Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (otto) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:59:24 GMT

Hardy Bougle Mk VI reels made in the UK have a maufacturer code begining with the letters,HER. Korean made reels begin with H00.
This has been confirmed to me by a reliable Hardy dealer.

Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (cross creek one) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:23:11 GMT

That drilled backplate just looks weird to me--strange, because I've had CFO's since 1977, and they've always had fully perforated spools. All in all, though, pretty minor changes in a 50+ year old design--amazing longevity and testament to a great reel, no matter where they're made.
-CC

Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (speyrod) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:23:35 GMT

Even within the Hardy company , the employees aren't sure what was made in England or Korea , so if thats a big issue for the buyer I would do what I have done. I don't buy any Hardys but the known pre 60's models.In a way I guess I'm boycotting the Hardy brand but in my oppinion they have become over priced and the Hardy name doesn't stand for hand fitted craftsmanship anymore.

Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (geojasstef) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:09:21 GMT

Sorry Guys for keep going on about it but this really has me interested. This is a link to a reel on e-bay and it is a featherweight, it has just the "Hardy" on the back, it has the back of the spool drill out, it has a "A" serial number and the handle has a screw.......????

Finn for what its worth the rivets on the reel foot are offset on my featherweigth

Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (geojasstef) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:47:38 GMT

Jason,

I have spoken to John in our reel repair department and he says the best indicator of where the reel was made is the back plate of the spool. If this is a solid plate it was made in Alnwick, if it is a perforated plate it was made abroad. But if it is ten years old he has no doubt it would have been made here in Alnwick. Unfortunately we cannot tell from the number on the reel foot...

Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (Finn) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:48:12 GMT

I posted this on the Bougle thread but it bears repeating. I also talked to Hardy in England about my Bougle Mark VI. They said that the A serial number meant nothing in regard to where a reel was made, only where it was assembled. (Alnwick) The way to tell whether the reel was British made was: offsetting screws in the reel foot. (Korean reels had screws set straight) and English threads on screws. (Korean reels are all Metric).

Perhaps this also applies to the other reels...

Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (cross creek one) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:22:11 GMT

Two more good pieces of info (foot vs reel body serial number, and perforated vs non-perforated spool back plate). Thanks! -CC

Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (MFRS) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:04:36 GMT

I am convinced the Bougle IV is Alnwick made, it was confirmed by a very wise, respected individual on our forum. It has "Made By House of Hardy England" and the foot serial # is JDVxxx. The reels are different but the writing and foot # are of the same vintage.

Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (geojasstef) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:33:30 GMT

From: Jason...

Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (geojasstef) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:30:59 GMT

FYI, I called Hardy in England this morning and this is the email response

Jason,

I have spoken to John in our reel repair department and he says the best indicator of where the reel was made is the back plate of the spool. If this is a solid plate it was made in Alnwick, if it is a perforated plate it was made abroad. But if it is ten years old he has no doubt it would have been made here in Alnwick. Unfortunately we cannot tell...

Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (geojasstef) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:59:13 GMT

You're right Greg - mine doesn't have just the "Hardy" mark it says "Made by House of Hardy England". It's just the J serial number that has me questioning whether it is English or Korean made. Now I'm leaning more towards that septic isle.

Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (Greg Reynolds) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:49:45 GMT

Sure--Korean manufacture started few years ago. They have different markings: http://fly.hardyfishing.com/en-us/products/reels/classic-reels/lightweight-reels/ Click on the image.

Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (geojasstef) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:53:07 GMT

Greg Reynolds wrote:
It appears the same as my ten-year-old Princess with the grey mil-spec anodized finish and straight handle. I believe the last iteration of the English-made Lightweight series had the same finish with reverse-tapered handles.

Greg is your Princess a UK made piece

Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (geojasstef) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:51:45 GMT

I spoke to a friend of mine and he said that if it is 8-10 yrs old it would be a UK made reel......When did they make the move to Korea?...The Gentleman that I got it from was a little upset as he has a couple of other reels that have the J serial number and he believed that they are UK made. I don't know whether it is or not. I had just read a thread a while ago on this site mentioning the J and A serial postfixes. Does Hardy have a database......why it it such a mystery

Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (cross creek one) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:21:15 GMT

I've got one in the same box, maroon neoprene case, but a darker grey finish. It was made in England a number of years before the move to Asia. Barstock machined construction. No serial number on mine--I've never understood why some had numbers and others didn't. The latest "made in England" lightweight series reels had a lighter gunmetal finish (like yours), same case, and a thinner, gold box, just like the Asian-made reels.
-CC

Re: Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (Greg Reynolds) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:01:04 GMT

It appears the same as my ten-year-old Princess with the grey mil-spec anodized finish and straight handle. I believe the last iteration of the English-made Lightweight series had the same finish with reverse-tapered handles.

Hardy Featherweight help

feeds@yuku.com (geojasstef) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:37:52 GMT

This has got me perplexed. I just purchased a featherweight from a member on this site who tells me he got the reel in Ireland approx ten years ago. He is sure that it a English made hardy but I noticed that it has a J serial number.....JYM754, I think that this may have been one of the early Korean made reels. I will try to contact Hardy in the morning but what I would like to know is ............ there a data base anywhere on the web?....bye the way the reel say's Made by House of...