Shakespeare Tackle

[Jeff Woodhouse]

Interesting Geoff , my go to stick float rod is a Leeds Blue Diamand in a 13'-9" mode.
I've had it since the early nineties .
I think it cost me around £60 , I rate it very highly.

If that was new, you got it really cheap. I still have a copy of my review and the range was made to sell around £130. I only found out they were made by Silver Star when I went to Decathlon in France and they had the same rods, whipped differently and the rings not as good, bearing the Decathlon name and selling for around £70+ in UK Sterling. I asked and was told they were made in Korea by Silver Star, but the Koreans did make some excellent quality products.

I have had to replace on ring, the bottom one on the top section, because for a while it was on loan to a friend and he had a little accident with it (clumsy s0d!:wh). Still works though and I really must give it another shake some time. Only thing that goes against it is the plastic rings holding the reel in place (or not, as is more the case). They were still popular then and their problem was they kept coming apart so sometimes you'd be reeling in a fish and the reel would come away in your hand.

 

[flightliner]

If that was new, you got it really cheap. I still have a copy of my review and the range was made to sell around £130. I only found out they were made by Silver Star when I went to Decathlon in France and they had the same rods, whipped differently and the rings not as good, bearing the Decathlon name and selling for around £70+ in UK Sterling. I asked and was told they were made in Korea by Silver Star, but the Koreans did make some excellent quality products.

I have had to replace on ring, the bottom one on the top section, because for a while it was on loan to a friend and he had a little accident with it (clumsy s0d!:wh). Still works though and I really must give it another shake some time. Only thing that goes against it is the plastic rings holding the reel in place (or not, as is more the case). They were still popular then and their problem was they kept coming apart so sometimes you'd be reeling in a fish and the reel would come away in your hand.

I'm pretty certain it was £60 Geoff -- maybe a few more but not £70 .
I bought it from Bennetts in Sheffield after checking out all the stic float rods on the long rod rack at the front of the shop.
Many I recall were top well known brands but the Blue diamond impressed me more than any of them.
It seemed to me that it simply flew under the radar , maybe on account of many of the float men back then thinking that Leeda was'nt a rod that could match more popular jobs used around that time.

 

[sam vimes]

I recall thinking quite highly of the Leeda Blue Diamonds and the late version of the DAM Quickstick. That was back in the days that I had a hankering for rods and little money to indulge myself. Both remained unbought. As I never bought them back then, I've never got a bad enough bout of misty eyed nostalgia to tempt me into finding a decent second hand one.

 

[kenpm]

The Normark brand was first bought by Masterline. They sold it to Shimano UK who then became Shimano Normark UK.

You are usually right on most things Sam but Masterline only ever had a distribution deal with Rapala who owned the name Normark and this was lost when Shimano Europe tied up a distribution deal with Rapala who remain the only company who can use the Normark name but effectively are a name only as they have no products, Rapala just thought it was a more recognised tackle brand than their own name.
This information comes from a trade source who worked for both.

 

[sam vimes]

You are usually right on most things Sam but Masterline only ever had a distribution deal with Rapala who owned the name Normark and this was lost when Shimano Europe tied up a distribution deal with Rapala who remain the only company who can use the Normark name but effectively are a name only as they have no products, Rapala just thought it was a more recognised tackle brand than their own name.
This information comes from a trade source who worked for both.

Whichever way it really does work, it's rather convoluted. Whatever form Shimano in the UK has taken, it is definitely called Shimano Normark UK and they've definitely never produced anything for the UK market with the Normark brand name, unlike Masterline. As I understood it previously, Rapala was one of the Shimano brands (along with GLoomis and Powerpro), but they probably just act as distributors for Rapala in the UK. This is the problem with holding companies, seperate national franchises, distributors and all. You can't really tell exactly what the relationship to the individual brands and companies is. They shuffle ownership/distribution of assets/brands around between intertwined, but not necessarily joined companies. It's little but an exercise in the reduction of tax burdens and franchising to minimize risks to parent companies.

Rapala and Shimano Create new UK tackle company - Shimano Normark UK

RAPALA VMC CORPORATION (RAPALA) AND SHIMANO EUROPE FISHING B.V. (SHIMANO) AGREE NEW DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY FOR DYNAMITE FISHING BAITS IN THE UK | Rapala VMC Corporation

From the look of those two articles, I doubt it's anywhere near as clear cut and simple as either of us has previously stated. I wouldn't like to put any money on who actually owns the Normark name, beyond Shimano Normark UK Ltd really existing.

 

[tigger]

Since normark match rods had and still have such a following of float fishermen it seems odd that whoever does own the name hasn't brought out a bespoke range of rods under the normark name?
Considering the price of the higher end float rods on the market today i'm sure there would be a market for them.

 

[mikench]

It does indeed seem odd that a name/ trademark with such devotees and more than just a nostalgic reminiscence should not be brought back! One could understand it if the Normark rods of old, particularly those last sold around 2000, , were at the lower end of the market!

However that is not the case and if rods made by Guru, Browning, Daiwa and Tricast can sell for £300 or so,then Normark could price accordingly!

