The #5 Dry Fly Oil Bottle
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- The #5 Dry Fly Oil Bottle
This is, without question, my favorite item in my collection. The fit, finish and feel of the #5 is absolutely first rate …it’s just oozing with quality and character. Constructed entirely of brass, with the exception of the rubber seal and the pin back, the #5 is 2.75″ tall. The bottom the pin back and both side pieces are soldered on and the workmanship is impeccable …simply flawless. One thing is for certain, the maker of the #5 (Felix Balbo) was a very competent machinist.
Several factors contribute to the sensibility of its design. First, is the aforementioned pin back. Rather than having to search vest pockets for a bottle, the #5 can be pinned wherever it’s most convenient …and since it is stationary, spillage is less likely. The key to the success of the #5 is the operation of the cap. The cap is securely locked and opened by disengaging the latch and then flipping open the lid. Both actions are easily performed by a thumb. Opened, used, shut and no spills. Perfect.
So, why do I refer to this tackle treasure as the #5? Because the #5, presumably a serial number, is stamped on it in three places: on the lid, the latch and the side. I have been lucky enough to have seen three others in my 34 years of tackle collecting and the one with the highest number was #23. Given that, I’d imagine Balbo did not make many of them.
- The #5, Open And Ready For Use
- Note The #5 Stamped In Two Places: The Top And The Side
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