Large Bamboo Rods

[OCauto]

It seems that there a lot of fly fishing/rod forums in existence but forums or even articles on larger Bamboo rods seem to be scarce. I would have thought that someone would have compiled info on the makers of Deep Sea, Trolling, Surf casting & bait casting rods. There just does not seem to be a list of "TRADE" rods either.

Maybe someone here can shed some lite on this topic. My current pursuit is Abbey & Imbrie. Did they make their own rods or did other makers supply them? Is their a particular A&I Catalog in the O.R.C.A. library that might list their Rods. Even a list of models they sold would help.
Any help will be appreciated

[RAM]

Last year I did research on Pflueger bamboo rods and wrote about them in the Pfacts column Reel News. Although they claimed to import more Tonkin bamboo than anyone else in America, fact is Montague made all of their rods until the 1930s and likely most even in the 30s. Montague was the leading maker of all types of bamboo rods in the U.S. (1890-1920s at least and maybe later), but never put their name on any until the 1920s, selling all to "the trade". Don't want to even pretend to know much about this subject, but this is at least a lead.
Cheers! Bad Bob

[wrong99]

Abbey & Imbrie never built a rod. All their rods were supplied to them by the various makers. You're right, info on casting or salt water rods is scant, for any maker or retailer. You almost have to locate early A & I catalogs to see what they offered, and even then it wouldn't list who the builder was. One of the problems collecting "trade" rods from retailers like A & I is that you might find one that is branded with their name (normally a rodshaft decal) but, because it's a trade rod, the manufacturer's name won't be on it. After you've handled hundreds of salt water or bait rods, you eventually recognize the different and unique components that were used by each maker, so when a rod like an A & I-marked rod comes along, you have a better chance of identifying the builder. As far as a "list" of salt water, bait casting or trade rods goes, good luck ever seeing one. That would be a daunting, life-long project. To give you an idea of just how daunting, in the 1939 catalog alone, Montague offered no less than 142 different models of bait casting and salt water rods. That's one catalog, from one company, for just one year and that doesn't include the hundreds of different trade rod models that Montague would have made that year. So, you get the idea. If forced to, I could give you a comprehensive list of bait & SW rods produced by James Heddon's Sons, but only because I've researched and collected them for 15 years. Outside of Heddon, I'm as stupid as the next guy.
Mark

[john elder]

These days, i fear that sites are dollar driven...ie, since those rods don't bring much, interest has never really taken off. Also as Mark points out, about the only place you can find info is in old catalogs and the pics are usually pretty bad...and the actual makers are rarely revealed. Al, this looks like a great niche for you to start a site for and see where it goes...such a site might create the interest these rods deserve...and many of us would be happy to contribute pics and dialogue!

[OCauto]

Thanks Ram & Mark & John...
So far I have managed to identify some obscure pieces as was suggested just by the hardware. There does seem to be some good books on "Maker" typical Hardware. The irksome part of it all is that the same books will also state that makers may just use what is available... Montague ferrules and guides seem to be the easiest to identify even on a trade rod. I am buying more books and would purchase some Catalogs from the library if I had a good idea of which years to get for example A&I. lots available but not identifiable by rods in particular. Maybe Don can help with that. John, I may give some thought to a site devoted to the larger bamboo rods.
Thanks again

[Reelholder]

The most beautiful rod I've seen was made of 6 strip bamboo...oh so stout. It was made by Kovalovsky and has the A&F logo on it. It was found with one of the finest Kovalovsky reels ever produced...and no...it was not built for Zane Grey. When the reel is mounted on the rod it's like weightlifting. The patina is slight and right. If ever a book of saltwater rods is published...I assure you this rod will be in it...the serious collectors of huge reels are aware of it. I'm fortunate because the collection is a very short drive from my house...it's a museum. That's all I can say! I guess the owner and I ...are lucky guys.

[Ron Mc]

here is one of the neater online Montague snippets
a 1930 stock certificate and financial report/history
http://scripophily.net/mocirodco.html
note that they made as many as 1000 rods/day

[OCauto]

That is pretty cool Ron...