Originating from Redditch I am slowly building up a collection of old tackle that was made there, as I believe that some of the finest fishing tackle ever made came from Redditch. Of particular interest are split cane fishing rods (fly and coarse). I have some from George Wilkins and Edgar Sealey. Some names I remember like Millwards and Shakespeare, do any of you remember the others? and does anyone remember where George Wilkins factory was. I know it was Crown Works but cannot remember where in the town this was.

Also I have some reels made by JW Young, does anyone know of any other reel makers in Redditch.

Redditch ,
well there is still Sprite ,Vince green is still producing hooks !
Buy from Spartonfly , dam good hooks !

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Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

There's a Crown Works in Brook Street today - whether it's the same one?

There used to be a small section in the Forge Mill Needle Museum devoted to Redditch made fishing tackle. They may have a directory of tackle manufacturers.

And a book about to be published on the history of J. W. Young & Sons http://www.medlarpress.com/7791-J_W_...n_Attwood.html should mention Samuel Allcock, Henry Milward, Albert Smith etc. if only because Young's made reels for them.

Sprite aren't the only ones left either, if you count the adjoining town of Studley - home to Hopkins & Holloway www.hopkinsholloway.co.uk (manufacturer of rod rings for Sage amongst others) and The Mill Tackle Company www.milltackle.co.uk where Garry Mills is still making magnificent Aerial style centre-pins.

Regards,

Doc

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www.doctor-fly.com

Thanks for the info, have since managed to contact an old uncle of mine who was a postman in Redditch during the 1960's. He remembers Crown works in Brook Street but can't remember what company occupied it. Maybe it will come back to him in time, and the location of others.

Thanks again

Mell

Doc ,
thanks for the correction ,do either Hopkins and Holloway and Mr Mills have staff who will be able to continue the bussiness after they retire .
Sadly once Vince at Sprite retires that will be the end of UK hook manufacture !

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Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

I don't know about Gregg Holloway's family - and H&H is quite a large business with plenty of employees, but Garry Mills' son is already working for him.

And don't forget, the mighty Shakespeare are still manufacturing flylines in Redditch.

Regards,

Doc

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www.doctor-fly.com

Andy,

So when did Partridge close their Redditch factory?

I saw Terry and Di Emms at the BIFF in 2005 - Terry had retired and Di was working for Shakespeare. Ole Bjerke was there manning the Partridge stand (and again in 2006, the last time I attended). I knew that some hooks were now made in, for example, Singapore, but as I'm completely out of the loop these days, was unaware the Mount Pleasant works had shut.

The Partridge factory in Mount Pleasant is now flats.

Tastefully converted, though.

Regards,

Doc

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www.doctor-fly.com

Hook manufacture has even left singapore I hear ,now all done in eithr Korea or China ¬

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Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

I had also omitted 2M who also manufacture lines !

__________________
Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!