Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (Pocono) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:56:27 GMT

Thanks mdwwhw. I agree with the winding similarity with Actionrod and I know that all of Ward's rods were outsourced to OEM blank and finished rod producers. It would be great for me to be able to find out what company actually made the blank, but that's probably an order of magnitude more difficult than what I'm trying to do now.

Another update - but no real progress.

I've now sourced the 1957 and 1958 Ward's Sporting catalogs and have found that at...

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (mdwwhw) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:06:18 GMT

Pocono, a tremendous find to have that rod. Montgomery Wards outsourced for its sporting goods, I've a couple of Ocean City 76's labeled for Hawthorne and one pretty sure Southbend rod.

The winding check looks very similar to a couple of Action Rods I have, one fly and one spinning. Just thought I'd mention it.

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (Pocono) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:34:16 GMT

Lost the 1959 catalog this afternoon while at work - but the hunt continues, unabated.

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (borumas) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:48:20 GMT

Thanks for the updates, it may be an economical rod but the memories of using it make it priceless.

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (Pocono) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:10:38 GMT

Another update. Feeling that I needed to go back a little further than 1960 to actually find my first rod, I now have the Ward's 1954 and 1956 catalogs. In these catalogs the rods and reels go by the name "SportKing", whereas in the 1960 catalog they're labelled "Hawthorne". So, I'm going forward again from 1956. 1959 catalog now in sight. It's a long and slow process for an inexpensive rod, but I'm keeping at it, because I want the answer.

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (Pocono) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 06:38:53 GMT

Here's an update on my sleuthing around to ID my first rod. It's not complete, but it's a nice second step in the process; following Kevin's (uppercreek) initial link from the brand name Hawthorne to Montgomery Wards.

In the 1960 catalog I find two "Economical" Hawthorne Fly Rods; one for $4.79 and the other for $6.45. One of them has the words "Composition cork handle provides a snug grip." and "Aluminum fly rod reel seat with lock...

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (Pocono) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:48:45 GMT

Thanks Eagleman43. I just purchased the 1960 and 1961 Wards Sporting catalogs on ebay. I have my fingers crossed that they may lead to a positive ID. But, as several of the board members have intimated, in the overall scheme of things, it's much more important that I have my first ly rod than that I'm able to ID is precisely. I know this; I'm just detail-oriented and would like to get the complete story.

But regardless, when Spring comes around, it will be the first...

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (Tricky16) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:14:40 GMT

I can't think of a more valuable rod to you sir!

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (eagleman43) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:23:34 GMT

"Does anyone have a catalog circa 1960; probably in the 1958-1962 span"

Check eBay. There are several in that era under books-Montgomery Ward.
Just a thought.

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (Pocono) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:51:46 GMT

Kevin,

That's an excellent suggestion. My parents (and grandparents) used to do quite a bit of shopping at Montgomery Wards! Does anyone have a catalog circa 1960; probably in the 1958-1962 span? If so, please let me know.

In the meantime, I've already started my parents on the "hunt for the reel". I t must be up in the attic someplace; as they never throw anything out.

Thanks for that suggestion. "Hawthorne" was what kept coming...

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (Cameron) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:56:18 GMT

Pocono...what a great "first fly rod" and neat that it is in your hands again. Can't wait to see it go fishing.

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (uppercreek) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:45:46 GMT

Could it have come from Montgomery Ward? I think "Hawthorne" was a brand on some of their fishing reels. Somebody have a catalog?

Kevin

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (Pocono) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:37:37 GMT

Thanks for the feedback.

Tom, I guess the possibility does exist that the sporting goods store where this rod was purchased did source this rod from a local rod builder. I'll see if I can get some further information on that.

Mojo, Yes, the rod will definitely be fished; as soon as I can get a good day to go to the stream. I've casted it on snow in the front yard and it handles a DT6F line on a 1495 Pflueger Medalist very well. It gets the fly out there easily...

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (majicwrench) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:01:54 GMT

H-I (and thus Abbey & Imbrie) made a solid glass fly rod that was 6'9" that had 4 snakes no stripper, looked very much like yours, although I have not seen one with the cork like yours. I have seen them labeled with many diff brand names, but all of them are 6'9" and solid glass. Is yours really 7'1"??
Anyway, what a great find. I'll bet the Medalist balances it fine.
Keith

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (turtledoc) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:14:29 GMT

Priceless story...and priceless rod.... it made me smile too

Congrats on being reunited with your long lost (or stored in this case) first fly rod !

Mark B

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (Mojorizing) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:45:12 GMT

I'd say it's priceless. But are you going to fish it? I'm kind of hoping you do. I wish I had my first fly rod.

Get some mojo on that grip.

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (Spencer DT) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:42:51 GMT

I have no idea but for some reason I like the looks of that rod... It must feel really good to have your first rod back in your hands again after that long search you did trying to find a replacement. I don't think you would have ever found that rod on the open market, I have never seen a rod like that. One of a kind? It is priceless.

Re: Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (jgestar) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:51:06 GMT

Pocono,

That rod doesn't look in the least bit familiar to me. I would guess it was made and wrapped for the sporting goods store by a local rod builder. The ferrules appear to be chrome plated brass. The reelseat is a pretty common design from the early 60s that was used on a lot of rods. The grip is unusual for the day, but not unknown, and it was typically found on inexpensive rods. None of the components are extraordinary. I have no idea what the label stands for,...

Worth a Little / Worth a Lot

feeds@yuku.com (Pocono) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:09:30 GMT

Back on August 16th, I posted a topic to the board asking: Was there ever a fly rod like this or am I just imagining it? I was in search of the first fly rod that I had when I was a child of about 10 years.

Well, Christmas came early for me this year; and it was a good one!

I was at my parent's house up on the Northshore of MA when the conversation turned to skiing. That took us on a trip down memory lane and that led to bets as to whether or not my mother's...