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J S Sharpe Remember you can click on underllined words to find out more ! This page contains details of some of the earliest reels produced by Sharpes (more famous for their rods and although Sharpes retailed reels manufactured by Dingley, JW Young etc. they also produced their own - high qualiity - reels, before and after WW11, the reels prior to WWII were sometimes stamped internally with the letter "S" and often had check systems that were very different to the norm).
1920 – 1924 – 1927 – In 1950 there was a name change to Sharpe J.S. (Fishing Tackle Limited) and in 1971 the business was taken over by Farlows. Sharpes did not only have a shop they also had a factory at Here is something for the Lure collectors - the description is a page is from the 1929 catalogue
A match made in heaven
Farlow Sapphire reel (Made by Sharpe) and an 8 foot JS Sharpe Lightweight spliced rod
I think that Sharpes in their first few years sold mostly Dingley produced reels (I have seen many examples of these) and then turned their hands to manufacturing their own, they then sold these along with other makers reels - but they considered their own make as the best. The following scan comes from a late 1930's catalogue seems to back this up:
Reels made by JS Sharpe
JS Sharpes own "Silex" type reel 4" diameter - made by Sharpes and (I think) unique
I bought this reel at auction on the 5th of August 1998, the sale included some of JS Sharpes personal items, including the carved salmon that sat in his shop window (I didn't get that) - I also bought some of his rods - not easy to display on the web - let me know if you want to see them photgraphed. The photo below shows JS with the above reel! Note the "S" stamped to the inside of the reel - also note the style of the back of the reel - this is what a lot of the early Sharpe made reels look like.
. A simple Sharpes wide drummed salmon fly reel - again made by Sharpes
Next a simple version of the Scottie spinning reel - made by Sharpes
Next is the more complex version of the same reel - I've also scaned in the instructions for usel from one of the early Sharpes catalogues so that you can make sense of the mechanism
Although the following "Perfect" style salmon reel is marked with the name Playfair - See the next few reels for Sharpes reels with the same check mechanism so I suspect this was made by Sharpes - I have also see this reel in an unnamed state with the internal "S" - it was described by quite a well known dealer as a "Special prototype by Hardys".
Next is a simple Salmon Reel using the same mechanism - Marked Sharpes with the internal "S" mark
Next is a trout sized "Perfect" style Sharpes reel - again with the same mechanism (there is a crack on the face plate of this example - but as it is so rare I include it)
Now for another very simple Sharpes made trout reel
The above shot of the simple Sharpes trout reel shows how the brass foot builds up to the alloy frame - a sure sign of an early Sharpes made reel
Below another Sharpes "Perfect" style trout reel with a more conventional check - still is af excellent quality and a real chunky red agate line guard - again I think made by Sharpes
Next another Sharpes Salmon reel don't know who made this one!
What's very interesting about this reel is the line guard - it's made of Nickle Silver
The three images above show a 3 1/4" Sharps trout reel that has similarities to the later Gordon reel, it still has the built up foot and an interesting knob. See further down this page for th evolution of the Gordon reel . Trout reels sold by Sharpes - made by Dingley (marked internally with a "D")
3 1/4 inch with the lovely red agate line guard by Dingley
A 3 1/4 in perfect style by Dingley
"Silex" type casting reels sold by Sharpes - made and marked by Dingley
Above a small collection of dingley made "Silex" type casting reels all "Scotties", all different - these reels were offered in both "bright" and "black" finishes, the bright was cheaper - however these day the "bright" reels are termed "Spitfires" and come at a premium! The line dryer is also made by and marked Sharpes, view of the check mechanisims follow:
3 1/2 inch leaded finish
Bright finish - this one came in a block leather case - 3 1/2 inch diameter
4 inch diameter in bright finish - with the very rare silent mechanisim
Trout reels sold by Sharpes thought to be made by Dingley
A pair of reels 3 in and 3 1/4 in. marked Sharpes, not stamped with a "D" but thought to be by Dingley
Trout reels sold by Sharpes but made by others
This one is 3 in. and has the lovely red agate, probably made by J.W. Young of Redditch
Post WW2 reel production
Recently I have become interested in the post WW2 Sharpes reel production, initially sparked off by the early Gordon reel pictured further up the page - I also noticed the similarities of the Sharpe signed Aquarex reel and the Farlow Python reel - I felt, but I wasn't sure that they were both made by Sharpes. So, through a friend I managed to contact Don McKenzie the current MD, his response was enlightening:
The following pictures show the evolution of the Gordon reel:
After a bit of digging, the Bogdan designed reel was the Lee Wulff Ultimate, branded by Farlow, sold by Norm Thomson in the US in the 1960's - these reels were probably 20 years before their tome and very well made, there are not many of them around - if you happen on one please sell it to me! This photo montage came to me from Mark Baker.
