1940s Wheatley Fly/Cast Box with 37 Trout Flies | Vintage Silmalloy Case with Latched Compartment

For the angler …  a vintage Richard Wheatley “Silmalloy” combined trout-fly and cast box, measuring 4-1/4” square and dating from the 1930s-1940s.  Fitted with two hinged clip plates holding 37 hand-tied trout flies and a separate front-latched compartment, the box also contains an Allcocks “Model Perfect” packet of eight size 14 hooks tied to 18-inch 4X nylon leaders. An authentic working Wheatley box with a varied selection of flies, it would make a memorable gift for the angler and a distinctive display piece in a gentleman’s study or lakeside cabin.

Wheatley introduced this combined trout-fly and cast-box form as early as 1908, designing it to carry flies on internal clips while storing coiled gut casts in a separate compartment. The flies in our example comprise a colorful assortment of mid-century wet flies, soft hackles, dry flies, and small attractor patterns tied with natural feather hackle, peacock herl, fur or wool bodies, floss, chenille, and metallic tinsel. The Allcocks packet postdates the box and suggests that it was used well into the 1960s.

Richard Wheatley was founded in Birmingham, England in 1860 and has produced metal fly boxes continuously for more than a century. Their lightweight aluminum Silmalloy boxes and patented compartment and clip systems have long been standard equipment for serious fly fishers in Britain and abroad, valued for their durability, corrosion resistance, and precise construction.

Dimensions (Closed): 4-3/8" x 4-1/4" x 15/16”
Weight: 5.5 ounces

Condition notes: Very good vintage condition overall. Aluminum alloy body remains structurally sound, showing scattered scratches, rub marks, and areas of discoloration consistent with age and field use, with no major dents, crushed corners, or structural distortion observed. Main lid and front compartment lid align properly, and both hinges and closures operate as intended. Two internal clip plates open and close smoothly and remain firmly secured. Interior shows light surface wear and age-related marks but remains generally clean. Bottom stamped “WHEATLEY SILMALLOY METAL.” Area near side hinge stamped “MADE IN ENGLAND” with company diamond trademark. Box contains 37 hand-tied trout flies in assorted sizes, colors, and patterns, with feather dressings, hackles, bodies, and hooks showing varying degrees of wear consistent with prior use and storage. Allcocks “Model Perfect” packet in front compartment remains very clean and shows only minor age-related wear to paper packaging. Other items in photos not included.

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