A depository for information on the history of fishing tackle.

This article was first published in January 2003. 

On my drive north to visit the Hardy Facility in Alnwick I was reminded of the booklets produced by Hardy’s in the 1920’s when a couple of gentlemen toured the rod making works. I felt I as though I was treading in historical footsteps. The main difference was that I did not have a leisurely trip on a train but a four o’clock start and a two hundred and fifty mile drive up the A1.

Solid Drum Hardy Bougle Agate II

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I did make a comment about various reel made by Walter Dingley after he left Hardy Brothers and eventually starting his own reel making company.
Someone commented that he had searched google and found no mention of any of the reels that I had listed, the reason? nothing has been posted consequently Google can not pick it up.
So for Willy and Google here is a picture of the Dingley Glen Fly reel retailed by Westley Richards of Birmingham who used the same name that Dingley did.
The scan is from January 1920 and the reel is only in three sizes, later, like the Hardy Unique upon which it was based it would be offered in larger sizes.

Walter Dingley Glen Fly Reel retailed by Westley Richards

Edward vom Hofe Advert 1910

The Edward Vom Hofe tackle company was without doubt one of the worlds greatest. As reel makers they  were on a par with Hardy, Slater and Heaton. [Read more →]

I was very interested to read the section on the Cascapedia reels in John Drewett’ s book on Hardy Brothers. I am particularly interested in the comparison  between these  reels and with  similar reels being made by the Edward Vom Hofe company around the same time.

John mentions the Tobique River reel sold at auction in America during  November 1993 and having known about it for some time I decided to do a little more investigating.

The reel was a size 2/0 and only had  two medallions, the Royal Warrant  by Appointment and  the model designation. The medallion with the  Prince of Wales feathers was omitted.

This Royal Warrant  was granted in 1931, one year before  the Cascapedia was launched in the  Hardy supplement. My guess is that the Tobique River reel was made in 1930 or even 1929, it would require many months if not years to  produce a new reel This reel is certainly the prototype or first production model for the Cascapedia.

Edward  Vom Hofe had  launched the Tobique reel in about 1928 claiming that it was the world’s first multiplying action reel with the winding handle centrally located.

Ed Zern Hardy Tobique River Reel

We can only speculate as to the reaction of the Vom Hofe company on seeing the appearance of the Tobique River reel. Panic, shock, indignation – who knows?

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Mullock’s next auction of fishing tackle will take place at the Clive Pavilion Ludlow Racecourse on SUNDAY 22nd of March. Please note this is also Mothering Sunday so have your excuses ready.

To view the online catalogue click here

The next auction will take place at Chiswick Town Hall on Saturday 28th March.

To view the online catalogue click here.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Walter Dingley is generally accepted as the inventor of the Hardy Silex reel. Having moved from David Slater’s factory in Newark sometime during the later half of 1893 he quickly established himself as a master reel maker.

Westley Richards Rolo Reel by Walter Dingley

 Westley Richards Rolo Reel made by Walter Dingley.

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Gothenburg is the second largest town in Sweden and a few miles on its outskirts lives Bengt Mörner. This engineer has two great loves in his life – Jaguar cars and fly fishing.

Morner Salmon Reel

His favourite salmon water is a small river not far from where he lives called Rolfsån. The best salmon pool on the river is located just upstream of a bridge which is supported in the middle by a concrete column. [Read more →]

The site is having a facelift, please bear with us!

After working late nights and long days for the past two weeks I drove to London to view and bid on a few items at Neil Freemans Angling Auctions. The first person I saw as I entered the room was John Andrews who had some great news that he could only tell me.

Apparently he was sitting in a dug out with Brain Clough on one side and Peter Taylor on the other and guess what?  they did not know who he was. He would have been better off inviting me along to the conversation then Brian Clough could have been telling his mates about sitting between us two.

The auction was great and a few items were purchased but as always the better items sold well. With the present economic climate it makes sense to withdraw money from the bank and invest it into fishing tackle or wine.

When I got back home I had a nice bottle of wine, gradually the tiredness and alcohol took hold but I had to look at John’s Trade Card as it has a very nice picture of gaff and a Pike. Well at the point that I clicked on his web site an advert came on the TV for a free copy of Julie Andres The Sound of Music, which set my mind off at a tangent to Demis Roussos and a song I remember from my days in Germany Lovely Lady of Arcadia.

Anyway tiredness alcohol can play tricks with your mind but adrewsofarcadia.co.uk is one site I will not forget. Follow the link to see what items of tackle John has for sale.