I found an old herters rod building jig with what looks like everything but the instructions on how to use it.

It's a cast iron vise looking thing with a 3/16 inch double looped wire attachment for holding the rod. there is a spring loaded clamp that looks like it adjusts the thread tension and a cork spool brake.

I'd like to find the instructions that goes to it.

Would any of you happen to have some that I could copy? I would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
John Jolley

PS, I'd happily pay you for your time and postage.
Thanks

Hey John...Had one of those many moons ago but as I recall there were no instructions sold with it...I think I got it from Dan Craft. You are correct with the knowledge you have by your description. You may have to fly by the seat of your pants. Maybe check with Dan Craft and see if they have an "old timer" that could help you out.

Tight Lines
Tight Wraps
Fishin'Stix by Fred

Golden Witch reproduced these a while back. They might be able to help you out, although the little unit is pretty much self explanatory.

The rod rests on the steel arms, the thread is loaded onto the shaft and the tensioner is allowed to press against the spool. The thread comes off the top of the spool and onto the rod which is just a few inches away.

These little units work fine, but you'll need to jury rig something to help hold the rod when you're making the wraps on the extreme butt or tip ends.

............

By the way, Herter's sold them but I believe what you have there was actually made by Thompson. At least if it's what I think it is.

............

John,
Tom is correct. I used one of these for several years--many many years ago. It was my first step up from a couple of books and a cup. I'm not sure who developed these first. I bought mine from the Thompson Vise Company and I found later that Herter's also sold one. Using it is simple. Just pull the vise head back, insert a spool of thread on the spindle and adjust the tension with the thumb screw. I never found the rod rest terribly useful. At the time I was using it, I hadn't tried diamond wraps and other thread art that is so popular today. I doubt they could be done with that jig. Good luck.

Mike Blomme

John, I have one, Herter’s Waseca Minn. no. 20.
Tom’s right that I believe it was made by Thompson Vise.
I looked it up in my Herter’s 1970 catalog 80R.
This is what it says in the catalog.
This tool holds a spool of rod winding thread under an
even tension, leaving the operator’s hands free to turn
the rod rapidly and put on the windings. The tension
on the rod winding thread is fully adjustable by means
of a wing nut and spring. An improved, easier to use rest
comes with the rod winder. This is the only rod winder
made with this type of rest. The rod winder and rest is
constructed of fine sturdy quality metal throughout.
It will handle all types of rods, including fly rods,
casting rods, and salt water rods.
RE2 shpg wt. 2 lbs. $2.47
Hope this is a help, stan yerger

Good Stuff!!! I don't know if I'll ever use it but its kind of a neat old tool. Clamped it on my "old fishing stuff" shelf in the den.

Smiles

John,I used one of these thread holders since 1948 until a year ago when I bought a new one from Golden Whitch for 84.00 plus freight(note price change)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It worked very good. I didn't use the wire holder, it just got in the way for me................I rested the end of the rod on the back of a kitchen chair. I wound many rods with this rig, and just gave my old one to a newbe in the neighborhood. The instructions on this thread are correct. Lots of luck..........Gene