McHarg (MacHarg) flies, late 1800’s

[Mike N]

J.B. McHarg started his tackle business at the age of 27 in 1850 in upstate New York. He used several trademark logos including a bird dog looking back, a stag (like Hartford insurance), and a fox with a fish in its mouth.

Here are 4 slight variations for McHarg flies envelopes from the mid to late 1800s, top to bottom:

1. Black ink, stag logo, standard trout flies. “Tied on best needle pointed spring steel sproat hooks...All are warranted.”

2. Red ink, fox logo, “Tied on best needle pointed spring steel sproat hooks...All are warranted.”

3. Red ink, fox logo, “Tied on best needle pointed spring steel sproat hooks.” [no warranty language]

4. Red ink, fox logo, “Tied on Harrisons needled pointed spring steel sproat hooks...All are warranted.”

[click on photo to enlarge]

[Mike N]

Bob Jones- NFLCC- NY, shared this 5th version of a McHarg envelope with me. It has both the stag and the fox as well as “John B. McHarg’s Best Reversed Wing Trout Flies.”

(Tap on photo to enlarge)

[drbaits]

Makes a great and historic display, Mike ! Looks like you have your work cut out for you to surround the hooks with spinners and spoons!

[reelsmith]

Very nice Mike !

Love Bob's collection as well. I've been able to see it a few times at shows and its very impressive.

Dean.

[Mike N]

Thanks, John and Dean. I was just sent a photo by collector Merrick Burr with two more McHarg envelope variations: a red ink Stag, and a black print envelope stag with early typeface.

[Mike N]

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, our friend Bill Kennedy sends me these McHarg fly envelopes with a blue and a white background. Just such great vintage fishing items..

[Flykuni3]

Great stuff.

[reelsmith]

Way to go Mike !

Dean.

[Flykuni3]

You know, I miss the great NFLCC meets out here in North Hollywood. It was an active bunch, including Phil Snyder and Art Warner, holding down the fine bamboo fly rod table. Reel expert Terry Ow was always there, Dave Holloman who bought the Payne company, and lots of interesting characters...some sorta uptight and odd to be honest about it. Collecting (of anything) seems to bring out the oddballs, eh?

But I used to find all kinds of good fly stuff, since most guys were plug men, saltwater gear (bone jigs, Zane Grey and Kovalasky reels). Guys knew I was a fly gear man, so they'd hold things for me. Sometimes a public person would walk in with something good -- the table nearest the door was the prime spot.

One time a gent showed up up with the most amazing post-war spinning gear anyone had seen: steel rods and Bakelite everywhere, all the great Midcentury colors, and all in EX shape. Beautiful display on his table. I have to wonder how many silk lines were stripped off and discarded by the guys who didn't know you could save them....

[Mike N]

You know, I miss the great NFLCC meets out here in North Hollywood. It was an active bunch, including Phil Snyder and Art Warner, holding down the fine bamboo fly rod table. Reel expert Terry Ow was always there, Dave Holloman who bought the Payne company, and lots of interesting characters...some sorta uptight and odd to be honest about it. Collecting (of anything) seems to bring out the oddballs, eh?

But I used to find all kinds of good fly stuff, since most guys were plug men, saltwater gear (bone jigs, Zane Grey and Kovalasky reels). Guys knew I was a fly gear man, so they'd hold things for me. Sometimes a public person would walk in with something good -- the table nearest the door was the prime spot.

One time a gent showed up up with the most amazing post-war spinning gear anyone had seen: steel rods and Bakelite everywhere, all the great Midcentury colors, and all in EX shape. Beautiful display on his table. I have to wonder how many silk lines were stripped off and discarded by the guys who didn't know you could save them....

Great memories. Terry Ow is still active and I got to hang out with him at the ORCA nationals in San Diego last year. The collections were incredible. You should try to get to an FATC Daytona show. Dean Smith, Dr. John Elder, Ron Gast and many others always make that a fun show to attend.

[Mike N]

Well, it took me over a year, but today I was finally able to acquire the blue McHarg stag envelope and the white background envelope shown below. I had to trade an early rectangular Orvis fly box, some early carded Orvis flies and a bit of McHarg metal and ephemera, but it was worth it to me.

[hatch]

Here are some McHarg flies to ad to the show. In the last picture, are those 6 envelopes in any way McHarg related? They say made in England?

[crowebeetle]

The stag looks very different than labels on McHarg's flies.

[hatch]

I knew I had this one but didn't know what box it was in. I guess we have been spelling MacHarg wrong.

[hatch]

on closer look now I'm wondering if any of these flies below are MacHarg? I assumed they were, but on close inspection I agree with crowebeetle the stag is different. Even the spelling of McHarg or MacHarg varies on different envelopes in this thread. You can own something for years and never really take a good look at it. I'm open to opinions or explanations for the spelling discrepancies. If the company name can be spelled two different ways it's not a stretch to think different stag likenesses could have been used.

[Mike N]

No, we are not spelling McHarg, incorrectly. Here is the stamp on his metal spoons.

(Click on image to enlarge)


I fear the “MacHarg”spelling and the less stately “smiling” stag etching signify early 1900 knock-offs, likely from across the pond.

[hatch]

No, we are not spelling McHarg, incorrectly. Here is the stamp on his metal spoons.

(Click on image to enlarge)


I fear the “MacHarg”spelling and the less stately “smiling” stag etching signify early 1900 knock-offs, likely from across the pond.

Mike N, you might have something there. I would like to see other examples of this "funny business". The "Superior" flies on the torn up cards and the 6 envelopes with the funny looking stag I questioned as someone innocently using similar packaging.(not really even that similar) The J.B. Mac Harg bass fly with McHarg trademark Fox and fish is clearly an example copyright infringement if McHarg legally made this logo his trademark. Thanks for the help.

[hatch]

Mike, You are probably aware that J.B.McHarg Co. made or at least marketed cane fly rods under the company name?

[Mike N]

Also, note the correct spelling of McHarg in this obituary published in The Daily Sentinal, (Rome, NY) of 19 August 1927 (originally posted by cwfly).

[hatch]

Mike N you had me sold on the correct McHarg spelling with the stamped spoons. The Bass Fly on the card with the Mac Harg spelling with the Fox and fish logo still has me scratching my head. That is the McHarg Fox and Fish logo. Goodness, It's pretty bold to knock off someone else's packaging in this manner especially with the name spelling being that close. I would just like to know the whole story. Is it just a bold knock off? Patients and trade mark law were in place at that time. ??