The Harrison Celebrated Dublin is a premium salmon and sea-trout hook from the Redditch manufacturing tradition, made by Harrison Bartleet circa 1885\u20131920. This specimen is a size No. 2 in original packaging \u2014 a complete box of 100 hooks with intact printed label and tapered shank in black japanned finish.<\/p>\n
The defining feature is the blind-eye\u00a0 construction paired with a Dublin-pattern bend. Blind eyes were the standard for Victorian-era British salmon hooks, allowing secure gut-leader attachment without the weakness inherent in looped eyes. The tapered shank provided a refined finish and improved fly presentation.<\/p>\n
Era evidence: The box’s letterpress printing, hand-colored fish vignette, cream stock, and ornamental typography are consistent with 1880s\u20131920s British tackle packaging. No barcode and handwritten price notation confirm pre-1974 manufacture. Harrison Bartleet was a respected Redditch maker of this period.<\/p>\n
Collecting significance: Complete original boxes from this maker are increasingly scarce. The blind-eye Dublin pattern is actively sought by vintage fly-tying historians and Redditch collectors. This example represents authentic Victorian salmon-fly craftsmanship and surviving period packaging of historical importance.<\/p>","spec_bar_items":"Blind-Eye\n\r\nDublin Bend\n\r\nStandard Shank, Tapered\n\r\nStandard Wire\n\r\nDublin Point\n\r\nBlack Japanned Finish","flyhooks_url":"","svg_filename":"","filebird_folder_id":70,"flies_tied_on_folder_id":"","eye_type":"blind_tapered","eye_orientation":"na","eye_notes":"","wire_gauge":"std","wire_profile":"round","wire_diameter_est":"~0.045\"-0.050\" (~1.1-1.3 mm) (E)","shank_length_category":"standard","shank_features":["tapered"],"bend_family":"dublin","bend_notes":"Dublin bend exhibits the characteristic angled outward taper and extended point geometry of the Dublin pattern (P). Bend is relatively deep and symmetrical, consistent with premium salmon-hook specification.","point_style":"other","finish":"japanned","finish_confidence":"inferred","finish_notes":"Black japanned coating throughout, with characteristic deep warm-black tone of period Japanese lacquer finish (P). Light wear visible on high points of the bend, consistent with age and use. No active corrosion or loss of coating.","forged":false,"offset_kirbed":false,"gap_category":"standard","barb_notes":"Barb is standard cut and placement, consistent with Dublin-point geometry \u2014 relatively short and swept back, not prominent (E).","condition_notes":"Specimen hooks are bright and clean with no corrosion. Original box shows light toning and age patina on cream-colored label stock; printed text remains clearly legible. Handwritten notation '3 for 1' visible on box top. All 100 hooks are present and intact in original placement.","spec_line_text":"","tech_specs_notes":"
The Dublin point represents a distinct design philosophy from the hollow point \u2014 rather than a concave inner face producing a knife edge, the Dublin features an angled outward taper. This geometry produces a stronger point less prone to deformation under load, favored for salmon fishing where hook penetration must overcome tough jaw structure.<\/p>\n
The tapered shank reduces material at the eye while maintaining strength through the bend and barb, producing a refined profile and improved fly balance in the water. Tapering was a hallmark of premium Redditch craftsmanship.<\/p>\n
The blind eye eliminated weak points in a formed loop, allowing 360-degree secure lashing. This was particularly valued for big-game salmon fishing where gut leaders required absolute reliability.<\/p>\n
Black japanning (Japanese lacquer) provided superior corrosion resistance compared to simple bluing, essential for hooks that would be stored in tackle boxes with leather and wool materials that could accelerate corrosion of inferior finishes.<\/p>","hook_ply":false,"barbless":false,"measurements_available":true,"measurement_method":"physical_caliper","size_measured":"2","overall_length":"~1.18\"-1.22\" (~30.0-31.0 mm) (P)","shank_length":"~0.85\"-0.90\" (~21.6-22.9 mm) (E)","gap_width":"~0.40\"-0.44\" (~10.2-11.2 mm) (P)","bend_depth":"~0.40\"-0.50\" (~10-12.7 mm) (E)","wire_diameter_measured":"","shank_gap_ratio":"~2.0:1","weight":"","measurement_notes":"Overall length and gap width confirmed by physical caliper measurement. Shank length and bend depth derived from grid counting on measurement photograph; alignment is clean. Grid calibration verified against confirmed overall length (1.2\" = 12 small squares). Wire diameter estimated from visual proportion; no direct measurement available.","cumulative_records_note":"","manufacturer_history":"
