Boxed Hurd Super Caster

[h. ron hanley]

Someone down the Board mentioned that they were not sure if Super Casters came boxed. They did & were boxed in a box like a big lure box. You could get 12 different rod shafts for the Hurds & they came in tubes like the one shown. If these pics. don't come thru, I need help please. Ron [/img]

[Brian F.]

Thanks for the info and neat picture, Ron

[hurdpete]

Ron:

I was the idiot who responded to Mike's inquiry about Hurd boxes- thanks for the correction and the great picture! I don't really mind sticking my foot in my mouth if it results in new knowledge like this! Your picture also answered a question for me - I am presuming that the rod in the pic is original; the guide winding color is what I wanted confirmation of, and you provided it - thanks again!

Pete

[Jim Schottenham]

Great photo, thanks for sharing!
Did the plastic version of the Hurd come boxed also? For that matter, did the plastic version come in the same vinyl case as the wooden handle version?
Thanks Ron!
Jim S

[H. Ron Hanley]

The Rod Shaft is new in the tube & reflects the true color of the Hurd Wrappings which were silk. Hurd advised revarnishing the wraps once a year. On the Cheap series Hurds, the same color wrappings were used, but were painted over at the Factory, just leaving the Crome guide expossed. I am in DC now, but if anyone needs a good photo of the original color wrappings, I'll be glad to take them. The Plastic Handle Hurds were probably Boxed. I only have (4) boxed Hurds & they all reflect the Wood Handle, so it is just speculation on my part. The Plastic Handle Hurds used the same vinyl case. They either came with a Black or Red Throat where the rod tips & reel was inserted. If you have a nice reel, NEVER put it in the case. The Cases have drawn up some over the years & you won't get it in or out w/o scratching it on the zipper. The case is fine for the rod tips if it still has the steel rod in the back of the case to keep the rod tips from being bent. As I mentioned, the rod tips came in 12 different styles. They are:
3 1/2'
4' , 4 1/2', 5' in 3 different degrees of stifffness
5 1/2'
I am always looking for extra rod shafts or nice Hurds that have marked shafts. They are marked by an Aluminum ring which fits next to the reel
when the shaft is inserted. It tells you the length & degree of stiffness.(No they were not made out of old Tank Antennas). You measure the length of the rod by measuring the total length of the rod & reel after the Shaft has been inserted. If you have a Hurd & would like to remove the Shaft & it is seized(Remember Aluminum Alloy & Steel do seize),email me & I can tell you how to remove it without Damage to the reel or rod. There is a lot about Hurds that I do not know, but will attempt to answer any Questions. I can help you with most parts for Wood Handle Hurds except Reel Handles & Bearing Caps. One other semi-interesting note. If you remove the wood handle of your hurd, you will find a # written on the Wood in Crayon or pencil. It is the same as the # stamped under the Handle on the metal. This is not the same # as the outside serial #. By the way, the wood handles are not all the same. They were fited to your Hurd, thus the #'s. Thanks, Ron

[Jim Schottenham]

Great info Ron, Thank You!
When I first took an interest in old tackle, I was working part time at a sporting goods store in Albany, NY. I'd order lures, rods, reels and anything else fishing for the store, so when a woman came in with a box of fishing stuff her late husband had, I was the guy they called. She came in on a Saturday when I was there and showed me a bunch of stuff, some of which I'd never seen before (as I said, it was just after I took an interest in old stuff), including a Hurd reel, with what I know now as a replaced bamboo rod section. Nice stuff, a boxed Jamison luminous coaxer, an Omar Needham fly rod, etc. As I left the store for the night, after we finished locking up, we walked out the back of the store to an alleyway where we all parked, with me hauling my new toys. A car drove by slowly, then backed up. The guy rolls down the window, and asks me "Is that a Hurd you got there? Wanna sell it?"
I was amazed that not only did someone know what that was at 5:30 on a deserted Saturday evening in Albany, but that he offered to buy it right then and there. That was maybe 15 years ago, and I still have it. Bamboo tip and all!
Now that you're all sleeping...
That's my Hurd story.
Jim S

[Teal]

Hi Ron,

Welcome to the ORCA board! Thanks for sharing your information, I think you need to write up your vast experience on Hurd's, especially the part about unfreezing the shaft, for the Reel News! I know a lot of ORCAns are crazy for these Hurds, and the information would be of great interest and great use to many.

Cheers,

Dr. Todd E.A. Larson

[hurdpete]

Ron:

Since you're a guest on the ORCA site, there's no link or listing for your email address - could you let us know how to get in touch with you?

Thanks,

Pete

[H. Ron Hanley]

Actually I am a Member of Orca. My email address is

[hurdpete]

Thanks, Ron.
Pete

[joe klaus]

Hi guys:
I've been "absent" from the board for a month or so. I've been out-of-town frequently and also lost the hard drive on my computer about 3 weeks ago. It took several weeks for my new computer to arrive, and it's been time consuming getting all software up and runnning correctly again and restoring data that had been backed up. But I lost all of my email addresses and my "archives" of email messages that I had accumulated for several years.

