It was back in 1991 that I first had the idea of using my engineering skill to make centrepin reels. My two sons who were then younger teenagers had seen John Wilson using a centrepin on his “Go Fishing” television programme and asked if I could buy them one each.
A visit to quite a few tackle shops resulted in the purchase of a very poor quality reel that seemed to be the only model on offer.
Soon after this a friend showed me a Match Aerial that he had bought back in the 1960s. At last, a piece of quality engineering I measured all the component parts, drew them up and got hold of the necessary materials to make a copy.
Because I had to make all the parts, including jigs and fixtures in my spare time. It took three months before the reel was finally finished I was really please with the result. Then I started to think seriously about making a few more after all, I had the drawings, jigs and fixtures so why not?
But I couldn’t make them in spare time at work as that would take too long, so I bought a second hand lathe, milling machine, tooling etc. And set up a small workshop in my garage at home
I called my little enterprise “Traditional Angling”. I made a total of six copies of the Match Aerial and they all sold as soon as I had finished them (I wonder where they are now?).
I then decided I didn’t want to just copy reels already in existence but design as “Aerial style” reel off my own. So the Avon Classic was born. I through I would advertise it in one of the national fishing magazines. When I called the fishing magazine to enquire about advertising rate, they asked if I would like to send one for them to review as there was a growing interest in centre pin. I was a little apprehensive but sent it to them anyway. The review to my delight was extremely favourable: in fact it got the maximum 5.
Over the next few weeks I received a lot of phone calls from anglers and collectors, wanting Avon Classic made for them. Soon I was in my garage working past midnight on many occasions To get them made.
Soon after this a friend showed me a Match Aerial that he had bought back in the 1960s. At last, a piece of quality engineering I measured all the component parts, drew them up and got hold of the necessary materials to make a copy.
Because I had to make all the parts, including jigs and fixtures in my spare time. It took three months before the reel was finally finished I was really please with the result. Then I started to think seriously about making a few more after all, I had the drawings, jigs and fixtures so why not?
But I couldn’t make them in spare time at work as that would take too long, so I bought a second hand lathe, milling machine, tooling etc. And set up a small workshop in my garage at home
I called my little enterprise “Traditional Angling”. I made a total of six copies of the Match Aerial and they all sold as soon as I had finished them (I wonder where they are now?).
I then decided I didn’t want to just copy reels already in existence but design as “Aerial style” reel off my own. So the Avon Classic was born. I through I would advertise it in one of the national fishing magazines. When I called the fishing magazine to enquire about advertising rate, they asked if I would like to send one for them to review as there was a growing interest in centre pin. I was a little apprehensive but sent it to them anyway. The review to my delight was extremely favourable: in fact it got the maximum 5.
Over the next few weeks I received a lot of phone calls from anglers and collectors, wanting Avon Classic made for them. Soon I was in my garage working past midnight on many occasions To get them made.
It was decision time, either stop making them or give up my job and go full time reel making. With the backing of my wife Sue I decided the latter. I rented a small workshop and bought some more machinery.
Over the next two years Sue and I attended many exhibitions and angling fairs promoting our reels. These shows were extremely hard work, but very rewarding, meeting like minded anglers.
It was about this time that A passion for angling came to our screens, which started a tremendous interest in the “traditional style of angling” soon we were meeting split cane rod manufacturers, float markers, wicker basket makers, angling artists etc There was real “buzz” in the air
We became friends and went fishing a number of times with Chris Yates, who honoured me with the title of “Official Reel Maker” to the infamous “Golden Scale Club”
My proudest moment though must have been when I met Bernard Venables. Like so many of us, was fascinated by the “Mr Crabtree” books when I was young I suppose he must have been mainly responsible for my interest in fishing. To meet Bernard after all these years was a real privilege and to be asked to make centrepin with his name on it, well, what can I say?
As the years went by, my first model the “Avon Classic” was joined by the Aerial Gem”, the Aerial perfection, the Roach Aerial the Merlin, the Bernard Venables Aerial the Chris Yates Dragonfly and Damselfly, the Millennium Aerial and the Firefly reel.
We became friends and went fishing a number of times with Chris Yates, who honoured me with the title of “Official Reel Maker” to the infamous “Golden Scale Club”
My proudest moment though must have been when I met Bernard Venables. Like so many of us, was fascinated by the “Mr Crabtree” books when I was young I suppose he must have been mainly responsible for my interest in fishing. To meet Bernard after all these years was a real privilege and to be asked to make centrepin with his name on it, well, what can I say?
As the years went by, my first model the “Avon Classic” was joined by the Aerial Gem”, the Aerial perfection, the Roach Aerial the Merlin, the Bernard Venables Aerial the Chris Yates Dragonfly and Damselfly, the Millennium Aerial and the Firefly reel.
The majority of my reels were sold in this country, but quite a few were sold not only to customers in Europe but Australia, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and USA.
In 1999 I decided to cease trading partly because I thought the trend for the partly because I thought the trend for the traditional style of angling was slowing down partly because I had lost some of my enthusiasm and party because I was offered a job that I really couldn’t refuse. I still make centrepin now and again, but only when I feel like it. But must admit just lately my head has been buzzing with new ideas for instance I wonder if I made a reel .......?
