south bend rod

hurdpete · Post by **hurdpete** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:18 am

Hi folks:

Although it's a little off the normal ORCA path, I'm hoping one of you can help with a rod ID. It's a South Bend model #9, 6 foot long casting rod, bamboo with straight handle, no markings on the reel seat and has a cork foregrip. Although the handle is very good, the rod has missing or damaged guides (steel, not agate) and loose guide wraps, so it's not much of a colloector piece. However, it's straight, unbroken and in very good shape other than the guide issues, so I'm thinking of a rewrap with agate guides and top to use. Any ideas as to age (in my ignorance, I'm guessing late 30's)? Also, the rod seems to be fairly light in action - what would be the bait range for this rod -3/8 to 1/2 oz.? I'd like to match it with an age appropriate reel. Thanks for the help! BTW, is there a good rod ID book out there? All the ones I've seen so far have only treated rods as a sideline.

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:41 am

hard to date it without a photo of the seat. Does it have a finger trigger?
South Bend bought Cross in 1927.
Here's a late 20s/ early 30s rod

I think the trigger is a field modification, but a nice one.

my experience with cane bait rods is that they all seem to do well with about 3/8 to 5/8 oz.
I'm afraid there aren't many references on bait rods - maybe some in Sinclair's refinishing book.

I have a nice listing of 1942 fly rods, but no bait rods...

hurdpete · Post by **hurdpete** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:49 am

Ron:

Thanks for the help- mine has a finger trigger held on by 2 small phillips head screws. The decal is later than yours - has "South Bend" in yellow letters . The reel seat you pictured is the same except for the trigger attachment. Ferrules are nickel silver ; guide wraps are green (?)/black silk - appear to be triple twist with 2 pale green threads and one black thread. I've got pix - just have to get them from the home computer .

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:06 am

if you have that same fine-threaded reel seat, then I'm guessing you're looking at a prewar rod - 30s - sounds like we have the same guides, as well.
The remaining decal on my rod is Doublebilt - if there was a SB decal, its long gone, so I'm not quite sure whether this rod is early SB or late Cross.
looking forward to your photos.

BTW, I have jeffkn1 - The South Bend man on Clark's board - working on this for us.

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:46 pm

I looked in a 1932 SB catalog. The No. 9 rod is present there. It describes it as follows: "Honest-to-goodness rods. Excellent values for $10.00. Hand-fit cork grip and forward grip. Positive thread-lock reel seat. Reel seat and ferrules of nickel silver. Garnix guides and top. Packed in a Khaki bag."

The No. 9 was also described as being Extremely light weight and came in 5, 5'6" and 6' lengths.

Since your rod has steel guides it is undoubtedly later than 1932. As mentioned it retailed for $10, and was the mid-range price rod. Prices ranged from 3.50 to $20 in that catalog.

hurdpete · Post by **hurdpete** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:52 pm

Reel Geezer:

Thanks for looking it up - I'll try and get some pix up tomorrow- sounds like a decent little rod - they aren't lying about the weight - it's a LOT lighter than the steel rods!

hurdpete · Post by **hurdpete** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 8:25 am

OK, let's see if these pictures will upload...

Pete

hurdpete · Post by **hurdpete** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 8:53 am

If at first you don't succeed...