Don't forget H.R. Sedgwick, who built , by most estimates, just a few hundred rods in Hartford in the 1920s and 30s.
This forum began as Clark's Classic Bamboo Rod Forum, founded by Clark Davis for all who share a passion for classic rods. The forum is now owned by Whitefish Press aka Dr. Todd Larson - banjo.
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History of small rodmaking shops
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 teter |
#41 | |||
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Posts: 833 02/07/2008 00:59 |
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pcg |
#42 | |||
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Posts: 1200 02/07/2008 13:55 Admin |
I agree with the Gnome. Eugene M. Edwards held a patent for hollow-building long before anyone else crafted such rods. During the course of the EW Edwards
research I've done, I tried in vain to find an EM Edwards rod in anyone's collection. Nothing. Yet I suspect he made rods for quite some time in his
small Catskills town.
There's also a fellow named Richard Durling, now older & retired, who lives in Nova Scotia & who made 100s of rods, mostly using Herter's blanks & components. I've handled a couple of his rods which tend to be heavy (& fast). He didn't sign his work, which for an aspiring rod maker, immediately lessens any chance they'll be avidly collected. I can put you in touch with him, if that would be helpful. Pat |
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jeffkn1 |
#43 | |||
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Posts: 1506 02/07/2008 15:39 |
Mentioned in Campbell's book was a contemporary of Leonard and Wheeler, Evan Gerrish. Well known amongst canoe historians as the man who perfected the
guide canoe of canvas over wood construction, he was listed as a rodmaker in 1880 and may have begun years before that. No one I have contacted has ever seen a
Gerrish rod. A news report mentioned a custom-ordered rod he made in his Bangor shop that was 10' long and "without joints", which I take to mean
ferrule-less but splice-jointed. I don't believe he had any disciples. In his later years his occupation was simply "farmer" so the rod making
was left behind. He hailed from Brownville, the hometown of F.E. Thomas (I think) and Herb Welch.
Ed Hoar of Rangeley was probably the critical link in the Rangeley rod makers lineage. His rods were usually combinations of either snakewood (which he called leopard wood) or lancewood butts and mids, with split bamboo tip sections. I have an old Rangeley store ledger from the 1880's that shows him buying lancewood and household goods while trading in snowshoes and fishing rods for credit. Of the two rods I've seen from him, one was lancewood throughout with Chubb-like furnishings and the other is a 9 ½' snakewood/split bamboo rod with handmade NS components. That one I own. |
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canerodscom |
#44 | |||
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Posts: 1566 02/07/2008 18:10 Bamboo preacher |
Thanks Lon, Pat, and Jeff,
Keep the names and information coming. If I had a dozen more blog entries like that of Dr. Todd on Thad Norris, my work would be easy. Harry
Harry Boyd
maker@canerods.com http://www.canerods.com |
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Serendipity |
#45 | |||
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Posts: 1080 02/08/2008 00:26 |
Check out Bob Selb's site he has a rod listed as follows: KENT - MAKER Rod marked "Kent", unknown rod maker. Rod also marked inside tab of case. 6 1/2' date 4-20-60 2 pc 2 tip 4 wt. Sroggered ferruled rod. Has Swiss style marked "Super Z" ferrules Fast Action Rod. Ferrules fit nice and tight. Wrapped in burgundy silks. Newer refinish job on rod. Cigar cork grip, down-locking aluminum reelseat with wood spacer. A very nice little small stream dry fly rod. In very good condition. Comes stored in square wood formed case, cloth covered. Harry, this is a very interesting thread. Before I read it, I was thinking about the demise of the large rod shop and wondering if we would ever again see makers like Maxwell, and Aroner, Moran, Morgan, Brackett, etc. who honed their skills in company shops? The large shop gave those makers visibility and name recognition.richard |
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Dustnstuff |
History of small rod makers | #46 | ||
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Posts: 232 02/08/2008 18:31 |
My research has been centered around the early makers from New England. It's nice to see this thread mention the many skilled craftsmen who make our
collections so interesting. I guess it's time to add my two cents worth with the name of Walter Scott Trumbull of Potter Place. New Hampshire. It was the
last stop on the RR out of Boston to the Lake Sunapee area. Mr. Trumbull make split bamboo for the many vacationers who came to the central New Hampshire
lakes from 1880 to 1907. The original stone building is still in use today. The nagging question that has evaded my search, is, WHO TAUGHT HIM THE TRADE?
