Recent Restorations

"Your restoration of my father's split bamboo rods was truly remarkable." D. Panchot, Hartstene Island, WA

1930's EW Edwards Sons Mt.Carmel fly rod, 9 ft (completed 3-23)

Having several examples of the rod model in restoration is a wonderful situation. Comparing these examples helps distinguish original wraps from re-wraps, establishes correct original guide type & spacing, & informs selection of color preserver & varnish. All three Mt.Carmel's are from the same period at Horton (1931-1937), when Gene & Bill Edwards continued to craft beautifully built Edwards rods.

This venerable Edwards fly rod had seen much use over its long lifetime, followed by poor storage. Its one surviving tip section was broken 1 ft from tip, & the remaining cane was partially delaminated due to moisture. Also the cane was badly 'water spotted' throughout its length. Cork was badly worn, while guides, ferrules & reel seat were badly corroded.

...more photos & text to come

Middle rod is 9 ft Mt.Carmel, identical to the 9 ft Mt.Carmel in progress at top. Cork grip is masked to prevent staining. Close inspection of middle rod reveals signature wraps to be a later rewrap. Bottom rod is Mt.Carmel, 8 ft, in original "as found" condition.

Mt Carmel after full restoration. Cork grip was rebuilt following the shape of the original grip. Deep corrosion was removed from reel seat, & walnut spacer was polished & revarnished. Bakelite screw ring exhibits original scoring, even after polishing.

Top is 9 ft rod being restored, middle rod is identical Mt.Carmel, 9 ft, & bottom rod is Mt.Carmel, 8 ft. Distinctive high quality Edwards ferrules appear on all three rods.

After restoration. Edwards ferrules exhibit Edwards' graceful design & cane retains original darkened patina of this 90+ year old rod. Vintage tip top, agate stripper & blackened snakes were added to complete restoration.

1900 - 1915 Antique Mortised Butt fly rod, 10 ft (Completed 10-21)

Many early mortised butt rods appear in their velvet covered slotted rod forms, w/o engraved name or other maker ID. They appear as works of art in this age of mass produced & marketed rods, even among the many fine bamboo rods crafted by current day makers. One has only to deconstruct the handle /mortised butt area to see the planning & careful piecing required to create such masterpieces.
At the turn of the century & years following, many rod makers sourced their components wherever they were available, & Thomas Chubb Rod Co. was a big player in providing quality components to the trade. Even after Montague purchased the Chubb company, well know makers (including EW Edwards) used their ferrules w/ or w/o modification for their own rods. The components on this mortised butt rod, all high quality, appear to have come from Chubb/ Montague.

Fine workmanship & many original wraps are evident on this 100+ year old 10 ft mortised butt fly rod.

Original metal components appear to be made by Chubb /Montague, which provided these high quality fittings to many turn-of-the-century rodmakers

   Sent by its Maryland owner who fishes all his rods, this fine example of turn-of-the-century craftsmanship was in very good original condition, save short tip & missing 2nd tip. Although the grip was well worn, & varnish beginning to break down, many of the original silk wraps were still intact, including full intermediates.
   Mild restoration required protecting many still solid original wraps, while removing degraded varnish.   Over 2/3 of original silk wraps were preserved intact, while the remainder were rewrapped to match the originals. Original guides, cleaned & polished, were used where possible. Metal components were cleaned & polished, & loose ferrules corrected. 'Sets' were removed from tip & mid section.
   All original wraps were sealed & coated with thinned varnish, & full rod received new varnish (2 coats for butt section & mid; 1 coat for the tip section).
   Owner's preference to preserve evidence of use was honored, so cork grip was left 'as found'.
[*See 'Test Casting' page for additional photos & casting information.]

1940 - 1950's Payne & Leonard fly rods, 8 ft, 8-1/2ft , 3/2, 3/2/2 (Completed 9-21)

Dr Mike Spottswood at home in Napa, CA in mid 1990;s.

