Lyon & Coulson Varden

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Thu May 17, 2007 12:18 pm

Young st. george clone, c. 1939.
This is the first reel in my prewar JW Young collection marked for a US merchant.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Thu May 17, 2007 4:48 pm

That is an awesome reel. Just outstanding, and the first marked reel I have seen for Lyon & Coulson. I have owned a number of L&C pieces, ranging from Heddon-made fly rods to all manner of fly fishing equipment, but had always wondered why I hadn't run into an L&C reel. Now I know they exist so I can break out the history of L&C I have been working on and add it to the list of future "Reels of the Trade" articles!

Thanks for sharing Ron. I always look forward to your posts.

--Dr. Todd
http://fishinghistory.blogspot.com/

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Thu May 17, 2007 5:42 pm

Information provided to me by Rupe Atwood, that will be published in his forthcoming tome:
from the Young wholesale catalogs, this reel is the pattern 15a, and was available in 3-1/8", 3-3/8", 3-1/2" (medium-wide) and 4" sizes.

here's a couple that I fish (and these are delightful to fish - the best I own)
3-1/8" Milward Flycraft, and 3-3/8" ummarked

also Todd, if you turn up a '39-40 L&C catalog, I sure would like a scan of any imported fly reels.