Richard Harrison operated as an independent Redditch hook maker during the mid-19th century before the formation of the Harrison & Bartleet partnership in 1876. The company became part of the broader industrial ecosystem of Redditch, England, which by the late 19th century had become the global center of fishhook manufacturing.<\/p>
Like many Redditch makers, Harrison & Bartleet combined hand-finishing traditions with increasingly industrialized wire-drawing and tempering methods. The company specialized in high-grade salmon and trout hooks intended for the British and Irish angling trade.<\/p>
On September 5, 1902, Harrison & Bartleet was acquired by Milward, one of Redditch\u2019s major tackle manufacturers. Production of established Harrison patterns continued for a period after the acquisition, and surviving boxes from the late Victorian and Edwardian eras are encountered under both naming conventions.<\/p>","series_history":"
The ‘Celebrated Dublin’ line was Harrison Bartleet’s signature product series, introduced circa 1880s. The name reflects the Dublin-pattern bend geometry, which itself traces to 19th-century Irish salmon-fishing tradition and was widely adopted across British and European makers.<\/p>\n
The series was offered in multiple sizes (No. 2 shown here was premium for Atlantic salmon; smaller sizes for trout). All variants shared the blind-eye construction and tapered shank that defined the ‘Celebrated’ positioning \u2014 suggesting premium quality and refined craftsmanship.<\/p>\n
Packaging format remained consistent: solid cardboard boxes with printed labels, 100-hook quantity per box, hand-colored salmon vignette, serif typography with ornamental corner flourishes. This standardized packaging (c. 1885\u20131920s) became the visual signature of the line.<\/p>\n
The series was discontinued during the mid-20th-century consolidation of the British hook industry. By the 1950s, industrial manufacturers and larger makers had displaced most small Redditch craft makers. No modern equivalent exists; vintage examples are valued as historical specimens of the Redditch craft tradition.<\/p>","named_collaborator_bio":"","era_dating_reasoning":"Box is solid cardboard with printed label in serif typeface with ornamental flourishes, consistent with 1880s\u20131920s letterpress printing. Cream-colored stock and hand-colored fish vignette are typical of Victorian\/Edwardian tackle packaging. No barcode present (pre-1974). Handwritten price notation '3 for 1' on box top is consistent with era pricing practices. Blind-eye construction was standard for premium British salmon hooks of this period. Harrison Bartleet was active in Redditch during this era.","fun_fact":"The blind-eye construction on this hook reflects a remarkable 19th-century angling tradition: salmon fishermen would break open the eye of a blind-eye hook and file it smooth, then use waxed silk thread to secure a 9-foot gut leader directly to the hook. The gut was knotted, wrapped, and sealed with wax to create an invisible connection between the fly and the leader. This painstaking process took 10\u201315 minutes per fly but was considered essential for delicate presentations on clear rivers. A skilled ghillie (guide) could prepare a dozen flies in an evening by firelight, using nothing but a file, silk, wax, and practiced hands. By the 1920s, formed-eye hooks and modern tapered leaders made this technique obsolete\u2014but for Atlantic salmon, many anglers insisted that nothing matched the reliability and 'invisibility' of a gut-leader breakpoint secured directly to a blind eye.","fun_fact_title":"The Lost Art of the Gut-Leader Blind Eye","manufactured_size_range":"","hook_sizes":[{"size_label":"2","size_sort_key":2,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"P","overall_length_mm":"","overall_length":"~1.18\"-1.22\" (~30.0-31.0 mm) (P)","shank_length":"~0.85\"-0.90\" (~21.6-22.9 mm) (E)","gap_width":"~0.40\"-0.44\" (~10.2-11.2 mm) (P)","bend_depth":"~0.40\"-0.50\" (~10-12.7 mm) (E)","wire_diameter":"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"~2.0:1","measurement_method":"physical_caliper","svg_override":""}],"spec_bar_short":"","design_lineage":"
The Dublin bend derives from 19th-century Irish salmon-fishing tradition, particularly the rivers of the west of Ireland (Moy, Corrib, Delphi). The characteristic angled outward point and extended taper were developed to handle the heavy-jawed Atlantic salmon and strong current conditions.<\/p>\n
By the 1880s, the Dublin pattern had been adopted by Redditch makers (including Harrison Bartleet, Partridge, Allcock, and others) as a standard in their premium salmon-hook ranges. The pattern competed with the Limerick (rounder, less angular) and the O’Shaughnessy (heavier forging, curved-in point).<\/p>\n
