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Allcocks of Redditch - the other one!
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 8:15 am
by The VFC
Right chaps its time to put your thinking caps on. We are all lovers and admirers of the great S. Allcocks company - but what about the other one: W. A. Allcocks and sons? So little seems to be known about this maker - and it seems such a shame: I think they suffer from sharing the same name! I frequently get offered rods by "Allcocks" and have to admit to being a little disappointed if they turn out to be by WA rather than S: and yet they are good, well made rods on the whole. I've trawled through most of the books I own and can't find anything of interest on the company - most simply ignoring its existence. My thoughts so far: they only made rods (I've not come across a reel made by or retailed by them), I've heard it said that they have no connection to the more famous Allcocks (though what this is based on I don't know - perhaps the Polycarp had a bit on the side? Allcock still seems a fairly common name in the region so perhaps a more distant relative) and they appear to have lasted into the hollow glass era (I'm pretty sure I've seen a HG rod by them sometime in the past).
So over to you all - lets hear it for the "other Allcocks": any information gratefully received!
ATB
Jim
Re: Allcocks of Redditch - the other one!
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 8:21 am
by Nobby
I've never been able to find out a thing about them, Jim.
I'd guess they are related to Allcocks in some way, the tackle manufacturer's families seem to have married one anothers chidren quite a bit, but there's nothing I can find to suggest it.
That said, DNA indicates were are ALL descended from 7 women in Europe, so I suppose it just depends upon how far you go back in time.......
There's one rod they did...was it a Viking?...that people seem to think of as a good barbel rod.
I discovered recently that there's a successful match angler called Aspindale and he's from Astwood Bank, too!
Re: Allcocks of Redditch - the other one!
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 9:39 am
by SeanM
It was the Adonis Nobby. A good light barbel rod, but not the best for stopping doubles reaching sanctuary
Re: Allcocks of Redditch - the other one!
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 9:50 am
by Nobby
D'oh! That's the one....Ta, Sean.
Re: Allcocks of Redditch - the other one!
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 10:04 am
by Loop Erimder
I have a witham wizard by w a allcocks two sections split cane and a separate cork handle. A very nice rod until I stood on it and broke it
Re: Allcocks of Redditch - the other one!
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 10:33 am
by The VFC
Excellent - so now we have 2 models by the company: the Witham Wizard (interesting to note handle arrangement) and Adonis (is this all slit cane too Sean?).
Jim
Re: Allcocks of Redditch - the other one!
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 10:39 am
by Loop Erimder
I'll post some pictures later
Re: Allcocks of Redditch - the other one!
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 11:21 am
by Davyr
Yes, the Adonis was all split cane - this is what the Mistral (John Olliff Cooper) website had to say about it:
W.A. Allcock 1960c Adonis 11’0” /3 All split cane. An excellent example of this well-respected barbel taper. Restored to better than new. Agate butt and tip, FOB inters. Fine red silk. £375
Probably where its reputation as a barbel rod originated from!
And here's a third to add to the collection - The Prince:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/W-A-ALLCOCK-S ... 6005441269
And a fourth (un-named) from Mullocks:
A W.A Allcock of Redditch 12' 3 piece Spanish reed float rod with split cane tip, factory black stained, whipped red, tipped yellow
Re: Allcocks of Redditch - the other one!
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 11:33 am
by Davyr
And here's a fibreglass example:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-W-A-All ... 7675.l2557
The strange thing is, the usually-reliable Directory of British Phone Books I have access to via "Ancestry" seems to have no record of a W A Allcock in Redditch! I'll keep digging...
Re: Allcocks of Redditch - the other one!
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 11:35 am
by Davyr