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 pearow |
My 99c fly rod |
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Master Guide
Posts: 1176 (06/16/08 17:32:48) |
Bought this baby on ebay for 99c. These are "Before" pics as i plan to re-do this old rod. It appears to be made by shakespeare. Its a fine
casting 6 weight, though I think its really a five weight. Look at the blank and tell me if its not a shakespeare-p-
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OLD YANKEE |
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Master Guide
Posts: 24 (06/16/08 18:47:28) |
Hello
What a score with the shipping it is absolutely priceless. I hope you have fun !! I wish I had enough time to do such an invaluable restoration. It will look so nice with a Bellinger reel seat and some new N/S Ferrules. By the looks of it I wouldn't be surprised if Berkley made it. Tight Lines and Priceless Loops Andy M           
The Jury is in and by the look on there faces they are amazed.
'FISH AND VISITORS STINK AFTER 3 DAYS' " DON'T FORGET THE BACKBONE" " REMEMBER TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FISHERY"
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mdwwhw |
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Master Guide
Posts: 208 (06/16/08 20:03:28) |
I've a couple of Southbends with similarly colored blanks, kind of a light caramel/yellow. If there is foil under the spiral wraps, and the thread is a
medium brown D, I'd be even more suspicious that it's a South Bend.
Whatever it is, its fortunate to have fallen into your hands. We'll be waiting for the "afters". Hayden |
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Rockthief |
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Master Guide
Posts: 703 (06/16/08 20:49:40) |
My first thought was South Bend as well, but I am as much an expert on fly rods as I am on Tierra del Fuego.
That cork has lots of character, or something. |
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pearow |
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Master Guide
Posts: 1177 (06/16/08 21:45:36) |
good call; it has the foil under the medium brown wraps. I was looking at the wide spirals in the blank. Did south bend have those spirals visable.
And yes, i know the rod will be as worthless when i finish, some people like me just have no "higher calling" (I retired.) Barry Evans made me this way; he always says, "I spent most of my life drinking whiskey and chasing women; the remainder of it I just wasted"-p- |
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Rockthief |
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Master Guide
Posts: 704 (06/16/08 22:04:50) |
I want to know this Barry Evans fellow. His priorities are right on.
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whrlpool |
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Master Guide
Posts: 511 (06/17/08 03:37:13) |
Very savy, pearow, very shrewd. You know, by the mid-60's on (we know the rod is from that time or later because it uses the then-new AFTMA numerical line
designation), a maker had a hard time to not produce a decent blank in the more or less standard configurations of the day. It may not be exceptional in any
way, but that rod is going to work for you, whether refinished fancy or utilitarian. No matter the trim level, I know you'll turn it out spiffy. I'm
guessing that rod is from the 70s, since by that time most makers weren't marking them with both the old letter designation and the numerical. I recognize
the reel seat as identical to one on the Montague I had, but that's not much of a clue since that simple seat was probably widely available and used in the
trade. When new enthusiasts in fiberglass or rod building and restoration run across stuff like that at a garage sale, lay down some change and have fun.
Andy's comment below got me thinking--although I can't say for sure, Berkely does seem a possibility. My brother has a Berkely Buccaneer I helped him pick out as his first fly rod about 1970. I think we bought it at a Two Guys (remember that discount chain?). It's quite a good all around 6-weight. These days he's just a golfer and occasional pier fisherman, but he won't let me have that rod. It wouldn't even need a rebuild, although it could be improved in appearance and function with slightly higher grade components and a couple more guides.
Last Edited By: whrlpool
06/17/08 06:04:37.
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OLD YANKEE |
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Master Guide
Posts: 25 (06/17/08 03:59:47) |
Hello
As long as you have fun with it that's all that counts. You already said that it's a caster and if it handles a 5 weight it should turn out to be a nice rod. It honestly looks like an early Berkley to me with that yellow paint over the seemingly light Amber colored blank. I was poking fun at the project but if you post My 99 cent rod you have to expect that. My comments were in fun no need to be defensive . I have a Berkley Buccaneer 5 PC pack spinning rod that I found on the side of the road. When I get some time next winter I plan on turning it into a fly rod. I like to do basket case retro re builds it's fun and in a strange way very rewarding. Seriously have fun with it and I know it will turnout great. Tight Lines and Fun Loops Andy M
'FISH AND VISITORS STINK AFTER 3 DAYS' " DON'T FORGET THE BACKBONE" " REMEMBER TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FISHERY"
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mdwwhw |
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Master Guide
Posts: 209 (06/17/08 07:30:04) |
Well now no, the Southbend's don't have the wide spirals visible in the blank, well, at least mine don't (sample of two). Andy's seen way more
rods than I ever will so I'd ride with his judgement until better info comes along.
I've gotten some usable rods in similar circumstances (in fact, one of the Southbends) and when they cast well have no problem handing them off to some kid who may value it far more than we ever will. Hayden |
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pearow |
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Master Guide
Posts: 1178 (06/17/08 07:35:19) |
no offense taken Andy; in fact, what got me interested in this stuff was a tutorial you put on site sometime in the past concerning a re-do of an old solid
fiberglass Panfish "Daisy" I believe they are called. Anyway, good tutorial. Everything I know about re-doing old rods i learned on this site from
fellow members. I spend a lot of time re-doing worthless rods; its an inexpensive way to learn plus its enjoyable and a rewarding "hobby". I get a
little better every time I do one.
