The other item, or items, fall into the accessories category...
milward_cofton_ptent1906.pdf |
So there we are, it is amazing just where an old item of fishing tackle will take you sometimes!
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With the work on relocating the collection over the last few weeks (see Latest News: Busy July), there hasn't been much time to bring new objects into the museum. This last week, however, there are two or three items of interest that have come this way. The first is a three-piece rod marked for Eaton & Deller of Crooked Lane in London: The rod was probably about 12' 6" when first made, the tip is a little short, but there is a combination of things that make it of interest. Firstly the fittings are of nickel-silver rather than brass or plated brass, suggesting it was a high-quality rod when new, a conclusion supported by the many and wide intermediate wraps. It has drop rings that suggest a date of manufacture before 1880 but the most exciting aspect is the mortised construction of the rod grasp. It is a method more often seen in American made rods, but we know that Foster's of Ashbourne, and Hardy's also went on to offer mortised rods in their catalogues. I plan to look a little more closely at this rod, and other rods in the collection in the near future. The other item, or items, fall into the accessories category... These "Cofton" cast carriers are not uncommon. They look stunning, made by Milward's with the "Iron Arm" trademark but what is less often seen is the patent cast carriers that were supplied with the box. These should be familiar to most anglers as the essential idea has been repeated many times, some of you may remember the promotional "Famous Grouse" cast carriers that were around for a while. A closer look at the patent document is interesting though...
If you read the document closely you will see that the patent application was shared. Milward's appear alongside a John Francis Pollock, described as an artist living at an address in Dundee in Scotland. In the local Trade Directories he is described as a "decorative artist" and there is one painting attributed to him held in the collection of Hawick Museum, other than that little else is known of his work, though living on the Tay, it may well be safe to assume he did a bit of fishing! As for the "Cofton" connection, as far as I can see, it was actually a district of Redditch and it may have been the intention to issue other items with "Cofton" as a brand name, though I'm not aware of any at present.
So there we are, it is amazing just where an old item of fishing tackle will take you sometimes!
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One of my personal fascinations is the Moscrop Manchester reel, and a couple of years ago I wrote a page for the web site about the reel and its origins. You can read the latest edit HERE. I say "latest edit" because I got it wrong...
I was aware of two early Patents taken out by John Moscrop, one relating to a new method of construction for reels, the second for a device to slow the reel. What I could never understand was why the reel we know seemed to have no relationship with these patents, other than the cage and drum construction. Now I know.. Moscrop took out a third Patent in 1891 that covers the check, brake and distinctive handle of the reel that carries his name. THIS is the reel as manufactured, and I missed it completely!! still stand by my assertion that the Moscrop reel is the first truly modern reel, and that the original models were made by a non-reel-making company, though part of that argument was based on the distinctive handle, - this can no longer apply as it was subject to the patent. My thanks to John Stevenson at Thomas Turner who mentioned the patent in his excellent Blog. |
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