As many of you know, from 1939 on the Granger Registered was the top-of-the-line rod by this maker. It featured the best cane, cork, fittings, accouterments and workmanship. The Registered sold for $100 and remains the "Holy Grail" for Granger collectors to this day. (See the Forum link to Mike and Kathy's Registry.) But before there was the Registered Grade, Granger's best rod for years was the Premier. Like the Registered, Premier rods were made from a single culm of bamboo and are clearly a step above the rest of the Granger line in overall quality. They were made to compete with the best cane rods of the day.
The 1937 Goodwin Granger catalog had this to say about the Premier grade rods: " THIS IS THE FINEST ROD we build. In quality of cane, perfection of workmanship and sheer beauty of appearance, we believe it is not excelled by any rod, regardless of price. Perfect balance, true action and maximum power per ounce of weight are as notable in this rod as is the beautiful natural golden brown color of the perfect cane from which it is made. ...Only the finest A-Grade Tonkin cane, specially selected, is used...from the time the cane is split until the rod is finished, the six pieces that make up each joint of the Granger Premier are never separated...If you want the finest rod made, your choice should be the Granger Premier."
I thought you might like seeing a few Granger Premier grade rods from the Second and Third Goodwin Granger eras and from the Wright & McGill years as well. Suffice it to say, at $55 to $75 each in the 1930's to 1950's, there never were very many Premiers made. Thus, next to the ultra-scarce Registered, any Granger Premier is a pretty rare rod.
10'0" Goodwin Granger Premier GP1062. Circa 1935. Note the large diameter, "fat cigar" grip used only on the early Third Model 10-footers. All later Premiers, interestingly enough, were wrapped simply in gold with no signature wrap or tipping. A plain, but elegant treatment.
9'0" Goodwin Granger Premier "Tournament" GP9052T. A very rare 5 1/2 oz. rod made in 1941 for casting competitions (dry fly accuracy event). Note the small slide band reel seat and the elliptical or "hammer handle" grip usually found only on the two-piece 7030's introduced the same year and designed to save unnecessary weight. A few wraps have been replaced due to the extreme stress of tournament casting and the rod received a light varnish overcoat. Granger Tournament rods were made only in the Premier and Favorite grades.
9'0" Wright & McGill Premier GP9050. One of the very last Granger Premiers made circa 1952. More 9050's were likely made (in all grades) than any other Granger taper. But any 9050 Premier is still very scarce.
8'0" Goodwin Granger Premier GP8040. One of a pair of rods made for a Kansas banker and his wife in 1939. This was her rod. His was a 9050 Granger Registered, which I also own. Note the special order extra signature wraps on the butt at 16, 18, 20 and 22" and used to measure fish. The grip is also very slim for a lady's hand and the grade and owner's signature were added at the Granger shop in ink before the rod was varnished.
7'6" Wright & McGill Premier GP7633. The smallest and lightest Premier ever made. This one's in EX++ condition with its original anodized
tube and bag. Note the exceptional quality of the cane and cork. Both are characteristic of Premier grade rods.
One final note--as some may know, there were also "Premier" labeled rods made in Granger's First Era (1918-1923). However, they were actually
predecessors of The Granger Rod and later DeLuxe grades and were wrapped similarly. I have examples in my collection, but to avoid confusion they are not
included in this grouping.
Best,
Flyman
