Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

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searun
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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#1

Post by searun »

Ever since seeing this reel on the cover of John Orelle's book ("Fly Reels of the Past"-1987) I've wanted one. He says it was designed and named by a Major B.W. Powlett, circa 1930. Has both British & New Zealand patents, a nice root beer agate, a fat little handle (very comfortable to use I might add!), and a really unique (to me) and quite functional sliding tension adjustment. 3-1/2" narrow spool. I really like the reel and couldn't find reference to any others here through the search function. Would like to see photos of any others that are out there.

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BobB
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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#2

Post by BobB »

Fantastic reel!

Might I ask where you obtained yours?

Bob

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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#3

Post by searun »

bobbeegee wrote:Fantastic reel!

Might I ask where you obtained yours?

Bob
Sure, from Great Britain! I have a whole family tree of Brits, Scotsman and Irishmen roaming the old countryside far and wide for me searching for these nuggets! Kidding aside, it was from that website with the dark room and black curtains (Creme lyrics) that we shall refrain from naming here.
BTW Bob, I see you're a fan of college sports - my University of Washington Huskies just clinched their 1st. Pac-10 basketball championship yesterday - finally!

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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#4

Post by BobB »

Congrats to you and the Huskies Greg!

Bob

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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#5

Post by searun »

bobbeegee wrote:Congrats to you and the Huskies Greg!

Bob
Thanks, Bob. Perhaps we bid on the same reel? I probably paid too much for it, but as I said I've been keeping a look out for one since I read about it in that book and I really wanted it. I think it was worth it and intend to use it a lot this season (if winter would ever lose its grip!).

Cheers, Greg

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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#6

Post by bulldog1935 »

where did he get it? He out-bid me, of course.
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turtledoc
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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#7

Post by turtledoc »

Is it the one that Barry was selling....?

I forgot about that auction until now or it might have went higher ......it was on my list of "don't need but want reels"...Image

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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#8

Post by LuckyStrikeV »

Thats a lovely reel!!!! I have always felt the same way about that model (with line guide) Always wanted 1 .... I have a pair of them w/o guide. They don't seem to show up very often in your deluxe version. CONGRATS, eh!!!Image

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afgantrout
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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#9

Post by afgantrout »

Searun,
I've got the 4" BWP sans lovely line guard (which is just as well because mine functions as LHW). It fits and functions marvellously on my Bogart Shenandoah Spey. I like it a lot! Speaking of "white rooms"...did you know that Eric Clapton has been an avid flyfisher...even before a river ran through it? My friend, Will Purdy took Clapton to fish the South Platte during the day of his concert at Red Rocks. Eric fell in the chilly Platte but hiked out and made the concert that evening.

searun
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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#10

Post by searun »

TURTLEDOCK, Yes, from Barry.

AFGHAN... There was a photo here a while back of Clapton fishing bamboo. It must have been a memorable experience for your friend to have fished with him.
I also remember a rod designed for Eric Clapton - it was labeled "Slow Hand" after one of his hits. Anyone remember the maker?

These reel makers took their time in the old days. I like this little script detail of the "patent applied for" with scaled letters to make it fit the taper of the part;
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Ken M 44
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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#11

Post by Ken M 44 »

I also remember a rod designed for Eric Clapton - it was labeled "Slow Hand" after one of his hits. Anyone remember the maker?
IIRC 'Slow Hand' is Eric Clapton's nick name rather than one of his hits.
Regarding the rod - I do not think this is about the same rod but Mike Clark has a very nice hand written 'Thank You' letter from Eric framed in the South Creek shop about one of their rods.

Fine reel - I have a soft spot for Farlow reels and love their Perfect style reels, for quite some time they have been a little under the radar price wise but (sadly for me) not anymore - they used to be regarded as the poor relation to Hardy - a bit like Dingley's Image

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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#12

Post by BobB »

bulldog1935 wrote:where did he get it? He out-bid me, of course.
Well, naturally, of course. What was I thinking! What were we all thinking!

Bob

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Reeldane
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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#13

Post by Reeldane »

Another one which I had a while ago, in leatherette box with seperate conpartment for the spare spool and the cork-arbors whitch I believe are original. However, I noted that my agate lineguard are mounted otherwise than Searun's (?)
Reeldane
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bulldog1935
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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#14

Post by bulldog1935 »

Our late friend, Jack Bright.
One of these was always at the top of his want list.
Just about every time we would swap e-mails, he would ask me if I had seen one.
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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#15

Post by searun »

Nice set Reeldane. I read that these came w/spare spool. Wish mine had that, and the case and arbors too!
You're correct that the line guide is secured differently. Also, the wedge/cam on the inside of yours appears larger and a little different than mine. Yours also has a spare pawl and spring and appears that the cage was painted. I think the cage on mine had a leaded finish. It also seems that the cage always had a finish on them whereas the spools were left contrasting bright finish. I'd be curious to know the respective time frames of these reels? Greg

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bulldog1935
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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#16

Post by bulldog1935 »

the reels have all the earmarks of being made by Young in Redditch.
The checkwork on Heinz reel says it was made closer to 1940, while your reel was made a bit earlier.

here is the '35 Farlow's catalog listing
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bow river
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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#17

Post by bow river »

congrats , great buy also

just a wonderfull looking reel , again much like the dingleys , a poor mans hardy , it's alright as i'm poor and don't mind fishing with these reels at all ,
Come book a fishing trip with me on Canada's best trout river , the world famous Bow River , also other fine mountain rivers , I collect old Hardys , Dingleys, Youngs , also buy sell & trade

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bulldog1935
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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#18

Post by bulldog1935 »

the reels were continued postwar - sans agates
the mechanism also found its way onto several other Farlows
1960 catalog (these reels were most likely made by Sharpes of Aberdeen):

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afgantrout
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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#19

Post by afgantrout »

Bulldog -
My BWP doesn't have the holdfast logo oon the back, but does have a totally Young-looking badge. I'll get some photos up in a bit.

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Farlow "B. W-P" w/sliding tension adjustment

#20

Post by LuckyStrikeV »

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