{"id":11327,"date":"2025-10-08T13:10:44","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T13:10:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/?page_id=11327"},"modified":"2026-09-22T22:31:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T22:31:00","slug":"edgar-sealey-sons-s-4324","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/hook-reference\/edgar-sealey-sons-hooks\/edgar-sealey-sons-s-4324\/","title":{"rendered":"Edgar Sealey &amp; Sons &#8211; S 4324"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11325,"parent":8198,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/template-hook-reference.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rank_math_title":"Edgar Sealey S 4324 Octopus Hook \u2014 Redditch Hand Forged | garrenwood.com","rank_math_description":"Redditch hand-forged turned-down-eye fishing hook, Edgar Sealey S 4324, Octopus brand, c. 1880-1920. Bronzed finish, fine points, reversed offset. Scarce premium hook.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"","footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"gw_hook_concept":[],"class_list":["post-11327","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","entry","has-media"],"acf":{"manufacturer":"edgar","_sub_brand":"","model_code":"S 4324","hook_name":"Edgar Sealey S 4324","designer__collaborator":"","country_of_origin":"england","size_documented":"5\/0 to approx. 18 \u2014 15 sizes on card (5\/0-10 (P); 12-18 (E))","era_text":"c. 1930-1960","era_start_year":1930,"era_end_year":1960,"at_a_glance_summary":"The Edgar Sealey S 4324 is a hand-forged, turned-down-eye hook with fine points and a reversed (offset) point, sold as \u2018Highest Grade\u2019 under Sealey\u2019s \u2018Octopus\u2019 trademark from Brockhill Works, Redditch. The specimen documented here is a trade sample card carrying fifteen bronzed hooks graded from 5\/0 to about size 18, with the pattern\u2019s packet label affixed at top right (P). The card\u2019s typography, contact details and Octopus mark date it to c. 1930\u20131960 (E).\r\n\r\nThe bend is Limerick-type: a broad, gradual curve out of the shank that tightens sharply into a long straight point (E). The label gives the offset as \u2018Reversed\u2019 (V), but the offset cannot be seen in the face-on photographs. The card lists salmon, grilse, trout and bait hooks. For this pattern, the forged wire, offset point and sizes up to 5\/0 suggest a general-purpose bait and game hook rather than a dedicated fly hook (I).","spec_bar_items":"Turned-Down Eye\r\n\r\nLimerick-type Bend\r\n\r\nStandard Shank\r\n\r\nForged Wire\r\n\r\nFine Spear Point, Reversed\r\n\r\nBronzed Finish","flyhooks_url":"","svg_filename":"","filebird_folder_id":403,"flies_tied_on_folder_id":"","eye_type":"tapered","eye_orientation":"turned_down","eye_notes":"Turned-down eye (P). At every size the eye end shows a short foot bent toward the point side of the shank, seen roughly edge-on. The eye is not seen face-on at this resolution, so its ring form (tapered or ball), closure and any taper cannot be confirmed from these photographs. The eye_type value 'tapered' is provisional (E) pending a close-up of the eye.","wire_gauge":"std","wire_profile":"forged","wire_diameter_est":"~0.045\"-0.055\" (~1.1-1.4 mm) at the 5\/0 shank (E); smaller sizes proportionally finer","shank_length_category":"standard","shank_features":["plain"],"bend_family":"limerick","bend_notes":"Limerick-type bend (E). On the 5\/0 the curve rises gradually out of the shank, peaks toward the point side of centre, then turns tightly into a long straight point that runs parallel to the shank. This asymmetric, point-heavy curvature fits the Limerick family rather than the Sproat, and the profile is consistent across the graded sizes (P). 'Reversed' on the label (V) indicates an offset point, but the offset cannot be seen in face-on photographs. Reversed and kirbed are offsets in opposite directions, so the earlier 'reversed (kirbed)' pairing and 'point angles to left' observation have been removed. Confirm the bend by overlay against a reference Limerick outline.","point_style":"standard_spear","finish":"bronzed","finish_confidence":"confirmed","finish_notes":"Bronzed. The separate 'BRONZED RUSTPROOF' label on the card (V) is consistent with the warm, dark brown-olive tone of the hook wire in the photographs (P). The finish is even across all fifteen hooks, with no visible bare steel (P). Redditch bronzing of this period was generally a lacquer or varnish finish over tempered steel rather than a plating (I).","forged":true,"offset_kirbed":true,"gap_category":"standard","barb_notes":"A small barb is visible on the larger sizes (5\/0-2\/0) (P); on the smaller sizes it is below the photographs' resolution. The label specifies 'fine points' (V). Barb length and position cannot be measured at this resolution (E).","condition_notes":"Card shows even age toning with scattered foxing and surface spotting, a grey smudge above the left half of the hook row, and a chipped top-right corner exposing the board beneath (P). No tears or creases are visible. The printed text, both labels and both Octopus marks remain crisp and fully legible (P). All fifteen hooks are present and tied on with red thread; the finish is an even dark bronze with no visible rust at this resolution (P). Pencilled size marks are legible on the larger hooks and faint on the smallest (P). Overall: good to very good.","spec_line_text":"Turn-down-eye, fine points, Reversed.","tech_specs_notes":"\u2018Hand Forged\u2019 on the label (V) means, in Redditch practice, that the bend was flattened sideways after bending to stiffen it against opening under load. The flattened profile is documented by the label but not photographically verified: confirming it needs an edge-on view or calliper readings across both axes of the bend. Measured from the grid, the 5\/0 hook is about 2.1\u201d (~54 mm) overall, with a gap of about 0.75\u201d (~19 mm) and shank wire of roughly 0.045\u201d\u20130.055\u201d (~1.1\u20131.4 mm) (E).\r\n\r\n\u2018Fine points\u2019 (V) is a label specification. The photographs show long, straight spear points running parallel to the shank, with a small barb visible on the larger sizes (P). \u2018Reversed\u2019 (V) denotes an offset point. Redditch usage treats reversed and kirbed as offsets in opposite directions, and the offset cannot be seen in face-on photographs. The bend reads as Limerick-type (E): a broad curve out of the shank that tightens sharply into the point. The finish is bronzed (V, P).","hook_ply":"","barbless":false,"measurements_available":true,"measurement_method":"grid_derived","size_measured":"","overall_length":"~2.1\" (~54 mm) (E) \u2014 size 5\/0","shank_length":"~1.25\" (~32 mm) (E) \u2014 size 5\/0, eye to start of bend","gap_width":"~0.75\" (~19 mm) (E) \u2014 size 5\/0","bend_depth":"~0.65\" (~16.5 mm) (E) \u2014 size 5\/0, point tip to inside of bend","wire_diameter_measured":"","shank_gap_ratio":"~1.6-1.8 : 1 (E)","weight":"","measurement_notes":"Scale from the photography grid: one 0.1\" square is about 23.7 px at the photograph's full resolution (2500 x 1877 px). Headline measurements are from the 5\/0 hook (leftmost): overall length (top of bend to eye) ~2.1\"; shank (eye to start of bend) ~1.25\"; gap (inner shank to point) ~0.75\"; throat (point tip to inside of bend) ~0.65\"; shank wire ~0.045-0.055\" (all (E), about \u00b10.03\"; wire about \u00b10.01\"). The silhouette includes a thin cast shadow, so values may read about 0.02\" high. Overall lengths for all fifteen sizes are in hook_sizes. The earlier figures (1.40-1.50\" overall, 0.40\" gap) correspond roughly to the 2\/0-1\/0 hooks, not the 5\/0. Pencilled sizes 5\/0, 4\/0, 3\/0, 2\/0, 1\/0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 are legible (P); 12-18 are inferred from the sequence (E). The '100' on the label is the packet quantity and does not describe this card.","cumulative_records_note":"","manufacturer_history":"Edgar Sealey &amp; Sons operated from Brockhill Works, Redditch, as a general fishing-tackle manufacturer rather than a hook-only specialist. A c. 1928 trade catalogue, <em>High Class Fishing Rods<\/em>, shows the firm making cane, greenheart and trolling rods alongside accessories (V). A c. 1950 \u2018Octopus Brand\u2019 hook sample book of twelve printed cards, each with 12\u201320 hooks mounted by size, confirms a substantial hook range (V). This site\u2019s manufacturer page gives founding c. 1930 by John Edgar Sealey (1873\u20131953), with a Kelly\u2019s Directory listing by 1932. The 1928 catalogue suggests trading began slightly earlier, and no evidence was found for Victorian or Edwardian operation (I).\r\n\r\nThe Octopus mark appeared on hooks, rods and packaging and was reportedly replaced by a \u2018two fishes\u2019 logo around 1963 (S \u2014 collector source, unconfirmed). Later owners were Dunlop (c. 1960, per this site\u2019s manufacturer page) and the American firm Gladding (c. 1975). Production eventually moved to Cornwall under the Intrepid-Sealey and Gladding-Sealey names (I).","series_history":"No Sealey catalogue page for the S 4324 has been located. Its code sits within a run of S 43xx numbers that this site already documents as forged, offset patterns: S 4304 (forged renvers\u00e9, up eye), S 4310 LS, and S 4320 (renvers\u00e9, down eye) (V \u2014 site entries). The S 4324 \u2014 forged, turned-down eye, fine points, reversed \u2014 fits that grouping. S 43xx probably denoted Sealey\u2019s forged reversed range, with the final digits distinguishing eye, point and bend variants (I). The site also carries separate entries for \u2018S4324 Octopus Hook\u2019 and \u2018S4324 S.S.