[Derek Roxborough]

what firm was the fore runner of Greys of Alnwick? Derek Roxborough

[Hamish Young]

Technically I think the forerunner would have to be Hardy Bros., Malcolm Grey left Hardy in '68 to form a new eponymous brand that was  'Greys of Alnwick' but most tackle was simply branded 'Greys'.

A lot of the Greys blanks came from Harrison (if I remember rightly) and they made some super fly rods; I have a custom Greys GPRL 10' 7/8wt which is on 'loan' to my Dad and it's a rod I wont part with - excpet to lend it to Dad...obviously. Sure it's slow and heavy by todays standards, but it's a beast 

Anyway, back to Greys.

Things turned full circle when Hardy bought Greys in 1999... but Malcolm Grey came out of retirement in the 00s and formed 'Malcolm Grey of Alnwick' once again producing fine rods. I believe that was wound up in 2015 or 2016.

H

[Mike Barrio]

Quite a few UK tackle brands are now owned by US companies such as Pure Fishing ............. including Hardy and Greys.

http://www.purefishing.com/our-brands/

[Derek Roxborough]

this was a purely cane rod builder, some say better than Hardy,Derek Roxborough

[Hamish Young]

this was a purely cane rod builder, some say better than Hardy...

Hmmm.... rubs chin.... that's maybe a slightly different question to the one I answered.

There was Tom Moran (who passed away in 2014) who ended up working for Hardy Greys about a decade ago but had previously sold direct, worked for Partridge and spent a number of years crafting the finest split cane rods in the 'States with Thomas & Thomas. I saw one of his rods once, just a work of art, truly a great craftsman. But he was hardly a forerunner of Greys of Alnwick.

I'd plump for Walker Bampton, off the cuff they're the only company I think of who made high end split cane rods before Greys were formed in Alnwick.

H

[Allan Liddle]

Ha ha, shit yes I totally forgot all about this as I've been so bloody busy recently.

In answer to my original question: Hamish you were close but no cigar as there are two places a good bit further north where a water that eventually runs (under natural flow) into the Moray Firth is within 3 miles of the Atlantic the closest of which is the very head waters of the Upper Cassley above Loch Gorm and the loch directly below this Fionn Loch.  Both have feeder streams that emerge pretty close to Loch Beg, which itself is the upper extension of Loch Glencoul, joining up with Loch Glendubh above Kylesku bridge. 

Anyway no idea on the rod maker so i'll leave this one to you guys, least the thread is back up and running

[Derek Roxborough]

Walker Bampton, they had the premises before Greys took over, I worked in Alnwick and they were just up the high street, There was another cane builder at Shilbottle and another at Chatton, so you are right Hamish, Derek Roxborough

[Mike Barrio]

Let's continue the out of season fun ....... if we keep it going it'll be a 10 year old quiz     

Who wrote the book - Standing in a river waving a stick?

[Eddie Sinclair]

John Geirach.

And the next question is, which famous reels used to be manufactured in California but are now made by the company that bought them in Montrose Colorado?

Eddie

[Mike Barrio]

John Geirach.

And the next question is, which famous reels used to be manufactured in California but are now made by the company that bought them in Montrose Colorado?

Eddie

Great stuff Eddie 

[Hamish Young]

And the next question is, which famous reels used to be manufactured in California but are now made by the company that bought them in Montrose Colorado?

Eddie

I'm going to say Abel 

H

[Eddie Sinclair]

Correct,

Over to you H.

Eddie

[Hamish Young]

OK....... sticking with fly reels.

From these clues, which brand is this

1. One of the most innovative companies in fly reel design, arguably they were one of the first to successfully produce a cassette reel.
2. They have made reels/rebranded their designs for other brands, but they're not Hardy.
3. Quality machining from bar-stock was where this company started, but not in Europe.
4. The brand started in the 1970s but disappeared (more or less) by the 00's.

Who are they 

H

[Eddie Sinclair]

Leeda?

[Hamish Young]

Leeda?

No, not this time Eddie.

[Allan Liddle]

Youngs

[Hamish Young]

Youngs

Negative. Perhaps a further clue....
Not Europe including the UK... so somewhere else.

[Mike Barrio]

STH maybe Hamish? I think they made some early cassette reels ...... based in Argentina?

Cheers
Mike

[Hamish Young]

STH maybe Hamish? I think they made some early cassette reels ...... based in Argentina?

STH is the correct answer Mr B 
H

[Mike Barrio]

I was really struggling with that one H ..... and just guessing     

Next one folks:
Name the well known river beat on the River Annan with a good camping site

[Hamish Young]

Does it start with an H and end in an M 

[Mike Barrio]

Does it start with an H and end in an M 

It does indeed Hamish ........ Hoddom Castle 

[Mike Barrio]

I'll leave it open to anybody to join in and ask the next question

[Eddie Sinclair]

Ythan Estuary?

[Mike Barrio]

Next ...... anybody can join in and ask the next question once the correct answer has been confirmed