The following are the excellent high quality reels made by Sharpes in the 1990s
Top row Don, Trout and Brook Second row 3 different finished Menteith reels
The Salmon Flies of JS Sharpe I have been quite lucky in tracking down 3 of the early Sharpes catalogues, my earliest catalogue I think is Sharpes second catalogue, its titled list B, it has a blue cover with a stuck on black and white photograph to the front, I guess this to be from the late 1920s, the second one actually states it is the third edition and is pre 1933 (the date that Sharpes won medals in Milan) and my third, probably Sharpes fourth edition is post 1933, all 3 have lists of Salmon Flies as below: Pattern 2nd 3rd 4th Pattern 2nd 3rd 4th Balmoral B E J Jennie F/G Benchill A I Jockie C G Black Doctor A D I/L Jock Scott A D I/L Black Dog A D I Kate C D/G I Black Dose A D I Lady Caroline B E J/L Blue Charm C F/G K/L Lemmon Grey D Blue Doctor A D I Logie C F/G K/L Brown Wing Ackroyd B E J Lord Forbes D/G I/L Brown Wing Killer B E J March Brown C F/G K/L Bull Dog A D I Mar Lodge A D I/L Bumbee C G K No. 9 H Butcher A D No. 12 H Childers A D I No. 18 H Cluny G K Popham A Dunkeld A D I Silver Blue C F/G K/L Dunt J Silver Doctor A D I/L Durham Ranger D I Silver Grey A D I/L Dusty Miller A D I/L Silver Wilkinson D I Elizabeth D I Sir Charles C G K Fiery Brown J Watsons Fancy C G K Glentanar B E J Thunder & Lightning A D I/L Gordon A D I Torrish A D I Green Highlander A D I Wasp G K Greenwell D I White Wing Ackroyd B E J Grey Eagle B E I White Wing Killer B E J Grey Monkey D Wilkinson A I Jeannie C K/L Yellow Eagle B E J
2nd Edition key:
A - Salmon Flies, many patterns are in stock or can be made to order. TO ORDER – With Gut Loops. We make up our stock on eyed hooks, and try to supply Gut eyed Flies as freash as possible. Our flies are fully dressed with all the necessary feathers included, prices:
B- Plain Patterns, prices:
C- Small Salmon and Grilse Flies, singles and doubles, 1/-, 1/3 and 1/6.
3rd Edition Key:
D - Salmon Flies – Other patterns ar in stock or can be made to order. We make up our stock on best loop-eyed hooks. Gut loops and upturned eyed flies made to order. All salmon flies are best quality, prices:
E – Plain Patterns – Dressed on best down-turned eyed hooks, the larges sizes with loop eyes. Upturned eyes or gut loops made to order. Double hooks 3d extra, prices:
F – “Lowater” Salmon Flies. Special offer of well tied flies for short-taking fish in summer time. The hook extends beyond the tip of the wing. High class upturned eyed hooks. Priced at 9d each except Logie’s and Jennie’s at 1/- each.
G – Small Salmon and Grilse Flies – Lightly dressed flies on best hooks, either ordinary pattern or extra long shank for “short-taking” fish. Priced at 1/3 for sizes 4-5 and 1/- for sizes 6-9. Doubles 3d extra.
H – Salmon “Grub” Flies for low water fishing – A new idea in salmon flies. These flies are wingless tied on fine long shank hooks with upturned eyes. There are three sets of hackles – viz., at head, centre, and tail. These hackles impart a lively motion to the fly by opening and closing, making this fly a deadly one in clear water when the usual winged flies are too conspicuous. No. 9. Mar Lodge hackles and body with jungle cock at head and tail. - see a photo of one of these here No. 18. Black-red hackles, yellow body with jungle at head. Sizes 4 and 5, long shank hooks, priced at 1/- each.
4th Edition Key.
