William Browns own reel engraved on the back "Wm Brown, Fishing Tackle Maker, Aberdeen, Died 24th Jan 1877

3 different "Silex" type spinning reels, manufactured by Walter Dingley, sold Browns and engraved on the reverse  "Wm Brown, Aberdeen" see below for the mechanisims

Above William Brown two knobs on spool 4 inch diameter (the one on the left in the picture of all three)

William Brown one knob on spool with counterbalance, rim cut (obviously factory modification) 4 inch diameter  (The one in the middle of the picture of three)

Above William Brown wider drum than the others with knobs on alloy cross bar 4 1/4 inch diameter  (the one on the right in the picture of three)

An ebonite and brass "perth" style reel from Brown in exceptional condition

You might be wondering about this one in the William Brown Page? Well it's a fly called the Millais and was tied by Dave Carne, this fly was invented by the tackle maker PD Malloch for his friend the artist Millais, the reel the fly is sitting on is a Malloch side-caster, made by Malloch and sold by William Brown (as engraved on the winding plate of the reel).

From the Fishing Gazette, The “Millais” Salmon Fly

(Invented by Sir John Millias: described and made by Mr. P.D. Malloch, High Street, Perth)

Tag: Silver Tinsel and yellow floss silk

Tail: Golden pheasant crest, and a few fibres of yellow macaw

Butt: Yellow wool

Body: Two turns of scarlet floss silk, the rest scarlet pig’s wool; oval silver tinsel, scarlet hackle run down over body; the same at shoulder.

Wings: Taken from the scarlet ibis wing, over a crest, blue macaw feather at each side

Head: Yellow wool 

This is a very rare William Brown "Perth" salmon reel made of wood and brass and is in almost unused condition

The above is another very rare reel from William Brown, it has a rim control not unlike the Hardy Marquis (i.e. the winding plate lips over the side) - the other strange thing about this reel is the three part horn knob!

The largest and the smallest sizes of the ordinary William Brown Phantoms

A selection of differeny colour Brown's phantoms

A selection of boxed Brown's Phantoms

Brown's designed a Phantom for fishing still water, the extra big fins made it go extra quick

When they go fast you get a kinky line, so.... you needed to reverse the spin of the minnow

This was called the Inskip Patent....

When you caught the salmon you probably had one of these to land it with...

A pair of early gaffs by William Brown

A nice boxed William Brown Silver Sandeel - not that common!

A shot of the interior of Willliam Brown's shop - may bring back memories for some

A selection of natural bait mounts by William Brown

Came in silver too

The above is a "proof" page of illustrations for William Brown in 1890's 

The above is a drawing of a proposed William Brown advertising board for William Willox of Ballater, I know nothing of William Willox, but I would love to find this frame!

William Brown and the Indian connection

The above scans come from a very rare catalogue - which came from the Harper Family - it may be the only one, written on page 2 in pencill are the prics for producing the catalogue in editions of 500 and 1,000. What is clear though is that Brown's did supply a lot of tackle to India in the late 1800's early 1900's, the following is a little story of my own;

About the year 1998 I was ‘phoned out of the blue by a tackle dealer from the sounth coast of England, he told me the tale of 3 William Brown “Mahseer phantoms”, I was intrigued and asked him how he know they were “Mahseer phantoms”, he explained that they were of a large size and were contained in a custom made tin box – they had been recovered from India, he also mentioned that the chap who had sold them to him also thought that some where he had a similar box with 6 phantoms, a large reel and the accompanying rod – although he could not locate them. I was interested enough to pay the rather large price for the rather large lures – I was not disappointed when I eventually got them in my sweaty hands! I concurred that they were “Mahseer phantoms” stamped with the W & B on the fins and that the design of the phantom tin is very similar to that of some in design drawings from the William Brown archives and one that I already had for more conventional size phantoms (ie the partitions are of tapered form, see below) and left it at that.

Drawing of WB Phantom Box and Photo of a WB box for standard sized phantoms

Fast forward to 2005 I was looking at ebay and noticed a set of 6 Phantoms in similar if not identical tin case – the seller didn't mention the size of the minnows so they did not look anything out of the ordinary, I also noted the seller was also listing a rather large brass reel inscribed with “Roorkee Foundry*”. Anyway to cut a long story short I bought the phantoms (for a very reasonable price) and a fellow collector bought the reel (again at a reasonable price due to quality of photo and description on the listing). On receipt of the phantoms – which were exactly the same, right down to the paper linings in the tin trays, I contacted the seller – turns out he was the brother of the seller of the set of three phantoms, he did not have the rod.

