Identifying and understanding the Hardy Perfect Houghton Dry Fly Reel

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oddsnrods	Leaded reel feet.	#21	[url]	[-]
Posts: 220 06/28/2009 15:50	By way of an interesting tangent..not sure that Hardy's leaded their reel feet, though many did look that way. I suspect that a reaction to the lacquer of the brass created a black look over time. Hardys wanted their reels to look good, and one or two mountings on a rod would have easily worn off the leading on the feet. These reel feet look black under an intact laquer layer. The Perfect is an unused one made by James Hardy late 40's, early 50's. The foot looks almost dark plastic, but it is lacquered brass. Note the rivets remain bright, and they are not coated.
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Ken M 44		#22	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3090 06/29/2009 08:01 Immoderatus Britannicus	iirc the 'Houghton' is a specification rather than a specific reel - I have seen the 25/8" Perfect in all brass, all brass with an early style Perfect perforated spool, brass faced as per Banjo's beautiful example and also in all alloy. The all alloy Houghton with caliper check that I own also has an alloy foot secured with 4 brass pins although they also came with a brass foot. Certainly as mentioned the 21/2" Perfect is a rarer bird. Last Edited By: Ken M 44 06/29/2009 08:06. Edited 1 time.
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reelhimin		#23	[url]	[-]
Posts: 462 06/29/2009 10:29	Ken M, how about showing us some pictures of your Houghton? Interesting point oddsnrods. Never would have thought about that. Like a salmon, I need a river to take me home.
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cdmoore	Question of pronunciation	#24	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2858 06/29/2009 10:39 Moderator	Hey Ken, since for several years I didn't know that "Alnwick" = "Anne-ick" and live near a street spelled "Hough" but pronounced like "Huff", how about letting us in on the correct pronunciation of "Houghton"? Is it "Huff-ton", "How-ton" or ??? Thanks, Chris "If you finish in 7 days, I'll pay you for 10. If you finish in 10 days, I'll pay you for 7." ~Ballykissangel
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Ken M 44		#25	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3092 06/29/2009 11:28 Immoderatus Britannicus	I claim no authority on the pronunciation but have personally always said 'How-ton', and such an august group do get the capital 'H' also Here are some pictures. Last Edited By: Ken M 44 06/29/2009 11:46. Edited 1 time.
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spruce grouse		#26	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1369 06/29/2009 11:38	Gee, and I've always pronounced it "Hoe-ton" for no other reason than that's what popped into my head when I read it.
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Ken M 44		#27	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3093 06/29/2009 11:50 Immoderatus Britannicus	I am not surprised - the 'ton' is shortened from town - and in your case the natural predilection to the derivation for 'Hoe' is blatantly agricultural in origin
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fishnbanjo		#28	[url]	[-]
Posts: 6081 06/29/2009 11:54 the Canefather	There's that 1904 improved check mechanism! Thanks Ken.......................... banjo Fly fishing is my Quisisana (the name is Italian for "place where one heals one's self.") "...... SLG Visit my website about Bamboo rods... Fishnbanjo's Place
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Ken M 44		#29	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3094 06/29/2009 12:06 Immoderatus Britannicus	Banjo - good spot on the check, Sorry the picture is a bit shaky - I must get some better ones done with the tripod when I get home. I have a nice (early) contracted Perfect here now also.
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stefanduma		#30	[url]	[-]
Posts: 137 06/29/2009 12:23	Some great photographs here of a reel I have never owned. The Hardy Houghton reel is in fact any Hardy Perfect that is 2 5/8 inch reel, introduced in 1891 as a marketing exercise by Hardys and included rods, fly boxes and the Houghton Creel. One anomoly was that the Houghton reel was not suitable for the Houghton rod, it required at least a 3 inch perfect. The Antique Tackle Observer
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fishnbanjo		#31	[url]	[-]
Posts: 6082 06/29/2009 12:27 the Canefather	Stefan, I knew this and had forgotten it, thanks for bringing it up, wonder if the Houghton Rod had a different reason for being named, I know Hardy had various accessories with the Houghton name as well. banjo Fly fishing is my Quisisana (the name is Italian for "place where one heals one's self.") "...... SLG Visit my website about Bamboo rods... Fishnbanjo's Place
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stefanduma		#32	[url]	[-]
Posts: 138 06/29/2009 13:07	fishnbanjo wrote: Stefan, I knew this and had forgotten it, thanks for bringing it up, wonder if the Houghton Rod had a different reason for being named, I know Hardy had various accessories with the Houghton name as well. They simply wanted to be associated with sucessful fishermen and societies on the basis that people would buy their tackle, the Houghton Club was very exclusive and well know. Around the same time they were also wooing Halford with his fly boxes and rods. Hardy's issues a supplement in 1891 with all the Houghton endorsed items in it. I have had a sneak view of their Club room at the Grayhound Hotel whenI used to stay across the road at the 3 Cups. I have also fished the water in Stockbridge in between the Houghton stretch and there is no need for a rod that is 10 foot long. In fact I used a Hardy 6 foot 10 Phantom. The Antique Tackle Observer Last Edited By: stefanduma 06/29/2009 13:11. Edited 1 time.
