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Rare Black Glass Float Found By Barb Aue
Norm Tyler went beachcombing early on December 21st and discovered what will most likely be a once in a lifetime find a 10 inch diameter fishing float that was handblown from jet black glass. He made the discovery walking just north of the Grayland Beach approach at dawn's early light. Barnacle encrusted, the float appeared to be made of dark glass, but Tyler had no idea just how dark until he spent two days cleaning it up. Even when held up to a bright light, the orb is solid black. The magnificent find has no special markings and thus far, searches through beachcombers' "bibles" haven't given much of a clue as to where the float may have originated, or just how rare it might be.
Norm and his wife, Rickie, who live in Woodinville, come to their beach retreat in Grayland very regularly, and always spend the Christmas holidays here. On this year's Christmas trip, granddaughter Rickie Moynihan, who proudly says she's 5 and 2/3 years old, found a large float, thought to be some sort of a long line bladder, just south of the Grayland Beach approach. It measures just under 4 feet in height and is a real challenge for Rickie to hold.
While this is the first glass float Norm has found in 40 years, he comes by the talent naturally. Born and raised on the South Beach, he says he found lots of Japanese floats in the 1950's. "When I was a kid we used to go out and find hundreds of them. We sold them for spending money," he added. Norm left the Beach at the age of 18 to join the service and came "home" again when he and his wife bought a cabin in Grayland several years ago.
If we're lucky, perhaps we can get a look at Norm's rare find at next spring's Driftwood Show. In the meantime, happy hunting, beachcombers!
Barb Aue SOUTH BEACH Bulletin Photo
Norm Tyler found this jet black glass fishing float on December 21st in Grayland. Extremely rare, few floats like it have been found. One longtime collector and dealer believes the black floats are fairly new.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO BARB FOR PROVIDING THESE! |
