This morning I received a long tube via the U.S. Postal Service. Inside were 4 custom rods from long ago. The sender stated that he and a friend had purchased these rods back in the mid-1960's. The type components used on the rods would indicate that date/era to be very realistic. I would have no reason to doubt the statements made by the owner/s as to when the rods were built and when they were purchased. From what I am told, the same builder was doing this type work from the very late 1950's on.

Each rod was decorated with what would have been, at that time, very elaborate cross-wraps. One rod, featured a multi-axis diamond wrap containing 204 individual diamonds or crosses. By today's standards, none would be considered terribly intricate, and yet in the mid-1960's I'd have to believe that these were cutting edge wraps.

The threadwork on the rods is very nicely finished in epoxy. Something else you didn't see much of in that time period as varnishes still ruled the roost as thread coatings.

The builder's identity is known and we'll have more on the story in the next issue of RodMaker.


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I look foward to it Tom.

"The early bird gets the worm,.. but the second mouse gets the cheese!"

Excellent! Looking forward to the next issue. Will there be photos of these old rods?

Sounds Great!! Will you be able o bring them to Charlotte for display?

Mike

I'd like to bring them to Charlotte but I doubt I can talk these guys into that. I'm surprised they let them out of their sight and trusted me with them. But, yes, the next issue will have photos of them, along with some history. I took photos today and will return the rods later this week. I feel lucky to have been able to host them here in a my shop for a few days.

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Post the pics!, post the pics!!,post the pics!!!.....just kidding (a little)

Read somewhere on the net that the guy Tom's referring to is in fact M. Joyce and we've probably seen the pics already on the photo page....................age seems about right......................................no maybe he's not ancient enough, must be Doc...................or could be Upton

Nope....I was a three year old then drinking TANG. No grey hair, but my eyesights fading fast.(maybe a sign of ancientism).

I'm betting it was someone from the Left Coast. Those folks seem to "push the envelop" more than we easterners. Might be genetic.
Stan

This gentleman predates those listed by at least a few years. It's still possible that somebody else was doing these type wraps as early or even earlier, but I have yet to see any dated photos or rods with such wraps built or purchased prior to these that can be verified.

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