An ingenious piece of American angling equipment
A wonderfully distinctive vintage fishing light by Flex-Lite of Kalamazoo, Michigan, combining purposeful American design with the practical ingenuity of traditional fishing accessories.
The lamp features a slender, flexible gooseneck that allows the light to be directed precisely where needed. Its compact metal body, brass-coloured finish and adjustable neck give it an unmistakably utilitarian character.
Flexible lights of this kind were particularly useful to anglers working with small flies, fine tippets and delicate tackle in poor light. Rather than relying on a fixed beam, the angler could position the lamp to illuminate a particular task while keeping both hands free.
Flex-Lite also produced flexible inspection lights for other practical applications, making these lamps an interesting example of American industrial design finding a place among traditional fishing equipment.
This example retains its characteristic brass-coloured finish and articulated neck. It has been tested and is fully functional.
A charming and increasingly uncommon piece of fishing ephemera, equally appealing as a practical accessory or as an addition to a collection of vintage American angling equipment.
Maker: Flex-Lite
Origin: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
Type: Flexible fishing and utility light
Construction: Metal body with flexible gooseneck
Finish: Brass-coloured
Function: Adjustable directional lighting
Working condition: Tested and fully functional
Further photographs, measurements and international shipping information are available upon request.
A beautifully preserved vintage angler's vest from the House of Hardy, made in England and dating to approximately the latter half of the 1970s.
Made from traditional khaki cotton, the vest features a practical arrangement of pockets, a wool fly patch on the chest and the distinctive Hardy shield badge. Its understated design reflects an era when fishing clothing was made primarily for utility, comfort and durability rather than fashion.
The House of Hardy of Alnwick needs little introduction. Celebrated for its rods and reels, the firm also produced a range of traditional fishing accessories and clothing, designed with the same appreciation for the practical requirements of the angler.
This example appears to have seen little, if any, actual use. It remains in remarkably fine overall condition, although the cotton fabric shows some natural ageing consistent with its approximately fifty years.
A charming piece of British angling heritage, equally suitable for use on the river or as part of a collection of classic Hardy tackle and accessories.
Maker: House of Hardy, England
Period: c. 1975–1979 (estimated)
Material: Khaki cotton
Features: Multiple pockets, wool fly patch, Hardy shield badge
Condition: Excellent vintage condition, apparently little used, with some ageing to the cotton
Origin: Made in England
Questions about measurements, condition or international shipping are always welcome.
A Traditional British Angling Accessory
A handsome vintage trout priest from Hardy, combining a substantial brass head with a beautifully shaped teak handle.
The priest is one of the most traditional and enduring accessories of the British trout fisherman. Simple in its purpose and construction, it reflects an era when even the smallest items of fishing equipment were made with care and attention to materials.
Hardy Brothers of Alnwick produced a wide range of practical angling accessories alongside their celebrated rods and reels. Their traditional wooden-handled priests, fitted with weighted brass heads, are characteristic examples of the firm's approach to dependable fishing equipment.
The brass head has a pleasing, understated appearance, while the teak handle has acquired a smooth and supple feel through age and handling.
Its compact proportions make it an attractive companion to a traditional fishing bag or creel, and a fitting addition to a collection of classic Hardy tackle.
The priest is currently without a wrist lanyard. A simple leather strap could be fitted if the new owner intends to use it regularly.
An appealing piece of traditional British angling equipment, combining straightforward functionality with the quiet elegance of natural materials.
Maker: Hardy
Type: Trout priest
Head: Brass
Handle: Teak
Wrist lanyard: Not fitted
Period: Vintage; exact date not established
Condition: Used, with natural age-related character
Further photographs, measurements and international shipping information are available upon request.
A traditional canvas and leather angler's bag from Alnwick, England
A wonderfully characterful vintage fishing shoulder bag from Hardy Brothers of Alnwick, combining the practical simplicity of traditional British angling equipment with the unmistakable patina of a piece that has spent many years by the river.
Constructed from sturdy canvas with leather straps and brass buckles, the bag features a generous main compartment and two external pockets. A broad, adjustable shoulder strap provides comfortable carrying, while a brass landing-net ring is fitted to one side.
The design is characteristic of an era when an angler's equipment was expected to be functional, dependable and capable of acquiring character through years of use.
This is a well-used example, with the attractive patina that only genuine use and age can provide. The canvas, leather and brass fittings show the marks of a long working life, but the bag remains sound, with no tears or structural defects noted.
