Made in Britain.

hi all,
I was wondering about two things.

a) How much tackle, any branch of angling, is still made in the Uk ? I know that certain gamefishing household names no longer manufacture in the UK.

b) How many top level tackle companies actually exist as opposed to brands. I believe for example that: Orvis, BFR, Wychwood, are all owned by Leeda. Sharpes of Aberdeen own Keenets. Hardy own Greys.

Does anyone have any info or views ? Does it matter where stuff is made ?

I don't think it matters any more Malcolm, as long it is good quality. But I think there are a number of Brittish firms making good tackle at low prices.

Until now Harrisons made there own rods, but even they have to foreign parts for their latest.

Bruce and Walker. UK all the way! (I believe, maybe the rings are Fuji or Seymo)

I heard a rumour that Hardy had allegedly told their dealers that from 2005 they would no longer be making rods in the UK.

I know Diawa used to make Wisker Fly range in Scotland, assume they still do.

But its like automotive sector, made in UK can mean assembled I think, unless this has been tightened up, through the EU. Likewise nearly all the manufacturers we know and love have become just brands.

I actually do not think it matters either, providing the Quality assurance and control exists. I do have some sense of "its a shame" as uniqueness and indivualism are diluted. But one must concede that as anglers we are getting much greater "Bang per Buck" when we buy stuff.

Cheers

The problem here is Joe Public - UK.

We expect everything to be as cheap as possible, yet certain manufacturing industries in the UK have to pay the minimum wage for certain types of labour. Tis immediately puts up the price of manufacturing by a considerable amount compared with the labour rates in South Korea and Malaysia where much of our tackle is made.

The manufacturing of fishing rods and other tackle is very labour intensive. You don't find many people in Britain these days wanting to sit all day whipping guides on rods for example.

Not only that, but rod companies like Harrisons cannot supply the demand as they can't get labour at the price that the rod could be sold so that Joe Public would buy it.

That's why more and more tackle is being made in countries where people are only too glad to get a job at all.

I am involved with the importation to Europe of specialised filtration products from the USA. One would think that such products would be expensive. Not at all.

The factory where these products are made does not employ people. They employ robots.

Heard that all the Greys rod have there rings wipped out east for ?18 for a container full. Not sure how true this is.

It's very likely Byron. These jobs are done by people at home.

They get paid piece work.

like making a three piece rod, piece work?