I visited the buyer of the reel and we put the lures and reels together (the reel is a giant 6 inch diameter and very wide drum, probably by a London maker – could have been supplied by Brown perhaps) and took the following photo along with the above catalogue. (Now 3 Phantoms live with the reel and 6 phantoms live in Edinburgh!)

Remember that reel is 6" in diameter !

*Roorkee Workshop & Foundry were originally established to cater in Ganga Canal Works in 1843, on a very modest scale, comprising merely a timber yard, a smithy and a carpenter's shop.

In 1848, Lieutenant A. Allan was appointed to take charge of the establishment, who developed spacious buildings with lathe, model and engine-room accommodation, while in 1851, further large installation of machinery was made. In 1852, the connection between Workshop and the Canal was severed, and the workshop became an independent and self-supporting institution undertaking the supply of iron and wood for general purposes, manufacture & repair of mathematical instruments and iron foundry. By 1871, it afforded employment to 1,069 artisans and labourers, engaged in work of very wide range.



Willam Browns 1902 list of Salmon Flies for New Zealand



Simon Runting kindly sent me this hand written list (which would have been put together by James Harper the then proprietor of Browns), this list has helped with the history of the Moonshine/Moonlight. Sent to Messrs. A & W McCarthy in Dunedin, NZ, it also included wholesale prices for flies tied to single & double hooks, both gut and steel eyed. I have put all the fly names into text to make it simpler to read and highlighted (in yellow) the flies that did not appear in the huge list of flies in Browns catalogue for 1897.

Tournament Line and the L Bouglé / William Brown connection

I found the following letter sent to James Harper when he was proprietor of Brown's, we mostly think of Bouglé as the designer of a very desirable varient of the Hardy Perfect reel (and also the currently made version) but he was also a big shot in the world of spin casting.

157 Faubourg Saint-Honoré

Paris

November 1^st 1905

Dear Sirs,

On my return after an absence of several weeks I find your favour of the 10^th with sample of your fine undressed spinning line. My opinion is that for casting light weights from the reel either for light spinning or for tournament work this line ought to answer admirably. Some American anglers of my acquaintance and myself have been for some time past trying to get something of the kind. Quite recently the makers of the American “Kingfisher” lines have, at the request of my friend Mr C. G. Levison, issued new style of thin undressed line of which I received a 100 yards spool last September. It is the same firm who is making the No. 77 Kingfisher line of which I sent you a sample last year and which I have been using with great satisfaction for pike and salmon spinning for several years.

I enclose sample of their new thin sort do you may compare it with yours. According to the label on the spool “This line will only stand a test of 4 or 5 pounds, it is intended for professional casting or small brook trout” Your line is slightly finer than the American ones and as regards strength it seems quite strong enough though I have not had time to find its breaking weight.

I wish you to send me if possible 50 yards of this line of yours. I think you would do well to send a small cut of the same like that which you have sent me to my American friend Mr C. G. Levison of 1435 Pacific Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. USA.

Mr Levison takes great interest in these matters and he has largely contributed to improve and refine the bait casting tackle used in the states. He is always on the committee of the New York tournaments and often takes part in bait casting contests. Three years ago be broke the ½ oz bait casting record at the New York tournament overhead single-handed casting with a cast of 125 feet. The finest casting reel now made in America was turned out by the Talbot Co of Nevada, Ills. to Mr. Levison’s specifications and is named after him “The Levison special.” I have been for 3 years the fortunate possessor of one of these reels, fully jewelled; it is of wonderful sensitiveness for its size and line carrying capacity.

Mr Levinson I might add has been using for many years with great success your phantom baits and it was he who advised me to adopt the “Inskip” style.

The new Kingfisher line of which I enclose sample is much more expensive than yours ($1.50 per 100 yards) so that if in a practical trial yours answers well it is sure to be preferred by all of us.

In your last letter you say, “We intend waterproofing it also”… This I do not very well understand unless you simply mean a coat of paraffin such as is often applied to these bait casting lines in America. In my humble opinion a dressing is applied to fly lines i.e. linseed oil and varnish would be an absolute mistake in the present case. It would make the line more or less “sticky”, add greatly to its weight and very likely destroy its strength, in one word spoil all its present good features.