When grandfather Dr Mike Spottswood left the Navy at the end of WWII, he settled in California's Bay Area where he practiced medicine, & later bought a cabin on the Fall river in the ranch country of northern CA.
   In the early 1950's he acquired two fine fly rods, an 8' Payne & an 8-1/2' Leonard, which were first taken on a guided horse packing trip into the High Sierra's. His daughter Barbara, 10 at the time, remembers fishing being a main activity during that trip.
   Taking good care of his rods, when a fracture occurred in the mid section of the Leonard, Mike ordered a replacement section from Leonard in NY. In those days this was common practice. Replacement sections were usually well matched to the original rods, & cost not much more than a song by today's standards!
   Grandson Mike acquired a number of his grandfather's rods including the Payne & Leonard, which by this time needed a few guide wraps replaced as well as re-coating of original wraps. In addition the original Leonard mid section, which had been subject to what may have been a field repair, needed cleanup & a proper 'invisible wrap' added to the fractured area. Original varnish needed polishing, as well as touch-up /recoating w/ new spar varnish.
   Nickel silver components were cleaned & polished, oxidized Payne ferrules re-blued, & reel seat barrels refinished.
   These two fine bamboo fly rods, well used, but now in close to original condition, remain a family legacy.

Very fine 1950's Payne 8 footer required only one replacement guide wrap. Bamboo was polished & full rod was given light overcoat of thinned spar varnish.

Fine Leonard 8-1/2 w/ slide band reel seat over butternut spacer. Missing guide wraps were replaced w/ vintage silk to match original wraps.

Fine tip sections remained in very good condition; ferrules were cleaned & blueing retouched.

Leonard 8-1/2 with characteristically fine tips. Original mid section is shown below replacement mid section, w/ long 'invisible' wrap just visible between top & second guide.

Grandson Mike w/ Grandfather Spottswood on a fishing trip to Nelson Creek, Plumas County, CA. Mike recalls sprinting through the wood carrying the Payne fly rod on this trip, after being stung in the arm by a hornet!

Barbara Spottswood & daughter Barbara accompanied Mike on a fishing trip to Kamloops, BC, circa 1950's, one of many family outings.

1930 -1931 Montague 'Flipline' fly rod, 8-1/2 ft (Completed 6-21)

'Flipline' style cork grip & knurled winding check were used on this heavily flamed early Montague rod.

   This early Montague rod caught my eye on the big auction site, having high quality ferrules, & a beautiful 'butterfly' slide band nickel silver reel seat. Many early Montague rods have slow 'wet fly' actions, but something about this rod led me to believe it might be different...
   When the rod arrived, I quickly gave it a 'waggle', & was pleased to find a moderate dry fly action, akin to some early Edwards rods.
   Despite assurances the cane was sound, I discovered several partial de-laminations, as well as a split in the single tip section. After re-gluing the split, an invisible wrap was added to further strengthen the area.
   Incipient de-lamination appeared to be only surface deep, so waterproof glue was applied to the surface openings to prevent further moisture entry.
   Heavy stains from wetted guide feet were partly removed w/ Oxalic acid, & the rod was completely re-wrapped following the pattern of original silks.
       ...more text to come

Finely drawn & incised step down male ferrule on mid was patterned after the Landman ferrules. Delicate embellished butterfly slide band was used on Montague rods for only one or two years, ca 1930 /1931.

'Half moon' hand welted female ferrule fist appeared on Manitou Grade rods, possibly as a tribute to John Landman, whose rods were actively marketed by A&I.

