Best Hollow Point | Sproat | Turned Down Eye

Edgar Sealey & Sons S 3008 – Additional Info

1. Identification

Brand: Edgar Sealey & Sons (The “Octopus” Brand)
Model/Code: S 3008
Size: Salesman’s Display Card showing a run from Size 1 (Left/Large) to Size 12 (Right/Small).
- Note: This follows the standard “Redditch” scale where lower numbers are larger hooks.
Estimated Era: 1930s–1950s.
- Reasoning: The typography, the “Brockhill Works” address, and specifically the telephone number “REDDITCH 148” (a pre-STD, short exchange number) place this firmly in the mid-20th century before Sealey was acquired by Dunlop/Gladding in the late 50s/60s.

2. Technical Specifications

Eye: Turn-down-eye (T.D.E.)
Wire: Standard Wet Fly weight (likely not fine wire, as these were intended for bait and wet flies).
Shank/Bend:Sproat.
- * *Note:* The Sproat bend is a modified round bend. Unlike a perfect round bend, the bottom of the hook is slightly flattened or parabolized to increase strength and holding power.
Point: “Best Hollow Point” (Mechanically ground/filed to a scooped point).
Finish: Bronzed Rustproof (A lacquer applied over carbon steel to prevent corrosion).

3. Historical Context

Edgar Sealey & Sons was one of the titans of the Redditch tackle industry in Worcestershire, England—historically the needle and fish hook manufacturing capital of the world.

The “Octopus” Mark: As seen at the bottom center of the card, the “Octopus” wrapping around the shield was Sealey’s primary trademark. They were as famous for their “Octofly” split cane rods as they were for their hooks.
Quality Standard: The “Hollow Point” designation on the green label is significant. Before chemical sharpening became the norm in the 1980s, hooks were sharpened by filing away metal. A “hollow point” meant the metal was ground out in a concave fashion, creating an incredibly sharp, needle-like point that was superior to the standard “spear point” of the era.
Operational Status: The factory at Brockhill Works is no longer in operation. The brand was eventually absorbed into larger conglomerates (like Gladding) in the 1960s and ceased independent hook production.

Fun Fact: The name “Sproat” comes from the originator of the bend, Mr. W.H. Sproat of Ambleside, England, who designed the shape in the mid-19th century specifically to hold trout better than the angular “Limerick” bends popular at the time.

4. Usage & Equivalents

Best Used For: These are the quintessential Wet Fly and Bait hooks.

Classic Wet Flies: North Country Spiders, Soft Hackles, and Winged Wets (e.g., March Brown, Professor).
Bait Fishing: The larger sizes (1-4) on this card would have been used for worm fishing for trout or perch.

Modern Equivalents: If you want to tie flies that replicate the look and mechanics of this S 3008, look for “Standard Wet” or “Sproat” profile hooks:

Mustad 3399 or S70: The 3399 is the legendary standard wet fly hook that mirrors this geometry almost perfectly.
Tiemco 3761: A slightly longer shank, but retains the heavy sproat bend.
Kamasan B175: A modern, heavy-wire equivalent often used for competition wet flies, though slightly more angular than a true Sproat.