Wednesday, June 16, 2010

We Need Your Help

The Parachute Custom Dry Fly Hook made in England

I have just posted a large article on my website www.kossiedun.com.au with reference to the correct positioning of the post on Parachute hackled flies that are tied on standard dry fly hooks. Click here for the link.

The hook featured above was one sold in America by Herters Inc. way back when. But there were others. We know that William Brush of Detroit was granted a patent for his Parachute Hook in 1934 but I only have a drawing of it.

The House of Hardy also patented their Ride-Rite Parachute flies, again in 1934.

There is also the suggestion that Alex Martin of Glasgow produced his own hooks around the same period.

I've been told that Partridge also made a Parachute hook.

So, can you help? Pictures out of books can give us an idea but a good close-up photo, as with the Herters model, tells its own story.

I would really like to complete this story and if you have any old Parachute hooks, can you please send me some, or one, so that it can be photographed. I will gladly return it or swap it for another hook from my collection.

I know that a number of you are active on the chat boards on a number of websites and if you can post a request, I would really appreciate it. You can contact me at kossiedun@gmail.com or via Comments here.

But wait, there is a second request! Mike Valla is working on another project and is desperately looking for some Mustad 93843 size 16 up-eye hooks. Can you help?

Mike can also be contacted on vallame@gmail.com or via Comments.