Menwall Adjustable Bite Indicator

[The Sweetcorn Kid]

Not qute sure how old this is, but it's delightful just the same.

I fished a 24 hour charity carp match this weekend. Rod promised to bring down an Ambidex reel for me as he'd heard I like using vintage tackle. Along with the half bait Ambidex he gave me a bundle of 1964/65 Creel magazines and this odd contraption.

Has anyone seen or used one before?

[MGs]

Interesting. Looking at the pricing, LSD and decimal it is probably from 1970 or 1971

[Dave Burr]

A swing tip come bobbin substitute - very innovative and doubtless the result of an hour in the shed. The problem with many of these early inventions was the restriction they put on casting and their ability to tangle line. A lovely piece of angling history though and to have the original wrapping and instructions must be very rare. Is the bat plastic or metal Stu?

I don't remember seeing this one but the tag line "Brings back exciting fishing once again" would have seen me digging deep for my 79p

[The Sweetcorn Kid]

Its all metal Dave....

And the ingenious part is that you can attach it after casting due to the top ring having the same clasp mechanism as a necklace.



How many times have you left out an eye when tackling up only yo ralise after you've rigged up and plumbed the depth only to have to break it all down, re-ring the rod and start all over again. This on each rod ring would eliminate that!!!

[Nobby]

Yes almost certainly 1971 when decimalisation had just come in and folk needed a bit of help with the conversion.


Not seen one of those before and all in good nick too.


One day we'll have a proper museum for stuff like that......

[Carp Artist]

A 70's Butt Banger

[GarryProcter]

I used indicators like that in the 60's (home made and commercial versions) with the same 'clasp' but not that precise model. Pretty sure (in those innocent times) we called them 'Butt indicators'.

[Dave Burr]

That ring may be useful for quick use Stu but I bet it chewed your line. Also, I can't imagine such a devise surviving the change to carbon rods, imagine having that metal clip and metal bar banging against your latest purchase ......... SNAP!

Be alright on your MkIV though mate

[RBTraditional]

I used indicators like that in the 60's (home made and commercial versions) with the same 'clasp' but not that precise model. Pretty sure (in those innocent times) we called them 'Butt indicators'.

Now they'd call them..... BUTT BANGERS!