Extra Quality | Dry Fly | Turned Up Eyes | Redditch England

Edgar Sealey & Sons S 1938 – Additional Info

1. Identification

Brand: Edgar Sealey & Sons, Ltd. (The “Octopus” Brand)
Model/Code: S 1938 (Pattern Number)
Size: 7 (Note: This refers to the vintage “Old Redditch” scale, not the modern scale. See Usage & Equivalents below).
Estimated Era: 1930s–1950s. The typography, the specific “Octopus” logo design, and the use of the paper-wrapped slide box are characteristic of the mid-20th century, likely pre- or immediate post-WWII.

2. Technical Specifications

Eye: Turned-up-Eye (T.U.E.). The label explicitly states “Turned-up-Eyes.”
Wire: Standard Dry Fly wire (likely tempered carbon steel).
Shank/Bend: Likely a straight shank with a standard round or “Sproat” bend. The “S 1938” pattern was a general-purpose dry fly geometry.
Finish: Most likely Bronzed. Unless a label specifies “Black” or “Japanned,” Edgar Sealey “Extra Quality” hooks of this era were typically finished with a bronzed lacquer to prevent rust without adding excessive weight.

3. Historical Context

Edgar Sealey & Sons was one of the titans of the Redditch tackle industry in England. Redditch was known as the “needle capital of the world,” and because hook manufacturing requires similar technology to needle making, it became the global hub for fishing hooks in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The “Octopus” brand was Sealey’s hallmark. While they were famous for their hooks, they eventually gained massive fame for their split cane and later fiberglass fishing rods (like the “Octofloat”).

The Turned-Up Eye (T.U.E.): In the modern era, 90% of dry fly hooks have “Down Eyes.” However, in the era when these hooks were made, the Turned-Up Eye was the standard for dry flies in the UK. This was designed to accommodate the “Turle Knot,” which was used to attach the stiff silkworm gut leaders of the time. The up-eye allowed the line to pass through the eye and around the shank, creating a straight line of pull.

Status: Edgar Sealey & Sons is no longer in operation as an independent manufacturer. The brand was eventually absorbed by the Gladding group and later disappeared, making these boxes highly collectible.

Fun Fact: The “Octopus” logo on the left of the box features a shield with the letters “ES.” This logo was a guarantee of quality in the UK. Anglers in the mid-20th century would often buy these hooks in bulk (boxes of 100, like yours) and share them among club members, as 100 hooks was a significant investment for a single fly tyer.

4. Usage & Equivalents

Size Conversion (Crucial): You must be careful with the size. This is Size 7 on the old scale.

In the modern “New Scale” (where higher numbers = smaller hooks), a modern #7 is a large streamer hook.
However, looking at the box size and era, this likely follows the Old Redditch Scale where sizes ran inversely or differently depending on the specific factory standard.
Visual Check: A Size 7 in the vintage Redditch trout scale is roughly equivalent to a modern Size 8 or 10. It is a large trout fly size, often used for Mayflies (Drakes) or Sea Trout patterns.

Best Used For:

Vintage Dressing: Large traditional dry flies like the Green Drake, March Brown, or Grey Wulff.
Display: Due to the pristine condition of the label, this box is arguably worth more as a collector’s piece alongside a vintage Sealey rod than it is as consumable tackle.

Modern Equivalent: If you wanted to tie on a hook with similar geometry today:

Mustad 94842: This is the classic Up-Eye dry fly hook (though becoming harder to find).
VMC 9280: A standard dry fly hook, though usually with a down eye.
Partridge L5A: Ideally suited for traditional patterns, featuring the wider gape and often an up-eye on older batches.