Whip finishers

[Ray Kunz]

Which came first,the Matarelli or the Thompson?

[white43]

The hand.

[Ray Kunz]

That doesn't answer the question. I give you an F for the test grade.

[Garic]

The only thing I could find on the search engines was a mention of the Matarelli being invented over 20 years ago, but somehow I think that info might just be out a little

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Born to fish, forced to work.

[Panman]

An interesting question. Brings one to wonder why you would ask? I looked on the net to see what was a Thompson and what was a Matarelli. I found that I use the Thompson and I think, repeat think, that is same style of finisher I used 50 years ago. It would be interesting to find the answer.

Tim Anderson

[Hans Weilenmann]

Ray,

I have no absolute answer to your question. What I can say is that both tools are present in a 1977 Eric Leiser 'The Rivergate' catalog I have. The Thompson is listed as "one of the first whip finisher tools", and commands $5.00. The Matarelli whip finisher is listed at $4.75.

Again, I have no absolute answer, but I would be very surprised if the Thompson design does not pre-date the Matarelli.

Cheers,
Hans W


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=== You have a friend in Low Places ===
http://www.danica.com/flytier

[gadabout]

I'm reasonably certain it's the Thompson. When I started tying around 26 years ago, the Materelli was a new product as far as I knew. The Thompson was already old hat at that time.

[sjh]

I started tying around 1950 and the only thing around at that time was the Thompson style.

[Ray Kunz]

Thanks to all you guys who replied. It would appear that the concensus is that the Thompson was probably first. The reason I asked was that I tried using a Thompson decades ago and, while being left-handed I even had to modify it, I found my the manual method worked better. I recently tried a Materelli because my class participants asked about them and in my opinion the Matarelli is great. But I still encourage my guys to use a couple half-hitches to get under parachute hackles.

[Panman]

Ray:

I see what you mean. I turned my vise around and tried the Thompson without much luck. The guy who taught me to tie was right handed, I am a lefty. Tying flies is about the only thing I can do halfway decent right handed.

Tim Anderson