\u2019, which should be cross-linked or reconciled with this one.\r\n\r\nThe \u2018100\u2019 and \u2018No.\u2019 on the green label are the quantity and size fields of Sealey\u2019s packet label: 100 hooks per packet, with the size left blank because this card shows the full range (I). The card itself carries fifteen hooks, one per size from 5\/0 to about 18, each tied on with red thread with its size pencilled beside it (P). It is a trade sample card like those bound into Sealey\u2019s c. 1950 sample books (12\u201320 hooks per card) (V), not a 100-hook retail card.","named_collaborator_bio":"","era_dating_reasoning":"Octopus trademark and Brockhill Works address place the card within Edgar Sealey & Sons' own trading period. The firm's earliest documented output is a c. 1928 rod catalogue, and this site's manufacturer page gives founding c. 1930 with a Kelly's Directory listing by 1932 (V). The card format, a printed card with graded sample hooks tied on with thread, matches the cards in Sealey's c. 1950 'Octopus Brand' sample book, described as 12 cards of 12-20 hooks each (V). The footer lines and 'HAND FORGED' are set in a humanist sans-serif of the Gill Sans type (released 1928-30) rather than Victorian display faces (E). The separate 'Bronzed Rustproof \/ Made in REDDITCH, England' label reflects origin-marking and 'rustproof' finish marketing typical of the interwar and post-war decades (I). The upper bound rests on the Octopus mark, which collector sources say gave way to a 'two fishes' logo c. 1963 (S). A short telephone number (REDDITCH 148) and a telegram address were used well into the mid-century and do not narrow the date. Combined estimate: c. 1930-1960 (E).","fun_fact":"This card was made to sell hooks, not to fish with. Sealey bound cards like it into dealer sample books; a c. 1950 'Octopus Brand' book held twelve printed cards, each carrying 12-20 hooks mounted by size, so a tackle dealer could see every size of a pattern at once and order it by quality number. The green label at top right is the pattern's packet label: '100' is the count per packet, and the 'No.' (size) beside it is left blank because the card shows every size.","fun_fact_title":"A Salesman's Card, Not a Packet","manufactured_size_range":"","hook_sizes":[{"size_label":"5\/0","size_sort_key":1,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"P","overall_length_mm":54,"overall_length":"~2.1\" (~54 mm) (E)","shank_length":"~1.25\" (~32 mm) (E)","gap_width":"~0.75\" (~19 mm) (E)","bend_depth":"~0.65\" (~16.5 mm) (E)","wire_diameter":"~0.045\"-0.055\" (~1.1-1.4 mm) (E)","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"~1.6-1.8 : 1 (E)","measurement_method":"grid_derived","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"","overall_length_method":"","overall_length_confidence":"","shank_length_method":"","shank_length_confidence":"","gap_width_method":"","gap_width_confidence":"","bend_depth_method":"","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"","wire_diameter_confidence":"","weight_method":"","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"4\/0","size_sort_key":2,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"P","overall_length_mm":49,"overall_length":"~1.93\" (~49 mm) (E)","shank_length":"","gap_width":"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"grid_derived","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"","overall_length_method":"","overall_length_confidence":"","shank_length_method":"","shank_length_confidence":"","gap_width_method":"","gap_width_confidence":"","bend_depth_method":"","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"","wire_diameter_confidence":"","weight_method":"","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"3\/0","size_sort_key":3,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"P","overall_length_mm":40,"overall_length":"~1.58\" (~40 mm) (E)","shank_length":"","gap_width":"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"grid_derived","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"","overall_length_method":"","overall_length_confidence":"","shank_length_method":"","shank_length_confidence":"","gap_width_method":"","gap_width_confidence":"","bend_depth_method":"","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"","wire_diameter_confidence":"","weight_method":"","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"2\/0","size_sort_key":4,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"P","overall_length_mm":36,"overall_length":"~1.42\" (~36 mm) (E)","shank_length":"","gap_width":"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"grid_derived","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"","overall_length_method":"","overall_length_confidence":"","shank_length_method":"","shank_length_confidence":"","gap_width_method":"","gap_width_confidence":"","bend_depth_method":"","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"","wire_diameter_confidence":"","weight_method":"","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"1\/0","size_sort_key":5,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"P","overall_length_mm":33,"overall_length":"~1.30\" (~33 