Miscellany
Foam
Richard Wheatley have used a number of different foams in the boxes :-
A box within a Silmalloy and small Made in England logo with a green hard ripple foam exists with a label saying "First Model Foam Never Produced"
Biscuit Foam a pale bown or tan foam resembles biscuits crumbs difficult to find in good order once the integrity of the surface has been lost.
Green Foam seems to be used for a short period in the compartment boxes.
"Polystrene" my name for the first white foam - on carefully examination has small lumps in it.
Early ethafoam which has a much more granular appearance
Modern foam also called ethafoam available in either bright white or black with flat, ripple, castellated or slotted appearance. Prototypes exist with modern foam in Silmalloy boxes
To re foam or not refoam..... if you want to use a box then remove the old foam and replace it if you wish.... however early Wheatley boxes are spoilt for the collector if the biscuit or green foam has been removed and replaced with modern bright white foam
Dating Wheatley boxes and use of the logos
Early Richard Wheatley boxes were unmarked. The lozenge logo was registtered as a trade mark in 1906 and may have only been used on cardboard cartons for some while after that.
England in Blue Ink or stamped onto the boxes plates was in use for boxes going to the USA after 1890 until 1921 when Made in England became the required term. This appeared stamped onto the fillet lip often along with a patent number and a Regd number.
The Lozenge was in use until after 1926 as the Hardy Security Clip (which was patented in 1926) boxes can be found with either the Lozenge logo or the Large Made in England.
The Silmalloy Trade Mark or logo was registered in 1935 and came into use some time after that and ceased use around 1982. It is found with either a Large or Small Made in England.
The Wheatley - Kilroy logo appears around 1935 and dissappears between 1968 and 1977
Lozenge logo
Large "Made in England
Small "Made in England" note that the lozenge is on it's side. In use from about 1966 until the middle of the 1980's
The Richard wheatley Museum
Rarity value is based on the simple system below
A - this boxes are either still available via Richard Wheatley, other fishing tackle dealers.
C- box is common & turns up regularly at vintage tackle dealers, fairs or auctions incl. ebay
S- this box is scare but turn up on occasions
R- this box is rare
RR- these are very rare
E - this is exceptional, extremely rare and few examples are known.
Remember Richard Wheatley Vintage Angling Equipment is worth what someone will pay and the contents of the box maybe worth more than the box
