I recently acquired an old Carter & Co reel. It is a spitfire copy of a 3.5/8” Perfect in excellent condition, a lovely reel. Not sure whether to fish with it or keep it as is. A Google search was unfruitful. Does anyone know the history of Carter & Co?

Have a look here:

http://91.186.163.159/sporting/catel...et2=739&id=130

There are a few specialist forums where the members have a wealth of knowledge about classic reels, so I would enquire within one of these..

http://fiberglassflyrodders.yuku.com/forums/4

http://clarksclassicflyrodforum.dmc1....com/forums/72

http://orcaonline.org/ipw-web/bullet...7d4cd99548fdd5

I don't think it matters which one you choose as they seem to be inhabited by the same people.

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The truth is that if it were not for anglers the majority of our streams and rivers would be largely lifeless. A rather more uncomfortable truth is that, as anglers, most of us are far less active than we should be in fulfilling our responsibilities to help protect the rivers we fish
Peter Lapsley
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Monnow Fisheries Association
Riffles and Runs
Charfield AA

When I arrived in London in 67 Carters still were trading very close to the bank of England .Possibly continued trading until 1970ish ,was a total game shop and I was a barbel angler at the time .

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

Thank you all for your in put. I shall continue the search.

Carter reels were usually made by J W Young in Redditch. Your reel should have the thunbscrew on the handle side of the reel. Other Perfect copies are by Dingley (which are worth more) and have the screw on the ventilated spool side.

These reels were not made as spitfires, so it is likely that a previous owner has stripped the finish.

Why don't you post some photos so we can offer some better opinions?

Regards,

Doc

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www.doctor-fly.com

Doctorfly - thanks for the info. Looks like a Young's to me. Can't work out how to upload the pics. Tips?

bradan,

Info. on posting photographs - http://www.flyforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7466


Dave.

Dave,

Thank you. Magic. SO easy and not how the forum suggests - which doesn't work.

So, a Young's I think. Anyone like to hazard an age guesstimate? I'd guess 1930-50. It's a duplicated check and the body is heavier, more robust, than my Hardy's Perfects of that period.

Peter

That handle, known as a "chewing gum handle", dates it from 1922 to the early 1930s or so. The trade name was "Erinoid" http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/r...g=2&imagepos=6, and was made from milk in the Stroud area of Gloucestershire http://www.plastiquarian.com/casein2.htm, but, unfortunately, turned greenish and crazed from contact with the elements in the alloy.

Hardy used it first, as an alternative to Ivorine, but stopped after a couple of years. Young used it for longer, as the family were involved in its manufacture.

Regards,

Doc

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www.doctor-fly.com