I am having a hard time removing the old foil that was under the wraps; anyone have any suggestions?-p- |
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OLD YANKEE |
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Master Guide
Posts: 26 (06/17/08 09:42:43) |
Hello
Is the finish Paint or a Plastic like coating ?. If it's the later then its more than likely a Berkley. How deep are you going do you plan to remove the finish ? One of the members had a Berkley and striped the blank and sanded it it came out like a jewel. He also purchased one in poor shape from me to do a remake. I would strip the blank under the grip and reel seat to see how the blank looks. If it's that Amber colored blank I would consider stripping the entire finish and giving it a light sanding. I have a bundle of odd ball fiberglass rods all made from basket case blanks and most of them were spinning or casting rods in a former life. I have this one rod made from an old CB antenna I let people cast it,Then I tell them it's and old antenna the look on their faces is priceless. Tight Lines and Basket Case Loops Andy M
'FISH AND VISITORS STINK AFTER 3 DAYS' " DON'T FORGET THE BACKBONE" " REMEMBER TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FISHERY"
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 jgestar |
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Posts: 2380 (06/17/08 11:54:13) ezOP |
"I have this one rod made from an old CB antenna I let people cast it,Then I tell them it's and old antenna the look on their faces is priceless." That's hysterical! Tom |
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pearow |
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Master Guide
Posts: 1179 (06/17/08 11:56:32) |
the finish must be plastic-like as the citrus strip has no affect on it whatsoever; after i took the grip off i saturated the area with citrus strip, waited
for 30 minutes and nothing happened. i think the only way the color will/can be removed is by scraping with a razor blade. I may not want to put out the labor
necessary for that job-p-
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AnglingBooks.clarksclassicfl... |
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Registered Member
Posts: 1 (06/17/08 13:28:31) |
I personally think you overpaid!
Has anyone mentioned Eagle Claw?? Thanx, Robert |
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mdwwhw |
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Master Guide
Posts: 210 (06/17/08 13:40:11) |
When I citrus stripped the Southbend, there was varnish on the blank and it bubbled up quite nicely. So probably not Southbend. I had to heat the foil up on
mine to get it off, then work a corner loose with a knife and pull with needlenose pliers.
Oh yeah, your 99 cent rod has created 14 replies and some interesting discussion (CB antennaes?). The high end rods rarely get that much discussion going!!
Last Edited By: mdwwhw
06/17/08 13:42:58.
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majicwrench |
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Master Guide
Posts: 786 (06/17/08 22:07:59) |
P,
I have a bunch of SBs and none have that spriral look to the blank. An early 70's Berkley on the wall above me has the spiral look like yours, and an old 5pc Bucaneer, spin/fly that I turned into a fly rods years ago (Andy, great minds think alike) which is also here beside me, does have the spiral marks, but much less defined than yours. Reel seat does not look like any Berkley I have. Shakespeares generally are a bit heavier blank, so weight might be a clue. The mystery continues... Keith |
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Rockthief |
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Master Guide
Posts: 711 (06/18/08 20:49:13) |
my second thought was EC, also. Something way in my past looked like that, but way in my past.
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pearow |
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Master Guide
Posts: 1180 (06/18/08 22:01:51) |
I have re-done a Buccaneer and a berkley Spartan; same coloration but the citrus strip immediately made the paint lift off; I have re-done the EC; same thing;I
re-did a yello fenwick for bud(it had no spirals) but the citrus strip had no effect on the paint because it was encased in epoxy; i had to scrape it off with
a razor blade; this finish is some kind of plastic; don't believe its epoxy but the citrus strip has no effect, even when left on for a couple of hours.
However, it cleaned up well and i am adding 3-4 coats of true-oil to give it some luster; another oddity; there were no shadowing where the wraps were!??; The
mystery continues-p-
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NevadaK |
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Master Guide
Posts: 200 (06/19/08 11:37:46) |
Well now,
I don't have near the expertise on fly rods as the membership of the forum, but I spent a few minutes trying to research who supplied Montgomery Wards and I came up with the following names on a regular basis: Montague, Heddon (I think mjostly pre-war) and Wright McGill. The font on the rod looks like some I've seen on some Heddon rods but it could also be Monkey Wards standard. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't an epoxy paint or clear coat. I had a quite a few spinning rods back then and I remember that several had that kind of finish. Maybe it helps, maybe it don't. K Ok, I went back and tried to double check the font. I'm pretty sure I've seen it on Heddon rods, but I couldn't find anything matching it, but I know I've seen that font on some yellow rod blanks of that era.
Last Edited By: NevadaK
06/19/08 12:29:34.
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Rockthief |
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Master Guide
Posts: 714 (06/19/08 13:23:16) |
Rockthief wrote: I remember that it was about 1974 and it was a spinning rod, steelhead size. It was a least a close cousin to the rod in question, but the rod is long
gone so I cannot check anything. Wish I stll had it to rebuild into a fly rod. That sucker would bend into the cork. I love it.
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pearow |
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Master Guide
Posts: 1182 (06/22/08 06:57:29) |
Okay; here's the "after" pics. I apologize for the poor pics, but probably good enough for this application. The rod reelseat was cut off and
an extension glued in its place; reelseat is black aluminum uplock into a hooded full wells cork grip. Grip was cheap cork so it was "pimped by sanding
in miniwax colonial maple stain with 220,500, then 1000 grit sanpaper, finished with a coat of true-oil. Rod itself was cleaned with alcohol, then 4 coats of
true-oil was rubbed into the epoxy painted surface to hide the scratches and imperfections with a little gloss. wraps were orange gudebrod tipped with black
on the butt section; no tipping on the tip section; tip top was not disturbed but was buffed; ferrules were cleaned and buffed, and wrapped with orange thread
to hide their rude appearance. Wraps were finished with 3 coats of spar varnish. probably one more will be added.Not a collectible, but probably can be
fished with only a few snickers from the onlookers. Rod looks like a good deal for "JUST A BUCK"
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