1885 - 1895 Leonard 'Mills Standard' fly rod, 9-1/2 ft , Calcutta (Completed 10-20)

This historic rod, w/ distinctive swelled butt & rattan grip, was produced by H.L. Leonard for William Mills & Son circa 1885 -1895. It was owned by Mr. William Malcolm Foord, an avid & lifelong fly fisherman, & the grandfather of the wife of present owner. Mr. Foord was a member of the Marshepaug Forest Club, founded in 1913 on the East Branch of the Shepaug River in Litchfield, CT. He served as Treasurer of the club in 1920. He is known to have fished this rod for many years on the club’s private waters.
Fine nickel silver components, loose ring guides & tip top were all present, under original silk wraps & aged varnish. Ferrule re-setting & replacement occurred at a previous time, to address breakage or shortening of rod sections. Original rattan grip in good condition shows evidence of careful use by Mr. Foord over many years.

Mr. William Malcolm Foord walking on forested path, likely on club property, ca. 1955. A close look reveals what appears to be a rod case tucked under his arm.

In restoration, original wraps on tip section were preserved, while new matching silk was added to the butt & mid sections, following original wrap pattern. Ferrule fit was re-adjusted to allow for secure assembly, & if desired, use on the water.

Original intermediate wraps were preserved on tip section, but were replaced to match on mid and butt

Distinctive rattan grip was repaired, but otherwise left 'as original'

Tip section shortened by breakage at ferrule left fine tip fitted with delicate original loose ring tip top

"Capt. Wm. M. Foord's Gorge"

For his granddaughter, Katherine Malcolm Foord Arthur, & her husband, Lindsay Arthur, Mr Foord's rod is a cherished keepsake, recalling both the legacy of her grandfather, as well as the original meeting & proposal of her parents-to-be at the club cabin on the Shepaug. In a secluded glen in the forest, there remains a plaque on a small bridge over the river in memory of Mr. Foord.

Mr. Foord's Mills Standard Rod now resides in a custom built display case in his granddaughter's & husband's den. The case has an open front to allow examination of the rod.

1910 - 1919 Dame Stoddard 'HUB Special' fly rod, 8-1/2 ft (Completed 8-20)

This 100+ year old Dame Stoddard 'HUB Special' (Boston) was put up in a form case, & perhaps due to this, has remained very straight w/ all sections full length, including two very fine tips (0.70 in). Hatton [Rod Crafting, 2005] identifies these 1900-1920 Dame Stoddard models [eg "Neverbreak"] as likely made by FE Thomas, or very early Varney-Montague, owing to the high quality of cane work (flat-to-flat dimensions vary < .004 in). Also the high quality Chubb / Montague nickel silver components found on this rod were used by many makers in these early years, including FE Thomas & EW Edwards.

Original tip section silk wraps were preserved, w/ butt & mid receiving complete re-wrapping. Diminutive 5" modified full wells cork grip is still solid & relatively smooth, & befitting its age, has been left w/original patina.

Test casting this delicate 8-1/2 ft rod* was a long awaited pleasure. Starting w/ a Sci Anglers 4DTF on a breezy summer evening, I was puzzled by the seeming imbalance of the rod / line combination. With its fine tip & mid sections, I had judged the rod suitable for a 4 wt line, but the all-over-the-place casting results were puzzling at best.
Next day I regrouped w/ a 5 wt (true) 5DTF '406', & smiled when the rod came alive in my hands. (to be continued)

Notice heavy flaming. It is generally believed EW Edwards first experimented with heat treating bamboo before or during 1914, & FE Thomas learned the technique from Edwards.

Fine tip sections (0.70 in) sport old style ring tip tops & all sections are fitted w/ high quality serrated hand-welted ni-silver ferules (0.159; 0.257). Second tip section, identical to first, is still in restoration.

