Pearsall's Orange 6A...which one...again !

[caddisfan]

I thought I had sorted all this a few months ago but I am still left with a niggling doubt about which Pearsall's Orange 6A is the correct shade for a Partridge and Orange.

Various shades of 6 Oranges:



On the far left is Pearsalls (marked as Pearsalls) 6A I bought from GAC in February.

Second from left is Langley Antique 6A - this to me looks very close for 6A as per colour chart in Edmonds and Lee ?

Second from right is Langley 6B - not traditionally used on P+O but could be I suppose..

Far right is Pearsall's 19 Hot Orange, a sort of dirty Orange which to me looks ideal for P+O.

Now, I understand that Langley now dye the silks for Pearsalls. My confusion comes from seeing 6A given as the shade in flies such as P+O and Brown Owl etc, yet in many examples online and books to me it looks like the lighter, yellow shade has been used (far left). In Mike Hardings North Country flies books he seems to use both 6A shades interchangeably !

Where I think I am with all of this is that Antique 6A (second left) is the actual shade used at the time of Edmonds and Lee, but in the intervening period Pearsalls have turned this shade lighter (ala 6A on far left) and because these may be (or are) on wooden spools many conisder it to be the original shade that was used ? How 'Hot Orange' fits in I don't know. Confused ? I certainly am !

It is funny that 'Antique 6A' is to me a more vibrant orange whereas Hot Orange 19 is actually 'less hot' IMO and more subdued.

I know this probably makes not a jot of difference to the fish but considering there is so much tradition attached to this style I am hoping a friendly and knowledgable Yorkshireman can help put this to bed for me ( and others too I am sure) !

Cheers,

Lindsay

[wingman]

I wouldn't have thought it would be either of the two on the right and I thought 6B was antique gold....erm for me personally it would have to be the old 6A on the left I suppose if I were being a bangon traditionalist but the other would also be ok.

[Spider]

i THINK HOT ORANGE TURNS A NICE BROWN SHADE SO THAT COULD BE GOOD.....

[caddisfan]

Originally Posted by wingman

....erm for me personally it would have to be the old 6A on the left I suppose if I were being a bangon traditionalist but the other would also be ok.

Thanks for the comments. Traditionalist in what sense though - the 6A far left looks more like shade 5 in Eds and Lee whereas '6A Antique' is closer to their shade of 6A in the swatch in the book !

I am wondering if 6A Gold (far left) has become 'accepted' in the modern psyche as the correct shade but is it the correct one ? There is a big difference between the two 6A's.

Agree Spider, the Hot Orange is also a good shade to use.

Cheers,

Lindsay

[spencer]

Second in from left for me .

Cheers
Spencer

[wobbly face]

Gold 6A. Does that not make it a partridge and gold 6A?
The one on the left labelled as old 6A.

[caddisfan]

Originally Posted by wobbly face

Gold 6A. Does that not make it a partridge and gold 6A?
The one on the left labelled as old 6A.

The one on the far left is "Gold 6A", so yes "Partridge and Gold" it would be !


Lindsay

[caddisfan]

Here is one swatch for Pearsalls with the 6A (on far left) labelled as Gold:




I would also recommend checking THIS swatch at Fly Tying Boutique - I understand that Phil Holding has worked with Langley to bring some of these 'original' colours back eg. the 6A here is ala Edmonds and Lee from 1916 (it seems).

It's all fascinating and intruiging stuff and I am not surprised opinion is divided - perhaps Phil will come along and give us the low down !

Lindsay

[wingman]

Here its that man Phil again......

http://www.flyforums.co.uk/fly-tying...-orange-3.html

[coasty]

I have been considering this lately here is a 6a and a 6b,,,,,

Pearsalls silk colours


Andy