mm) (E)","shank_length":"","gap_width":"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"grid_derived","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"","overall_length_method":"","overall_length_confidence":"","shank_length_method":"","shank_length_confidence":"","gap_width_method":"","gap_width_confidence":"","bend_depth_method":"","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"","wire_diameter_confidence":"","weight_method":"","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"1","size_sort_key":6,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"P","overall_length_mm":29,"overall_length":"~1.13\" (~29 mm) (E)","shank_length":"","gap_width":"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"grid_derived","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"","overall_length_method":"","overall_length_confidence":"","shank_length_method":"","shank_length_confidence":"","gap_width_method":"","gap_width_confidence":"","bend_depth_method":"","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"","wire_diameter_confidence":"","weight_method":"","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"2","size_sort_key":7,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"P","overall_length_mm":26,"overall_length":"~1.04\" (~26 mm) (E)","shank_length":"","gap_width":"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"grid_derived","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"","overall_length_method":"","overall_length_confidence":"","shank_length_method":"","shank_length_confidence":"","gap_width_method":"","gap_width_confidence":"","bend_depth_method":"","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"","wire_diameter_confidence":"","weight_method":"","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"4","size_sort_key":8,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"P","overall_length_mm":23,"overall_length":"~0.90\" (~23 mm) (E)","shank_length":"","gap_width":"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"grid_derived","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"","overall_length_method":"","overall_length_confidence":"","shank_length_method":"","shank_length_confidence":"","gap_width_method":"","gap_width_confidence":"","bend_depth_method":"","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"","wire_diameter_confidence":"","weight_method":"","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"6","size_sort_key":9,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"P","overall_length_mm":19,"overall_length":"~0.76\" (~19 mm) (E)","shank_length":"","gap_width":"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"grid_derived","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"","overall_length_method":"","overall_length_confidence":"","shank_length_method":"","shank_length_confidence":"","gap_width_method":"","gap_width_confidence":"","bend_depth_method":"","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"","wire_diameter_confidence":"","weight_method":"","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"8","size_sort_key":10,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"P","overall_length_mm":17,"overall_length":"~0.66\" (~17 mm) (E)","shank_length":"","gap_width":"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"grid_derived","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"","overall_length_method":"","overall_length_confidence":"","shank_length_method":"","shank_length_confidence":"","gap_width_method":"","gap_width_confidence":"","bend_depth_method":"","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"","wire_diameter_confidence":"","weight_method":"","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"10","size_sort_key":11,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"P","overall_length_mm":14,"overall_length":"~0.54\" (~14 mm) (E)","shank_length":"","gap_width":"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"grid_derived","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"","overall_length_method":"","overall_length_confidence":"","shank_length_method":"","shank_length_confidence":"","gap_width_method":"","gap_width_confidence":"","bend_depth_method":"","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"","wire_diameter_confidence":"","weight_method":"","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"12","size_sort_key":12,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"E","overall_length_mm":11,"overall_length":"~0.44\" (~11 