G.Farlow Holdfast 3,5 inch - approx age ?

Jean-Paul · Post by **Jean-Paul** » Sun May 08, 2005 8:12 am

A buddy of mine has a G.Farlow and C TD London SW 1
Holdfast reel and would like to know the age/approx. value ?
Other inscriptions :
Holdfast logo (fish held in hands, ropes), British 32255-33
D(BW-P) Flyreel New-Zealand 734-16, 3,5 inch size

I hope I got the inscriptions right...

He's into collecting fishing stuff but doens't have any knowledge on
old fly-reels (neither do I), he just liked the way it looked when he bought it...

I have been looking on auction websites( he doesn't have internet), found a bunch of Farlow's but not this one, seems to be a large difference in price between all the different types... Any ideas would be much appreciated.

If I would have to guess, I'd estimate it around 1910 and a 100 USD value ?
But my thing is Sportex and Belgian reels...

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Mon May 09, 2005 8:05 am

Farlows was making and selling reels for about 160 years.
They're still in business. http://orcaonline.org/images/pixel.gif?farlowsstory.htm
Any reel made before about 1920 would have listed the address as 191 The Strand.

With all those patents, I'm wondering if you have a mid-50s salmon reel, such as a ...BW...P.

Duh, your reel is a BWP, a 1950's salmon reel with an adjustible click-pawl drag - the sliding bar across the backplate pushes a long wedge that loads the pawl spring to increase drag tension.

Value will depend on condition. $100 would be a near-perfect reel with little to no paint marks. $60-$80 is more in line with the typical condition, which is rash on the paint around the frame edges.

Here's a couple of 3" dry fly reels from the same vintage, a Panton and Grenaby.

Jean-Paul · Post by **Jean-Paul** » Mon May 09, 2005 10:23 am

Thanks for the information, much appreciated !
I will pay him a visit and take a look at the reel (he gave me the data by phone),
but you are probably right about this one.

I really gotta get myself a book on old reels... any suggestions ?

As for spinning reels I have Ben's book, the ultimate reference material !

Best regards and happy collecting !
Jean-Paul

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Mon May 09, 2005 10:43 am

I have not seen one good book that covers all fly reels - the problem is that there are too many bases to cover, and the generic books usually have shallow and inaccurate information.
If you're interested in UK reels, I'd recommend... oops, it looks like http://www.antiquetackleobserver.com/ is down right now.
Watch this website, it's Stephan Duma's site for the UK magazine The Antique Tackle Observer
He has book sales from his site, as well.
Waller's books have been recommended for UK reels.
posting a bibliography link from a EU reel organization:
http://www.vhv-daca.org/bibliography.html
(Just remember, we don't like Carl Calati here -

)

BTW, if he's starting a Farlow's collection, the 2 reels above are for sale. And if he's interested in selling, I'd like to know. Thanks
Ron Mc

Jean-Paul · Post by **Jean-Paul** » Mon May 09, 2005 2:57 pm

Hi,

Don't know if he plans on selling it, as long as it looks nice in his cabinet, I don't think he will sell. He's more of a trader anyway (like myself...).

I'm thinking about buying "Lawson's Price Guide To Old Fishing Reels", seems a nice guide on reels. I know prices can never be "correct", but that's not my main objective, just need something to make it easier to date reels and put them in the right perspective...

I do have some other excellent books, like Dan 's book on Swedish reels, Ben's book on Spinning reels cool-thumb and a couple of books on Luxor, Mitchell and other french reels.
But nothing on fly-reels or casting reels...

Thanks for the bibliography-link on VHV-DACA, I have to say I knew about that one, I'm a VHV-DACA member myself

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Mon May 09, 2005 3:29 pm

we also discuss fly reel's on Clark's board:
http://classicflyrodforum.com/forum/

Stefan Duma · Post by **Stefan Duma** » Wed May 11, 2005 7:29 pm

Hi just back from Oklahoma Atlanta and New York on business. The web site is up and running as I have changed the service provider whilst away.
The reel has the 1933 registration number and was introduced for fly fishing specifically for New Zealand. I did an article on it a few years ago and will try and dig it out and let everyone have the information.

Regards

Stefan

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Fri May 13, 2005 7:00 am

oops - I once heard there was a prewar BWP with agate lineguide - just never seen one. The prewar reel in VG condition should be worth $200++

Would love to see the article.

Jean-Paul · Post by **Jean-Paul** » Tue May 17, 2005 1:00 am

Cool ! I will try to get a better description of the reel and find out if it's still complete and original. Pictures would be better but he doesn't have a digital.
Looking forward to the article, could be interesting as it seems !
Thanks,
Jean-Paul