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Collecting ABU 101

See more Specific details of my Collection and others 

All hobbies involve sacrifice in terms of financial and time resources plus a good deal of luck in being in the right place at the right time or having many sets of helpful eyes looking out for the treasures you desire. Patience is a desirable attribute of the collector also!

Value/cost should be of little consequence if one is a passionate collector. Obviously financial limitations controls how many pieces and how often one can purchase. Ideally we would all be able to buy whatever we like whenever it appears. One of my big disappointments was to fail to buy an ABU Tournament rod/reel comb 5 or 6 years ago when offered to me for more than I could then afford. Unfortunately the money was not available and it went to another home and I have never seen one offered again. I do have a friend with one and one day I hope it may be sold to me.

Of paramount importance is to decide what is relevant to your ABU collection. Focus on a collecting a comprehensive sub-section of ABU to start with or maybe get a shallow but expansive approach before deciding on your real interest. Sadly mine is very extensive ie primarily anything ABU from 1940's to 1980's plus a few later exceptions like Morrums and Suveran reels.

There are many of us smitten with ABU to fish with as well as to collect. Whist my website has been in existence for 6 years, my Google website statistics over the last 30 months, indicate millions of page impressions but most importantly, nearly 45 000 different IP address hits . Many want information in order to sell inherited ABU fishing gear but I suggest there are 5 to 10 thousand of us hard core ABU collectors, scouring the world for what we consider to be prime examples of our ABU desires.

So the main points re collecting ABU are....

1. Collections are different

2. Collectors are different

3. Collections are never complete

4. Collections change over time, with different priorities taking over ie space requirements, financial changes

5. Collections change hands over time. Death of collectors is inevitable. Let's hope the amassed treasures are also treasured by a family member or they find good new homes. I hope my son will continue my passion with ABU and not merely see them as dollar signs!

6. Collectors often discover new previously undocumented facts . We have they are shared with the wider community of ABU collectors via websites such as this.

7. Collectors should have integrity and never seek to take advantage of someone new to the hobby. Unfortunately there are fakes/misinformation  on the market. I seek to make this site the most informative. Many years ago, information was jealously guarded by some but now more and more information is being generously shared to the benefit of all.

8. Collectors generally try to help each other. If a person is involved primarily to locate, repair or modify and then sell at a profit, then they are are a useful person to know and possibly purchase from,  but they cannot be considered a true collector! Some partially do this to help fund the acquisition  of items they could otherwise not afford. Personally, I buy where I can, quite often from eBay, having never sold there, but really try to trade/swap items without money changing hands.

9. For beginning collectors one will inevitably buy and often acquiring groups of items such a lures.  Before long doubles to your collection will be accumulated thus starting you on the road to being able to swap items to like minded collectors. Ask question where possible before commiting to buy unless sure of the items in question.

Sample ABU Collections

Most people would have heard of or used ABU Ambassadeur reels (1953 to current) the older record series of casting reels and this particular marque/model would be the starting point for collectors, though I do know collectors who have eyes only for the 1940's onward record casting reels or the closed face Abumatic series or the Half Encapsulated 500 series or the dinky little Pimple series and the types go on.... 

I know some who only collect paperwork associated with ABU, still others who collect Lures only.

For my mind it would be nice for a beginning collector to acquire some reels , a rod or two, a few lures, maybe some lines and a shirt/jacket badge. First and foremost I believe one should  have as many Catalogs as possible as they provide answers to most questions. These could be a sample from each decade or all in a particular decade one is interested in etc.

The very sick collectors will aspire to all of the above as well as Spare parts, Tools, Knives, Gaffs, Nets, Trophies, Record Fisken Fishing Award Pins, Posters and Jewelry.

This will be more than sufficient to fill any spare room in the house ...