I've explained my absence, but my primary intention for this post is to make certain that all who post on this board know "something" about Ron Hanley. I think it's very likely that the vast majority of the posters on this Board already know this, but Ron has one of the largest and most extensive collections of "old fishing stuff" in all of the US. He's knowledgable about various and miscellaneous types of lures and reels (more lures than reels I think), and he has an outstanding reputation for honesty and fair dealing during the course of dealing with others.

Therefore, if you "own something" that Ron wants, I would highly recommend that you contact him if you want to sell it. Conversely, if he's selling, you can depend upon him to tell it like it is. He is one of the good guys.

[hurdpete]

Joe:

On behalf of all the ORCA newbies, thanks for the info on Ron - I'd heard of him from another source, and it's really nice to have his expertise shared with us.

Pete Appel

[piscesman]

After reading Jim's story on Hurd I thought I'd give you mine. I was doing some plumbing work to support my "habit". The guy I did work for knew I liked old fishing stuff. He pulled out a Hurd combo in Black/Red case and said I could have it. I knew roughly what it was worth and said this was way more than my bill. He said he only used new stuff and didn't want it cluttering up his area. I couldn't have been more pleased. One sad note though. When I took it home in my work van I was admiring the package. Carefully putting it all back in the case an eyelit popped off and bounced up into the defrosters. Needless to say it's still there after much effort to retrieve it and headed for the scrap yard. Hasn't been out of the case since but would like to have the eyelit replaced.
Kim

[H. Ron Hanley]

Kim, tell me which guide is missing. I may have it. If so, I'll be glad to give it to you at no charge. I suspect the guide is down in one the plastic vent tubes under the dash that direct the float of the air. I have had sucess in retreiving items by taking the Vinyl Tubes loose. It has to be there or in the heater box itself. If you can't find it, email me & I'll try to furnish you one at no charge. Thanks, Ron

[Guest]

Ron,
The van is long gone as of 3 years ago with the guide. I just took the Hurd pole from the pouch and inspected it. Of the 4 guides(including top) only 3 remain. After closer inspection 2 seem to be of the same age. The other of newer age. Are the guides supposed to be soldered on? All metal or with agate rings? No agate rings on mine. Could you post a close-up picture of a Hurd rod? Thank you.
Kim

[hurdpete]

Kim: Guides are all the same- a casting type chromed guide with about a 12mm ring, slightly heavier than modern guides of the same size. Guide wraps were originally red and yellow (Ron's picture shows one clearly) nylon or silk. Guide count will vary according to rod length- I think the only one that has 5 original guides including the tip would be the 5 1/2 foot rod. The others have 4 guides (4 1/2 and 5 foot), and I think the very short ones (3 and 3 1/2 foot) have 3. Agate rings were not standard, and I don't think any of the rods originally had soldered or wire wrapped guides- maybe Ron knows for sure.

Pete

[SWIM JIG]

cool-thumb USA I just took out 2 of my 4&1.2 ft HURDS, the gude count is 3 + a tip guide, The thread looks like rayon, starts at a gold color and goes to a red, either end of the guide, the tip is soldered on. The guides on the rod are a arc with the round part of the guide that is soldered to either side of the acrs! The arc when you look closely has a very shallow grove towards the top on the outside of the arch! most likly was a tooling mark when it was folded in the die! The rod itself has a black finish that appears to be baked on, ( note the story is these were surplus radio attenas, the base has a grove 1&1/4 inches long that slides into the reel front end! ( note these rods are rather soft and bend very easly, thus I doubt that they were ever radio antenas unless these never were temperd. With exception to the rod tip, the inside diamitor of the guides are the same on both these 4&1/2 ft ones I have. As I see in original adds and Hurds I have, and others have talked about , the company seems to never made a run that was very large withoutsome changes, however the serial #s are a whole different issue! again thanks for the Picture ! Your Ohio Conection On Lake Erie Col. M. lorens aka SWIM JIG

[Gabby]

8 years ago we had a Vintage Tackle Tournament at Clear Lake CA. ONLY allowed to use Pre-1950 stuff. WE were paired with actual Clear Lake pros who also had to use the old tackle. For some reason (well OK, it was after 2 beers), I decided to use my Hurd. I put a beat to crap CCB Beetle on the end and went to make a beautiful cast at the edge of the tules. What I saw flying thru the air was more akin to a Javelin being thrown. The entire rod shot off the handle, and went about 35 yards in a fantastic arc resulting a great splash. The pro in the front only heard it and thought i had one on. I tried to bend over and while reeling in the line tried to hide what I had done. Approximately 10 yards behind the boat the tip came out of the water giving me away. Thats what I know about Hurds. They stink to fish with. I'd be proud to sell Hanley every one I ever find.

[seruga]

this is a reply to an an old post.

I was wondering if Mr. Hanley ever provided instructions on how to separate a seized rod from the reel on a Hurd super caster. I see that he is no longer on the member roster. I also searched the ORCA site and did not find a reference to his name nor instructions. Any info would be appreciated