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| The Formation of DELKIM
(click photo for a bigger
picture) |
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    In
the late 1970’s, carp anglers DEL Romang and KIM
Donaldson put their names together to form DELKIM. The
business was initially formed to give Del & Kim
the credibility to obtain bait making ingredients and
flavourings for themselves, which at that time could
not be purchased from tackle shops. It is a little known
fact that Del & Kim played a major part in discovering
some famous early bait flavourings before they were
generally available including Cream, now known as Scopex,
Strawberry, Spice “B” etc. |
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| DELKIM Heron Conversions
(click photo for a bigger
picture) |
|
 At
the time bite alarms were in their infancy and those
electro-mechanical devices that were available were
not suitable for the rigours of carp fishing. The “Heron”
antenna alarm invented by Dick Walker in the 1950’s
was virtually the only bite alarm available and was
“state of the art” at that time, however it
had shortcomings and anglers had already attempted to
improve it in various ways. Del’s early DIY attempts
at incorporating electronics into the “Heron”
were being noticed by anglers at Darenth in Kent, which
was a famous carp fishery, even in the 1970’s.
Using LEDs, electronic circuitry and what were known
as “GPO” speakers, the DELKIM “Heron
Conversion” was born and made commercially available
via a service where anglers sent their own “Herons”
to DELKIM for conversion. This conversion service established
DELKIM in the bite alarm business. |
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| The First DELKIMS?
(click photo for a bigger
picture) |
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    In
1976 just before the name of DELKIM was formed, Del
made four sets of special hand made self contained antenna
bite alarms which he, Kim and his angling friends used
for many years. Del considers that these were the first
true DELKIMs and he still has his original set which
work to this day although they are no longer used in
anger. |
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| DELKIM Sacks and Slings
(click photo for
a bigger picture) |
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| |
   It
may surprise you to hear that at around the same time
DELKIM produced the first commercially available carp
retaining sacks and weighing slings for a few years
until the bite alarm side of the business took over
totally. Del’s late wife Bev used to run these
up on her domestic sewing machine on the dining room
table in between looking after Del and the kids. |
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| DELKIM Optonic Conversions
(click photo for a bigger picture) |
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   In
the early 1980’s the revolutionary “Optonic”
bite alarm had emerged which yet again had deficiencies
which anglers had identified and asked DELKIM to overcome.
The result was the now infamous DELKIM “Optonic”
conversion, which included ground breaking features
such as magnetic rotation sensing, mega low current
drain and above all reliability! This set the standard
against which all future electronic bite alarms would
be judged and firmly established the reputation and
name of DELKIM in the history of specialist tackle development.
Unfortunately due to legal problems the conversion of
“Optonics” ceased in 1986 but there are still
many of these almost vintage alarms being used today
which is testimony to their reliability. Because of
the uncertainty brought about by these legal difficulties
at that time, Kim Donaldson decided to part company
with DELKIM in a totally amicable arrangement with Del
Romang which still left them great friends. |
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| The DELKIM Vibration Revolution
(click photo for a bigger
picture) |
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| |
 Although
Del Romang had made a few hand made alarms of his own
over the years he had long dreamt of using his inventive
ideas to make his own bite alarms commercially rather
than improve other manufacturers products by conversion.
The idea for today’s DELKIM actually came to him
in a dream in 1983 when he woke up with a start in the
early hours and ran naked downstairs to run a piece
of fishing line across the stylus of his record deck
- remember vinyl? The resulting Patent Application invented
the DELKIM Vibration System which took nine years of
intensive development until 1992 for Del to perfect
and of which he is so justifiably proud. |
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| Acknowledgements |
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| Del’s first wife Bev, who was a
major part of the family business, sadly lost a 2 year
battle with cancer in 1998. Bev Romang attended many
tackle shows over the years and it was often mistakenly
assumed that her name was Kim, which used to cause much
hilarity and some considerable embarrassment to those
making the wrong assumption! Tragically Kim Donaldson
also died in May 2001 when without any warning he had
a brain haemorrhage whilst actually fishing for carp
– I am sure that is the way we would all prefer
to go - with our boots on! Their invaluable contribution
to the Company’s success lives on, not just in
the memories of families, friends, colleagues and business
associates, but also in the name of DELKIM. |
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| DELKIM - a True Family
Business (click
photo for a bigger picture) |
|
  Del
Romang is the Managing Director of Delkim Ltd and his
son Lee has been General Manager since 1998 although
he has been involved in the business for a lot longer.
Del remarried early in 2001 and his new wife Carol is
a Director and Company Secretary. The family will continue
to ensure that DELKIM remains at the forefront of technology
and innovation into the 21st Century. |
