Denverod

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Jake Leachman	Denverod		Lead	[-]
Posts: 1 09/02/2007 13:23	Tags : denverod Hello! A long time friend left me this Johnson Rod Company "Denverod". He was very proud of it, and to my knowledge it was used only once. I would like to know if it is something worth using on occasion, or listing on my home insurance policy. Here are the details: The rod is 3 piece 9' in length with a second matching tip, it has no visible dings (adding credit to the only used once story), 8 eyelits some with as much as 7 different wrapping color wrappings per eyelit, it has original cloth and tube with the label shown below on the tube. No markings on the real seat. Markings on the rod label read, "JOHNSON'S DENVEROD GENUINE TONKIN" then printed on the opposite side of the rod from the label reads "KINGFISHER 8104". The tube label reads, "THIS CASE CONTAINS A GENUINE "DENVEROD" A PRODUCT OF jOHNSON ROD CO., INC. 3472 W. COLFAX AVE. DENVER 4, COLO." with "KINGFISHER" stamped at the top. Hope these pictures help. Anybody have any ideas? Thanks, Jake Leachman
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bobbeegee		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1058 09/02/2007 13:55	I think your rod was built by George Johnson, an associate of Fred Debell of Denver. The address you quote was his. I wouldn't think Mr. Johnson built too many rods on his own, and would probably be classified as an amateur builder. Or, this rod could be a trade rod built by Montague. The Kingfisher was a trade name used for rods they supplied to the E.K. Tryon Co. I really don't know, but I would suspect it would have been built by Mr. Johnson or Montague. As to value, I would suggest that you might get $200.00, possibly more, if for sale. If it were mine, I would probably just keep it. It appears to be in very good to excellent condition, as stated, and is a fine keepsake from a friend! My humble opinion! Bob
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tiethefly		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 861 09/04/2007 22:48	I agree... full decal and a fine example of Colorado cane. "So I will arise and go now, to meet you there early and I hope , often." Arnold Gingrich "The Joys of Trout"
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Gnome		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1372 09/05/2007 09:01 King of the Gnomes	My Denverod, Pikes Peak model rod by Johnson has a 6 figure serial number with it being in the 900,000 range (905485) and I have always wondered about how large the production of the Johnson rod company was. That rod is pictured on page #284 of my book *Rod Crafting* Cheers Jeff P.S. nice old stick and almost too clean to fish
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Titelines		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1123 09/05/2007 11:04 Admin	Gnome wrote: My Denverod, Pikes Peak model rod by Johnson has a 6 figure serial number with it being in the 900,000 range (905485) and I have always wondered about how large the production of the Johnson rod company was. That rod is pictured on page #284 of my book *Rod Crafting* Cheers Jeff Sheesh. With that big a serial number, I guess you could call it "The Big Johnson..." Mark
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Gnome		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1373 09/05/2007 21:31 King of the Gnomes	Sandy Mite, Can you explain what the number means? I would like to know. Jeff Mark, The Pikes Peak is definitly a "Big Johnson"
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Jake Leachman		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2 09/06/2007 15:58	Hey Everyone, Thanks for the help. I won't be fishing with it anytime soon. I'm assuming the 8104 marked on mine is the serial number? Were the Johnson's advertised for mail-order purposes? My friend never talked of traveling to Colorado and lived in Idaho his entire life, leading me to wonder how it ended up in Idaho. Jake
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Jake Leachman		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3 09/06/2007 16:00	Oh and anybody have a guess when it could have been made? Jake
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bobbeegee		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1073 09/06/2007 19:02	Late forties, early fifties?
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Gnome		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1375 09/08/2007 09:13 King of the Gnomes	Sandy mite, Mine is a 9'er 3/1 The Johnson rod co was only in business for a few years in the early 1950's and did not go back as far as the 40's Jeff
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bobbeegee		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1079 09/08/2007 11:29	Gnome wrote: Sandy mite, Mine is a 9'er 3/1 The Johnson rod co was only in business for a few years in the early 1950's and did not go back as far as the 40's Jeff Gnome, I based my reply on Sinclair and Spurr's Colorado Classic Cane page 144, as reads, "Among those associated with Fred (DeBell) who tried their hand at building rods were John Cramer, George Johnson, who operated Johnson Fishing Rod Company, at 3472 West Colfax in Denver during 1948 and 1949.......... Bob
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ASD145	More to the Story	#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1 02/01/2008 19:44	OK, this is what I know about the Denverod story, specifically who was Johnson. Johnson was Ellsworth E. Johnson of Denver. He was my grandfather. After I saw the posts I called my mother, his daughter and asked her for some info. The W.Colfax address was where he made the rods. My mother remembers going there and working on rods as a girl. She didn't know the name Debell but said she thought her father had a partner. We have a few rods spread around the family and when Ellsworth passed away I ended up with his rod which he signed before finishing. I'm told we also have a barrels full of unfinished rods and my mother tells me she knows how to finish them because of the number she built when she was younger. I can't vouch for the story because it's only what I remember my grandfather telling me and my mother confirming. I'm always interested in learning more and with some of the information from this string I have a few more things to chase around. Last Edited By: ASD145 02/01/2008 19:48. Edited 1 time.
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greendrake ll		#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 555 02/02/2008 09:38	ASD, Most rodmakers kept ledgers.Ask your Mom if your Grandfather kept a ledger and if she knows what happened to it.If one still exists and can be located maybe questions could be answered that would help historians like the Gnome fill in the blanks on missing rodmakers history.
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bluejayee		#13	[url]	[-]
Posts: 363 02/09/2008 14:35	Hi Guys, Barrels of rods? Jay Edwards
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Me n MeDog		#14	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1 03/15/2009 16:22	the rod 905485 is 9'.05" long. built in 1948, may. production numbers were in the low 4 digit's and were mailed all over the world my good friend is Don, Ellsworth's son. he worked with his dad on and off from 48 to 52. DeBell purchased the production equipment after his death. for more info contact Don at thndrmtn@webtv.net, i asked Don about the ledger, he had it for years but now its long gone...
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