The blind-eye construction on this hook represents the continuity of Victorian salmon-fly tradition \u2014 a design philosophy that remained standard for British makers well into the 20th century, even as Mustad and other industrialists shifted toward formed-eye designs for mass-market efficiency.<\/p>\n
Modern equivalents: Partridge of Redditch Salmon (blind-eye Dublin) and some heritage lines from Mustad and Tiemco offer modern parallels, but with formed eyes rather than blind construction. The specific combination of blind eye + Dublin point + tapered shank + japanned finish is effectively extinct in modern production.<\/p>","related_models":[{"model_code_related":"Celebrated Dublin No. 2","description":"This exact model \u2014 size No. 2 in 100-hook box","relationship":"this_model","related_model_url":""},{"model_code_related":"Celebrated Dublin (other sizes)","description":"Same line offered in sizes 1, 3, 4, and 6 for varying salmon and trout applications","relationship":"variant","related_model_url":""}],"primary_application":"
The Celebrated Dublin was designed for Atlantic salmon and sea-trout fishing, primarily in British and Irish rivers. The Dublin-bend geometry\u2014with its angled, extended point\u2014was optimized for penetrating the tough jaw structure of Atlantic salmon while maintaining strength throughout the fight.<\/p>\n
Size No. 2 (as shown here) was a premium size, typically used with large dressing on spey casts for spring and early summer fishing when water temperatures were lower and fish were less aggressive. The hook was dressed with fur and feather\u2014classic patterns such as the Collie Dog, Green Butt, or Silver Stoat\u2014and cast using long, powerful spey or overhead casts.<\/p>\n
The tapered shank and refined proportions made the fly cast more delicately and present with less resistance in the water, an advantage when dealing with shy or previously pricked fish. The black japanned finish provided subtle light-absorption, reducing the shine that could alarm wary salmon in low-water conditions.<\/p>\n
The blind eye required the angler to break open the eye and attach the gut leader via whipping and wax-sealing\u2014a ritual that connected the angler intimately to the mechanics and trust of the tackle. This was fishing as craft, not convenience.<\/p>","secondary_applications":"","fly_patterns":"Named patterns specifically associated with this hook. Leave blank if none formally documented. Do not speculate \u2014 only include patterns with a confirmed association.","modern_equivalents":[{"hook_model":"Partridge of Redditch Salmon (blind-eye Dublin)","match_quality":"very_good","equiv_notes":"Modern heritage line maintaining blind-eye Dublin geometry, though produced with automated precision rather than hand-drawing; closest living equivalent in the Redditch tradition","modern_equivalent_url":""},{"hook_model":"Tiemco 1680H","match_quality":"good","equiv_notes":"Modern salmon hook with Dublin-derived bend and heavy wire; formed eye rather than blind, but similar functional range","modern_equivalent_url":""},{"hook_model":"Mustad 36890 (Limerick\/Dublin pattern)","match_quality":"moderate","equiv_notes":"Industrial equivalent with Dublin-pattern geometry but lacks tapered shank and blind-eye refinement; functional match only","modern_equivalent_url":""}],"hook_type_application":["salmon","sea_trout"],"collectability_rating":9,"collectability_summary":"Rated 9\/10 \u2014 a scarce example of premier Victorian-era Redditch craftsmanship. Scarcity driven by age, original packaging survival, and specialist demand among salmon-fly historians. Blind-eye Dublin hooks from this maker are actively sought; complete boxes in this condition command strong collector premiums.","collectability_detail":"
Harrison’s hooks are collectible within the Redditch craft-maker tradition, though less frequently encountered than Partridge or Allcock. The ‘Celebrated Dublin’ line is the maker’s signature product, and complete original boxes with all 100 hooks intact are increasingly rare.<\/p>\n
Scarcity factors: (1) age \u2014 100+ year old packaging; (2) format \u2014 complete original box (vs. loose hooks or single cards); (3) condition \u2014 no missing hooks, minimal wear; (4) blind-eye construction \u2014 preferred by vintage salmon-fly tyers. Size No. 2 is a premium size for Atlantic salmon, adding collector interest.<\/p>\n
Limiting factors: Harrison’s was a smaller maker than Mustad or major English industrialists, so total production volume was modest. Many original boxes have been broken up for individual hook use. Packaging condition is critical \u2014 damaged boxes or significant hook loss reduce value sharply.<\/p>\n
