Who is Tommy Kelsey Centrepin Reel Maker?

[CrayCane]

Darren's father once owned Specialist Angling - the best person perhaps with the answers.

Yes certainly: https://www.facebook.com/dalectronics

Pete

[Olly]

There were several different versions - all it seems from the initials by different makers. If it was the owner surely the initial would be same!

Your one Craycrane was also made more like an Aerial as well.

[Fredline]

Maybe the initials belong to the persons who "bunged all the bits together".

[Old Man River]

The reel on the left of the photo, with label on inside backplate is visually identical to this one…

http://www.traditionalfisherman.com/vie ... 67#p463167

Apart from it not being anodised.

There is more information on the link.


David

[Aitch]

I managed to pick up a Tommy Kelsey reel this evening at my clubs tackle auction... there were two of his reels, I managed to snap one up

The markings on the reel foot are TK 5 11 99

[Duckett]

Very nice Aitch!

Phil

[Tengisgol]

Specialist Tackle was owned by Pete Henwood and opened at the White Shops (as we knew them), Petit’s Lane, Romford. Pete was well known in barbel fishing circles at the time. He was an ex-financial services salesman that lived locally and had ambition to take on the whole row of shops with different services. I think he opened a launderette at one point.

The shop was just what it said on the tin and focussed on the specialist side of things. Romford was served elsewhere and generally by Johnny Gilmore (Romford Angling Centre) and other local shops in Elm Park, Brentwood and then the likes of Bromages in toward London.

It was quite a revelation at the time, when Pete sourced his range of centrepins focussed on the anglers targeting barbel the ‘Fred Crouch way’ on the Lea, Kennet and southern rivers. They were never really trotting reels but he did a lot to get centrepins back into the mainstream I feel, certainly round my way.

Later, the business expanded and took on much larger premises on Chase Cross Road (now occupied by Keswalls Angling, formerly of Woodford) where they had a ‘bivvy showroom’ and ran tuition classes for carp and barbel anglers in a building at the back. It was a great shop in many ways and some good people - Dave and Pete the Tooth come to mind (was a good friend of mine and I watched in disbelief catching a barbel from the Chelmer one night).

Sadly, I fell out with Pete Henwood big time when he sold my girlfriend a super lightweight 13’ spliced tip match rod when he knew precisely that I was after a 15’ Power Float rod to trot the far bank of the Avon…then wouldn’t exchange it.

Pete’s son Darren is the electronics whiz-kid (well, not a kid now!) that does the (cult) bite alarm repair and upgrade service.

Back to the reels! I am regularly in Keswalls and Dave is still there having a cup of tea so I will ask him about the makers and see what information I can extract. He will know.

[Wallys-Cast]

I managed to pick up a Tommy Kelsey reel this evening at my clubs tackle auction... there were two of his reels, I managed to snap one up

The markings on the reel foot are TK 5 11 99

Very nice Aitch. It looks as if you could reposition the line pillars to increase retrieve rate.

Wal.

[Wallys-Cast]

I have bought and sold a few of these reels and yes Specialist tackle was mentioned a few times as the retailer.
I think John is right about them being assembled by the person who scratched on the initials.
I believe a lot of the modern reels we see are bought in as parts and assembled by the retailer.

Wal.

[Aitch]

I managed to pick up a Tommy Kelsey reel this evening at my clubs tackle auction... there were two of his reels, I managed to snap one up

The markings on the reel foot are TK 5 11 99

Very nice Aitch. It looks as if you could reposition the line pillars to increase retrieve rate.

Wal.

Blimey... never noticed that before... its not something I'll try though... I have an inate propensity for ballsing things up...