Has anyone got any information on the Company, the Factory, or it's staff?
Regards
rusty

Put Milward into the search function here http://orcaonline.org/ipw-web/bulletin/bb/search.php.

Also look at http://clarksclassicflyrodforum.dmc1...mit=Search+All.

They became more of a wholesaler than a manufacturer, with many products bought in from other Redditch companies, and ended up as part of Farlow's in the 1960s (along with Sharpes's and Walker Bampton).

regards,

Doc

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www.doctor-fly.com

Rusty,

Whilst the above links are relevant to the tackle side of the business, Henry Milward & Sons, Ltd of Birmingham were originally a needle maker, and thus became involved in the manufacture of fish hooks. They continued to make needles until relatively recently - Milward Ltd was wound up in 1994.

Their factory, at Washford Mill, between Studley and Redditch http://www.search.revolutionaryplaye...&resource=2893 is now a pub http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/130977.

You can probably get more information about the needle side of the business from The Forge Mill Needle Museum http://redditch.whub.org.uk/home/rbc-al-forge-mill.htm.

Rupe Attwood's book about J.W. Young could have info about Milward's in it http://www.medlarpress.com/7791-J-W-...n-Attwood.html. It's not yet published, but you might try to contact him at willowpitch@blueyonder.co.uk. Or Garry Mills at Mill Tackle Co http://www.milltackle.co.uk/ used to run the Young's manufacturing until it was closed. Best to contact him by phone. And you could write to Jim Young c/o Masterline, Severn Drive, Tewkesbury GL20 8SF.

regards,

Doc

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www.doctor-fly.com

are they related to milbro?

No. As far as I can remember, Milbro was an abbreviation of Millard Brothers.

They still make air gun pellets in Scotland http://www.milbro.co.uk/.

Regards,

Doc

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www.doctor-fly.com

Doctor Fly,
Thanks for the information. I have been to the Needle Museum at Redditch but they were not much help and the fishing tackle element seems to have reduced over the last 35 years or so.
Do you remember Captain Terry Thomas who talked fishing on Midland TV on Friday evenings? He was the marketing manager for Milwards.
They made some average to good fly rods in the 1960s, the Troutrover and the Flycraft. I had a Flycraft Mk 2, which I bought at Redmaine and Tod in Nottingham in 1966.I caught my first trout on it. Fond memories.
Regards
Rusty

Hi Rusty,

I missed all of his TV appearances as I was living in London at the time.

Those people I've met since who knew him from the tackle industry or for Central TV have all described him as a "character", and with an incredible "thirst".

Here's a lovely Flymaster reel from the mid 1950's.



I've just obtained an older aluminium Gyrex fly reel, and I'll post photos of that when I've dated it properly.

Regards,

Doc

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www.doctor-fly.com

And here's the Milward Gyrex 21 - originally sold in 1937 for 12/6 (62.5p).





Regards,

Doc

__________________
www.doctor-fly.com

Doctor Fly,
Thanks for the pictures of the Millwards fly reels. The counterbalance on the first one looks like the the balance weights reintroduced in the 1990's. Quite a usable bit of kit. Clearly with Young's pedigree.
Regards
Rusty

They also made a rod called the "Specialist", it was a top rod - even by Leonard/Payne standards. It was a heavily flame tempered cane (very like a Paul Young rod) with un-blued nickel silver ferrules. It had ebony ferrule stoppers! The action was probably the best I have known from any UK produced fly rod.
I had one at 8' way back in the early 60s. Being a stupid teenager I did not keep it....probably spent the money on a girl!!

I still have a light salmon spinning rod - a "Spinversa" which I use with a Shimano or 5000c on the once in a while when I spin for salmon....still a lovely old rod but not even near the quality of the fly rod I describe above.