Hi,
I'm thinking about writing an article about Thomas J. Conroy and his financial difficulties in the late 1880s and 1890s. Does anyone have any Conroy paper, letters, post cards, and other ephemera they would be willing to share for this article? In addition, I am going to touch on marked Conroy tackle other than reels to show how broad Conroy's business was; I own two marked Conroy spinners, including what I believe to be a rare marked Rangeley spinner. I know he also sold flies in picture envelopes, and as Laurie Bingham reminds us, he marketed the Robinson Mouse in the 1880s as well.
I would appreciate any help you can afford me, as this is to be my first submission to your fine Reel News publication and I don't want to screw it up. Please email me or post. Thanks!
Sincerely,
Prof. Todd E.A. Larson
Thomas J. Conroy Research
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Steve, Check this Out
Steve,
I was reading your fine article on Star Drags in the latest Reel News. Of course I am hampered by not having read the first part of the article, but I was intrigued by your mention and picture of the Vom Hofe marked T.J. Conroy. Is this the reel?
It looks like the reel and the time frame is right, but I will leave it to the experts to decide.
I have over 500 references to Conroy in various magazine, journal, and newspaper articles/ads I have uncovered, so I am fairly certain I can pin down when this particular reel was first advertised by Conroy, if you are interested.
By the way, this particular reel was responsible for a late renaissance in Conroy's history, the last spurt of energy before the end.
Sincerely,
Todd
I was reading your fine article on Star Drags in the latest Reel News. Of course I am hampered by not having read the first part of the article, but I was intrigued by your mention and picture of the Vom Hofe marked T.J. Conroy. Is this the reel?
It looks like the reel and the time frame is right, but I will leave it to the experts to decide.
I have over 500 references to Conroy in various magazine, journal, and newspaper articles/ads I have uncovered, so I am fairly certain I can pin down when this particular reel was first advertised by Conroy, if you are interested.
By the way, this particular reel was responsible for a late renaissance in Conroy's history, the last spurt of energy before the end.
Sincerely,
Todd
Conroy Facts
As so many of you are so knowledgable about Conroy, maybe you can tell me if the following ten facts are common knowledge:
1) That John Conroy lived for nearly 20 years after turning over the company to his son, and spent nearly every day hanging out and kibbitzing around the Conroy store?
2) T.J. Conroy and Fred Malleson worked closely together after they split?
3) TJ was not a very good businessman, declaring bankruptcy a number of times?
4) That he moved 4 times after leaving 65 Fulton St?
5) That he manufactured bicycles?
6) That for almost 20 years his most important sales item was a miner's helmet?
7) That TJ was the baseball manager of an important 19th century baseball team?
8) That TJ was one of the earliest members of the famed N.Y. Angler's Club?
9) That in the 1880s his store carried the equivalent in today's $ of approximately $700,000 in goods?
10) That he was a champion fly caster who regularly took part in tournaments but could never beat the likes of Reuben Wood?
Is any of this at all new information?
Cheers,
Todd
1) That John Conroy lived for nearly 20 years after turning over the company to his son, and spent nearly every day hanging out and kibbitzing around the Conroy store?
2) T.J. Conroy and Fred Malleson worked closely together after they split?
3) TJ was not a very good businessman, declaring bankruptcy a number of times?
4) That he moved 4 times after leaving 65 Fulton St?
5) That he manufactured bicycles?
6) That for almost 20 years his most important sales item was a miner's helmet?
7) That TJ was the baseball manager of an important 19th century baseball team?
8) That TJ was one of the earliest members of the famed N.Y. Angler's Club?
9) That in the 1880s his store carried the equivalent in today's $ of approximately $700,000 in goods?
10) That he was a champion fly caster who regularly took part in tournaments but could never beat the likes of Reuben Wood?
Is any of this at all new information?
Cheers,
Todd
Todd,
Your ad shows the same reel that was illustrated on the right in my article, which bore a T.J.C. stamping. (The caption for the reel on the left is incorrect. The pic shows an Edward Vom Hofe reel, a "Star Special" 1916 model, probably the first EVH with a star drag.)
To answer your trick quiz: None of the information is "new," of course, but whether or not any given collector is aware of each factoid is an open question. Some folks know a lot of Conroy history, some folks don't. Conroy was important enough that no market research is needed before doing an article.
Many collectors are relatively new, compared to us old f__ts, and they have missed a lot of information published over the last couple of decades. "Reel News" has published plenty of articles on subjects that had been covered in many defunct collector periodicals. Even so, all too many people seem to be unaware of articles published in RN only a few years, even a few months, ago. All of this stuff probably will require much repetition before it becomes "common" knowledge.
Your ad shows the same reel that was illustrated on the right in my article, which bore a T.J.C. stamping. (The caption for the reel on the left is incorrect. The pic shows an Edward Vom Hofe reel, a "Star Special" 1916 model, probably the first EVH with a star drag.)
To answer your trick quiz: None of the information is "new," of course, but whether or not any given collector is aware of each factoid is an open question. Some folks know a lot of Conroy history, some folks don't. Conroy was important enough that no market research is needed before doing an article.
Many collectors are relatively new, compared to us old f__ts, and they have missed a lot of information published over the last couple of decades. "Reel News" has published plenty of articles on subjects that had been covered in many defunct collector periodicals. Even so, all too many people seem to be unaware of articles published in RN only a few years, even a few months, ago. All of this stuff probably will require much repetition before it becomes "common" knowledge.
Cool
Steve,
I found it fascinating that they had the wrong caption on the ad! Was this common with reels? So many companies tried to use the same printer blocks year after year (to save money I'm sure) that its surprising more errors weren't made.
And here I thought Thomas J. Conroy, baseball manager, was a novel fact! :D Just kidding.
Todd
I found it fascinating that they had the wrong caption on the ad! Was this common with reels? So many companies tried to use the same printer blocks year after year (to save money I'm sure) that its surprising more errors weren't made.
And here I thought Thomas J. Conroy, baseball manager, was a novel fact! :D Just kidding.
Todd