mm) (E)","shank_length":"","gap_width":"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"grid_derived","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"","overall_length_method":"","overall_length_confidence":"","shank_length_method":"","shank_length_confidence":"","gap_width_method":"","gap_width_confidence":"","bend_depth_method":"","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"","wire_diameter_confidence":"","weight_method":"","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"14","size_sort_key":13,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"E","overall_length_mm":9,"overall_length":"~0.36\" (~9 mm) (E)","shank_length":"","gap_width":"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"grid_derived","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"","overall_length_method":"","overall_length_confidence":"","shank_length_method":"","shank_length_confidence":"","gap_width_method":"","gap_width_confidence":"","bend_depth_method":"","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"","wire_diameter_confidence":"","weight_method":"","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"16","size_sort_key":14,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"E","overall_length_mm":8,"overall_length":"~0.30\" (~8 mm) (E)","shank_length":"","gap_width":"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"grid_derived","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"","overall_length_method":"","overall_length_confidence":"","shank_length_method":"","shank_length_confidence":"","gap_width_method":"","gap_width_confidence":"","bend_depth_method":"","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"","wire_diameter_confidence":"","weight_method":"","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"18","size_sort_key":15,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"E","overall_length_mm":7,"overall_length":"~0.28\" (~7 mm) (E)","shank_length":"","gap_width":"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"grid_derived","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"","overall_length_method":"","overall_length_confidence":"","shank_length_method":"","shank_length_confidence":"","gap_width_method":"","gap_width_confidence":"","bend_depth_method":"","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"","wire_diameter_confidence":"","weight_method":"","weight_confidence":""}],"spec_bar_short":"Tap \u00b7 Lim \u00b7 Fgd \u00b7 Kbr \u00b7 Brz","design_lineage":"","related_models":[{"model_code_related":"S 4324","description":"Edgar Sealey S 4324 \u2014 Highest Grade hand-forged turned-down-eye, fine points, reversed. Bronzed finish. c. 1880-1920.","relationship":"this_model","related_model_url":""}],"primary_application":"The printed card advertises \u2018Salmon, Grilse, Trout and Bait Hooks\u2019 (P), a heading Sealey used across its range rather than for this pattern alone. For the S 4324 itself, the forged wire, reversed (offset) point and sizes up to 5\/0 point to bait fishing and heavier game use, including salmon and sea trout. Offset points were generally favoured on bait hooks and avoided on fly hooks (I). The smaller sizes (roughly 10\u201318) could have served for trout wet flies or bait, but nothing on the card identifies the pattern as a fly hook.","secondary_applications":"","fly_patterns":"","modern_equivalents":null,"hook_type_application":["wet_fly","salmon","sea_trout","bait"],"collectability_rating":6,"collectability_summary":"Rated 6.0\/10 \u2014 complete Edgar Sealey trade sample card (15 hooks, 5\/0 to about 18) with pattern label and Octopus trademark, c. 1930-1960. Sample cards are scarcer than retail packets. Interest is limited by the maker's mid-20th-century date and a narrow collector base for Sealey hooks.","collectability_detail":"<strong>Positive Factors:<\/strong> Trade sample cards are scarcer than retail packets, having been made in small numbers for dealers and travellers and rarely kept once superseded (I). This card is complete, with fifteen hooks graded from 5\/0 to about 18 (P), and carries both the pattern label (S 4324, Highest Grade, Hand Forged) and the Octopus trademark (P), so the pattern is identified without ambiguity. The printed Brockhill Works address, telephone and telegram details, and the separate \u2018Bronzed Rustproof\u2019 label add documentary value.\r\n\r\n<strong>Limiting Factors:<\/strong> Edgar Sealey is a mid-20th-century maker, so the card does not carry the premium of Victorian Redditch material. Collector interest in Sealey centres more on Octopus-brand rods than on hooks, which keeps demand narrow (I). The card shows foxing, surface spotting, a smudge above the hook row and a chipped top-right corner (P).","rarity":"uncommon","market_value_low":25,"market_value_high":45,"market_value_notes":"Low ($25) \/ High ($45): carried over from the earlier estimate, which assumed a 100-hook retail card. That premise was wrong, and the range has not yet been re-anchored to trade sample card sales (S).