Haven't seen those in yearsssssssssssss.....
It
wouldn't be an Arnold, BJ did have three made up and Arnold Engineering put his name nicely on it. Then he told Arnold, allegedly, that they could sell reels with his name on if he got a cut. That's what the then owner of Arnold told me and he also told me his reply to BJ.
This was after the one you have Sean.
I'm afraid I have no idea who made yours, but they were made for a company called
Relum, who were wholesalers and (sort of) manufacturers and sold as Relum brand. They did some good stuff and were agents for Hutchy's stuff, I got a couple of bivvies from them and some other items.
One was a BJ unhooking mat/net bag. Great idea and still have it, but the inner lining is starting to crack now at the edges.
---------- Post added at 23:02 ---------- Previous post was at 22:54 ----------
I just found this posted by Richard Drayson, way back -
Barry,
The Arnold Kingpin was never endorsed by Bob James, he had his name etched (with a Kingfisher) on the back of the very similar looking reels made by Relum.
The reel that you see Bob using in "Passion For Angling" is in fact a Swallow Centrepin
Arnold Kingpin reels, were originally made by R.Arnold Engineers who are no longer trading, they are now being manufactured to an even higher specification by K W Engineering of Poole, Dorset.
Likewise the Swallow Centrepin, originally made by Dave Swallow of Ringwood, but now being made by Rich (forget his surname) of Ringwood Tackle.
OH and BTW, the "Barry" to whom it was directed was BAZ! I'm fairly sure.
---------- Post added at 23:10 ---------- Previous post was at 23:02 ----------
Someone who might be able to help is
The FISHINGCOACH - who wrote in one of his articles (down that page)
"I fished one in conjunction with a Relum centrepin (very similar to the Arnold Kingpin and the old Swallow centrepin)."
Of course, you could try asking Bob James himself.......... :wh