Were all Engish Ustonson reels marked Ustonson?

[drexelantiques]

I buy from an English Antique importer sometimes when he brings in fishing items from England relating to fishing.

He called me yesterday, said he had some Nottingham wood reels, and other English tackle.

I went to see him, bought some of the wood reels to sell, bought a couple of cast and fly boxes. In amongst the junk reels he had was an old, tarnished, brass reel that had a family crest on it, said "Maker to HRH Prince of Wales - Bell Yard, London" on it.

Looking in Graham Turner's book, the Ustonson, and Ustonson & Peters, were located there.

Has a bone or ivory handle, and a reel stop. Long foot.

[reels4me]

Are you just trying to get us all excited or what ? Better get on the flight
to the National ORCA meet in WASH. state...see what happens. Hoo boy!

[Shimanoman]

Hi Drexelantiques; Does the crest have 3 feathers on it?f so , it is the crest of the Prince of Wales. You can also find these crests on Jams -Fortnum &Mason,ScotchBlack& White etc. Quite often suppliers of or purveyors of products to the royal household would pay a fee in order to be granted permission to include the crest on their product (the late Queen Mother was,it is rumoured ,V fond of her gin) I seem to remember that the House of Hardy has also been granted that designation to HRH The Prince of Wales .. Regards Shimanoman