I – Salmon Flies – Sharpe’s Salmon Flies are all best quality. Each Fly is packed in a transparent envelope, marked with name and size. Salmon Flies dressed to any pattern to order, prices:
J – Plain Patterns – double hooks 2d extra, prices:
K – Small Salmon Flies – double hooks 2d extra, prices:
L- Salmon Flies for Lowater Fishing – The “Lowater” Salmon Fles ar lightly dressed on best quality hooks. No. 7 hook is most popular size. Plain flies 4d cheaper, prices:
“Mr J.S. Sharpe, who celebrated his 85th birthday in January, served his apprenticeship as a gunsmith with Davidson, Gun maker in Then came the Second World War which dealt a devastating blow to the firm as it did to some many thousands of other people. “We have always considered that Mr. J.S. Sharpe was the guiding spirit, Jack was the technical and inventive chap, and Alan was the salesman”. Here then was a problem for Jack, and he started re-organising the workshop in The war ended, Messrs. Sharpe formed themselves into a private company. There was a heavy demand for fishing rods and tackle and they had to changeover from war production as quickly as possible. This involved a lot of extra work but they applied the lessons they had learned during the war to the production of rods, landing nets, gaffs, artificial flies and tackle. They scrapped their pre-war jigs and fixtures and made more up-to-date ones. Most parts were now produced ready for assemble thus cutting out a lot of bench fitting. They concentrated on developing a fine finish on all their products and today they have a word-wide connection. The Council of Industrial Design selected a telescopic gaff and a fishing rod of their make and exhibited them in various countries. The use of phenolic resin was applied to fishing rod making and produced what is called the “Impregnated” fishing rod. The highest quality rod is called the “ The finishing off of war contracts and the development of the post-war activities had only been completed when Sharpes were paid a handsome compliment. Two firms, one of which builds high class aero engines, offered them sub-contract work in the machining of intricate aero engine and other parts, work which only a firm with considerable “know-how” in fine work and close limits could have tackled. They decided that this work which could be dealt with only by separating their metal and rod making plant. A separate factory was opened in Since the establishment of the The following is an extract relating a factory tour of the Sharpes factory from a longer article entitled “Souple Wands” by P.A. Macnab that appeared in the Scots Magazine 1982 “The place I visited is in The brightly modern workshop has been steadily improved over the last 15 years, and modern machinery installed so successfully that 12 employees can now turn out more and better finished work than was possible with 30 in earlier days. The manager, George Middleton, passed me on to supervisor William Donald, who took me around and explained the steps in making a came rod from start to finish. I was first shown bundles of 5 ft. or 6 ft. lengths of Tonkin Cane, 2½ in. or 3 in. diameter, carefully selected. The craftsman judges the workable thickness of the fibrous material which is sandwiched between the enamel like outer surface and the soft pithy centre – he can even decide for what part of a rod it will be most suitable, top or butt. The canes are machine split lengthwise, after being lightly “cooked” in a special oven until they have taken on a more even brown colouration. When taken out, they are passed through a machine fitted with adjustable rotary sandpaper belts which skin off knots and the unwanted outer and inner surfaces, working to within 2/3 thousandths of an inch. The strips emerge with a uniform rectangular cross section. In batches of 30 or 50 they are now fed into a tapering machine, a milling process that is the deciding factor in the proportioning and final balancing of the rod. While the actual operation is automatic, the judgment of an experienced craftsman is essential at this stage to ensure that every single unit in the batch conforms to the master pattern of the finished rod, whether a one or two piece six foot rod weighing only two ounces, or a hefty salmon rod of 15 feet. Measurements and settings within thousandths of an inch have to be decided. From this machine the lengths emerge of triangular cross sections so uniformly tapered that when any six are brought together they fit perfectly into a hexagonal cross section over their whole length into a recognisable section of a rod. Pre war, this operation was performed by a craftsman who lightly glued each strip to a planning block and planed it individually into the triangular shape. No matter how skilled he was, it was impossible to produce exact uniformity by hand. The next stage I was shown is simpler. Using a special type of waterproof glue embodying a hardener, the six strips are bound together and bonded, oven heated for three to four hours, after which the section is very thoroughly dried and passed through another machine which very slightly smoothes away the bindings and excess glue. There now takes place a process for which Sharpes are famous. The assembled lengths are submerged in a tank of special waterproofing resin for a fortnight. This permanently hardens and waterproofs the rod, fills the minute cavities and imparts an extra “life” or “spring” to the rod. The lengthy impregnation also brings out that attractive translucent grain of the fibres, but also imparts a minimum of surface gloss. When casting a fly, the flashing of a rod coated with ordinary glossy varnish can too easily scare off a wary fish. The sections are now dried out, very lightly buffed down again if required and inspected. Each section is then checked for exact length, and its action tested by an expert who matches up each top with butt of heavier cross section, or the three lengths if a three-piece rod, to form a set. Each piece of the set is numbered, and continues through the subsequent stages to come together again finally as the finished rod. This is followed by the final routine job of adding the fittings, ornamental whippings, joints, rings and handle. In the case of the cork handle, in these Sharpes do not use ready made up units whose fitting can leave gaps along the hexagonal length and possibly damage the delicate outer fibres of the cane: instead, they glue on individual cork discs which conform to the diameter of the rod and are then hand shaped to a contour that readily fits the hand and suits the length and action of the rod. Even the design and spacing of the rings that carry the line are the result of thought and experience to ease the art of casting and spread the strain evenly over the whole length of the rod. The finished rods are then compared with the master model and subjected to a test curve so that any minor variations in the action can be detected and adjusted. With a new respect and care I handled one of these masterpieces, so deceptively light and fragile looking, yet which in a skilled hand will master the largest trout and – given more time – even the odd salmon. A rod fit for a king, which will last a lifetime with little further attention. Indeed, a batch of 100 of such rods or 8 ft. 7 in., each stamped with its serial number, was specially made up to mark the occasion of the Royal Wedding last year. Numbers 1 and 2 were presented to the Price of Wales and his bride as wedding gifts from Farlow Sharpe. This particular batch was offered to public at £90 - £100 – a fair price for the embodiment of meticulous accuracy, experience, and intuition at the critical stages developed by Sharpes’s craftsmen. With memories of an incident in my younger days, I asked Mr Donald how one of their rods would fare if lost in deep water for a week or two. I could almost hear him saying, “I’m glad you asked that question” as he began to tell me of one such occurrence. An angler on a
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