Old Bristol

jturick · Post by **jturick** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:49 pm

The kids got me an old telescoping Bristol bait rod, and I was hopeing you guys could help me with a few questions. #1, the rod dosent have any "collars" or welts on the ends of any of the sections, just the end of the metal tube. Is that correct, or am I missing parts?( There is a brass bushing for a tip-top.) #2 Would there have been a "stopper" or cap to keep the rod retracted? Every time you tilt it down, out it all comes. #3 Whats the right way to rig this rod? A weighted needle to pull the line through? I`d like to use this rod for a little retro trout fishing, and was wondering if any one else has. Just cant decide on a reel for it! Thanks, John

Post by **john elder** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:28 pm

These rods usually fit tight enough together that it would stay in or out without heroics. Sounds like you have no line guides on the outside? Normally, they shoulid be there rather than have line strung thru the inside. Pics would help! If you don,t have a pic host, email to me and i will post for you.

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:13 pm

From your description it appears to me you have one of the original Horton Bristol telescoping rods with no guides. Here are a few examples from my collection:

This rod was also made with a black ratan wrapped handle. Horton supplied a wire to use to thread the line through the rod. I have found you can usually feed the line through OK, but then put a sinker on the end or a washer or something to keep the line from coming back out.

These rods were manufactured in Bait Rod (top two rods) and Fly Rod (bottom two) versions, and many different lengths and designs. Some are painted black and some were nickel plated. Although Horton dreamed up his idea in the 1880s, these rods were still popular enough to be listed in catalogs in the 1930s. They were a wonderful rod to poke through a hole in the brush to snag wary small stream trout, for the line couldn't catch on branches.

jturick · Post by **jturick** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:17 pm

Thanks, the rod is like the two bait rod in the top of the picture. What would you recommend for a reel?

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:25 am

jturick wrote:Thanks, the rod is like the two bait rod in the top of the picture. What would you recommend for a reel?

For a reel I would recommend almost any non level wind reel from the late 1800s or early 1900s. It should probably be a multiplier. Maybe a Hendryx, Meisselbach or Pflueger. Another possibility would be a Meisselbach Expert type reel, as they were also used on bait rods.