Someday I will have to post the whole story. Dustnstuff |
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gt05254 |
#47 | |||
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Posts: 103 02/08/2008 19:52 |
A nice man who used to take me pheasant hunting as a boy was Miney (M.E.) Hull. I think he's mentioned in the Carmichael/Garrison book. He was a chemical
engineer by trade. I do see his rods for sale occasionally (no idea if he made enough to qualify for inclusion in this thread); Robert Selb has some for sale,
listed on both his site and and auction site he is listed as a principle of. A funny/sad but true story: at my father's funeral, Miney's widow was
there, and she knew I was, at that time, somewhat involved in the world of bamboo rods and such. She took me aside, and expressed some distress at how so many
of Miney's "friends" were coming out of the woodwork, to help her dispose of Miney's "inventory" - especially in light of the fact
that he worked with Pinky Gillum on glues - and what was she to think about all her new "friends". I gave her a little advice, probably worth what
she paid for it, and hope she made out alright.
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canerodscom |
#48 | |||
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Posts: 1567 02/08/2008 23:21 Bamboo preacher |
Kent, Trumbull, Hull, and they just keep on coming! Thanks Richard, dustnstuff, gt05254.
Dustnstuff, did you read Dr. Todd's articles on Thad Norris? I suppose it's possible that Trumbull read Norris' writings. If you have further information , I'd love to hear it. gt0..., sounds like Mrs. Hull might have suffered what many of our widows are likely to experience one of these days. I need to pick out a coupla friends (younger than me!) and tell my wife that if something happens to me, ask these guys and no one else to help her dispose of all this stuff hanging around the shop. Thanks, Harry
Harry Boyd
maker@canerods.com http://www.canerods.com |
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gt05254 |
#49 | |||
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Posts: 106 02/09/2008 18:54 |
You're right about saving your widows' from the onslaught of all your long lost friends in search of good bamboo.
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rainbowrich |
name on rods | #50 | ||
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Posts: 1 02/22/2009 21:11 |
Pat says rods not inscribed,heavy and fast action,this was true for the first 10 years when I made mostly 3 pc rods all from Herter`s tonkin cane blanks .
Since that time (18 years ago) all rods are inscribed ,Rods now are all lightweight and medium fast action
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weightforward |
#51 | |||
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Posts: 10 02/23/2009 08:54 |
Harry,
Are you talking about past or current rod makers, or both? Dave |
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canerodscom |
#52 | |||
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Posts: 2011 02/24/2009 17:55 Bamboo preacher |
Dave,
I'm thinking primarily of rod makers from yesteryear. As I said in the original post: "My theory is that there is a long, long tradition of garage craftsmen, small time rod makers, who have carried the craft along for over 100 years. But who are they? Where are their rods? For years, Herter's supplied them with forms, binders, components and the like. But to whom did Herter's sell? " I'm searching for those who learned from rodmaking books prior to publication of Garrison/Carmichael. Thanks Harry |
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bdcanefly |
#53 | |||
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Posts: 861 02/25/2009 13:25 |
Harry,
BDC
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canerodscom |
#54 | |||
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Posts: 2012 02/25/2009 13:45 Bamboo preacher |
Thanks John,
Brennan, or Brenan, or however we spell his name, is a great example of those I'm hoping to find. Harry |
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baunvivant |
#55 | |||
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Posts: 168 03/01/2009 02:43 |
Hi Harry,Am glad your still at this....can't wait to read the final product!I was doing some other reserach on Californians and fishing in the early 20th Century and found out some info that may be useful to you. Looks like Dr. Todd has some good info on Thad Norris and I look forward to reading Dr. Todd's article. You may already have this info but one of the things I came across is an article in a book called The American Angler (By Charles Bradford, 1917. It has a nice write up on Thad Norris. This is also a great publication with lots of fun fishing ads, photos and paintings for anyone interested in that kinda thing. You can find this book on google books. I found this article looking for info on a guy named Charles Van Horn. He was a noted Southern California fisherman and was briefly mentioned in Bradford's book. Evidently, Van Horn was a famous fisherman and, later, in his LA Times obit in 1925, he was mourned as a rod maker, fly tyer, etc. of some repute. Also, a 1911 LA Times article notes a rod maker by the name of Roy F.B. Shaver in relation to tuna fishing. My guess is these guys made surf or saltwater rods -- but I have no real evidence of that. Also, I cam across some info about a guy in Austrailia in the late 1800s who was noted as a fishing rod maker who also dabbled in the making of fine umbrellas and billiards sticks. This is probably way outside the scope but I can probably find the reference again. Best, Matt |
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canerodscom |
#56 | |||
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Posts: 2028 03/02/2009 20:40 Bamboo preacher |
Thanks Matt for the good information. I have read quite a little about Thad Norris. I wonder which makers after Thad were influenced by his writings?
Best, Harry |
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- Members Corner
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