| Hardy Bros started way back in 1872 in Alnwick | | | | The Perfect was the foundation of the fly line |
| England by William Hardy, and joined a year later | | | | fishing reel, and remained so till a few years ago |
| by his brother John. It soon started to produce | | | | when production stopped. The original perfect fly |
| what many consider to be some of the finest | | | | fishing reels were made between 1890 - 1892 and |
| fishing reels in the World, that would endure for a | | | | the sizes between 2.1/4" to 5.1/4", it was based |
| century and more. Hardy fishing reels are made | | | | on a new ball bearings concept and fully described |
| from the finest materials sourced from around | | | | and patented in 1888. Then came the traditional |
| the globe, and handcrafted into the finished reel. | | | | perfect between 1892/3 which did retain some of |
| The reels are at the forefront of precision | | | | the original features but also had nickel silver |
| engineering, thus making reels that will perform in | | | | pillars, ivory handle. |
| any circumstances, whether playing a skillful | | | | The 2 1/2″ brass Perfect is great example |
| patient trial with a fish, or enduring a long drawn | | | | of their early workmanship. A circular spring |
| out fight, Hardy's have the reel and rod to fit the | | | | checking mechanism demanded exact tolerances |
| required venue and species. Hardy Bros were | | | | and workmanship. The interior detail was finished |
| always testing and innovative, for instance they | | | | to the same high standards as the exterior ones. |
| were the first to produce ball bearing reels. They | | | | It had an ivorine handle a brass strap protecting |
| incorporated a check mechanism housed inside | | | | the drag adjusting knob. |
| the reel arbour, once again a first. In 1911 they | | | | Many Hardy fishing reels were produced by |
| made the first large arbor reel, this all goes to | | | | Hardy's over the years, the following just a few: |
| prove that Hardy Bros were predominant in | | | | The Birmingham Half-ebonite 1889-1896 |
| innovation producing top quality Hardy fishing reels, | | | | Hercules 1880 - 1904 |
| and other fishing tackle products. If anything went | | | | Original Perfect 1890 - 1891/2 |
| wrong with a reel then it could be returned and | | | | Traditional Perfect 1892/3 |
| rectified often for no cost, all Hardy products are | | | | Perfect brass faced wide drum 1898 - 1908 |
| guaranteed. | | | | Bronzed Crank 1880 - 1909 |
| The heart of Hardy's product line are their fly | | | | Hardy Nottingham 1888-1921 |
| reels, one of the most valuable reels on the | | | | Nottingham Silex 1899-1911 |
| vintage reel market today is the Original Perfect in | | | | Nottingham lever action reel 1912-1922 |
| the 2 ¼" diameter size, it is the ultimate | | | | Silex Major and minor 1923-1952 |
| Hardy collectors reel of which theirs only a few | | | | Super Silex Multiplier 1930-1939 |
| known examples, if you are lucky to have one | | | | The list just goes on, the Longstone, Farne, |
| then you will be sitting on reel worth in excess of | | | | Uniqua, St.George, Sea silex, natal, Fortuna etc. |
| £6000, maybe more. | | | | |