Info needed on L.L. Bean Deluxe model

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TroutBum4wt.clarksclassicfl...	Info needed on L.L. Bean Deluxe model	Lead	[-]
Sport Posts: 1 (11/22/08 09:51:31) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Hello, I've finally joined your great forum after finding a nice looking, vintage fiberglass rod at a flea market in Branson, Mo. Any information on the history of the rod would be great. The only writing on the rod is: "L.L.Bean Deluxe" and this was in cursive script. "8 1/2" was on the other side. No other information was listed such as what line weight to use. The blanks are dark brown in color. It has a fullwells handle. Metal reel seat ( the spacer is green with red rings) The guides are small for a silk line and the ferrules are metal. I believe the rod was made by Phillipson. Not sure. When was this rod produced? Who was the maker? What line weight? Does it have a good reputation for fishing/casting performance? What's the general market value range on this rod know?
jgestar		#1	[-]
Posts: 2964 (11/22/08 10:08:51) ezOP Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	TroutBum, Welcome to the Fiberglass Flyrodders! Your rod has the characteristics of a Phillipson made rod, but some photos would certainly help. Particularly photos of the ferrules, grip, and a close up of the rod blank. Phillipson did make rods for LL Bean in the 50s and 60s. Is the rod blank painted? or can you see the weave of the fiberglass cloth? Most Phillipson rods made after 1960 had painted rod blanks. From your description, I'm guessing you have a 50s rod, which could be made on a plain brown glass blank or a later Eponite blank. The 8'6" Phillipson rods were 7 weights, maybe even an 8 weight depending on your preferences. With a reel big enough to balance the rod, you will have a nice outfit for throwing bass bugs with a slow easy casting stroke. A lot of guys on this board still love these rods. Tom
TroutBum4wt.clarksclassicfl...		#2	[-]
Sport Posts: 2 (11/22/08 10:18:14) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tom, You can see the weave of the fiberglass for sure. The dark brown almost looks like wood. I will try to get a photo(s) posted. What kind of thread was used to tie down the guides? I need to replace one. Thanks for the help!
TroutBum4wt.clarksclassicfl...	Photos	#3	[-]
Sport Posts: 3 (11/24/08 19:58:58) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I hope the photos work.
TroutBum4wt.clarksclassicfl...		#4	[-]
Sport Posts: 4 (11/24/08 20:06:05) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	[Edit: Linked to the bigger photos. Tom] Last Edited By: jgestar 11/24/08 20:49:22. Edited 1 times.
jgestar		#5	[-]
Posts: 2975 (11/24/08 20:56:39) ezOP Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Yes, that is definitely a Phillipson made rod. That reelseat is a telltale sign, as are the ferrules. The blank looks kinda like an Eponite blank to me. That would suggest it was made in the later 50s. From what I understand, the glass Phillipson rods were always wrapped with nylon thread. The LL Bean models were wrapped with black. Tom
TroutBum4wt.clarksclassicfl...		#6	[-]
Sport Posts: 5 (11/24/08 21:32:25) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Thanks Tom I paid $50 for her.
bassackwards		#7	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 305 (11/25/08 07:58:30) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	How can you tell the difference between eponite and trevarno?
JeffSod		#8	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 954 (11/25/08 10:50:58) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I'm no expert but I think you can tell by the color and weave of the glass.
bassackwards		#9	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 306 (11/25/08 11:47:29) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Is it lighter brown than trevarno with lighter splotches?
jgestar		#10	[-]
Posts: 2982 (11/25/08 13:31:49) ezOP Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Yes. The term "butterscotch swirl" came to mind the first time I saw an Eponite rod. I don't know what causes this because both Silaflex and Fenwick pressure cured their rods also, but those rods don't have that same uneven appearance. The photo below is the best I could find in my files. Tom
JeffSod		#11	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 955 (11/25/08 13:50:57) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Heres a couple more for reference-
TroutBum4wt.clarksclassicfl...		#12	[-]
Sport Posts: 6 (11/25/08 18:31:45) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I'm not sure I'm following. So, my rod is a dark-colored eponite fiberglass?
jgestar		#13	[-]
Posts: 2983 (11/25/08 19:50:23) ezOP Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Yes. With time and exposure to light, the phenolic resin in these rods darkens. The varnish tends to darken too. Occasionally a rod shows up that must have been stored in a closet most of the time. It looks like Jeff has one. When these rods were made, they were the state of the art fiberglass. Tom
TroutBum4wt.clarksclassicfl...		#14	[-]
Sport Posts: 7 (11/28/08 21:58:55) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tom, I just got the Johnson book on "Fiberglass Fly Rods." The L.L. Bean section was not much help, but the Phillipson chapter noted that the company "brougth out a new 1964 line of Scotchply rods called the Royal, DeLuxe and Master." Would this be my rod's series, versus the late 1950s rods? Did the company use the "DeLuxe" name more than once, or did L.L. Bean named their own Phillipson-made rods? The book also had an old advertisment with the "Deluxe Swamp Fox" and "Master." Both were 2-piece rods. My rod is a 3-piece. I'm just trying to figure out the rod's history. It's just fun. Thanks
jgestar		#15	[-]
Posts: 2998 (11/28/08 23:09:15) ezOP Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Careful, this history stuff turns into rod collecting. Then you're in big trouble! The Scotchply rods all had painted rod blanks. The glass/epoxy mixture used for those rods was a milky white. After 1962, there were very few Phillipson rods made on unpainted rod blanks. However, I think Phillipson did use the name DeLuxe for different rods at different times. LL Bean put their own names on their rods, but it appears all the rod building was done in the Phillipson shop. Eventually, the top LL Bean rods were called Double L. I would say from the unpainted Eponite looking blank, your rod is likely from the 1955 to 1960 timeframe. That cool red/green reelseat was also only seen in the 50s. Johnson's book is the best information source for the fiberglass fanatic. The Wiki is an attempt to fill in some of the gaps. Tom

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Info needed on L.L. Bean Deluxe model

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