Wednesday 31 July 2013

At the Sign of The Golden Hooks

Once upon a time in Arcadia in the year 1931, Ogden Smiths of Piccadilly took Stand F27 at The British Industries Fair at Olympia.  There, they held their annual exhibition of Fishing Tackle on a  stand dressed with the Ogden Smiths' Trade Mark - two giant Golden Hooks.

Tomorrow, on Thursday 1st August in the year of Arcadia 2013, I will be stalling out at my usual stand in Spitalfields Antiques Market on Commercial Street in the district of London known as E.1. between the hours of 8am and 3pm and where I shall hold my weekly exhibition and sale of Fishing Tackle.    Should you be in the vicinity I look forward to your good company over a cup of market tea whilst we listen to Light Cavalry Marches over the market's public address system.


Monday 29 July 2013

Crowned by the River Lea

Across Arcadia old chipped Coronation Mugs filled to the brim with Victory Gin are raised this morning in honour of all those who came to yesterday's readings and musical concert in the Caught by the River swim at the Open East Festival.  It was an honour to read aloud alongside my good friend Charles Rangeley-Wilson, to share the stage with a regal cast including the magnificent Ian Rawes, the erudite Emma Warren and the mighty Viv Albertine amongst others and to be part of the re-opening of the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.  I could not help but recall numerous images of the openings of both Regents and Victoria Park and to dwell on the passing of time.


Thursday 25 July 2013

A Small Corner of Salop

A small corner of Salop also known as a double trestle in the corner of the bar at Ludlow Racecourse shall be forever Arcadia both tomorrow and on Saturday as I will be stalling out as part of Mullock's Specialist Auctioneers & Valuers Auction of Antique and Modern Fishing Tackle and Related Items.  Should you be taking to the melting Tarmacadam to attend the auction I look forward to your good company over a cup of campaign tea.


Wednesday 24 July 2013

Latham's 'Willow Pattern' Paper Bag

Found amongst a box of fishing tackle bought at auction recently a Paper Bag from Latham's of Potter Heigham in a 1960's 'Willow Pattern' Style.   Amongst a selection of ephemera that will be going on the cloth when I stall out in Ludlow later this week.



Tuesday 23 July 2013

Print Blocks For The Soul


Bought at the weekend from a gentleman dealer an old deeds box containing a cache of print blocks hand cut, cast and mounted for the production of a number of Fishing Tackle Catalogues, dating to the early 20th Century and including some from the America's.  A few of the blocks will be kept and a quantity will be put out on the cloth.  All enquiries to the Field Telephone 07980 274 383.








Sunday 21 July 2013

Silt Road meets Babylon Uptown

Next Sunday the 28th July in the year of Our Lord and Perpetual Heat 2013 myself and my good friend and fellow collaborator, the author Charles Rangeley-Wilson will be reading aloud in a piece entitled 'Silt Road meets Babylon Uptown' on the Caught by the River Stage at the Open East Festival in Queen Elizabeth Park in London East.  We are on stage at a quarter to four in the afternoon and will be drinking cold beer and hot tea from chipped Coronation Mugs during our performance.   You may buy tickets, which cost only £9.50 each and read more about the line-up, which is aptly majestic, including the brilliant Trevor Moss and Hannah-Lou and the inspirational Ian Rawes by going to Caught by the River.



Saturday 20 July 2013

Spitalfields

Bought on Thursday at Spitalfields from an esteemed gentleman passer-by an engraved Farlow's & Co. of London Telescopic Salmon Two-Piece Gaff measuring 19 inches when closed and 34 when extended.  A sidearm obsolete in this the century of catch and release but still fashionable in some quarters.







Wednesday 17 July 2013

High-Grade Anglers' Specialities

Once upon a time in Arcadia, ladies and gentlemen fed up with the heat could repair to the shade and over a glass of chilled porter or red lemonade order themselves some "High-Grade Anglers' Specialities" directly from the makers: The Redditch Manufacturing Company who were based at Gresham Works in the town of Redditch.  Most orders were sent by telegram using the address "Gresham Works" Redditch and despatched by return.

Should you be a lady or a gentleman fed up with the heat in this, the year of our Lord and other Woes 2013,  you are invited to venture in the direction of my stall which is open on *THURSDAYS ONLY* at Spitalfields Antiques Market on Commercial Street in the district of London known as E.1, between the hours of 8am until 3pm.  I carry with me for sale to regulars and passers-by a wealth of High-Grade Anglers' Specialities some of which have been rescued directly from makers whose premises long ago closed down.  















