THREE bespoke Hardy reels were offered by Holts as part of their shooting sale at Princess Louise House, Hammersmith on March 20.
The pair of big game reels, shown here, created around 1905 for
estuarine trolling and tarpon fishing are thought be unique.
With 5,5/8in (14cm) nickel-plated brass bodies, they were a
non-production size and each had a custom ivorine handle that could
be elongated when the user was in 'fish-fighting' mode.
They were marked 1 and 2 and each
was offered in a fitted Hardy leather case.
According to the vendor they were bespoke commissions for W.H.
Grenfell, Lord Desborough of Taplow, a renowned all-round
sportsman, politician and captor of 100 tarpon in less than a month
in Florida. Estimated at £5000-7000, they sold at
£16,500.
A single bronzed brass Birmingham-style reel of c.1900 was also
a monster, measuring 6in (15cm) in diameter where the design was
only listed by Hardy at up to 5in (12.5cm). Again it was probably
made as a special request and again it was in excellent condition,
very little used and retaining its full bronzed finish and black
horn handle.
It made £6200 against an estimate of £2000-3000.
The buyer's premium was 20%.
Cascapedia Reel
Meanwhile, another interesting Hardy reel appeared at
Angling Auctions (15% buyer's premium) sale at
Chiswick Town Hall on March 29.
Grand Cascapedia River in Quebec gave its name to one of Hardy's
most famous inter-War reels. Designed for salmon fishing where
larger fish and strong currents required a robust reel and a
multiplying action, the ebonite and nickel
silver Cascapedia with its distinctive S-shaped
handle was made only between 1932 and 1938 (although it has
recently been reborn in a Mark II
version).
Most examples were in smaller sizes but records at the Alnwick
factory note the production of 13 reels in the 1/0 size.
The well-preserved example at Angling Auctions, smothered in
Royal appointment medallions, proved the highlight of the sale.
It improved upon an £8000-12,000 estimate at £15,000.
Totalling £220,000 this catalogue took the value of antique
fishing tackle sold in the UK in mid-March well beyond
£500,000.
St George Salmon
Also appearing at Mullocks (16% buyer's
premium) last month was another top Hardy reel.
Offeredat Ludlow Racecourse on March 15, the Hardy 4,1/4in
(11cm) alloy widedrum fly reel is known as the St George
Salmon. It is relatively common in smaller sizes but it is
thought to be one of perhaps 100 of these reels made for salmon
fishing c.1920-24.
This example retained virtually all its original dark lead and
bronze finish and came in its fitted Hardy block-leather case.
Estimated at £2300 to £2800, it topped the specialist fishing
sale at £3200.
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