There is some staining to the interior. Although these marks could probably be reduced through careful cleaning, they have deliberately been left untouched, preserving the bag's original character.
For those who appreciate traditional fishing equipment, this is part of its appeal: a piece that has clearly accompanied an angler through many seasons, yet remains ready for further use.
A handsome and practical companion to a classic Hardy rod and reel, or an evocative addition to a collection of British angling accessories.
Maker: Hardy Brothers, Alnwick, England
Type: Traditional angler's shoulder bag
Material: Canvas with leather fittings
Hardware: Brass buckles and landing-net ring
Compartments: One main compartment and two external pockets
Strap: Broad, adjustable shoulder strap
Condition: Well-used vintage condition with substantial patina, interior staining, no reported tears or structural defects
Further photographs, measurements and international shipping information are available upon request.
Traditional canvas, leather and shearling reel protection
A handsome vintage fly reel case from Barbour, combining the practical character of traditional British angling accessories with the understated quality for which the company is known.
Constructed from sturdy canvas with leather trim, the case features a brass zipper and a soft shearling lining designed to protect a treasured reel from scratches and handling marks.
Its generous proportions accommodate a larger salmon reel of approximately 3¾ inches in diameter, making it a particularly fitting companion to a classic Hardy Perfect, St George or similar traditional fly reel, subject to the reel's overall dimensions.
Barbour's long association with British country pursuits is reflected in the case's straightforward construction and choice of materials. There is nothing superfluous about the design: simply a practical, attractive piece of equipment made to protect a fine reel.
A useful addition to the tackle collection of anyone who appreciates traditional fishing accessories and the quiet elegance of well-made vintage equipment.
Maker: Barbour
Type: Fly reel case
Material: Canvas with leather trim
Closure: Brass zipper
Lining: Shearling
Capacity: Approximately 3¾-inch salmon reel
Condition: Please refer to the photographs for details
Further measurements and international shipping information are available upon request.
Traditional canvas, leather and brass — a dependable companion on the river
A sturdy, unbranded angler's shoulder bag of traditional design, made from hard-wearing canvas with leather fittings and brass hardware.
Simple and purposeful in construction, the bag features a spacious rubberised main compartment and two smaller front pockets, providing practical storage for fly boxes, leaders, tools and the other essentials of a day's fishing.
There is something particularly appealing about traditional fishing bags of this kind. Made without unnecessary embellishment, their value lies in straightforward construction, useful proportions and materials that acquire character through use.
The rubberised interior provides an additional layer of protection for the contents, while the canvas exterior and leather fittings give the bag the familiar appearance of classic British and European angling equipment.
Unmarked by any identifiable maker, this is an honest and functional piece of fishing equipment rather than a collector's item distinguished by a famous name.
A practical, characterful shoulder bag, ready to accompany its next owner through many more seasons on the river.
Maker: Unmarked
Type: Traditional angler's shoulder bag
Material: Canvas with leather fittings
Hardware: Brass
Main compartment: Rubberised interior
Storage: One main compartment and two front pockets
Condition: Vintage used condition; see photographs for details
Questions about measurements, condition, international shipping or price are always welcome.
A Small Piece of British Angling History
An original Hardy silk gut fishing leader, preserved in its unopened and sealed paper envelope and presented in a handsome wooden frame.
Before the introduction of modern nylon monofilament, silkworm gut was one of the principal materials used for the construction of fishing leaders and casts. Produced from the silk glands of the silkworm, carefully drawn into fine translucent strands, gut was valued for its strength and relative invisibility in water.
For generations of trout and salmon fishermen, the preparation and care of gut leaders formed an essential part of the angler's craft.
The printed address on the envelope provides an interesting clue to its age. Hardy relocated its Edinburgh premises to 69 George Street in 1930, while the reference to King George V suggests a date before his death in 1936.
On this basis, the packet is believed to date from approximately 1930–1936, although an exact year of manufacture cannot be established.
The original envelope remains unopened and sealed, preserving the leader as it was originally supplied. Its length, diameter and breaking strain are therefore unknown.
The packet is presented in a wooden frame, making it particularly attractive for display in a study, fishing room or collection of traditional angling equipment.
A modest but evocative survivor from the interwar years, offering a tangible connection to the materials and methods of an earlier generation of fly fishermen.
