Re: Hardy Reel Makers Initials
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 2:09 am
Hi All
I'm new to the forum and have a question regarding Hardy Perfect reels and makers' initials.
I recently bought one to use with a cane fly rod (7'6" 4wt) made by a local craftsman and fishing pal in Salt Lake City, Utah.
I got the reel on ebay last week and it turned out to be the one pictured on this web page
http://existentialangler.blogspot.com/2 ... kings.html
under the heading
" 1950 - 1966
The curved lettering changed to straight line ~".
By "same reel" I do mean actual reel, not just model. I can tell from the initials and other wear marks scratched
into the winding plate. The description on the web page is consistent with the seller's description of "early post war"
so I'm pretty happy with my buy. I fished with it on Monday and it was great.
So my question is regarding the marks on the parts. All three major parts: winding plate, spool, and frame have
"85" punched into them. I believe that these are batch numbers and is good evidence that the reel is made up of
three parts that were meant to go together from when they were made in the factory, not something cobbled
together from parts of other reels.
It also has an "H" punched into the winding plate. "H" doesn't appear the list of known makers/finishers'
initials that Mark posted at the top of this thread, and I'm guessing that perhaps this might be from a late model
when the initials were used more generically for quality control and didn't refer to specific craftsmen or women.
If anyone can confirm or contradict my guesses regarding "85" and "H", or otherwise enlighten me I'd be very grateful.
There's no great significance to my inquiry, it's just that I find the possibility of identifying the actual maker of the reel
intriguing.
So, a pretty long winded post for a simple question, but I'd appreciate any help.
Best
Alun Thomas.
I'm new to the forum and have a question regarding Hardy Perfect reels and makers' initials.
I recently bought one to use with a cane fly rod (7'6" 4wt) made by a local craftsman and fishing pal in Salt Lake City, Utah.
I got the reel on ebay last week and it turned out to be the one pictured on this web page
http://existentialangler.blogspot.com/2 ... kings.html
under the heading
" 1950 - 1966
The curved lettering changed to straight line ~".
By "same reel" I do mean actual reel, not just model. I can tell from the initials and other wear marks scratched
into the winding plate. The description on the web page is consistent with the seller's description of "early post war"
so I'm pretty happy with my buy. I fished with it on Monday and it was great.
So my question is regarding the marks on the parts. All three major parts: winding plate, spool, and frame have
"85" punched into them. I believe that these are batch numbers and is good evidence that the reel is made up of
three parts that were meant to go together from when they were made in the factory, not something cobbled
together from parts of other reels.
It also has an "H" punched into the winding plate. "H" doesn't appear the list of known makers/finishers'
initials that Mark posted at the top of this thread, and I'm guessing that perhaps this might be from a late model
when the initials were used more generically for quality control and didn't refer to specific craftsmen or women.
If anyone can confirm or contradict my guesses regarding "85" and "H", or otherwise enlighten me I'd be very grateful.
There's no great significance to my inquiry, it's just that I find the possibility of identifying the actual maker of the reel
intriguing.
So, a pretty long winded post for a simple question, but I'd appreciate any help.
Best
Alun Thomas.