List of Articles
on antique vintage fishing tackle
Click on any link below to read the full article.
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Hardy BrothersOf all the companies who have ever been involved in the manufacture and supply of fishing tackle, there is no doubt that Hardy Brothers of Alnwick stand out as the foremost maker. Now, this is a sweeping statement that certainly will be challenged by many people.
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Mörner Fly ReelGothenburg is the second largest town in Sweden, and a few miles on its outskirts lives Bengt Mörner. This engineer has two great loves: Jaguar cars and fly-fishing. His favourite salmon water is a small river near where he lives called Rolfsån. The best salmon pool on the river is located just upstream of a bridge supported in the middle by a concrete column. Catch a salmon, and one thing is sure, once hooked, it turns and heads downstream on the opposite side of the river and the wrong side of the concrete column. The inevitable result is that the salmon breaks off as the leader snags on the rough concrete.
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A Town Like AberdeenMany people have an eclectic tackle collection, others will specialise in one make, or only reels, or a specific area. I know one collector who only collects Hardy split cane rods under 8 foot. Some collect within time lines and other, like Colin Innes collect tackle from Aberdeen
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Ustonson Fishing Winch/ReelAn Ustonson antique fishing reel retailed by Ustonson with a reversible handle, 3 1/2 inch diameter, all brass engraved 'Ustonson Maker to His Majesty Temple Bar London'. It has a knurled retaining disc that, when removed, allows the handle to be reversed, perforated foot, and raised check housing. This dates the reel pre-1837.
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Spring & Lever HooksThe first patent for a spring-loaded hook was issued in 1846 to Theodore Engelbrecht and George Skiff of New York. It consisted of a hook fitted with a spring-loaded lever curved and sharpened at one end. One year later, another patent was granted to Stanton Pendleton from New Haven, Connecticut, for his improvement to the Engelbrecht-Skiff patent by offering the chance to change the hook.
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The Patent Meteor ReelIn 1909 Percy Wadham & Percy Scott patented the Meteor reel suitable for various types of angling. Manufactured and marketed by the Dreadnought Casting Reel Co. Isle of Wight, and so far, 14 variations of the reel have been identified.
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Army & Navy Co-Operative SocietyIn 1871 a group of officers formed a Co-Operative Society to look after the needs of army and navy personnel. The Society intended to supply “articles of domestic consumption and general use to its members at the lowest numerative rates”. On 15th February 1872, the Army & Navy Co-operative Society Ltd. Opened its first store at Victoria Street, London. As befits an organisation with a solid military background, the addition of a gun department soon followed, quickly followed by others for outdoor and sporting pursuits.
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John Brown Moscrop & his InnovativeFly Fishing Reel.Moscrop invented and patented the steam and speed recorder for spinning machines that was soon adopted by every textile mill in England. Various other patents followed, and it would not be long before he turned his attention to his hobby – fishing.
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Hardy Super Silex Casting ReelThe Hardy Super Silex began life in 1928 as a reel very similar to its stable mate the Silex Major. It is a reel with an internal drum and a cut-out rim to allow palming of the reel. This reel also has a brass ratchet regulator with two ivorine moon indicators or gauges.
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Coming Soon -
George Mortimer Kelson The Salmon FlyIn the obituary section of the Times on April 3rd. 1920 there was an entry that started: “Mr George Mortimer Kelson, a famous Kent cricketer of a bygone generation, died on Tuesday at Surbiton. So far as can be remembered, he played his last big match in 1873.” It then went on to list the highlights of his time with Kent, including that he was the county’s best batsman for the year 1863. 1864 and 1865. In 1863 he played the innings of his life. Kent required 192 to beat Surrey at the Oval, which they achieved with George Kelson scoring 122. He was a brilliant fielder and a good change bowler. The last line of the obituary read, “Mr Kelson was also an ardent fisherman.”