Company Profile

Over a century ago, Richard Wheatley set a standard of craftsmanship which has been maintained with pride by his sons and grandsons. Today the 'Wheatley Fly Box' is known and prized by fly fishermen throughout the world, tested and proved by their fathers and grandfathers.

Richard Wheatley, founder of the company, was born in 1827. At the age of 13 he went to work for a maker of pearl buttons. In 1844 he was apprenticed to a maker of pocket books and fly books, where he served a four year apprenticeship, after which he started his own business in 1860. During the early days, a 'fishing pocket book' was considered a fisherman's basic accessory. Normally they were made in leather with numerous pockets and parchment dividers.

In the 1880's Richard Wheatley's eldest son, also named Richard, was taken into partnership and during the same year the first fly clip was developed by Wheatleys to hold eyed flies. The original pattern was a single clip which was fastened in rows to a sheet of parchment, which was then placed in the bottom of a cardboard box covered in leather.

Around 1900 aluminium was introduced on a commercial scale and the Wheatley firm was among the first English manufacturers to use this new material. A special satin finish was developed, which is still used today, to distinguish the Wheatley Fly Box.

In 1908 the first aluminium compartment box was made. These early models were similar to today's models, except that the latches were not operated by springs, and the lids were not transparent. Within a few years, these improvements were made and the compartment boxes have not been altered since then.

Although the Wheatley factory has moved with the times and modernised in many aspects, most parts of the manufacturing process are carried out in the same way as they were many years ago. All the interior fittings are assembled by hand, since there is no way to automate this sort of precision. The new anodised and powder coated colours enhance the appearance of the boxes, in keeping with our traditional satin finish. The craftsmanship of yesterday is carried on today.