servicemen who fished in the untapped waters of Asia for Mahseer, tiger fish, trout etc. However, the ingenious […]
14
Dec
Dec
Often as not, when a collector comes across a lovely fly reel in a block leather case, they ask about initials or inscription on the case. To some these personalised marks devalue the case; to me they give the case life and history. Hardy, Farlow, Carter, Eaton and Deller, Malloch and so on all supplied […]
14
Dec
Dec
Most of us in the collecting world or centre pin fishing fraternity recognize the Speedia reel on the left. Distinctive with its tan handles, black finish and shiny nickel pillar drum core, it’s a true centre pin reel. In some people’s eyes it will never be an Aerial but at the price they have a […]
10
Dec
Dec
For approx. 200 years the angler and engineer/designer have been working on an efficient way to stop, check, brake or slow down the drum on a fishing reel. This little 2” diameter multiplier action brass winch, or wind as they were known, dates c.1850, many date earlier. Its main brake feature is the little ball […]
06
Dec
Dec
One of our regular blog readers Alan sent in images of his side casting reel in response to our appeal. The original black reel on the white backdrop started it all off. There must be hundreds of wacky & weird models including Alan’s offering here to be had for the collectors. Looking more like a […]
23
Nov
Nov
Historically in the tackle manufacturing world makers get together to do what they do best. Sportex UK was arguably one of the best fibreglass rod manufacturers of the 60’s and 70’s era. Bronson USA claimed accolades for their spin casting reels at the mid- to budget end of the market. So here we have a […]