It is only for casting “from the coil” that a dressed line (in the ordinary sense of the word) line is required and then it must be a thick line so the fingers of the operator may easily catch hold of it but them this is altogether another purpose. As above explained I consider nothing but a simple coat of paraffin is desirable for lines which are to used in casting from the reel. The No 77 American “Kingfisher” line of which I sent you a sample last year is said by the makers to be thus treated. Such dressing I have often applied myself to some of my bait casting lines and I intend to treat the thin new Kingfisher of which I enclose sample. This is how I do it: I simply melt some paraffin was in a tin can and when very hot I place the line in it. I leave it to soak about 15 minutes the paraffin being kept hot and then I lift the line out; I place it on an old newspaper until the paraffin has hardens and it may then be rubbed off the line with a piece of sort rag held by one’s fingers and the line pulled between folds in the rag. When first used after the paraffin is on it may not render from the reel as freely as necessary but it will run smoothly very soon and I believe this coat of paraffin must have a happy influence on the durability of the line.

You may possibly find that this treatment may affect the appearance or shop finish of the line and not help to its sale. This may be so but anyhow I would advise you to on no account give it a linseed oil dressing.

As you may not remember the No. 77 Kingfisher to which I make allusion in the present letter I enclose another sample of it. I also send you a sample of a very popular American flax line for salt-water fishing which may interest you to see. This line which is called the “Cuttyhunk” line and manufactured by J.S. Johnson & Co. is used in this size by American anglers for sea fish running up to 75 or 80 pounds such ad their striped bass. Is it not interesting to compare such line with the very coarse line used by British sea anglers especially considering that he latter have very seldom indeed to deal with fish of more than 20 pounds. All the rest of the equipment of American sea anglers is light and refined in the same proportion.

Excuse this very long letter which may be of little interest to you and believe me dear sir,

Yours truly

L Bouglé

P.S. To sum up the matter the points which Mr. Levison and I require in a line for bait casting from the reel are:

It should be as light and thin as possible for a given strength so as not to check the flight of the lure.

It should be as tightly plaited and consequently stiff as possible so as to have little tendency to kink.

It should on no account be made with a core because a line thus made picks up too much water and consequently swells with the result that it’s weight and size increase considerably after a few casts and also because a line with a core is bound to rot very soon.

With such tackle and one of your No. 4 Blue and Silver phantoms I killed last April a 21 pound fresh run salmon in the river Wye, in Wales, to the amazement of the local anglers who would not believe that a good fish could be landed with such light tackle. For light spinning I use a single-handed rod of the same length weighing only 6 oz.

THE MARTLEY CONNECTION

Letters from Camp on the Seaton River, B.C. 1890s

The following letters were founc amongs some files of correspondance in the archive of "William Brown" material - makes interesting reading.

Camp, Seaton River, B.C.,

15^th September, 1893.

Hello Colin,

Many thanks for the letters and the images!  The photographs I have seen before from an archival collection-I published an academic paper in 2008 on placer mining on the Fraser, so have gone through a lot of collections. Good to have them from this source. I also have Martley's letter book(s) and two pocket diaries so have several samples of his hand writing-will make a comparison from those and the labels on the photographs.

Talked with my neighbour(5 miles off) the other afternoon and he says that the catalogue still exists and that it was either his great grandfather's or his great-great uncles the Dr.'s Jones who came out from the UK in the in the later 1880's on a world tour and never went further. The catalogue is was stored when his late father's second wife was settled off the place, and should be passed along later this summer.

I'll set up and take some photographs of what's here later today.

Mike

The Martley Box containing a William Brown catalogue c 1897, Blackers Book, Browns Phantom minnow and fly wallets


A detailed view showing a Silver William Brown Phantom Minnow with the "free flying" extention hook mentioned in Martley's letter - I wonder if it is the same mimnow?

Here is some more information about Capt Martley...

1882 reinstated, assigned to Horse Guards and attached as A.D.C. to the Marquis of Lorne, Governor General of Canada, for the duration of the British Columbia Vice-regal  tour. This was his most cherished honour; recognition for his decades of devotion to his chosen new homeland.

1878 appointed Justice of the Peace for Lillooet area.

1894 Published a volume of verse ‘Songs of the Cascades’; a tribute to his home region and a political commentary.

1893 Initiated a correspondence and began purchasing fishing tackle from Brown’s of Aberdeen.

1896 died 27^th of October at home on The Grange. Both of the Martley’s are buried on The Grange in an enclosure with a rose bush on a high sloping pasture with a view to the south of the snow-capped Mt. Mclean.


William Blacklaws, Kincardiine O' Neil

OK so William Blacklaws is not one of the Aberdeen makers, he was based in Kincardine O Neil a village (the oldest village) on Deeside, he is very important to the history of the area as a rod maker, fly maker and friend of William Brown. 

