ORCA’s David Lehman credited with major research discovery

[Mike N]

The Summer 2023 issue of The American Fly Fisher, the journal of the American Museum of Fly Fishing, has an article by the museum’s curator and ORCA Honorary Life member Jim Schottenham about a major research find by past ORCA President David Lehmann.

Jim credits David with discovering an 1881 note in an obscure Rochester, NY journal which definitively credits James Ratcliffe as the manufacturer of the small, unmarked Billinghurst-style birdcage fly reels sold after Billinghurst’s death in 1880. Jim notes that David’s research solved a “decades-old mystery.”

Way to go, David… and yet another reason to join the AMFF.

[Eric J]

Good job David! Another link to the past has been forged.

[Paul Roberts]

Great work, David!

[joe klaus]

GREAT job David (as usual). I miss you in Houston

[Paul M]

Eagle eyes!

[Brian F.]

Yeah, David!

[Steve]

Yep, good eye, David!

For ORCAns who might be wondering what David discovered:

[Dr. Rob]

Fantastic, both of them!
The thrill of discovery and the satisfaction and elation of having nailed the final piece of the puzzle must be exhilerating!

(I made a similar such discovery recently. I KNOW it is exhilerating!)

Congratulations.

[kyreels]

Great work Dave! Recording history is our most important mission.