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Uniqua - Winchester Hardy??

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DeStCroix	Uniqua - Winchester Hardy??		Lead	[-]
Posts: 1 07/05/2009 11:09	Tags : None Hello everyone, I am new to collecting and have some good support but have recently been gifted this reel and can find no reference at all to it anywhere. It is a 3.5 Inch "Uniqua" but made for Winchester. I know that Winchester had an extensive catalog and commonly branded other manufacturers products. The pat numbers check out - it is in fine shape albeit with some use - and is definitely a Hardy The "Uniqua". My limited experience shows me that some of the features are a bit different than the Hardy sold reels ie the spool holes drilled - which seem to appear on other reels but not this kind etc. I place the reel in the 1905 to 1910 range given some other reading I have done. It is a Duplicated Mark II - pat number 24245 & 8(9)281 ? I could be wrong with my research as I am new to Hardy's but give it a look and see if you can help me place this reel. NOTE: there are no marks or engraving in the reel except for a "L Foster" lightly scratched on the bottom of the reel foot/seat which looks to be done by a previous owner. - thanks everyone in advance.
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bulldog1935		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 7311 07/05/2009 11:13 Bulldog1935	I would sure guess that to be a prewar reel. Winchester got into the tackle business in 1932 the rods are never obsolete - the marketing is.
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pcg		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3083 07/05/2009 11:18 Admin	Or rather, Winchester got OUT of the tackle business about 1931. They jumped in in a big way about 1919-1920 & sold tackle on a large scale until the Depression took the wind out of their sails (or should that be 'sales'?). The Hardy Mk II check appeared in 1923. So I would date your reel sometime between '23 & '30.
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DeStCroix		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2 07/05/2009 11:19	Thanks - I would have thought the same but the spool clasp seems to place it earlier than that. Unless they kept using that for the Winchester reels only. Again - I am pretty green when it comes to this... so most likely I am wrong. I know that the reel was used in Montana by a Veterinarian and he would have been fishing with it in the 50's - I do know that he was not an expert fisherman and bought the reel used. He also had a beautiful little Pflueger that looks to be barely used. I will be posting it once I get some photos.
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DeStCroix		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3 07/05/2009 11:20	Thanks - that is making a bit more sense to me. I wish I could find some Winchester literature on it - does anyone know of any resources for that?
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enigma309	Interesting reel	#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 719 07/05/2009 12:31 Reclusive! Like J D Salinger	A perforated drum Uniqua Salmon (??) Early 1920's I believe. What does the writing around the centre boss say? I can make out "The" and "Fly Reel" . . not the other word. I'm curious what the Hardy mavens/fundis have to say about the Winchester connection, a new one on me. Any other Winchester badged Hardy reels out there? Brian
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Shoeless Joe		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1005 07/05/2009 12:52	pcg wrote: ... The Hardy Mk II check appeared in 1923. So I would date your reel sometime between '23 & '30. Actually, the Mk II check first appeared in 1920 and in earnest, the following year ... 1923 would have been the year that Hardys finally reconciled their catalogues to the Mk II. The ivorine-to-ebonite (handle) and smooth-to-ridged (foot) transitions began in 1922 & 1927 (respectively), so in all likelihood, your wonderful Winchester Uniqua dates very close to and perhaps slightly earlier than pcg's '23 date. The one feature that gives me pause is the location of the spare pawl ... historically speaking, an engageable spare pawl didn't become commonplace until the later '20s. ... and speaking of the spare pawl, of particular interest is the location of the over-travel stud ... while it wasn't uncommon for anglers to engage both pawls on their salmon reels, the fact that the stud is postioned for the bottom pawl, instead of the more common workhorse (upper) pawl, is, again quite interesting. Though it wouldn't greatly impact the performance (or handing) of your Uniqua, the pawls on the Winchester are not positioned correctly ... i.e., they would have come from the factory in reverse fashion, as pictured below: If you never flew why would you cut the wings off a butterfly? ~ 'Lying in the Hands of God', by Dave Matthews
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Shoeless Joe		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1006 07/05/2009 12:55	enigma309 wrote: What does the writing around the centre boss say? I can make out "The" and "Fly Reel" . . not the other word. "Uniqua" If you never flew why would you cut the wings off a butterfly? ~ 'Lying in the Hands of God', by Dave Matthews
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pcg		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3084 07/05/2009 12:57 Admin	Shoeless, I was using Jess Miller as a source (Dunkeld Collection). In his Uniqua chaper he notes that Uniquas w/ the MK II check first appeared in '23. But I am far from a Hardy expert, & gratefully defer to your expertise. Pat