Tuesday 16 July 2013

Ice-Age Relic

Found late last night as I rummaged in the ice-box a cork on quill float from the era Victoria Arcadia which I had deposited there-in over our long forgotten winter in order to kill all bugs.








Saturday 13 July 2013

New Trade Card

In Arcadia London North the weary gin soaked bugler rose shortly after dawn to sound upon the Heath in honour of the arrival of a parcel wrapped in brown paper containing a quantity of my new trade card, rendered in ink by the masterful Mr. Martin Clark of Ledbury.





Friday 12 July 2013

Spitalfields

Bought yesterday from a dealer of distinction, a small collection of photographs from the period Post-War, some press and some personal including these showing off the capture of a bream and a pike respectively.



Wednesday 10 July 2013

Carter's of St. John Street

Once upon a time in Arcadia, in the year of Our Lord and other Uncertainties 1899, ladies and gentlemen abroad and on the streets of London in search of Fishing Tackle would hail a Hansom and ask to be taken forthwith to A. Carter & Co. Ltd  -  Fishing Rod & Tackle Manufacturers whose premises were at 371 St. John Street 'Near the "Angel" Islington'.   There, they could choose from what The Fishing Gazette called 'one of the largest trades in the world', and buy a selection of items happy in the knowledge that they were at once in the company of H.R.H The Prince of Wales, T.I.M The Emperor & Empress of Russia not to mention H.I.M The Grand Duke Alexander Michaelovich.

Should you be a lady or a gentleman abroad and on the streets of London in search of the type of Fishing Tackle that was for sale at Carter's in the Year of Our Lord and Other Uncertainties 1899 you are advised to hail a taxi or take the Underground Railway and visit me at my stall in Spitalfields Antiques Market, where on *THURSDAYS ONLY* between the hours of 8am and 3pm I sell Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul.  You will be in good company.






Tuesday 9 July 2013

Kempton

Bought at Kempton this morning alongside a small amount of tackle, a pair of large signs from a lost Show Ground.





Saturday 6 July 2013

Farlows in September

In a kitchen in Arcadia London North Six a kettle is filled and a drum roll is played on empty Victory Gin bottles as a proof arrives from Master of Ink of Mr. Martin Clark of Tilley Printing for A Paper Bag for You advertising 'Andrews of Arcadia meets Farlows Uptown' when a stall selling Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul *SHALL APPEAR* on Tuesday 17th September in the Year of Our Lord and Other Heatwaves 2013.  This edition of the bag will shortly be available from my stall, at respectable tea vans, on the road over the summer and of course, on the day itself.  Thank-you.


Friday 5 July 2013

Mrs. Blood and Friends

Found late last night whilst researching the Richards Tile Factory in Stoke-on-Trent a list of dealers from Longton Market which was originally published in the Staffordshire Sentinel in 1907.  Amongst those taking a bow included Wareing - Newsagent & Second Hand Book-Dealer, Warner. G - Rabbit Dealer, Mrs. M. Blood - Herbalist, A Chiore - Ice Cream Vendor, Mrs. Ada Bandell - Draper, Pedley J.H - Toy Dealer and Whiston, Miss Annie - Fancy Goods Dealer.   Their ghosts continue to stall out over a century later in antiques markets across the land.






Wednesday 3 July 2013

From 'The Lake of the Woods'

Found recently in a box of Hardy Spoon Baits bought early one morning at a car boot sale a Cummins' XX Bar Spoon, the type used to take over 130 pike over three days in 'The Lake of the Woods' in the Year of Arcadia 1929.    For immediate sale in the corner of my website known as  'Under-the-Counter-Madam'.


Tuesday 2 July 2013

In a Bookshop Window

Found in the window of Ripping Yarns Bookshop in the Archway Road after a brisk walk to the bank and the Post Office earlier today, a copy of Harry Batsford's 1950 'London Work and Play - A Series of Illustrations', including one of a bookstall in Farringdon with the by-line, 'Book bargain-hunting in Farringdon Road.  (Note the detached attitude of the stallman.)'  Regular visitors to my own stall may or may not recognise this un-familiar pose.   The photograph was taken by J. H. Stone.










Monday 1 July 2013

Charmed Object

Bought late on Saturday night from a gentleman in the parlour of a public house in the back streets of Kings Cross a Farlow's Platewind Trout Reel of the most excellent provenance with engraved face, straight foot, ivory handle and patina oh, so glorious.  The trade continued after closing time when we retired to the adjacent street and proceeded to hold a Private Early Start Late Night Car Boot Sale Preview with a battered suitcase being plucked from the back of the gentleman's Mercedes Saloon and its contents examined by streetlight.