Maker: Hardy Brothers
Item: Silk gut fishing leader
Period: Believed to be c. 1930–1936
Material: Natural silkworm gut
Packaging: Original sealed paper envelope
Length and diameter: Unknown; packet unopened
Presentation: Wooden display frame
Condition: Unopened original packet; see photographs
Collector's note: This is offered as a historical angling collectible rather than as fishing line suitable for modern use.
Questions about condition, shipping or price are always welcome.
A Classic British Fly Box · c. 1960s–70s
A traditional Richard Wheatley clip fly box, made from the firm's characteristic lightweight Silmalloy material and dating approximately to the 1960s or 1970s.
Richard Wheatley's fly boxes have long been appreciated for their practical design, compact proportions and enduring usefulness. Their spring-clip arrangement offers a particularly elegant solution to storing traditional wet flies, salmon flies and other dressed patterns without relying on modern foam inserts.
This example contains 85 clips, comprising 50 small and 35 medium clips, arranged to provide convenient storage and organisation.
Although traditionally described as a 4-inch box, the actual dimensions of this model are approximately 4¾ × 3½ × 1⅛ inches (121 × 89 × 29 mm), reflecting Richard Wheatley's historic size designations.
The box is in good used condition, showing scratches and the natural patina associated with age and handling.
A handsome and practical piece of British angling equipment, equally suited to a collection of classic fly-fishing accessories or to continued use on the river.
Maker: Richard Wheatley
Type: Spring-clip fly box
Traditional size: 4 inches
Actual dimensions: Approximately 121 × 89 × 29 mm
Material: Silmalloy
Clip arrangement: 50 small and 35 medium clips
Total clips: 85
Estimated period: 1960s–70s
Condition: Good used condition with scratches and age-related patina
Further photographs and international shipping information are available upon request.
Traditional Spring-Clip Construction · 116 Clips
A traditional six-inch alloy fly box of the familiar British spring-clip design, closely resembling the classic boxes produced by Richard Wheatley.
Simple, lightweight and practical, this style of fly box has served generations of anglers. The spring clips hold individual flies securely in place, keeping them organised and readily accessible without the need for modern foam inserts.
This example accommodates up to 116 flies, with 60 small and 56 medium-sized clips, making it particularly useful for a varied selection of traditional wet flies, nymphs and smaller streamers.
Its unadorned metal construction and straightforward design are characteristic of an era when fishing equipment was made primarily for practical use.
The box shows scratches and some surface oxidation, consistent with age and previous use. These marks have been left untouched, preserving the character of the piece.
Although closely resembling a Richard Wheatley clip box, the maker has not been identified, and the box is offered as an unmarked example.
An affordable and attractive addition to a collection of traditional fishing accessories, or a useful companion for the angler who prefers classic equipment on the river.
Maker: Unmarked
Type: Traditional spring-clip fly box
Nominal size: 6 inches
Material: Metal alloy
Clip arrangement: 60 small and 56 medium clips
Total capacity: 116 flies
Design: Similar to traditional Richard Wheatley clip boxes
Condition: Used, with scratches and surface oxidation
Further photographs, measurements and international shipping information are available upon request.
A Traditional British Trout Fly Box
A charming vintage example of The Loch Leven Eyed Fly Box, one of the classic designs of British trout-fishing equipment.
The Loch Leven name recalls the celebrated Scottish trout fishery and a long tradition of fishing with carefully dressed artificial flies. The fly box itself has a history reaching back to the early twentieth century, when compact metal boxes with individual spring clips provided anglers with a practical means of storing eyed trout flies.
This example features 68 spring clips, allowing a useful selection of traditional wet flies and other trout patterns to be arranged securely and conveniently.
The straightforward metal construction and compact design reflect the practical ingenuity of an earlier generation of fishing equipment. Unlike modern foam-lined boxes, the individual clips hold the flies by their hooks, keeping them organised and readily accessible.
A vintage example showing the character of previous ownership and use. Please refer to the photographs for a detailed assessment of the surface finish, interior and clip arrangement.
The design is closely associated with Richard Wheatley, although the exact manufacturer and date of this particular example should be established from its markings and construction.
A delightful little piece of British angling history, suitable for continued use or as an addition to a collection of traditional fishing accessories.
Model: The Loch Leven Eyed Fly Box
Type: Traditional spring-clip trout fly box
Capacity: 68 clips
Construction: Metal
Origin of design: British, early twentieth century
Maker: To be confirmed from markings
Date of manufacture: Not established
Condition: Vintage used condition; please refer to photographs
Further photographs, measurements and international shipping information are available upon request.
No results match your search. Try removing a few filters.