234 
THE FISHING GAZETTE 
[April 1, 1893 
A CELEBRATED IRISH FISHING- 
TACKLE MANUFACTORY. 
Amosg those fishing-tackle manufacturers of 
the present day who can date back their founda¬ 
tion to the early years of the present century, the 
jiame of Joseph Braddell and Son, ^of Belfast, 
holds a prominent position. The fact of any house 
having stood the test of trade competition and 
public criticism for upwards of three-quarters of 
a century, testifies in the strongest possible 
manner to the soundness of its business basis, 
and to the excellence and genuineness of its 
manufactures. 
Among the anglers of Ireland no name_ is 
better known than that of the firm under notice, 
while on this side of the channel, articles bearing 
the “Hand of Ulster” are familiar to many 
sportsmen. Nor is their trade confined to the 
United Kingdom, for in far-away countries 
their general sporting goods have 
earned a very high reputation 
indeed. 
The business was, until recently, 
carried on by, the Messrs. Braddell, 
father and son, and still retains the 
name ; the present proprietor, how¬ 
ever, is Mr. Charles Plajfair, a son 
of the well-known gunmaker, Mr. 
C. Playfair, J.P., of Birmingham, 
and no more suitable man to take 
up the reins of such a business 
could possibly be found. Somewhat 
under middle age, a keen and ardent 
sportsman, he possesses a thoroughly 
practical knowledge of what is re¬ 
quired in a sportsman’s outfit, and 
under his management the name 
will lose none of the prestige secured 
for it by his predecessors. 
We recently had the privilege of 
going through the factory and show¬ 
rooms, which are situated at 21, 
Castle-place, Belfast, and we were 
very much interested in watching 
the various stages of manufacture of 
those articles so dear to all anglers. 
In their respective departments, 
rods and reels, and landing nets, 
and flies, and lines, and sea tackle, 
were being gradually transformed 
from the rough material to the 
flnished article; but it would take 
far more space than we have at 
command to describe the very 
many processes we saw; one fact, 
however, we could not fail to notice, 
every workman knew exactly his 
particular duty, where it began and 
where it ended ; so systematic were 
the arrangements, and so smoothly 
everything worked, that we really 
felt confident that we could run a 
fishing-tackle factory very nicely 
indeed. 
The original workshops are large, 
and for the most part are built 
above the show-rooms and ware¬ 
houses, but very considerable ex¬ 
tensions have had to be made to 
meet the recjuirements of the rapidly 
increasing trade. 
The whole of the premises are 
lighted by electricity, a feature even in this pro¬ 
gressive city, and most of the workshops are fitted 
with machinery of the most up-to-date description. 
Altogether we were very pleased with the busi¬ 
ness-like appearance of Messrs. Braddell’s factory. 
From the workshops we descended into the 
.show-rooms, and among the specialities manu¬ 
factured by this firm we particularly noticed 
their Egeria Fishing Basket. 
This is a strong sf[uare basket, 29in. X 14in. X 
7Hn., with gun-case handle fitted on one side, 
and secured by brass bar and lock, the contents 
forming a complete and perfect outfit for the 
sea fisherman. Lines of all kinds, for whiffing, 
long-lining, or streaming, reels, chopsticks, flies, 
hooks, leads, snoods, swivels, spinners, gaff, 
disgorger, sandwich-cases, flask, in short, every 
article that can possibly be required in this 
branch of sport is there, and packed away in such 
a manner that any particular tackle can be got at 
instantly. It can also, upon occasion, be used as 
a luncheon-basket, and altogether is by far the 
best thing of its kind we have seen. 
It has already been patronised by many of the 
Nobility and most of the leading Yachtsmen of 
the day, considerably over 300 having been sold, 
and to the notice of our sea-fishing friends we 
very confidently recommend it. 
The price is il l Js., and it is exceedingly cheap. 
We had the curiosity to tot up the prices of each 
individual article, and, without reckoning the 
basket, the total considerably exceeded that 
amount. 
Another speciality of this firm, and one that 
in the near future will undoubtedly have an 
immense sale, is their Flexihle Grip Rod. 
This is the invention of Mr. Playfair, and upon 
its first appearance met with a rather unpleasant 
reception. English anglers viewed it with 
suspicion, and even the most enthusiastic votaries 
of the Castleconnell action looked upon it as too 
daring a departure to succeed. The inventor. 