***UPDATE, 8-20-21: Rod performed well on small local river w/DT5F; casts of 10 - 40 ft; full action w/some backbone. Rod threw very open loops, hooking many branches in tight quarters along heavily tree-lined river (no fault of the rod!). Roll casts were excellent. Small ring style tip tops were often fouled w/ fly line. MF

* NOTE: My preferences run with Tom McGuane: "I like rods of all lengths, as long as they are 8-1/2 ft!" MF

1931 - 1933 Shakespeare 1338-B Fly Rod, 8-1/2 ft (Completed 9-18)

The long accepted wisdom about Shakespeare bamboo rods is that Shakespeare never made their own rods. It was believed Shakespeare contracted with Montague, South Bend & Heddon to provide their models, with the top models made by Gene Edwards starting in 1937. Shakespeare fly rods were appointed with components just different enough from the maker's own models to make them seem distinct [Sinclair,1994].

Further investigation, especially in light of recent disclosures by William Shakespeare Jr's grandson, leads to a different much more interesting story, which includes an important role that may have been played by George Varney in setting up the Shakespeare rod shop. (...full text to come)

This high quality Shakespeare rod was found re-wrapped in nylon w/ little regard for original colors; the bamboo was coated with polyurethane. The distinctive "torpedo" shaped grip was badly deteriorated & the one remaining tip was 6 in short. The rod was completely stripped of the nylon wraps & poly, and a new full wells cork grip built from flor grade cork. Period correct small agate stripper, hardened steel snakes & tip top were added w/ fine silk in proper original colors. The short tip was replaced with a full length tip having a matching taper from old Gene Edwards rod shop stock, & the ferrules & winding check re-blued.
It is a light & fine casting rod, taking a #5 wt, line, & it provided several evenings of late season fun on my local river with a newly refurbished silk line.

1920-30's Leonard Tournament Fly Rod, 9 ft (Completed 7-17)

Restoration of this powerful lightweight 1920's Leonard Tournament was completed by Bamboo Rod Works following incomplete work by another shop. A treasured gift from his favorite high school shop teacher & mentor, the rod belonged to the teacher's grandfather & held a special place in its owner's memory.
Original wraps were matched with vintage pale yellow silk combined with dark red Pearsalls Gossamer silk, coated with shellac to match the original treatment. The week following its restoration, the rod was paired with a vintage Hardy reel, and used on a long-awaited float trip on Idaho's Teton River.

"Thank you, Mark, for your commitment & quality workmanship in restoring this very special H.L. Leonard rod. It is a splendid & beautiful work of art I will fish & display for many years to come."
S. Yoshino, Snoqualmie, WA

Folsom Arms #1520 (Edwards), 8-1/2  ft   (Completed 5-16)

This high quality Edwards trade rod was made for Folsom Arms sometime between 1919 and 1924 while Edwards supervised rod production at Winchester, or afterwards from 1924 to 1929 when Edwards again set up his own rod shop with his sons. It exhibits the characteristic Edwards reel seat, the hard rubber winding check, & high quality oxidized hand-welted nickel silver ferrules. The wraps are orange & pongee, over lightly flamed cane, with the usual Edwards winding pattern at the hook keeper.

  ....This lovely delicate 8-1/2 footer casts beautifully with a DT5 line.

1927 Heddon #14 Fly Rod, 9 ft (Completed 6-15)
This rod was found among a bundle of bamboo sticks in the corner of a local reel repair shop. All the bamboo was dirty, stained, & splattered w/ white paint. The narrow cork rings on the butt section caught my eye, & I realized it was a very early Heddon fly rod from 1927. The mid & tip sections were there, but wraps & guides were missing, ferrules loose, w/ one stuck & another bent. The rod was 'all there', however!

Bringing this historic rod back to its former bright & fishable condition was a pleasure....

1930's Montague Trail Salmon Fly Rod, 12 ft. (Completed 3-16)

Blued hand-welted serrated nickel silver ferrules, blued nickel silver screw lock reel seat & winding check. Elongated cigar cork grip w/ fighting butt. Blackened steel snake guides + Agate stripping guide & tip top. Bamboo & ferrules in solid condition.
Damaged wraps, corroded snake guides, corroded tip tops, damaged stripper & melted varnish required complete restoration.