Chuck, I have about 30 'vintage' saddles that date to the 60's, maybe/probably earlier (maybe Tony could help date them). They are in wax paper sacks with green paper blotters (to suck up the skin oils that still come off some of the pelts). Most of the skins have gotten brittle over the decades, but the feathers are still in excellent condition. The dying jobs are really good considering the era they are from. The nape area hackles are extremely short but good quality (the breeding stock of today's birds). It would take two or three of them to match a genetic tie, and thirty of them to match a genetic hackle. The large feathers are excellent streamer feathers, which is what I've kept them especially for- and of course, the collectibility of them. Bought them in the 80's from an estate auction, and the guy supposedly had them for 30 years- so that would make them circa 50's/60's.
Chuck, if you ever make it out west- especially Colorado, make sure you add Whiting Farms to your schedule. You have just a fraction of the appreciation you'll have after you visit the farm/facilities that bring those awesome genetic hackles to you. Besides, you'll get to see hundreds of thousands of birds, and then rummage through thousands of saddles and capes in the bins- 'cherry-picking' out your purchases (if you tell Dr. Tom I sent you.) DonO ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck Alexander" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, September 09, 2006 10:52 AM Subject: Re: [VFB] The influence of importanting hackle in the 60's and 70 's from one man ,Terry Hellekson > Glenn: This is what amazed me as I said in my post about that 1973 Tying > Materials book I found..It makes me have even MORE respect to the men and > women here, and all over who have been tying since way back then..Compared > to today's materials, they tied GREAT flies with JUNK as compared to today's > stuff. I do NOT mean that as a put down to Mr. Hellekson.. I'm sure he > imported the best quality of that day..But I am still amazed, as I start > reading that older book, and seeing pics of what the men and women had to > work with, and STILL turn out a GREAT product..Gives me, like I said, a new > found respect for veteran tiers that's for sure... Chuck > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Glenn Overton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, September 09, 2006 3:24 AM > Subject: [VFB] The influence of importanting hackle in the 60's and 70 's > from one man ,Terry Hellekson > > > > To RC BELT. > > Many of us feel ,Terry Hellekson book " FISH FLIES ' will be the last of > > it's kind with the accurate history . Without Terry ,and a lifetime of > > notes and from his dad ,it never can be duplicated again. A lot of you > > didn't know in the 60's and 70's the only fly tying necks we had were all > > coming from India and China. Little is known today that these necks were > > all imported by Terry Hellekson. .He was the one supplier in those days > > to all the retail and wholesale shops . How can anyone ever tie a dry fly > > without some supplier of imported hackle in those days ,remwember we are > > talking about more then 35 years ago.. Because of the availability of > > hackle made by Terry Hellekson, we got to credit him to be the catalyst > > that got fly tying the boost in those early days to what fly tying is > > today. To realize how one person contribute so much and today not many > > know the wonderful things we all enjoy that was made possible by this > > wonderful man and close friend. > > Glenn Overton > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "RC Belt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006 10:53 PM > > Subject: RE: [VFB] flyfishing and flytying books and accurate history > > > > > > Thank You Glenn, > > > > I am looking for a copy of "FISH FLIES" as I type. > > Thanks again, > > Randy > > > > Every day is a good day, Some are just better than others! > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.2/442 - Release Date: 9/8/2006 > >
