Matching color thread for MKIV

[Leon Hoogendijk]

Hello to everyone,

I'm restoring a B James Richard Walker MKIV (year 1957/58) with burgundy color whippings. Some of the guide-whippings have to be redone. Which today available silk (and size) would match the original burgundy whippings best?

Thank in advance for your help.

Leon Hoogendijk

FRANCE

[St.John]

Are you re-doing the whole rods whippings or just the rough ones? I got some silk from chapmans a few years ago that was pretty close. Or else try pipers silk but depending on how you varnish it the colour match will be trial and error. I'm sure some of the more knowledgable members will point you in the right direction

[The Tuesday Swim]

Welcome Leon,

Try Gudebrod garnet, I've just replaced a few rings on my Mark IV, its a good match. Before the varnish goes on don't be alarmed that the thread looks purple'ish! It settles down nicely with a coat of varnish.

[Wilts Traditionalist]

Hi Leon,

I know that the original colours were Burgandy, but I had mine refurbished in Grass Green which just seems to add a certain something to the rod.

In fact, all of my cane rods are done in the same colour and I think my Wallis Wizard looks fabulous like that.

Good luck though in finding the burgandy colour that you want.

[JerryC]

Although most of the MK IV's were whipped in crimson (appears burgundy with age) green-whipping was sometimes used. It is believed that this was due to nothing more than than 'Jimmy' James running out of crimson silk. Most of the rods DW made himself were green-whipped with a couple brown-whipped (including the one believed to have caught the 44lb'er) and the odd crimson one. As far as know none made by DW had intermediate whippings.

[Leon Hoogendijk]

Thanks for the advice Tadpole. Does Gudebrod only do one size? If not, what size should I look for?

Leon

[GarryProcter]

Leon, I stripped and re-ringed my B. James Mk IV (years ago) and I was advised to use Gudebrod A 206 (which is Garnet, I think), which worked out very well. I'm not sure if this is still available, but I'm sure that someone on here will know.

Forgot to say, "A" is the size of thread.

Had a quick search - Hopkins and Holloway list it here

[Nobby]

I think Size A is the same as 30, which I used to think meant 30 turns to an inch, but it's definitely finer than that.

Certainly I've just been using some Fish Hawk 30, which is also shown as Size A, in garnet as well, and it's very fine indeed. In truth I find the stuff ruddy hard to work with...getting the lighting just right helps to avoid either gaps of jump-overs.


In case you are tempted, I wouldn't recommend Fish Hawk, it fluffs up at the slightest scratch, but I'd say their garnet was pretty close on to the B.James thread.

[The Sweetcorn Kid]

Hi Leon

Welcome to the forum, hope you find the info you require.

[Leon Hoogendijk]

I've got hold of some "Nett Silk 368 Avon Maroon", 80/3 denier, which should match perfectly I'm told.

Has any of you used that before?

Leon