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fishnbanjo		#33	[url]	[-]
Posts: 6083 06/29/2009 13:11 the Canefather	Great stuff Stefan, thank you. Are there calibrations available for Halford's silk lines I would love to figure out if the silk line that was on this Houghton was one of his, the original owner was a Houghton Club Member ..... cheers. banjo Fly fishing is my Quisisana (the name is Italian for "place where one heals one's self.") "...... SLG Visit my website about Bamboo rods... Fishnbanjo's Place
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stefanduma		#34	[url]	[-]
Posts: 139 06/29/2009 13:33	fishnbanjo wrote: Great stuff Stefan, thank you. Are there calibrations available for Halford's silk lines I would love to figure out if the silk line that was on this Houghton was one of his, the original owner was a Houghton Club Member ..... cheers. I think there is somewhere, but I have no idea where I put it. The Corona lines were used and I think that the Corona D was used on a 3 inch Bougle. I do not know if they made a Corona E. Some of the 1960's catalogues have equivalent lines sizes for older lines before the introduction of the AFTM system. I think any Hardy catalogue should have the suitable line size for the reel. The Antique Tackle Observer
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Ken M 44		#35	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3096 06/29/2009 15:11 Immoderatus Britannicus	They simply wanted to be associated with sucessful fishermen and societies on the basis that people would buy their tackle, the Houghton Club was very exclusive and well know. Around the same time they were also wooing Halford with his fly boxes and rods. They were quite calculating about it also - the amusing story for one with a cynical mind is with regard to the Barton reel - iirc the suggestion for the reel came from Dr Barton about 8 years before they were actually acted on by Hardy .... it coincided with Dr Barton becoming Chairman of the rather prestigious Fly Fisher Club in London.
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stefanduma		#36	[url]	[-]
Posts: 140 06/29/2009 15:32	Ken M 44 wrote: They simply wanted to be associated with sucessful fishermen and societies on the basis that people would buy their tackle, the Houghton Club was very exclusive and well know. Around the same time they were also wooing Halford with his fly boxes and rods. They were quite calculating about it also - the amusing story for one with a cynical mind is with regard to the Barton reel - iirc the suggestion for the reel came from Dr Barton about 8 years before they were actually acted on by Hardy .... it coincided with Dr Barton becoming Chairman of the rather prestigious Fly Fisher Club in London. It was the same with Bougle in the period before WW1 a tremedous marketing "battle" took place between Hardy and The Dreadnought Casting Reel Company in France with the "diplomatic" Bougle choosing Hardy for the Fly reel and DCRC for his casting reel, both incidentally sold by the same agent. The Antique Tackle Observer
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spruce grouse		#37	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1370 06/29/2009 16:09	Ken M 44 wrote: I am not surprised - the 'ton' is shortened from town - and in your case the natural predilection to the derivation for 'Hoe' is blatantly agricultural in origin Uh, dear boy, what would you have derived if I had said it was pronounced "ho-ton"?
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turtledoc		#38	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2706 06/29/2009 21:45 Moderator	I've been off-line for a few days and was happy to have some good reading to catch-up on this evening Great thread ! Mark B Something to consider: Be willing to share photos, information and the knowledge you have about your collection with anyone that has an interest in learning...........also share your knowledge to answer questions that others may have about items in their collections.........doing this will make you feel good and benefits this community ..................after all, what good is having knowledge that isn't shared. MEB
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bow river		#39	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1525 07/03/2009 07:47	so am i to understand if you have a all alloy 2 5/8 perfect with the 1904 check then it would also be classed as a houghton reel , i have a repro brass faced perfect in 2 5/8 , it's a little wide drum , is it like a houghton copy then also Rich For vintage fly reels & bamboo rods , guided float trips on canada's # 1 best trout river , i have a special for our bamboo forum members www.bowriveradventures.com
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bobk	What's Mine	#40	[url]	[-]
Posts: 74 07/03/2009 14:32	Gentlemen, If I took pictures of my reel they would look identical to Ken's pictures. I will take and post pictures if there is an interest. However, my dimensions are: spool 2 1/4", winding plate 2 5/8", exterior on the frame 2 3/4", 4 pin foot that measures 2 5/8" x 9/16". So...., based on what I have read in this thread, I believe that what I have is a 2 3/4" Perfect with a 1904 improved check mechanism. Am I correct? Bob
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Identifying and understanding the Hardy Perfect Houghton Dry Fly Reel

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