F. E. Thomas early numbering system

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (cwfly) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:16:39 GMT

Thanks to you all. Any chance you could add a bit more detail about the reel seats and intermediates?
Thanks, Charlie

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (Soft Hackle) — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 14:36:04 GMT

I have a 7'6" 2pc. Special with a G on the buttcap, below which is 16 and a backwards 3 if read directly under the G, or 39 and an upside down 1 if read over the G. Obviously an encrypted code for security purposes initiated during the McCarthey era.

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (andre49) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 20:32:07 GMT

I have a 8 ft Special with 446 on the butt cap. If what's above is correct it would be a pre 38(yuear) rod.

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (bamboocollector11) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:30:56 GMT

Here are 4 more:
10' 3/2 Dirigo - no numbers
9' 3/2 Special - no numbers
8 1/2' 3/2 Special - 8
9' 3/3 Brown Tone - H8

Ed

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (cwfly) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 10:05:41 GMT

Short Tip and Banjo,
Thanks to you both. When I think I see a pattern, then something gets in the way.
Merry Christmas to all,
Charlie

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (fishnbanjo) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:12:31 GMT

All the one's I've seen, or owned, that have the same number, i.e. 8, 6 or whatever have the same band be it a slider or screw.

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (Short Tip) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:26:44 GMT

I've always thoght the early numbers are saying something about the rod itself, but I have no idea what. Here's a few more -

7'6" 3pc marked "Wm. Read & Sons, Boston F.E. Thomas Maker" It's an early fairy style rod, small grip, C&R with cedar spacer, has all Special hardware but the earlier drawn, cut and soldered male ferrules.No hook keeper. Full intermediates, snake stripper. Has the numeral 8 stamped on the buttcap.

7'9"...

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (cwfly) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:53:45 GMT

This is a consolidated list of the above with some additions from the 11/07 Lang's catalog (with lot number noted).

Based solely upon this small sample, the low numbers tell me that the rods...

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (cwfly) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:46:58 GMT

Matt,
Thanks for the additions to the list. I have a couple of recent Lang's catalogs I will try
and go through over the weekend. I remain surprised at how low the numbers generally seem to run which
would argue against an annual sequential numbering system.
Charlie

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (Sal Fontinalis) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:19:16 GMT

7'6" 3/2 Special - no number stamping only a bullseye, no HK, cedar with a sliding band, cigar, red and black wraps with intermediates, not blued

7'6" 3/2 Brown Tone - "4", HK, cedar(?) with a sliding band, cigar, red wraps, intermediates, blued, long tang tip tops

8' 3/2 Special - "30", HK, all cork grip with a sliding band, cigar, gold wraps, intermediates, not blued, long tang tip tops

8' 3/2 Special -...

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (Sal Fontinalis) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:45:19 GMT

Charlie, thanks for heading up the effort. I'll post some more info tonight or tomorrow. I think most of my rods are pre-1937.

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (cwfly) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:33:28 GMT

Thank you all for posting suggestions and numbers with descriptions.
So far, I see no pattern developing to suggest the numbers relate to the style of the rods.
Charlie

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (baunvivant) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:47:25 GMT

Gosh, I think mine is numbered 50. Its an 8' Dirigo. It is being restored by Dwight Lyons so I can't double check.

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (rocketman) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:23:48 GMT

This is from a post I made on this subject before the forum was switched over to Yuku

An update on the significance of the stampings in the butt cap of the Thomas rods. I have three Thomas Browntones (1) 7'6", 3 piece stamped with the number 35, (2) 8'0", 2 piece stamped with number H244 and (3) 8'6", 3 piece stamped with number dot130. I corresponded with Marty Keane about the meaning of the symbols and...

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (pvansch1) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:56:25 GMT

Mine is a Special 8'6" 3/2 with Olive wraps tipped gold.
All cork grip and reel seat with down locking sliding band, no bluing, no intermediates.
The number on the end of the butt cap I'm going to say is a 6 as it has a dot below the closed loop like you would write a 6 .
Medium actioned using a Thebault DT4 silk.

Re: F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (firehole) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:22:31 GMT

G-67 8' 2/2 5wt. Browntone all cork w/sliding band , blued hardware ,with original labeled tube and green bag w/hanging tag marked BT Dry Fly G-67-67th rod made in the year 1949(approximate date).

Dennis

F. E. Thomas early numbering system

feeds@yuku.com (cwfly) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:41:56 GMT

I am interested in the early numbering system for F. E. Thomas rods - that is, the rods that often have intermediates and only a number on the bottom of the buttcap with no letters. I am aware of two views of what these numbers mean (of course, there may be many other ideas I simply haven't heard about). One theory is that the number signifies in what order the rod was produced during a...