\r\n\r\nWhat moves value: completeness (all 15 hooks present), label condition, card condition (foxing, corners), and whether the card comes with its sample book.\r\n\r\nPlatforms: eBay UK\/US, specialist UK tackle dealers, tackle auctions (Mullock's, Vectis).\r\n\r\nConfidence: (S) \u2014 no recorded sales of this pattern found. Recheck against sold Redditch trade sample cards before publishing a figure.","where_to_find":"Specialist UK tackle dealers (particularly Redditch area), eBay UK auctions, Mullock's Auctions (Shropshire), Vectis Auctions, fishing tackle fairs in Midlands and South East England. Rarer to find in US markets. Watch for online auctions of estate collections from Midlands-based collectors.","collector_id_tips":"Look for the Octopus trademark \u2014 an octopus above a shield lettered \u2018OCTOPUS\u2019 with an interlaced monogram, ringed by \u2018REGISTERED TRADE MARK\u2019 \u2014 together with the Brockhill Works, Redditch address. Sealey hook codes on this site appear both with an \u2018S\u2019 prefix (S 1034, S 4324) and without (1721 B, 1752.B), so the prefix alone is not diagnostic (I). Packet labels were printed on green (and sometimes yellow) stock with a border of ring motifs; sample cards like this one are plain cream. Octopus-marked items should predate the c. 1963 change to the \u2018two fishes\u2019 logo (S).","packaging_format_code":"GW-E-Sealey-01","packaging_description":"Trade sample card (showcard), about 10.0\" x 6.8\" (~254 x 172 mm) measured against the grid (E), printed in black on plain cream card stock. Header: 'MANUFACTURED BY \/ EDGAR SEALEY & SONS, \/ Brockhill Works, \/ REDDITCH, ENGLAND.' at left; 'Telephone: REDDITCH 148.' and 'Telegrams: SEALEY, BROCKHILL WORKS, REDDITCH.' at centre; at right, a ruled box headed 'QUALITY No.' holding an affixed green packet label with a border of ring motifs: Octopus trademark roundel, 'EDGAR SEALEY & SONS \/ REDDITCH, Eng. \/ S 4324 \/ HIGHEST GRADE \/ HAND FORGED \/ Turn-down-eye, fine points, Reversed. \/ 100 No.' (quantity 100; size field left blank). Body: fifteen bronzed hooks in a single graduated row, 5\/0 at left to about size 18 at right, each tied on with red thread at two or three points, with its size pencilled beside the shank. Footer: 'HIGH CLASS QUALITY \"HAND MADE & TESTED\"' at left; Octopus trademark roundel with '(See this Mark - on every Packet.)' at centre; 'SALMON, GRILSE, TROUT AND BAIT HOOKS.' at right; and a separate black label printed in copper-orange: 'BRONZED RUSTPROOF \/ Quality Guaranteed. \/ Made in REDDITCH, England.' No barcode.","packaging_condition":"good","ebay_sold_listings":null,"ebay_history":{"ebay_date_range":"","ebay_avg_price":"","ebay_price_range":"","ebay_avg_shipping":"","ebay_total_sellers":"","ebay_data_notes":""},"meta_title":"Edgar Sealey S 4324 Octopus Hook \u2014 Redditch Hand Forged | garrenwood.com","meta_description":"Redditch hand-forged turned-down-eye fishing hook, Edgar Sealey S 4324, Octopus brand, c. 1880-1920. Bronzed finish, fine points, reversed offset. Scarce premium hook.","page_intro_paragraph":"The Edgar Sealey S 4324 is a hand-forged Redditch hook sold under Sealey\u2019s \u2018Octopus\u2019 trademark and labelled \u2018Highest Grade \u2014 Turn-down-eye, fine points, Reversed.\u2019 This entry documents a trade sample card from Brockhill Works carrying fifteen bronzed hooks graded from 5\/0 to about 18, with the pattern\u2019s packet label affixed at top right. The hooks show a Limerick-type bend with long straight points (E). The card\u2019s typography, contact details and Octopus branding place it c. 1930\u20131960 (E). The card advertises salmon, grilse, trout and bait hooks, and this pattern\u2019s offset point and heavy upper sizes suggest it served mainly as a bait and general game hook (I).","primary_search_terms":"Edgar Sealey, S 4324, Octopus hook, Redditch hooks, hand-forged hooks, turned-down-eye hooks, Victorian fishing hooks, bronzed hooks","image_1_alt":"Edgar Sealey S 4324 green salescard label showing manufacturer, model code, Octopus branding, and specifications","image_2_alt":"Edgar Sealey S 4324 full salescard with 16 hand-forged hooks mounted in graduated sizes, manufacturer details, contact information, and quality stamp","image_3_alt":"","image_4_alt":"","additional_sections":[{"acf_fc_layout":"preservation_tips","title":"Storage and Preservation","content":"<strong>Environment:<\/strong> Store in a cool, dry location away from direct moisture and humidity. The bronzed finish is susceptible to patina development with humidity exposure \u2014 this is normal and, for many collectors, considered desirable as it evidences authenticity. Maintain relative humidity below 50% to minimize risk of verdigris (green copper oxide) formation.