Hi All,
While we await the possibility of more definitive information on the source(s) of ABU Feralite blanks, I have some information related to the discussion above.
On the topic of Allan hardware, stamped on the reel seat shown above is “des.pat. 196517”, which is a US design patent number. I couldn’t find it at USPTO, but fortunately
Google has the document archived to a PDF download. The design patent is by Allan Manufacturing Company, Hicksville, NY applied for Jan. 22, 1962 and patented Oct. 8, 1963.
I was going to tell you I have a 2675 Garcia Conolon spinning rod circa 1970 assembled from a US-made Conolon blank in Canada by Huron Fishing Tackle, Inc. The "ALLAN" stamp on the line guides appears to be the same as on the reel seat pictured above. Allan Tackle Manufacturing, Hicksville, NY has a later patent for a line guide, different from the guides I have and the company name is slightly different. Anyway, that’s mooted by finding the actual design patent document (linked above).
Next, ABU's 1969 limitation, “for the time being, available in Scandinavia and Great Britain only” appears not to have held. See the
1971 Tight Lines catalog. (RealsReels.com does not have a 1970 catalog posted.)
Lastly, I don't know if this is specifically what's being referred to, but yes, Fenwick did change the decal for Feralite, to something like
FERALITE® (see “Unclassified” page 7 of 41 in my USPTO link above). I can’t speak to the years for that.
John