Alex Martin Thistle 4″ vintage alloy salmon fly reel by Dingley

Maker: W Dingley

Model: Thistle salmon fly reel

Approximate year of manufacture: 1920’s

Condition: see description

Material: Alloy

Length/ diameter: 4″

Country of manufacture: Alnwick England

Ideal use: Fish or collect

Item stock location: Stoke

TT opinion: A vintage Alex Martin of Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen 4″ alloy Perfect pattern salmon fly reel by Dingley. A three-part reel, cage drum and winding plate with ball race to the center spindle and nickle screw with washer. Brass handle turns freely. Round Phosphor bronze line guide and working rim tension adjuster. 85mm smnooth brass foot with slight twist to the shape. The reel has a barely visible hairline crack on the front rim by a pillar. It doesn’t affect strength or use and is tough to spot.I have used a flashgun to try to show it in the image. A great collectors reel, fishable and not so many of these about now.