20 year old models in good nick sell for over £200 today and are clearly in demand! But, what do I know about marketing!

 

[nottskev]

It does indeed seem odd that a name/ trademark with such devotees and more than just a nostalgic reminiscence should not be brought back! One could understand it if the Normark rods of old, particularly those last sold around 2000, , were at the lower end of the market!

However that is not the case and if rods made by Guru, Browning, Daiwa and Tricast can sell for £300 or so,then Normark could price accordingly!

20 year old models in good nick sell for over £200 today and are clearly in demand! But, what do I know about marketing!

Who owned/owns what companies and names is not my specialist chosen subject, but is it a question of who owns the Normark name? They didn't acquire their (justifiable) cult status because people liked the name; it was down to the incomparable fish-playing actions. I'd think it's a matter of whether the Japanese blanks they were built on can be revived or replicated these days. Would there be any point putting out something different/less and hoping to trade on the name?

 

[tigger]

Who owned/owns what companies and names is not my specialist chosen subject, but is it a question of who owns the Normark name? They didn't acquire their (justifiable) cult status because people liked the name; it was down to the incomparable fish-playing actions. I'd think it's a matter of whether the Japanese blanks they were built on can be revived or replicated these days. Would there be any point putting out something different/less and hoping to trade on the name?

Yeaph, you right Kev , but if rods of the same quality where produced under the normark name then i'm sure people would pay 400 plus notes for one.
Surely it wouldn't be too difficult for someone in the fishing tackle trade owning the normark brand to find out who made the diamuri blanks? Imo both the 2000's and first batch of MKII blanks needed no altering at all and if those exact blanks where re produced today they would be snapped up by the specialist float fishing anglers.

 

[flightliner]

Was it the Normark 2000 rods that had a thicker butt over the reel fitting than the rest of the butt fore and aft??

 

[sam vimes]

find out who made the diamuri blanks?

Diamura made the blanks. The whole reason for Normark being sold and then Carbotec ceasing to exist was supposedly down to the two fellas (Omri Thomas/Jeff Salisbury) behind Normark, and then Carbotec, being unable to source suitable quality blanks because the Diamura factory shut down and moved out of Japan.

 

[sam vimes]

Was it the Normark 2000 rods that had a thicker butt over the reel fitting than the rest of the butt fore and aft??

Not initially, though I've seen late 2000s with swelled Duplon section behind the reel seat (some 1000s and 3000s might have had it too). The vast bulk of the 2000s I've seen were cork right up to the back of the reel seat with Duplon sections at foregrip and butt. They carried the Duplon palm swell feature over into the Carbotec design.

 

[tigger]

Not initially, though I've seen late 2000s with swelled Duplon section behind the reel seat (some 1000s and 3000s might have had it too). The vast bulk of the 2000s I've seen were cork right up to the back of the reel seat with Duplon sections at foregrip and butt. They carried the Duplon palm swell feature over into the Carbotec design.

I've never seen any of the 2000s or 3000s with any duplon or swelling feature on the handles. If they did make any like that they must have been very rare.

 

[sam vimes]

I've never seen any of the 2000s or 3000s with any duplon or swelling feature on the handles. If they did make any like that they must have been very rare.

It could be the case that they weren't actually made like that. Perhaps they were aftermarket modifications or refurbished.

 

[tigger]

It could be the case that they weren't actually made like that. Perhaps they were aftermarket modifications or refurbished.

Yeaph, that crossed my mind Chris.

 

[dalesman]

The Pure fishing group including Shakespeare and Hardy, has been sold for 2nd time in 3 years to a New York Investment Bank who also own Staples.

 

[daniel121]

They have been a brand that has never really known what target market they are going for, personally I think their business plan has not been the greatest throughout the years.

As others have pointed out the gear was rubbish pre 80's, brilliant in the 80s for high end, going down hill in the 90s and pretty good again for VFM midrange in the mid norties and nowadays back to rubbish again.

They need to make up their mind whom their target audience are and make something that audience likes.

 

[wrighty64]

Hi
ive both shakey n silstar rods also silstar reels. The shaky 10 ft float rod is often the 1st one i set up, i,ve had everything from gudgeon to 8lb carp on it without a problem this was bought early 80s. The silstar is a bit heavy for a 13ft float rod but at a fiver brand new is again a good rod. i use a silstar reel on my heavy sea rod and it cranks 6oz back in easily.This topic shows just what an amazing sport we all enjoy. BTW just bought another shakey rod not tried yet but if as good as one above will do me just fine.

 

[sam vimes]

I've never seen any of the 2000s or 3000s with any duplon or swelling feature on the handles.

I've just thought about this and realised that it was you that told me about the different 2000s with a Fuji IPS reel seat and a palm swell. I might have got mixed up about it being Duplon (but I still think I've seen one that looked like a Carbotec somewhere), but there's definitely a palm swell.

 

[tigger]

Lol, I remember talking to you about it Chris mg:.
My m8 has a 3000 avenger with that same handle. I think I meant there was no duplon just below the handle, i've only ever seen normarks with duplon at the top screw down piece and from the bottom bung upwards.9