The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Does any one know how or have experimented in making quill caps from bird feathers? What is the red wax like covering found on these period items.?Does the feathers require boiling to make suppel.deft fingers to wrap and tie up the cap one by one. Alcocks used to stock these in sliding lid tins marked "QUILL CAPS",Were they produced in house ,out workers or sourced else where ? I believe what occasionally comes onto the market now is of French origin.Any information welcomed or I go it alone to see what can be done ... Tony

I used to make a few of these caps. I didn't really prepare the quill beforehand. One tip is to do the whips/wraps on a whole uncut quill then cut to size afterwards. This way it's far less fiddly and one can get four or five caps per quill.

I was lucky enough to get some of these when John Andrews discovered an old French batch still in their wrappings. On these, at least, the red stuff was cellulose pain the same as the float tips...exactly like nail varnish.

Nobby wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:58 am I was lucky enough to get some of these when John Andrews discovered an old French batch still in their wrappings. On these, at least, the red stuff was cellulose pain the same as the float tips...exactly like nail varnish.

They look great Nobby, a real glimpse into the past, so tactile!