Mr. CHARLES PLAYFAIR 
(Messrs. Braddell and Son). 
however, thought otherwise, and, inducing a few 
well-known practical anglers to give it a fair and 
impartial trial, awaited the result with confidence ; 
nor was he disappointed, unqualified approval of 
its action and casting power was expressed by 
every one who had tried it, and what looked like 
being a fatal prejudice was entirely overcome. 
The demand for it at once became very great, 
and for a time the resources of the factory were 
taxed to their utmost to supply it, and at present 
orders are being received for this particular rod 
from all parts of the world. 
It is undoubtedly a splendid article, and will 
Dear comparison with any rod in the market for 
comfort in use and for excellence of finish, while 
for casting power, it is an open question 
whether it does not stand unequalled, certainly 
very few can beat it. The engraving will show 
the principle of its construction. 
It will be seen that the feature of the rod is 
the continuation of the taper of the bottom 
]oint right through the handle up to the reel; the 
handle itself is formed by covering this part of 
it with soft moulded rubber of the necessa,ry 
flexibility, and in turn covering this with pigskin, 
giving a most comfortable and frictionless grip. 
This rod is made in all sizes, both in salmon 
and trout, and is in all cases fitted with Braddell’s 
Universal winch fitting. 
It must not ba assumed that this is the only 
rod turned out by this firm; on the contrary, 
very large numbers of splendidly-built salmon 
and trout rods leave these works annually. 
These rods are made with spliced joints (Castle¬ 
connell pattern), or with brazed ferrules with 
patent locking joints; this latter feature, espe¬ 
cially when applied to the top joint, being an 
excellent idea. 
Messrs. Braddell supply their greenheart 
salmon and trout rods in three qualities; the 
third quality is good, what in commercial 
phraseology might be described as “ real good 
value,” while anything better than 
their first quality it would be diffi¬ 
cult to conceive. 
A pretty little rod, admirably 
adapted for ladies’ use, is the happily- 
named G.E.M., and deserves more 
than a passing notice. It is a 
two-joint fly-rod, made in sizes of 
ten and twelve feet, and is fitted 
with improved splice clips. This is 
a most ingenious idea, and renders 
the lashing of the spliced joint a 
very simple and easy matter; they 
can be applied to all Castleconnel 
rods, and make the slipping of the 
joint an impossibility. 
The Split-Cane Built Rods manu¬ 
factured by Messrs. Braddell, are 
of very high class, and exquisitely 
finished, they' are made in the best 
quality only, varying in price from 
L4 10s. to ten guineas. 
The split-cane rod, however, is 
not a favourite in Ireland, the 
national prejudice being entirely in 
favour of greenheart, and the Irish 
salmon angler is by no means a bad 
judge. 
From rods to reels is a very 
short step, and in this department 
the advantage of actual and minute 
Iiersonal supervision is most marked. 
It is very easy for the workman to 
hide a defect in a metal reel that 
would pass any but the most careful 
examination. This is fully recog¬ 
nised by Mr. Playfair, and, to pro¬ 
vide against it, every reel has to 
undergoa far more severe test before 
it leaves the factory than it can ever 
possibly receive in actual use. 
It is safe to say, therefore, that 
failure in any of the best reels, 
which are guaranteed perfect by 
the fact of the name and trade 
mark of the firm being upon them, 
is a most remote contingency; 
such a thing has never yet occurred, 
nor likely to occur, while they are 
used fairly. In Class I., the 
Best Revolving Pl.vte Reels are 
made of gun-metal and ebonite, 
silver bound and mounted, with 
1 hardened steel works, and bear the full nam^e 
^ of the firm as a distinctive guarantee. To 
I surpass this reel in quality and workmanship is 
! impossible—it is of extr.aordinary strength. 
The reels in Class It. are of the same pattern, 
but of heavier make, and bear the name “ Brad¬ 
dell.” These reels, up to 3in., are all that can be 
desired. For the larger sizes, those in Class I. are 
certainly to be preferred. 
The firm have recently introduced a Venti¬ 
lated Metal Reel, which is meeting with 
general approval, the demand for it far exceeding 
their expectations. For it is claimed the advan¬ 
tages of, first, lightness without decrease in 
strength; and, second, free ventilation to the 
line. 
These reels are of the same quality and 
' strength as those in Class I., but some 30 per 
cent, lighter, and are, perhaps, the lightest service- 
able reel in the market. 
Une of the most interesting and important de- 