The Blacklaws headstone at Kincardine O Neil

The only example I have found of a reel with Blacklaws name - it's salmon sized

 Above a selection of salmon rods made by William Blacklaws - they have a very distinctive style

The Story of William Blacklaws

Famous Fishermen – William Blacklaws, Fishing Gazette, 10^th August 1889

It is now nearly three score years and ten since William Blacklaws, one of the best and best known fishermen in the Aberdeenshire Dee, and one of the most famous rod makers, in the world, first saw light near the banks of his favourite river- one of the finest salmon streams in the kingdom. He was born in 1820, in the parish of Banchory, about eighteen miles from the mouth of the Dee. Here the crystal stream sweeps rapidly over its pebbly bed. Its gently-sloping banks are richly clad with verdant fir, larch or pines, and here and there cultivated haughs break the line of wood and afford a pleasing variety grateful to the eye of the of the angling tourist, who finds at every turn exquisite bits of scenery which have given the valley of the Dee a world-wide celebrity as one of Scotland’s most beautiful spots. Here William Blacklaws passed his boyhood. He attended the parish school, but he spent all his holidays, and most of his play-hours, at the side of the Dee, and its neighbouring tributaries – especially the Feugh – catching trout with tackle of his own making and flies of his own dressing.

William’s father held the comfortable position of grieve or overseer at Banchory lodge, and was himself one of the most noted sportsmen on Deeside. He had been much about Blackhall castle, in the wild old days when Fitzzean, Lord Kennedy, Barclay of Urie, and kindred spirits indulged in their madcap escapades, and the old man was in the habit of relating with the greatest gusto the part he had played in the hare-brained “ploys” of these enthusiastic and ofttimes eccentric sportsmen. “Young William” was a true chip off the old block. He took a keen pleasure in all out-door sports, and was always ready for mischievous pranks. When quite a boy he killed his first salmon, and though he has since landed many scores of the royal silvery denizens, he still recounts his first conquest “with all a sportsman’s ecstasy.”

When his school days were over William was apprenticed as a gardener at Banchory Lodge, and a trick which he and his cousin, Jock Adam – still remembered on Deeside as they famous Feughside blacksmith and salmon slayer – played on his father shows what manner of a boy he was. The elder Blacklaws was, it must be explained, a great tier of flies, and, if anything, conceited as to the particular size of the irons. One day, early in spring, he was observed by the two lads to be “tearing up and down,” as they phrased it, in a great rage at the carrier because the three-inch irons which he had bought from Aberdeen were too small. The youths resolved to satisfy the “Old Boy,” and Jock, who was already a proficient in smith work, forged an iron three feet long, barbed, and all complete, and William dressed the hook with peacock and turkey-cock feathers after the orthodox pattern. It was neatly made up into a parcel, and duly delivered on the opening days. In a note which accompanied it the hope was expressed that Mr. Blacklaws would find it large enough, at any rate. The old man was furious; but his tormentors enjoyed the joke immensely.

When “Young William” had completed his apprenticeship he was retained as a gardener at Banchory Lodge, and by-and-by he began to think that it was not good for a man to be alone. We do not propose telling the story of his courting days, but there is one exciting episode which must not be passed over. His sweetheart was in the service of an old lady who lived on the banks of the Feugh, and one night about dusk, as is still the custom of the country, “Young William” set out for the domicile of his beloved. Reaching the back window he, as is usual on such occasions, tapped lightly on one of the panes. As bad luck would have it the whole household had been thrown into confusion by the sudden arrival of the old lady’s son from abroad, and he was moving about near the back window when the amorous signals were given. He immediately opened the door, and the expectant lover clasped, not the fair form of his darling, but the muscular frame of the six-foot son of her mistress. Both men were equally taken aback for a second, but the young master immediately returned the hug of the gardener, and both being powerful men, a desperate tussle ensued. Over and over they rolled, the one on top of the other, and down the embankment into the bed of the Feugh. The gardener landed uppermost, and the other combatant, who was stunned by the fall, relaxed his hold. William now saw his opportunity, and lost no time in showing a clean pair of heals.

Next day the “Battle of the Feugh” was the great sensation in Banchory. The police were searching everywhere, and a reward of five pounds was offered for the apprehension of the delinquent. “Old William” now delights to tell the story, and at this point he generally remarks – “It was twenty lang years and mair before I breathed a syllable to onybody that I kent onything aboot it. Luckily there was no real harm done. The young man had sair banes for a day or twa, but so had I, and what was waur, durstna sat a word aboot it.”   

Shortly afterwards the young gardener married the heroine of the startling escapade, and his nocturnal visitations came to an end. He was happy in his choice, and his good wife still shares in all the joys and sorrows of his busy life. She has in no small measure, by her industry, thrift, and excellent management, contributed to the happiness and comfort which has all along attended their family circle, and support in times of difficulty and trial.