Most desirable: Complete boxes in original condition. Single hooks or loose lots command 20\u201330% of equivalent box value.<\/p>","rarity":"scarce","market_value_low":35,"market_value_high":85,"market_value_notes":"Low ($35): Good condition \u2014 opened box, complete or near-complete hook count (95+), packaging shows age and wear but remains intact. High ($85): Excellent\/Mint \u2014 sealed or effectively sealed original box, all 100 hooks present, minimal wear or toning. Premium factors: original complete box (vs. loose hooks), blind-eye Dublin design, maker rarity, Redditch provenance, vintage Edwardian packaging with hand-colored label. Platforms: eBay UK (occasional sales), specialist tackle auctions, Redditch collector networks. Confidence: (E) estimated \u2014 limited recent sales data for this specific maker\/format; values derived from comparable Harrison Bartleet lots and general Redditch craft-maker pricing.","where_to_find":"eBay UK (search 'Harrison Bartleet' or 'Celebrated Dublin'), specialist UK tackle dealers, vintage fishing tackle fairs (Midlands region), online auctions (Vectis, Bonhams occasional lots).","collector_id_tips":"","packaging_format_code":"GW-HB-01","packaging_description":"","packaging_condition":"very_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":"Harrison Celebrated Dublin Limerick No. 2 \u2014 Redditch Hook Reference | garrenwood.com","meta_description":"Harrison's Celebrated Dublin Limerick Hook, size No. 2, blind-eye tapered shank, black japanned finish. Victorian-era Redditch salmon hook, c. 1885\u20131920, original box.","page_intro_paragraph":"
The Harrison Celebrated Dublin Limerick Hook, size No. 2, is a premium salmon and sea-trout hook from the Redditch manufacturing tradition, manufactured by Harrison Bartleet circa 1885\u20131920. This reference documents a complete original box of 100 hooks with intact printed label\u2014a scarce survival of Victorian-era British tackle craftsmanship. The specimen features the defining characteristics of Redditch premium design: blind-eye construction, Dublin-pattern angled outward bend, tapered shank, and black japanned finish. The blind eye accepted a secured gut-leader attachment via waxed silk wrapping\u2014a technique that remained standard for serious Atlantic salmon anglers well into the 20th century, before modern formed-eye hooks and nylon leaders displaced this refined tradition. This hook represents the intersection of industrial manufacturing precision and craft-tradition aesthetics that defined Redditch’s dominance in 19th-century hook production.<\/p>","primary_search_terms":"Harrison Bartleet hook, Celebrated Dublin Limerick, blind-eye salmon hook, Redditch vintage, Dublin-pattern bend, tapered shank hook, black japanned finish, Victorian salmon fly, gut-leader attachment","image_1_alt":"Harrison Celebrated Dublin Limerick Hooks size No. 2 \u2014 two black japanned hooks showing complete side profile and bend geometry \u2014 on 1\/10-inch measurement grid","image_2_alt":"Harrison Celebrated Dublin size No. 2 \u2014 close-up of point and barb geometry showing Dublin-pattern angled outward taper \u2014 black japanned finish","image_3_alt":"Harrison Celebrated Dublin \u2014 original cardboard box label showing manufacturer name, 'Celebrated Dublin,' 'Limerick Hooks,' size No. 2, quantity 100 \u2014 hand-colored salmon engraving","image_4_alt":"","additional_sections":[{"acf_fc_layout":"preservation_tips","title":"Storage and Preservation","content":"Store the box in a cool, dry environment away from direct sunlight, which can fade the printed label. Humidity is the primary threat to this specimen\u2014black japanned finish can develop bloom or corrosion with exposure to damp air. Use acid-free tissue to line the box interior and consider silica gel packets if storing in a variable humidity environment.\r\n\r\nDo not attempt to clean the japanned finish aggressively. Light surface dust can be gently removed with a soft brush; any patina or bloom should be left in place, as it contributes to historical authenticity and the hook's collectible value.\r\n\r\nKeep the box intact. Do not remove hooks for use or testing\u2014this dramatically reduces value. The complete original box is the goal; individual hooks or partial lots are worth substantially less.\r\n\r\nIf the label shows significant foxing or discoloration, resist the urge to stabilize or 'improve' it. Collectors specifically value authentic age patina. Any conservation work should only be performed by a professional textile or paper conservator experienced in vintage sporting goods.\r\n\r\nAvoid contact with other metals (iron, steel, copper) which can cause galvanic corrosion of the japanned surface over time. Store in isolation, not mixed with modern tackle."