FLYMPH FORUM

One of Pete Hidy's important patterns was his Golden Olive Thorax Flymph.

I ordered some of the current Veniard Golden Olive Seal Substitute which turns out to be more green, without any gold. I'm looking into it.



The three scans on the left are in Pete's color sample archive, and the one on the right was ordered last week. The feather on the far left is from a Veniard dye chart in Pete's collection. Quite a difference. Veniard seems to be less respectful of its historic color charts than Pearsalls is of theirs.
I'll let you know what I find out. If anybody has any insights, please share.

Lance

Gingerdun, Howdy;

Show THEM what you just showed us...
Might get them thinking...

hank

Hank,
Veniard has been contacted, and I am awaiting their response.
They must think I'm a crank, writing about such an obscure subject.

Lance

Stick with it Lance, if the odd "crank" does not contact the big companies once in a while they will just do as they please. Somebody has to keep them honest!

Gingerdun, Howdy;

Lance, the "Devil is in the details". That's the message that the
'managers' need to remember, not just profit.

hank

gingerdun,

Consistency from batch to batch of any colored tying material can be a problem for any tyer, so we learn to buy the right shade we like when we see it. Veniard is also using a substitute product here for the real seal deal.

Given the handwriting on the Golden Olive dubbing Veniard seal package and coupled with the golden olive wool strand I think you may have a custom blend of Pete's dubbing rather than a straight factory product. As a tyer you are entering into your "Man Sewing" phase where you may haunt yarn and craft shops looking for the right material to make just the right dubbing. I suggest you get a dedicated coffee/dubbing mill for the tying room to blend your own custom colors out of various skeins of suitable materials-synthetics, wools, angora and countless critters both dyed and natural.

Lance ~ Watch your mailbox ...

My wife took my coffee grinder away from me - she got tired of spitting out the various furs from dead animals. Now I use the old "peanut butter jar and water shakey" method.
I'd tend to lean toward the handwriting on the package idea on this. But in general, I also subscribe to the squeeky wheel gets the grease crowd. If ya let 'em know we're out here, maybe they'll listen a little better.
Anyway, thanks for the great pictures and commentary.

Roadkill,

I hear you. However, I am not so sure about this being a custom color. Take a look at the official dye chart from 40 years ago. Yes, those are real feathers.



Also, all of Dad's old Veniard dubbing pouches had the colors written on by hand, and they are standard colors from the chart.

I have already commandeered our electric coffee grinder, contrary to my wife's warning to keep my hands off. The tiny appliance hadn't been used in 8 years, so I told her that if she decides she wants to resume grinding beans (unlikely), I'll get her a new one. Works great, and she has forgiven me.

I haven't tried tying with this seal substitute, but will do so soon. I also acquired it in Tups, Hot Orange, and (yikes!) Flourescent Orange. They are all pretty similar, but the Tups is the nicest. They should be good for mixing.

Lance

Lance, that is a neat old colour chart and will be a handy reference.
Our friend Ray has a mad scientist friend that makes and colours some wonderful materials, I wonder if he might be able to help you find/make a seal substitute in the correct colours you desire?