At Banchory Lodge at the onset of his career, “Young William” was happy in all his relations. His position was rightly considered a very comfortable one for his experience and station in life. In all probability he would have been content to remain there, and the world might have lost one of its finest rod-makers, had it not been for a disagreeable incident. He quarrelled with the coach-man, and after that the place was not large enough for them both. In justice to the subject of our sketch, matters must be explained. The coach-man kept a number of pigs, and in foraging for them he wrought sad havoc in the garden without asking leave or licence. This was more than any gardener with a just pride in his work could stand. It is, therefore, not at all surprising that “Young William” gave the coach-man a sound thrashing, when one morning, he found him ruthlessly despoiling the sacred cabbage beds. This incident, as Blacklaws recently remarked, led to “court martial.” The coach-man had grown old in service at Banchory Lodge, and was a great favourite, so matters at first looked very black for the young gardener; but when everything was known he was acquitted of all blame. What followed may be best explained in the words of Mr. Blacklaws himself. “I felt,” he says, “that the situation could not be comfortable or conducive to my piece of mind so long as the coach-man and I remained in the same employment, and, being the younger of the two, I felt it was my duty to give in my warning, and sorely against my mistress’s will I left Banchory Lodge a month afterwards.

Immediately after this Blacklaws took service with Mr. Harvey, of Cairnoustie, on Deveron side. Here he was gardener, keeper, and fisherman by turns, and he felt equally at home in all these diverse roles. He did not, however, remain long there, but, after a short interval, returned to his well-beloved Deeside. For three years after he was Mr. Winslow, tenant of Blackhall Castle; and on the famous Blackhall water he had every facility for increasing his proficiency as a fisherman. Here for the first time he saw what is commonly known as artificial minnow angling. “Mr. Winslow,” remarked Blacklaws, the other day, “had every engine then known for the killing of salmon. If a fish were seen to rise and refuse the fly and other lures, Mr. Winslow put over him his ‘minnow,’ which consists of a small, dry, salted garvie – white and silvery, that he kept in a small barrel – and I never saw it fail. It was the most deadly bait I ever knew. No matter how bright the day or how small and clear the water may have been, salmo took the garvie when he fought shy of everything else.

Blacklaws thought it was a lazy life in the winter time at Blackhall, as he had nothing to do but tie flies, make casts, and prepare tackle for the coming season. The monotony was, however, often relieved by a day on the hills among the roe deer, and whoever returned empty handed, the subject of our sketch was seldom of the number. He was a crack shot in his day, and even yet, although his sight is failing, he yields the palm to very few at any of the local hunts.

After leaving Blackhall he served some time at Borrowstone house, Kincardine O’Neil, where he laid out the present garden. Here he had the run of the fine pools belonging to the Borrwostone fishings, and he whipped many a silvery beauty from the Gannets, the Greenbanks, and the Bridge pools.

From Borrowstone house he passed into the service of Captain Farquar, Carlogie, now Admiral Sir Aurthur Farquar, K.C.B., Drumnagesk, Aboyne. Then began, in earnest, the work which has earned him his world-wide reputation. His duties at Carlogie were nominally those of a gardener, but he was so much sought after for the river and for the hill, that he was practically more of a keeper than anything else, and ultimately the garden was merely superintended by him in the seed and fruit seasons. He had for years been in the habit of repairing rods for gentlemen, and he did it so deftly that no one who could secure his services ever thought of sending a “break” to Aberdeen. He had, however never tried to make a rod, and it was apparently in the most casual way that he was first induced to make the experiment. When he came to Carlogie the gentleman who had rented the shootings and fishings had not arrived. Here was a fine water in which a salmon might at any time be killed; but there was no rod. Blacklaws, who by this time had a serviceable collection of tools, set to work, and in two days produced his first complete fishing rod – a spliced rod, with butt and middle joint of ash, and a lancewood top. His first attempt was a decided success. As soon as Mr. Natkins, the gentleman who had taken a sub-let of Carlogie, saw it, he was stuck with its fine balance, and having tried it, he ordered a similar one for himself. After this every sporting gentleman that came that way felt he was not fully equipped till he got Blacklaws to make him a rod, and for the next eleven years every moment of William’s spare time was devoted to the manufacture of those “favours” that were inevitably booked long in advance. He was now in possession of a good turning lathe and better tools, and the excellence of his workmanship kept pace with the gradual improvement of his apparatus. Admiral Farquar was often home on leave, or resting in the intervals of his appointments, and at such time he had always more or less company at Carlogie. New rods were more in demand than ever, and the fame of the rod maker was being carried further a field with every newcomer.