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!
>
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