Frank Matarelli Fly Tying Tools

[quantum]

The Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club Foundation, a registered 501.3c, recently received a donation of numerous Frank Matarelli fly tying tools which are being offered as gifts for making a donation to the Foundation.

We have the following:

7 medium size whip finishers
4 bobbins
3 dubbing needles
1 bobbin threader

All are unused, mint conditions, and some come in the original manila envelope.

Suggested donation
Whip finisher $110
Bobbin $100
Dubbing needle $85
Bobbin threader $75

You will receive a letter from the Foundation recognizing your donation.

Nick Strelchuk

[RoosterHunter]

Do the whip finishers have the cutter on it

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Frank Matarelli had some of the first really nice fly-tying tools.


Standard bobbin came in two lengths and took standard thread spools.

He had a Midge bobbin that took small floss spools or a sewing machine thimble?

He had two whip fishers, one standard and one long.

Matarelli had a dubbing needle and bobbin threader.

Most shops bought them directly from Frank and later his son took over for a while.


In the last about 20 years everyone knocked off all Frank's tools.

One knock-off new size whip finisher was a really small one which was a good idea.


Now everyone has different makes of fly tying tools.


Jay, I think? someone actually cuts/grinds/files those cutters on the bottom of FM whip fishers.

[DLJeff]

Frank started filing a V shaped groove in the end of his whip finishers, leaving a razor edge that was used to cut the thread after whip finishing. I can't remember when exactly that was, sometime late 1990's/early 2000. He presented those "special" whip finishers to friends and fly tiers. It was cool to be given one of Frank's special whip finishers. Later I think you could buy them that way.

[quantum]

I will check and get back to you.

[quantum]

Chris Korich and Rouel from GGACC both knew Frank very well. I know what your talking about because the one I have has that feature. Let me check with Foundation to see.
Nick

[quantum]

I also have three different sizes and was led to believe that the smallest, midge size, was from FM. I'll check on that also.

[RoosterHunter]

I still have 3 of the midge bobbins and 24 sewing machine spools loaded with NYMO 0444 ( red ) thread. I also have a whip finisher with the cutter on the end that was giving to me at the San Mateo Fly Fishing show.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

You have to be at least 70 to be in this discussion?

Nymo thread was what all the large flies for Steelhead, salmon and saltwater were tied with in the 1960s and 1970s.

[Rich Morrison]

Walt Powell wrapped a lot of rods with Nymo size A over the years. A lot of guys see a bamboo rod and assume the wraps are silk. Not so with Walton.