Hardy Demise

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (bulldog1935) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:13:54 GMT

Please make a point to stick to the topic.
There are few people here that want to read about your adolescent sexual fantasies, no matter how ancient you may be.
Please remember that it is a priviledge to post on this board, not a right or an entitlement.

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (Ray Hencken) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:29:09 GMT

Flyman615 wrote:

I've always told "newbies" to fly fishing that traditionally (there's that word again) the best fly rods in the world were made in America, and the best fly reels in the world were made in England.
Flyman

While I think that English made fly reels, especially Hardy's,...

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (bulldog1935) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:17:29 GMT

something to be said for the Marksman - the prices that we can find these on ebay. Have to agree with Joe - there is no turning back and turning down the road was inevitable, it was just a question of when.

Our future Perfects are going to come from Spey Co., et.al., just like the EVHs of the past two generations came from Zwarg, Walker, Bogdan and Saracione.

something else to keep in mind, Hardy, et.al. are not trying to market to us.
They market to the...

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (pcg) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:28:33 GMT

the Hardy Marksman made in Korea (?) is perhaps the finest piece of machined fly fishing equipment I own. It is perfection.

I think the issue being discussed is not mechanical perfection, but tradition, and thereby soul. Reel making being tossed into an Asian country thoroughly breaks the generations-long tradition of reel making that Hardy represented. That is, represented once upon a time. Everything has changed, including the materials, the equipment and the...

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (roostersgt) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:23:00 GMT

I own several Hardy reels and other made in England and the USA. I usually only buy rods/reels made from these two countires, but the Hardy Marksman made in Korea (?) is perhaps the finest piece of machined fly fishing equipment I own. It is perfection.

Steve

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (Serendipity) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:14:23 GMT

I would still suggest that something intangible is lost when Hardy offshores its reels.

I agree with that. I don't want to downplay the importance of tradition especially on this forum. Hardy's current business plan entails a significant identity loss for many of us, but I think it's important not let nostalgia distort reality to the point where we are grieving something that hasn't actually existed for some time. I also think it's important...

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (robcane) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:47:02 GMT

Richard,

Thank you for your thoughtful response, you make a good point... some products are more bound to their exact origins than others.

I would still suggest that something intangible is lost when Hardy offshores its reels. But you're right, it's unlikely I could tell the difference between an English-made Hardy and the same model reel made elsewhere, if the reels did not have any markings as to where they were made.

So, point taken.

rjj

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (Serendipity) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:46:16 GMT

Is a Hardy reel made in South Korea or elsewhere in Asia still a Hardy? If so, in what way -- other than name alone?
I would argue that when a legendary company known far and wide for its craftsmen, quality products and the single origin of its goods essentially shuts down its historical manufacturing facilities and opens new plants across the planet to take advantage of cheap labor and materials... when that happens, the original product ceases to exist. Its soul...

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (Shoeless Joe) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:52:14 GMT

Serendipity wrote:
This is a little like trading Bible quotes

Indeed ... and to a certain point, I agree with you that Hardys did stop making traditional reels for cane users long ago, but this cessation paralleled the advent of fiberglass and an era when anglers were laying aside their bamboo rods in favor of those glass rods ... again, I ask, what other...

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (enigma309) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:54:04 GMT

From Financial Times 2003:
http://search.ft.com/nonFtArticle?id=031201006195

Brian

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (robcane) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:50:36 GMT

Here are two questions I ask in all sincerity, since I don't believe they've been fully considered in this thread:

Is a Hardy reel made in South Korea or elsewhere in Asia still a Hardy?

If so, in what way -- other than name alone?

I would argue that when a legendary company known far and wide for its craftsmen, quality products and the single origin of its goods essentially shuts down its historical manufacturing facilities and opens new plants across...

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (Serendipity) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:06:08 GMT

This is a little like trading Bible quotes. I can concede all of the detail points, but reading through the collection of posts, one gets the impression that for some Hardy's decision to outsource production marked the end of a long, continuous commitment to traditional reel making. A commitment that is perceived to have changed little over a period of a hundred plus years.

"Just...

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (Shoeless Joe) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:47:19 GMT

But the notion of demise in this thread was not in reference to the company's collapse, but to its concessions to modernity and it's willingness to outsource to make a profit. It was about the demise of tradition.

Understood ... hence, the 1906 ~ 1912-check quip.

I think the introduction of the very, very popular Lightweight series was the first major concession to changing times. Despite their classic simplicity, they are reels made...

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (Serendipity) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:08:14 GMT

Personally, I find the whole notion of Hardy's demise to be quite amusing! I mean, if I didn't know better, I'd assume that Hardys had no other reason to exist than to meet each of our individual needs ...
SJ,

I think that's right. But the notion of demise in this thread was not in reference to the company's collapse, but to its concessions to modernity and it's willingness to outsource to make a profit. It was about the demise...

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (orange caddis) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 15:38:36 GMT
I find this whole thread amusing, I own five Hardy's and would put them up against any other reel out there. So if anyone wants to give up their demised Hardy's just let me know. Besides the fact they have the best sound out there! p.s. and the redhead as well.

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (Shoeless Joe) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 15:29:37 GMT
... and for my money, Hardy's downward spiral, one from which they would never, ever recover began when they opted to replace their 1906 check with the 1912 variant -- I mean, what in the world were they thinking ... how could they have done that ?!

All jesting aside, take a gaze back at the storied history of Hardys and not only will you find a plethora of signposts commemorating each moment of glory, but you'll also discover a landscape littered with an endless number of...

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (Sparquero) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 06:38:02 GMT

I love the old Hardy reels, but I really don't care much about anything they've made since 1960.
I beg to differ, the demise of Hardy reels began when plastic components began to appear, other than the handles which one would expect to be made of a plastic or composite material. When I started to see latch covers being made of plastic it was a warning of problems, parts breaking prematurely or needlessly for one. Even the appearance of the plastic castle...

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (the abandoned brane) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 05:49:05 GMT
Hardy set to tackle expansion

Jan 8 2007 By James Barton, The Journal
A general picture of a man fishing

World famous fishing tackle manufacturer Hardy & Greys aims to double in size within the next five years.

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (JR SPEY) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 19:59:44 GMT
Maybe amend that to "many reels." After all, the cost of a CNC machine isn't much different in Asia than it is here, the cost of raw aluminum is roughly the same, as is most of the costs of anodizing. When CNC machining is used and actual anodizing is done (as opposed to expoxy finishes, etc.) a lot of the costs of reelmaking are not all that different in Asia than they are over here. It's the cost of assembling and quality control that will make the biggest difference, but...

Re: Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (Serendipity) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:48:08 GMT

In making our film we slowly realised how Hardy's are such a great example of the problems of post war British industry.
I read through all of this just now. I must say I am on the other side of it for the most part. Todays tradition was yesterday's innovation. Today's innovation will be tomorrow's tradition. I love the old Hardy reels, but I really don't care much about anything they've made since 1960. The replica reels were a nice...

Hardy Demise

feeds@yuku.com (bob2935) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:19:06 GMT
Just wondering what reel collectors know about Hardy now making some or all of it's reels in either Korea or Japan? I understand that this is going on right now but unsure if that is all the reels or a select few. How about the Light weight series which is my favorite all time reel. Is that now being made in Korea? Any information about Hardy outsourcing it's reels to Korea or Japan would be greatly appreciated.

Seems like just yesterday that the Art of Angling Journal did a...