USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

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Brian K. Shaffer
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USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#1

Post by Brian K. Shaffer »

Imagine it's 1984 and you just have to make a copy of that amazing Richardson box idea.
Find Ralph Alberts Co., the plastic manufacturer, and there you have it.
1/2 the cost when its all said and done.
Down's Fly Box made out of PA -

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Had this one about 10 years now... if you see one - snag it for reasonable money. It's only plastic afterall :rollin
" There's no such thing as a fly fisherman wholly satisfied with his casting performance. " ~ Jim Green (1971)
" Just once I wish a trout would wink at me. " ~ Brian Shaffer

Use the SEARCH for justification and reasoning.

billems
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#2

Post by billems »

I owned one. They work quite well.

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jhuskey
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#3

Post by jhuskey »

That is a cool box Sir!

Bamboocollector#1
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#4

Post by Bamboocollector#1 »

Sold one last year. It is a neat box.
Previously known as bamboocollector11

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ibookje
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#5

Post by ibookje »

nice!

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Short Tip
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#6

Post by Short Tip »

They always seemed legit to me. The metal versions have disadvantages.

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ibookje
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#7

Post by ibookje »

Short Tip wrote:They always seemed legit to me. The metal versions have disadvantages.
Besides being heavier what are other disadvantages?

drifly
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#8

Post by drifly »

You have to be very careful when holding your rod under your arm while changing flies, applying floatant, etc. As those Richardson boxes can/will do some harm to a rods finish over a period of time.

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VanfromMaine
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#9

Post by VanfromMaine »

Bamboocollector#1 wrote:
01/09/22 16:53
Sold one last year. It is a neat box.
How muck did you sell it for? I have one I don't use and thinking about sellingsellin
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Short Tip
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#10

Post by Short Tip »

ibookje wrote:
01/10/22 01:36
Short Tip wrote:They always seemed legit to me. The metal versions have disadvantages.
Besides being heavier what are other disadvantages?
They hurt a lot when you fall on them. They can be a little noisy. The metal trays, hinges and moving parts are easily tweaked and need periodic alignment.

Don't get me wrong, I like and use both Fye and Richardson boxes - I cut my fly fishing teeth in PA during the 60s and 70s, they were a must-have accessory. I love my small original Fye box for mountain brook fishing. And I've never actually used a Downs box. But the concept always seemed sound to me.

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Short Tip
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#11

Post by Short Tip »

drifly wrote:
01/10/22 07:56
You have to be very careful when holding your rod under your arm while changing flies, applying floatant, etc. As those Richardson boxes can/will do some harm to a rods finish over a period of time.
And this as well!

GRASSNGLASS
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#12

Post by GRASSNGLASS »

Not nearly the quality you have.

But, here is another little plastic chest pack called the Denver Lure Box. Plastic harness doesn't do the pack justice.


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Brian K. Shaffer
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#13

Post by Brian K. Shaffer »

Thanks kindly to post # 9, a new pal in Maine is sending me one to use full time.
Negotiations were back and forth - white hot - until we settled.
Dust cleared and I am the new owner.
Some kinda reverse Classifieds.
Big thanks!

Now to fill this one with nothing but Ants and Beetles.
" There's no such thing as a fly fisherman wholly satisfied with his casting performance. " ~ Jim Green (1971)
" Just once I wish a trout would wink at me. " ~ Brian Shaffer

Use the SEARCH for justification and reasoning.

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JohnMD1022
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#14

Post by JohnMD1022 »

Brian K. Shaffer wrote:
01/09/22 14:13
Imagine it's 1984 and you just have to make a copy of that amazing Richardson box idea.
Find Ralph Alberts Co., the plastic manufacturer, and there you have it.
1/2 the cost when its all said and done.
Down's Fly Box made out of PA -

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Had this one about 10 years now... if you see one - snag it for reasonable money. It's only plastic afterall :rollin
The original chest boxes were made by man named Fye.

I have two of these. A 3 tray fly box and a 2 tray spinning box, purchased at the newspaper shop in Gettysburg.

Fye sold the business to Richardson, and I have a 5 tray model of his.

The Downs boxes are nice because of their modularity. I was going to buy one for that reason, but at 80, I am past the age of want or need, and have reached the age of sell. 😄

JoeBolt
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#15

Post by JoeBolt »

Dumb Q, but do the hinges stop at ~90°, or does it flip all the way down? (the latter would be frustrating to me). Is it 3D printed? It's cool. I wouldn't use one, but appreciate the utility and design.

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prairieschooner
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#16

Post by prairieschooner »

Here's a little aluminum drop-down model, labeled Tak-L-Kit, Seneca Manufacturing Company, Seneca, Missouri. Maybe more suited to live bait?

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I spent most of my money on shotguns, fly rods, guitars and banjos. The rest I just wasted. (Apologies to W.C. Fields)

billems
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#17

Post by billems »

I own a Richardson. This is the first year--I just turned 71--where it feels too heavy. A few years back, some kids near the town where i was fishing, aske d what ''that thing on your chest," was. I told them it's where I keep my artificial heart, and they began to run! I called them back and demonstrated it for them.
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ibookje
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Re: USA made plastic knockoff of the fancy Richardson chest fly box

#18

Post by ibookje »

:lol

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