Hi Guys,
I picked up two rods recently at a garage sale. both being damaged to degree's I really bought them for parts and the rod carriers actually.
Anyway after a little cleanup the first, marked Union Hardware, has me stumped. Its a 9ft 3/2, mid section has been shortened at the female ferrule by 3 1/2 inches and the female ferrule reset. The "used" tip section has been repaired at a shortened 2 1/8inchs from the tip and a replacement agate tip top installed. based on the original guide placements present and missing it carried a small 6mm agate striper just below the butt section female ferrule, two snakes on the mid section and four snakes plus tip top on the tip section. Pretty common makeup for alot of bamboo flyrods Ive seen. Now the unusual part at least for me. The NS reel seat says "MFG BY Union Hardware Company Torrington, Conn, USA", with a patient number of 1879795. Based on the patient number Im guessing turn of the Century or a bit after. However what stumps me is the fact this rod actually says it was manufactured by the Union Hardware Company, and I never knew they actually made fly rods, I always thought they labeled somebody elses? Even though several of the snakes are missing, the ferrules are nice and tight (all pinned) and the rod is really quite light, casting a modern WF6wt glass line easily and accurately. Bamboo has a pleasent dark color much like alot of the Sharps rods from the 40s and 50s and has no sets or any other problems, really nice. Much of the varnish is quite old and redish yellow now, thus the wraps appear to be old gold or copper with black tipping. Even removing one of the already damaged wraps didn't help identifying the actual wrap color.
I don't think this rod is awfully collectable, but it does cast well now at 8 1/2ft with a 6wt line, so does anyone have any idea what the original thread combination was? Im thinking of replacing the eyes, tip etc and turning it into a using fly rod. Did Union Hardware actually make fishing rods? an interesting $5 rod that feels good. Came in the LL Bean canvas and leather carrier with seperate tip caddy.
Second rod from the sale is a Mystery Rod, perhaps someone can recognize the work or name. ON the Signature Line it says "G.E.Evans", next flat "27?? 6th Ave Pueblo Colo 1948"
Based on the butt section being undamaged it was at least an 8 1/2ft 3/?. The mid section has been damaged and what appears to be a replacement female ferrule installed poorly. The tip section does not appear to be original, while the wraps match the bamboo quality is very poor for the tip section, almost looks like someone rewrapped one of those post WWII Japanese kit rod tips to fit the mid and butt. Butt section is solid, 6mm agate striper good. I bought it for the parts, I really like the well made reel seat, anyone recognize it? Mid section while shortened is still solid. Tip is a piece of junk. Set up with one stripper, two snakes on the mid and 3 snakes and tip top on the tip section. This one came with a smaller LL Bean leather carrier.
Anybody have any ideas about who this one was made by? looks like at one point it was a nice build.
Any information anyone can shed is much appricated, thanks,
Richard
I picked up two rods recently at a garage sale. both being damaged to degree's I really bought them for parts and the rod carriers actually.
Anyway after a little cleanup the first, marked Union Hardware, has me stumped. Its a 9ft 3/2, mid section has been shortened at the female ferrule by 3 1/2 inches and the female ferrule reset. The "used" tip section has been repaired at a shortened 2 1/8inchs from the tip and a replacement agate tip top installed. based on the original guide placements present and missing it carried a small 6mm agate striper just below the butt section female ferrule, two snakes on the mid section and four snakes plus tip top on the tip section. Pretty common makeup for alot of bamboo flyrods Ive seen. Now the unusual part at least for me. The NS reel seat says "MFG BY Union Hardware Company Torrington, Conn, USA", with a patient number of 1879795. Based on the patient number Im guessing turn of the Century or a bit after. However what stumps me is the fact this rod actually says it was manufactured by the Union Hardware Company, and I never knew they actually made fly rods, I always thought they labeled somebody elses? Even though several of the snakes are missing, the ferrules are nice and tight (all pinned) and the rod is really quite light, casting a modern WF6wt glass line easily and accurately. Bamboo has a pleasent dark color much like alot of the Sharps rods from the 40s and 50s and has no sets or any other problems, really nice. Much of the varnish is quite old and redish yellow now, thus the wraps appear to be old gold or copper with black tipping. Even removing one of the already damaged wraps didn't help identifying the actual wrap color.
I don't think this rod is awfully collectable, but it does cast well now at 8 1/2ft with a 6wt line, so does anyone have any idea what the original thread combination was? Im thinking of replacing the eyes, tip etc and turning it into a using fly rod. Did Union Hardware actually make fishing rods? an interesting $5 rod that feels good. Came in the LL Bean canvas and leather carrier with seperate tip caddy.
Second rod from the sale is a Mystery Rod, perhaps someone can recognize the work or name. ON the Signature Line it says "G.E.Evans", next flat "27?? 6th Ave Pueblo Colo 1948"
Based on the butt section being undamaged it was at least an 8 1/2ft 3/?. The mid section has been damaged and what appears to be a replacement female ferrule installed poorly. The tip section does not appear to be original, while the wraps match the bamboo quality is very poor for the tip section, almost looks like someone rewrapped one of those post WWII Japanese kit rod tips to fit the mid and butt. Butt section is solid, 6mm agate striper good. I bought it for the parts, I really like the well made reel seat, anyone recognize it? Mid section while shortened is still solid. Tip is a piece of junk. Set up with one stripper, two snakes on the mid and 3 snakes and tip top on the tip section. This one came with a smaller LL Bean leather carrier.
Anybody have any ideas about who this one was made by? looks like at one point it was a nice build.
Any information anyone can shed is much appricated, thanks,
Richard
