Fishing Rod ID

[GarHunter]

I have a rod and can make out "2552 B 1/2" that is about all I can read on the label. It is a rather robust rod. Hoping someone might have some knowledge on this particular rod. Thanks for any help.

[john elder]

Welcome! Your "B 1/2" might be "8 1/2" . If so, that would be the length of the rod in feet. A quick measure of the rod would confirm or deny that. I assume it's fiberglas or graphite? What color? Does it come apart in two pieces and if so, where does it come apart?

[Harry Verdurchi]

I have a rod and can make out "2552 B 1/2" that is about all I can read on the label. It is a rather robust rod. Hoping someone might have some knowledge on this particular rod. Thanks for any help.

Could be a Garcia Conolon

[john elder]

Good guess, Henry. Most makers have similar numbers, although most also have a letter code either before or after the number. It will be interesting to see whether it is a spinning rod or casting or salt vs freshwater rod. We need more clues.

[GarHunter]

Thanks for the interest guys. It measures 83" long. My Dad loved to hunt massive cat fish and had the 888 mounted to this rod (as shown). It does come apart in the middle.

[nomdeplume57]

could also be an old Shakespeare!

[wrong99]

Conolon it is!!

[Harry Verdurchi]

Well now that we can see the Rod handle and its Red Color and the end but piece you could be right .
Will have to dig out some more of my surf rods and fly rods to see.

[wrong99]

The Garcia Conolon No.2552 was introduced in the early 1960's and was part of Garcia's "Brown" series of rods. It sold for $14.95 in 1965. The decal reads "2552B - 8-1/2' - Medium Light Fast Taper Action - 5/8 to 2-1/2 oz. lures - 10 to 20 lb. line".
Mark

[GarHunter]

How is the length measured on these? I put it together and measured tip-to-tip and it was 83", so I am a little confused on the 8.5' information. Thanks for the info!

Will take a closer look, maybe it has been broken off at some point and repaired.

[wrong99]

Yes, yours has been broken and shortened. Quite a bit so.
Mark

[john elder]

Did you measure total length including the handle?

[GarHunter]

Did you measure total length including the handle?

Yeah, I put the two together nice and tight as if I were going to fish and then measured from the smallest eye to the other end at the base. It has 4 eyes and the last two (smaller) are 6 inches apart, which doesn't look right to me.

[Midway Tommy D]

Clearly not a Howald, that's for sure. Looks to me like it was a three star before the sticker wore off. Here's a 3 star 2552D 8 1/2'. Wraps look the same, especially with the under paint beneath the guides, but the handle on this "D" is more surf style rather than spinning. http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-GARCIA- ... 7675.l2557 The one Harry - Henry?, posted is a 4 star A, no white under-wrap paint beneath the guides, just under the thread. http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-Garcia- ... 7675.l2557

Tom

[GarHunter]

How did Garcia rate 3, 4, or 5 star and A, B, C or D....etc? Were the "Brown" line decent back in the day? What year would this be dated, roughly? Don't care about value, just curious to learn what it is. Were these sold as combos or separate? If separate, what reel might have been mounted on a rod like this?

I remember back in the early 90's visiting my Dad and he told me that I HAD to come and see his new fishing pole setup. I seem to vaguely recall this rod coming from a flea market or the like. Later that decade I stopped by on the way to the lake and he gave me all of fishing equipment (this setup included) after selling his fishing boat. I put them in my old boat until now.

[Midway Tommy D]

I'm sure Mark will elaborate but they were sold individually, not in combos and the more stars the higher the quality. 5 star was supposedly the highest quality. All Garcia Conolon rods after 1964 were painted. Mark noted the 1965 catalog info earlier. I always found it interesting how some 2 pc. rods had equal length sections and some had a much longer tip section than the butt section. I never researched deep enough to find out why.

Tom

[Harry Verdurchi]

According to this they were made from the fifties and are still made today again .
http://www.realsreels.com/RodsGarcia.html
Regards ,Harry not henry. Juan

[Ron Mc]

that's a steelhead spinning rod, but I grew up using a similar rod (Berkley Tri Sport) for inshore fishing.

here's a nice Garcia Conolon 6'6" light action matched with a Mitchell 440

[GarHunter]

Thanks again everyone for the info! Harry that link was great. Now I am torn...hunt for a good tip?

[Midway Tommy D]

Nice informative link on the ABU/Garcia/Conolon conection Harry, Henry, Juan or whomever , but starting in the late '40s National Research and MFG. Co became Narmco Inc and produced glass fishing rods for several years under that name. Narmco eventually sold controlling interest to Telecomputing Inc., later known as Whitaker Corp on the NYSE, who later sold the assets of the glass rod business to Garcia Corporation sometime in 1960. Not until then had the Conolon Corporation been formed and the Garcia Conolon connection melded. Any relationship prior 1960 would have merely been normal NARMCO trade. http://www.mitchellreelmuseum.com/index ... -1960.html Prior to 1964 the higher quality Garcia Conolon rods were left and sold in the natural brown fiber color. Post '64, all Garcia Conolon rod blanks, regardless of quality, were painted.

Tom

[Harry Verdurchi]

Nice informative link on the ABU/Garcia/Conolon conection Harry, Henry, Juan or whomever , but starting in the late '40s National Research and MFG. Co became Narmco Inc and produced glass fishing rods for several years under that name. Narmco eventually sold controlling interest to Telecomputing Inc., later known as Whitaker Corp on the NYSE, who later sold the assets of the glass rod business to Garcia Corporation sometime in 1960. Not until then had the Conolon Corporation been formed and the Garcia Conolon connection melded. Any relationship prior 1960 would have merely been normal NARMCO trade. http://www.mitchellreelmuseum.com/index ... -1960.html Prior to 1964 the higher quality Garcia Conolon rods were left and sold in the natural brown fiber color. Post '64, all Garcia Conolon rod blanks, regardless of quality, were painted.

Tom

Conolon was invented by some guys at Convair is the story I got and I have a few of the NARMCO (National Association Reel Manufacture Company or somthin or other was there nomenclature) LIVE FIBER Rods that I use .Garcia bought out Conolon in the early 60's I believe .
Needless to say they are Great Rods to this day and are starting to bring a few good bucks on auction sites if you do a search .

[Ron Mc]

I'm not sure why the 20-y-older information than the subject Garcia rod is being thrown around (Mark nailed it), but here is a mid-late 50s example of a Narmco Conolon fly rod (dated by the foulproof stripping guides), a rod I particularly liked, an 8-1/2' 5-wt. Royal Javelin
This rod had a $35 hang tag on it, and was top of the line when introduced.


serialized







translucent "tobacco" glass, my photos don't do it justice, and I always found action of the rod to nearly duplicate my South Bend 323 cane

here's an early postwar Airex solid glass spinning rod (the Luxor reel is 1937) - the rod also uses foulproof spinning guides