Not Quite a Bonanza, but an Encouraging January for TT

January has been a remarkably encouraging month for us here at Thomas Turner.

Despite the ongoing challenges of exporting to the USA—particularly tariffs affecting aluminium and steel—we’ve seen a sharp rise in trade. Our January Sale certainly helped, but there were also several exceptional individual sales.

The standout highlight was the sale of a 2½” all-brass Perfect from 1891, which achieved a very strong price in view of its rarity. This was especially pleasing given the somewhat deflated prices—or lack of sales—seen at a number of recent auctions.

Private Sales & Our New Wanted System

It’s perhaps worth mentioning that we are increasingly engaged in private sales, sourcing items directly for clients without them ever being listed on our website.

Matt is currently setting up a dedicated Wanted System, allowing customers to register specific items they are searching for. If there’s something particular you’re looking for, do let us know—we are aware of several collectors quietly looking to downsize, often at sensible prices.

WANTED

Edward Barder Landing Net Handle

Speaking of wanted items, I recently purchased several excellent landing nets from an overseas auction:

• A Barder “Bernard Venables” style net

• A superb Shaun Linsley Perfection net

• Another net and handle by Dennis Barrett, made to an original Richard Walker design

All very well—but for my personal use, I now need an Edward Barder landing net handle to accompany a wonderful net frame. Edward has since stopped making them.

If you have one, or know of one, please do let us know via the website.

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Classic Tackle & Unfinished Business

I keep finding myself drawn to three unfinished catapults started by Peter Wheat. They are wonderful things and certainly deserve completing.

We have several original design sheets, along with an image of one example completed (save for the elastic), so there are really no excuses. Having mentioned it here, I may finally have to give it a go.

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Looking Ahead: Flies, Collections & Appraisals

It has otherwise been a busy month, with many international enquiries about our extensive Hardy and Martinez fly collection, which will be listed shortly.

Also forthcoming is a remarkable collection dressed by Ulf Nordström himself. These flies—tied on Partridge hooks—remain perfectly usable today, despite lacking a well-known brand name. They are highly desirable for both fishing and display, and represent an opportunity unlikely to be repeated.

Our next stop is Amsterdam, where we’ve been invited to appraise a very large collection, including some magnificent Tom Moran rods and Megan Boyd flies—more on that soon.