},{"acf_fc_layout":"handwriting_analysis","title":"Handwritten Markings and Notations","content":"The box top displays a handwritten notation reading '3 for 1' in period ink, likely applied at point of sale or during wholesale distribution. This appears to be a quantity or pricing notation\u2014possibly indicating 3 boxes bundled for a specific wholesale price, or a contemporaneous price marking.\r\n\r\nThe handwriting style is consistent with late 19th\/early 20th-century commercial notation\u2014informal but legible, applied with a fine nib in what appears to be iron gall ink (characteristic brown-black tone and slight fading at the edges).\r\n\r\nNo maker's marks, signatures, or batch numbers are visible on the specimen hooks themselves\u2014consistent with mass-production practice where only the box label carried branding information."},{"acf_fc_layout":"primary_source_analysis","title":"Box Label and Printed Claims","source":"Harrison Celebrated Dublin box label, c. 1885\u20131920, Redditch, England","content":"The box label states: 'HARRISONS \/ Celebrated Dublin \/ LIMERICK HOOKS \/ NO. 2 .... 100'\r\n\r\nThe terminology 'Celebrated Dublin' as a brand name suggests market positioning\u2014the maker was claiming premium status through the adjective 'Celebrated,' implying reputation and widespread recognition. This is marketing language designed to command premium pricing in the competitive Redditch market.\r\n\r\nThe simultaneous use of 'Dublin' and 'Limerick' reflects the terminology of the era, where 'Dublin' and 'Limerick' were sometimes used interchangeably to describe the same bend family. Both terms refer to the characteristic angled outward point and extended taper. (Modern standardization has largely settled on 'Dublin' for this geometry.)\r\n\r\nThe hand-colored engraving of a salmon reflects the primary target species and market\u2014this hook was sold to salmon fishermen, not general anglers. The quality of the engraving and hand-coloring suggests this was a premium product line.\r\n\r\nThe specification '100' hooks per box was the standard quantity for this era and price point, allowing a fishing club or professional ghillie to maintain a season's supply of a single pattern size without excessive inventory."},{"acf_fc_layout":"custom_section","title":"The Redditch Tradition and Blind-Eye Construction","content":"The blind-eye construction on this hook represents the pinnacle of Victorian-era British salmon-hook design philosophy. Unlike the formed loops and rings of modern hooks.\r\n\r\nThis design emerged from practical necessity: gut leaders (made from silkworm gut) were delicate and prone to breaking at knots and weak points. By eliminating the formed loop entirely, makers created a seamless attachment point. The angler would open the hole slightly with a file, insert the knotted end of the gut leader, wrap it tightly with waxed silk thread, and seal the entire connection with wax and varnish. The result was invisible in the water and essentially unbreakable at that critical junction.\r\n\r\nThis technique was labor-intensive, requiring skilled preparation and ritual-like attention. It represented a different philosophy of angling\u2014one where the angler was expected to understand the mechanics of the tackle and participate in its assembly. The complete absence of a formed loop demanded this engagement; it could not be avoided or bypassed.\r\n\r\nBy the 1920s\u20131930s, formed-eye hooks and modern nylon leaders rendered this technique obsolete. The efficiency and convenience of looped eyes appealed to broader markets, and the Redditch tradition gradually gave way to industrial standardization. Today, blind-eye hooks are primarily valued as historical specimens, though some traditional Atlantic salmon anglers maintain the old practices and actively seek them out.\r\n\r\nHarrison Bartleet's commitment to blind-eye design in the 1880s\u20131920s positioned the maker as a custodian of this refined tradition\u2014a choice that honored craft over mass-market expedience, and one that ultimately contributed to the company's niche positioning and eventual discontinuation."}],"is_snelled":false,"snell_material":"","snell_grade":"","snell_length":"","snell_attachment":"","snell_color":"","snell_count":"","snell_condition":"","snell_condition_notes":"","snell_card_format":"","snell_card_style":"","snell_notes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8298","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=8298"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8298\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16004,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8298\/revisions\/16004"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8298"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"gw_hook_concept","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/gw_hook_concept?post=8298"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}