GOOD AFTERNOON!
Andrews of Arcadia sells Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul. It exists for the renaissance angler, tackle enthusiast, stylist, purist and idealist. In Arcadia I celebrate and sell great angling brands and curios from the Georgian era through to the Mid 20th Century. From Hardy Brothers of Alnwick and Pall Mall and Farlows of Haymarket to Efgeeco of Balham and Lesneys of Hackney, from Abu of Sweden to Allcocks of Redditch. Everything is worshipped from the typeface on old cellophane hook packets to 1930's celluloid fly and bait boxes, from wooden Nottinghams to mass produced alloy centrepins, from electronica to labelled floats, from bait mounts and old game bags to gaffs and game old bags. The stock changes regularly and of course, like all good dealers, orders may be placed. The Runners of Arcadia are out sourcing gear six days a week and on the seventh we go fishing. Except in the closed season when we restore old Thames punts, build eel traps and make bonfires.
From humble beginnings flypitching at Camden Passage Antiques Market in Islington I have spent the last six years buying and selling vintage fishing tackle to the great British public and the world beyond. My dealing is fuelled by a passion for the history of angling and pieces written by me on angling and angling history have appeared in a variety of publications including The Field and Southern Angler, Waterlog and Classic Angling as well as having been broadcast on BBC Radio. I also correspond weekly with the novellist Dexter Petley on the new angling and culture website www.caughtbytheriver.net. Dealing and writing have both introduced me to the antique angling community and for the last three years I have organized the largest fair dedicated to Vintage Fishing Tackle 'The National' or 'Redditch' which takes place bi-annually in the Midlands town of Redditch, once the world's fishing tackle manufacturing capital.
You can visit Arcadia in person every Thursday on the stall nearest to the Ten Bells Public House at Spitalfields Antiques Market in the City of London. There are some directions further on in the site and in the meantime you are invited to look at the rest of the site which includes items for sale, an archive of some of the pieces referred to above and links to other sites of inspiration. If you would like to buy something please e mail me at info@andrewsofarcadia.com and once I've replied click on the Buy Now rod button next to your chosen item to take you to Paypal where you can use your credit card or pay from your Paypal account. By e mailing me first you avoid paying for something that may have just been bought earlier in the day by someone else! Once goods are sold and sent out they will be replaced by others. I am a verified business customer having dealt on e-bay with 100% feedback since 2003. Alternatively you may pay in cash.
Finally, may I leave you to reflect upon the words of the Peeks of Holborn Fishing Tackle Catalogue of 1934:
'We suggest to all our readers that this season they should only kill fish which fulfil the following purposes:
- Specimens to be set up.
- For use as baits.
- For human food.
- Freaks which we shall always be most pleased to see.
Good Evening!