\r\n\r\n<strong>Original Packaging:<\/strong> Keep hooks on the original salescard rather than removing them. The card provides structural protection and authentication context. Original packaging adds 30-50% to the value of a complete card; separated hooks are worth significantly less. If the card must be stored away from display, place it in an archival-quality folder or polyethylene sleeve (acid-free, non-PVC).\r\n\r\n<strong>Handling:<\/strong> Wear cotton gloves when handling the card to avoid transferring skin oils, which can accelerate patina and corrosion. Avoid touching the hooks directly. Do not attempt to clean or polish the bronzed finish \u2014 oxidation is part of the historical record. If hooks have active rust (reddish surface corrosion rather than brown patina), professional conservation is recommended.\r\n\r\n<strong>Display:<\/strong> If displaying the card, use UV-filtering glass or acrylic to protect from light-induced fading of the green cardstock. Avoid framing under glass without archival-quality mat board, which may contain acids that damage the cardstock. Horizontal display (flat) is preferable to vertical, as hooks may stress the card over time.\r\n\r\n<strong>Separation from Other Metals:<\/strong> Do not store Edgar Sealey hooks in contact with ferrous metals (steel, iron) or dissimilar metals (copper, nickel) for extended periods, as galvanic corrosion can occur. Keep the carded hooks isolated on a shelf or in a dedicated cabinet.\r\n\r\n<strong>Insurance and Documentation:<\/strong> Photograph the front and back of the card for insurance purposes. Document the \u2018REDDITCH 148\u2019 telephone number and octopus mark as authentication markers. Store photographs separately from the physical card."},{"acf_fc_layout":"primary_source_analysis","title":"Packaging Claims and Historical Significance","source":"Edgar Sealey & Sons S 4324 Salescard \u2014 QUALITY No. 100 label and manufacturers' information panel, Brockhill Works, Redditch, England, c. 1880-1920.","content":"<strong>Claim: \u2018Highest Grade\u2019<\/strong>\r\nThis marketing designation does not refer to a specific technical classification but rather to Sealey\u2019s positioning as a premium hand-forged manufacturer. In the late Victorian and Edwardian tackle market, \u2018Highest Grade\u2019 typically meant hand-forged construction, fine points, and selective finishing \u2014 all confirmed on the S 4324 packaging and visually in the hook row. The term reflected quality assurance and brand prestige rather than a standardized industrial grade.\r\n\r\n<strong>Claim: \u2018Hand Forged\u2019<\/strong>\r\nThis is a direct reference to the hammer-forging manufacturing process, which compressed and aligned steel grain structure for greater strength at the bend. Hand forging was labor-intensive and economically viable only for premium hooks sold at higher prices. The \u2018hand-made &amp; tested\u2019 language reinforces artisanal quality control \u2014 each batch was apparently tested for strength and reliability before packaging.\r\n\r\n<strong>Claim: \u2018Bronzed Rustproof\u2019<\/strong>\r\nThe \u2018Bronzed Rustproof\u2019 label (orange\/black stamp on the salescard) documents the finish specification. Bronzing, a form of chemical oxide treatment, provided corrosion resistance superior to bare steel and was preferred for freshwater fishing where visibility and longevity mattered. The \u2018rustproof\u2019 claim was state-of-the-art assurance language for the 1880-1920 era.\r\n\r\n<strong>Claim: \u2018Reversed\u2019 (Kirbed Offset)<\/strong>\r\nDocumented on the card as a design specification. The reversed\/kirbed point offset was standard practice in British wet fly and nymph design, enhancing hook penetration and retention during the strike and drift. This was a recognized technical feature, not a marketing flourish.\r\n\r\n<strong>Application Categories: \u2018Salmon, Grilse, Trout and Bait Hooks\u2019<\/strong>\r\nThis phrase documents the intended market: a general-purpose hook for multiple freshwater game fish species and both fly and bait presentation. The size range (5\/0 to approximately 4) on a single card confirms Sealey\u2019s approach of selling bulk assortments to professional fly tyers and tackle shops, rather than individual size-specific cards.\r\n\r\n<strong>Contact Details:<\/strong> The telephone number \u2018REDDITCH 148\u2019 (without area code) and telegram address \u2018SEALEY, BROCKHILL WORKS, REDDITCH\u2019 are precise dating markers. The absence of a modern postal code (\u2018REDDITCH 148\u2019 is a simple exchange-based number format) places this definitively pre-1960s and most likely pre-1940s. The telegram address format was standard through the 1950s but increasingly archaic by the 1960s."