I saw a notification from Bob that Maltby Antiques is starting a "going out of business" sale and expects to close within a few months. No!!! His store was the last of the bunch in this area, at least to my knowledge. I'm very sad.
When I fell into the abyss of classic bamboo fly rods and old fly reels I scratched the itch for gear by searching local CL ads, eBay and most happily, those very few "Man-tiques" stores in the area that were in the business of buying that old, classic gear (and lots not-so-classic) that bubbled up out of the region's households. Star Mall's basement store in Snohomish, Plug Ugly in LaConner and Maltby Antiques. It was a treat to prowl all three, looking for the occasional treasures hiding in their inventory, and sometimes picking up a fun piece for my collection. Relatively cheap prices on very good rods by FE Thomas, Granger, Phillipson, and Edwards, among many others. I even purchased on 7-1/2' Goodwin Granger Favorite that was in the 1930's era 7630 taper, a rod made only during one year and a rod that caused quite a stir across the Granger collectors over the country. And reels? Of yes, including Hardy's and lots others. Even old 1930's Field & Stream magazines and early Leonard catalogs. A joy!
I'll miss dropping into Maltby, seeing Bob behind the counter and greeting him with "Hi Bob! Got anything especially good lately?" When Bob saw me he knew that "good" meant collectible bamboo fly rods and high end reels. Every now and then he'd shrug his shoulders and reply "Nothing much...but here's something you might be interested in..." At which point I checked to see if my wallet was in my pocket, because most of the time Bob said that the gear was going to be something really cool.
Farewell Bob, and I miss Star and PlugUgly.
Guess I'll just take what I have and head out to go fishin'.
When I fell into the abyss of classic bamboo fly rods and old fly reels I scratched the itch for gear by searching local CL ads, eBay and most happily, those very few "Man-tiques" stores in the area that were in the business of buying that old, classic gear (and lots not-so-classic) that bubbled up out of the region's households. Star Mall's basement store in Snohomish, Plug Ugly in LaConner and Maltby Antiques. It was a treat to prowl all three, looking for the occasional treasures hiding in their inventory, and sometimes picking up a fun piece for my collection. Relatively cheap prices on very good rods by FE Thomas, Granger, Phillipson, and Edwards, among many others. I even purchased on 7-1/2' Goodwin Granger Favorite that was in the 1930's era 7630 taper, a rod made only during one year and a rod that caused quite a stir across the Granger collectors over the country. And reels? Of yes, including Hardy's and lots others. Even old 1930's Field & Stream magazines and early Leonard catalogs. A joy!
I'll miss dropping into Maltby, seeing Bob behind the counter and greeting him with "Hi Bob! Got anything especially good lately?" When Bob saw me he knew that "good" meant collectible bamboo fly rods and high end reels. Every now and then he'd shrug his shoulders and reply "Nothing much...but here's something you might be interested in..." At which point I checked to see if my wallet was in my pocket, because most of the time Bob said that the gear was going to be something really cool.
Farewell Bob, and I miss Star and PlugUgly.
Guess I'll just take what I have and head out to go fishin'.