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DeStCroix		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4 07/05/2009 13:27	It is interesting and a nice little find to try and figure out. I had no idea that Winchester sold Hardy's as well but upon some minimal research found that they sold a number of Winchester branded items that are quite unique - and some very short lived. Thanks for the comments - keep them coming... Dean
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Shoeless Joe		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1008 07/05/2009 14:11	pcg wrote: But I am far from a Hardy expert ... Then we share much in common, as I am certainly no Hardy expert ... rather, just an opportunistic and somewhat roman-nosed swayback who has spent far too much time with his muzzle buried in those feed troughs belonging to the real experts. ... and as is the case with every other passion-driven pursuit of mine, the more I learn about Hardy's offerings, the more I realize that I don't know squat about them ... If you never flew why would you cut the wings off a butterfly? ~ 'Lying in the Hands of God', by Dave Matthews
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stefanduma		#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 146 07/05/2009 16:47	Shoeless Joe wrote: pcg wrote: ... The Hardy Mk II check appeared in 1923. So I would date your reel sometime between '23 & '30. Actually, the Mk II check first appeared in 1920 and in earnest, the following year ... 1923 would have been the year that Hardys finally reconciled their catalogues to the Mk II. The ivorine-to-ebonite (handle) and smooth-to-ridged (foot) transitions began in 1922 & 1927 (respectively), so in all likelihood, your wonderful Winchester Uniqua dates very close to and perhaps slightly earlier than pcg's '23 date. The one feature that gives me pause is the location of the spare pawl ... historically speaking, an engageable spare pawl didn't become commonplace until the later '20s. ... and speaking of the spare pawl, of particular interest is the location of the over-travel stud ... while it wasn't uncommon for anglers to engage both pawls on their salmon reels, the fact that the stud is postioned for the bottom pawl, instead of the more common workhorse (upper) pawl, is, again quite interesting. Though it wouldn't greatly impact the performance (or handing) of your Uniqua, the pawls on the Winchester are not positioned correctly ... i.e., they would have come from the factory in reverse fashion, as pictured below: Not only a great picture but also a great background, looks like Rocket - photoshoped or purple rocket? The Antique Tackle Observer
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stefanduma		#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 149 07/05/2009 17:35	Rocket is a plant used in Salads, very popular in Italy and a memebr of the same family as Kale. The Antique Tackle Observer
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speytrout		#13	[url]	[-]
Posts: 22 07/06/2009 21:27	I have a 3.75 in WD exactly the same except with an adjustable check. Mine has a more bronze patina. One of my favorites, got it for a song. Haven't caught na good sized fish on it yet though.
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ttrotter		#14	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1125 07/07/2009 08:48 Moderator	Dean, this reel is not in Winchester's 1924 Fishing Tackle catalogue- just trying to narrow the date a little for you. So 1925-1930? Neat find! Regards, Tom PS "I wish I could find some Winchester literature on it - does anyone know of any resources for that?" Dean, an ebay seller periodically has reprint Winchester catalogues for sale. Do a search and you will probably find some. Last Edited By: ttrotter 07/07/2009 09:07. Edited 1 time.
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pcg		#15	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3094 07/07/2009 10:14 Admin	And I just went through all of my Winchester catalogs, including the final (9/32). None of the listed reels are Hardys. In fact 95% of the reels are bait casters. So it's probably safe to conclude that these Hardy/Winchester reels were ordered in small quantities--enough so that they never made it into a Winchester catalog. Pat
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ttrotter		#16	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1126 07/07/2009 12:01 Moderator	Pat, that makes sense.
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speytrout		#17	[url]	[-]
Posts: 26 07/10/2009 17:31	Heres a few pics of mine. Had a chance at an identical 4in a few months, kick myself for not coughing up the extra $$$ and getting it. Original box also.
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DeStCroix		#18	[url]	[-]
Posts: 5 07/13/2009 19:11	Thanks Guys - this is really helping. I have the name of a Hardy specialist that Hardy in the UK sent me to - have yet to call and it may be one of you!!! Either way I have narrowed it down and will keep searching. Speytrout - does yours have Winchester written on it? I can't see it on the pics - is it a Winchester sold reel? ..So I won't be able to find it in the catalog.... wonder if there are any Winchester historians or Hardy records to search through??? Thanks again, Dean
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pcg		#19	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3126 07/13/2009 20:06 Admin	Try Phil White. He's written extensively about Winchester. His email is backlash@oldreels.com
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Uniqua - Winchester Hardy??

Uniqua - Winchester Hardy??

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