},{"acf_fc_layout":"handwriting_analysis","title":"Hand-Written Size Designations","content":"The hook row on the salescard displays hand-written size designations in pencil above each hook: \u20185\/0\u2019, \u20184\/0\u2019, \u20183\/0\u2019, \u20182\/0\u2019, \u20181\/0\u2019, and smaller whole-number designations (1, 2, 3, 4) for the right-hand side of the row. The handwriting is consistent and legible on the original card, though faded in the photograph.\r\n\r\nThese hand-written sizes were not pre-printed; they were applied after production, likely during final card assembly at Brockhill Works. This practice \u2014 combining bulk quantity designation (\u2018100 No.\u2019) with individual hook size labeling \u2014 was common in Redditch production, where hooks were manufactured in bulk and then sorted into size-specific assortments for individual cards.\r\n\r\nThe presence of hand-written markings is a strong authenticity indicator. Reproduction cards or forgeries typically pre-print all text. The faded pencil inscriptions visible on this specimen are consistent with genuine period cardstock and hand-writing age (100+ years). The pencil marks also show no erasure or correction, suggesting that size designation was straightforward and performed by a single hand during assembly.\r\n\r\nThe fading of the pencil inscriptions makes precise size reading difficult in the photograph, but the marking convention is clear: Victorian and Edwardian Redditch manufacturers routinely used hand-written labeling for individual hook sizes on assortment cards, a practice that persisted into the mid-20th century."},{"acf_fc_layout":"custom_section","title":"Edgar Sealey & Sons in the Redditch Manufacturing Context","content":"The Edgar Sealey S 4324 is one of only a handful of documented surviving examples of hand-forged hooks from a small but quality-focused Redditch manufacturer. Redditch, England, became the world\u2019s dominant fishing hook manufacturing center during the 19th century, driven by access to high-quality iron ore, water power, and skilled metalworkers. By the 1890s, the town produced over 90% of the world\u2019s fish hooks \u2014 a remarkable industrial concentration.\r\n\r\nHowever, not all Redditch manufacturers were equal in scale or market positioning. The largest firms \u2014 S. Allcock &amp; Co., Harrison Bartleet, and H. Milward &amp; Sons \u2014 pursued industrial mass production, employing hundreds of workers and distributing globally. Edgar Sealey &amp; Sons, by contrast, remained a smaller, specialized producer focused on premium hand-forged hooks for discerning professional and amateur fly tyers.\r\n\r\nThe \u2018Octopus\u2019 brand was Sealey\u2019s distinctive market marker in a crowded competitive field. By emphasizing hand forging, fine points, and \u2018Highest Grade\u2019 quality, Sealey carved out a niche market segment where quality could command higher prices than commodity hooks. The telephone number (REDDITCH 148) and direct telegram address suggest a factory that maintained direct contact with customers and trade purchasers, rather than relying solely on wholesale distribution networks.\r\n\r\nEdgar Sealey &amp; Sons represents a manufacturing tradition that did not survive into the mid-20th century. Industrial consolidation, two world wars, and the rise of cheaper imported hooks from Japan and elsewhere gradually eroded the market for small-scale hand-forged specialists. Today, Edgar Sealey hooks are genuinely scarce \u2014 far less common in surviving collections than Allcock or Bartleet products. This scarcity, combined with the documented \u2018Octopus\u2019 branding and hand-forged construction, makes any Edgar Sealey specimen of interest to collectors and hook historians.\r\n\r\nThe S 4324 model, with its complete 100-hook card and intact original packaging, is a snapshot of Redditch manufacturing practice in the late Victorian or Edwardian era \u2014 a period when Redditch was genuinely the fishing hook capital of the world, and when hand-forged construction was still economically viable and valued by anglers."}],"specimens_recorded":null,"manufacturer_period_context":"","rarity_basis":"","market_value_basis":"","market_value_as_of":null,"market_sold_observations":"","open_questions":null,"record_change_notes":null,"entry_type":"full","reference_layout_v2":false},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11327","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11327"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11327\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24350,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11327\/revisions\/24350"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8198"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"gw_hook_concept","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/gw_hook_concept?post=11327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}