Which came first,the Matarelli or the Thompson?
The hand.
That doesn’t answer the question. I give you an F for the test grade.
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 
Born to fish, forced to work.
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
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
=== You have a friend in Low Places ===
http://www.danica.com/flytier
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.
I started tying around 1950 and the only thing around at that time was the Thompson style.
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.
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
I’m 99% sure the Thompson was the first one out. I have been using it since the late 60"s. 1960 that is…
…streamcaddis…
I was fly fishing and fly tying
before it got trendy
Hi Streamcaddis, Fly fishing since the 60s , Wow, I started when I got out of the army in 1947. How are you ever going to face up to puberty? (G)
I have a 1946 Tack-L-Tyers catalog that has a Thompson in it. I bought a tying kit at a yard sale about 8 years ago that had a Thompson in it. I never could get it to work.
Larry
I seen in a catalog…not sure which…or what exactly was ment by the statement…of the Matarelli was discribed as “The Orignial and still the best”…???
I know it’s the only one I own…But I’m not one of those old timers that were mentioned!!!..so ???..LOL…Hope you/we do find out…Purely for courosity’s sake…Mine if not yours…LOL
Panman:
I am a lefty that was converted to a righty, by my 6th Grade School Teacher, when we learn the “Palmer” style of writing, when we got to use fountain pens for the 1st time. Being a lefty, cause you to write over the wet ink on the paper, smearing the writing.
With the help of the teachers 18-inch ruler, across the back of my hand, I was quickly converted to being a right-handed writer.
Today I do most things right handed, yet I am still able to cast both right and left handed with ease. I also was a switch-pitcher in Fast Pitch Softball… ~Parnelli
I go back to tying without a vise and having to half hitch all of our flies as we tyed–then came the Thompson and now I still use my fingers and a Matarelli
Bill