looks very much like my sun beam

The Laird,

Sir, can't be sure of your reel number showing as a whole but the records show that the serial number is as follows:
1899 : 43930 to 49019
I read your number as 44803.
(Very doubtful, but you could just have a premanufacture reel either as the prime invention or showpiece).

Manufacture of the Uniqua is shown as being:

Uniqua - Brass Drum Pattern (1903)
Uniqua (1903 - 1959)
Uniqua Salmon (1909 - 1959)

The initials shown on the outside of the reel are bogus as far as Hardy are concerned as the initials always appear on the inside. None are on record for the Uniqua but should you find any then they should equate to an engineering maker.

Should the serial number have hidden digits then they could show a different manufacturing date.

Cheers mines a

hi Brooktrout ,thanks for the info but the initials on the reel are on the inner face of the spool above a stamped no 4 and the serial no actually reads 34803 with a no 4 stamped above this ,the first no the 3 can clearly be seen when i pull the click pawl to the left . any further information you are able to give me would be much appreciated.
best regards Tam
.
ps if it is quite rare should i stop fishing with it ?

With that "Oil" latch, and what looks like a non-compensating check, I'd say it was pre 1910, so probably 1909.

There looks to be some initials under the serial number. They would indicate the name of the maker. Check with the list here http://www.highfields.cowichanweb.com/reel-maker.shtml.

Look after it.

regards,

Doc

Hi Laird,

Sorry to have taken so long, I'm on vacation in the Aegean at the moment and missing my fishing, 2 months now, I'm definitely in withdrawal.

The plot thickens as my Hardy serial number list shows that serial number as follows:
1896 31706 34956

This is slightly earlier, I think, than I last made it!

I believe that you have a very early pre-manufacture reel. As such it is likely to have been built entirely by hand and is probably built using the very finest engineering quality available to the Victorian sporting goods engineer. Now to bring us exactly down to earth:
1] I am an amateur Hardy historian.
2] There are known to be dating and numbering anomalies in the Hardy history
3] I'm afraid that even if the initials are to be found on the inside they are
a] Seemingly too sharp and scratchy.
b] They seem to lack "age".
c] The initials don't match the very short list of initials available.

So. Do you use the reel? I would but with very great care but can I ask do you need to use the reel? The reel in any event will become worth more and more dependent on desire. For instance antique furniture sells for less now than it did 30 years ago; why, well I think peoples desire to use easy care furniture where they use it for bog standard living rather than show or entertaining and probably the word vogue sums it up.

I believe the reel should live in a show case and looked upon, dreamed upon in the days of horse hair, lanolin, beef fat, suet and any other locally available float-ant including the then mandatory drying out on rocks while it's brother or sister was put into use in the golden days of country sport. It is without question a very old early reel. I attach herewith a copy of my list of makers initials for your perusal.

Cheers,
BrookTrout:Mines a :guiness:

Hardy Reel Makers - Initials

Initials
(Period Employed) Hardy Maker's Name Reels Made
AB (1893 - ?) Alfred/Freddie Broadley Salmon Perfects
AHW (1901-1939) Arthur Wall Silex
AP (1933-1939) Addie Pringle Hardex
C (? ) Callow or Clark Silex
D (1891-1911) William Dingley Silex
DW (1926-1939) Denys Ward Silex
EB (1935-1939) Edward Broadfoot Altex, Wallis, Jock Scott
EGW (1949-1954) Eric Willcox Hardex, Sea Reels
GS (1914-1922) George Stone Fly
GT (1929-1939) Gordon Talbot Altex, Silex, Perfects
IR (1948-1950) Isabel Richardson Hardex
JAJ (1918-1967) Joe Johnson Jock Scott, Altex, Fly, Multi, Tournament, Development
JBW (1910-1939) Joe Wallace Silex
JD (1920-1966) James Dodds Silex
JH (1948-1992) James Hardy Perfect, Altex
JL (1936-1987) Jack Luke Altex, Elarex, Exalta
JRJ (1938-1966) Jack Johnson Altex, Exalta, Elarex, Fly
JS (1908-1960) James Smith Fly
JSD (1920-1957) James Davison Fortuna, Zane Grey, Decantelle, Tournament
JW (1893-1916) John "Jackie" Waugh Fly
LD (? - ?) Unknown Super Silex
MC (1903-?) Jimmy McM**** Silex
MH (1949-1999) Main Hudson Hardex, Altex, Fly, development
MR (1950-1954) Maurice Richardson Hardex
NMH (1938-1968) Norman Heatherington Fortuna, Sea Reels
PW (1920-1954) Percy Walsh Silex
RB (1890-1920) Robert Borthwick Fly
RH (1937-1987) Raymond Humble Altex, Elarex
RL (PreWWI) Unknown Perfect
RM (1928-1939) Robert McLain Longstone, S. African, Sea Reels
RMS (1916-1967) Robert Marshall Scott Jock Scott, Altex, Elarex, Exalta, Silex, Super Silex Multiplier
RR (1938-1950) Robert Richardson Fly
TA (1920-1947) Thomas Appleby Silex
TAG (1928-1978 Thomas Armstrong Fly
TB (? - ?) Thomas Bates ?
TD (? - ?) ? Perfect
TH (1928-1930) Thomas Hall Fly, Hardex
TM (1946-1997) Terence Moore Hardex
TP (1920-1930) Thomas Pattin-son Fly
TW (1934-1950) Thomas Wilkinson Longstone, Sea Silex
WO (1938-1950) William Ord Hardex
WS (1929-1939) Wilf Sinton Fly, Hardex
No mark (circ. 1894) W. Rodgers Farne

Hi Laird,
Use it, enjoy it and don't break it.
Doc, above, has the date correct I believe.

Those numbers being quoted are "Rod" serial numbers, not reel.

Brian

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“Let’s TACKLE Cancer” supporter

As I understand the serial numbering it was a common list for both rods and reels as it was for titles and makers.

The Reel in question is definitely recorded as in shop sale production in 1903.

BrrokTrout

How did that work then?

-B-

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“Let’s TACKLE Cancer” supporter

Hi Guy's I appreciate that this thread was sometime ago but hopefully you can still pick this reply up?
I have a Hardy Uniqua and I have followed your charts to age this reel but I am struggling as mine only has a 4 under the check mechanism (not a serial number) and the letter S stamped in the body and spool. he brass reel seat has an H stamped on it. Any help would be nice it is a 3 1/2 inch body and has caught many fish (honestly) before it retired.