Interested in knowing how the polyneon sewing thread first took off in rod building and became so popular in weaving and probably the most favourite choice of thread for crosswrap patterns. Anyone know who first started using this beautiful stuff with it's huge range of vibrant colours, i'm guessing Billy Vivona and the nerbs group?

Jersey, Channel Islands. (U.K.)

Hi Steve,
Good question and I would like to know also. Probably someone saw it in a sewing store was impressed by the colours and decided to give it a go. I would also like to know where the rumours about it "not being strong enough for guide wraps" or "it's to stretchy" came from as they certainly put a lot of people off using it for guide wraps. I've been using it for guide wraps for over five years now and never had any guide issues that could be related to the thread. The testing I've done on strength and stretch have shown that the rumours were bulldust. Outstanding colour range and more than strong enough for guide wraps.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia

It became mainstream when I started posting about it on this forum & Allcoast. As far as I know, the first person to use MAdeira was Bernie Cohen, he only used the metallics though. I spoke to him many times about this, and afterhe passed away and left me all his rod building stuff, I found reciepts from MAdeira dating back to 1995. He used both the super twist and meteallics, not polyneon. I first heard about the metallics from Al Goldberg who used to sell them at Rodcrafter seminars. I began investigating what other threads they had available, and picked up some of hte Jewel threads (holographic) form EBAT, when I showed up to teh next seminar (MArch 2001) there was another builder who was using the Polyneon on his wraps (Big Macs from Ohio). Me & my friend Andrew McDermott contacted Madeira and they sent us a bunch of samples. I placed an order and began using it on all my wraps, and posting photos on teh forums tha tI was on (moment of fame and allocast as well as fishingphotos). I get promoting and talking about it as much as I can, an dpeople started to pick up on it and spread the word.

As far as guide wraps go - I used to tell people it wasn't strogn enough for guides and I didn't like how hard it was ot wrap guides & finish it. Mark Crouse put the not strong enough thing to rest by wrapping a rod and hanging a box of laundry detergent from teh tip and the guides hled securely. jim Rippe was the first person to post that he succesfully did a Tartan with Madeira.

Her eis the first post on this forum tha tmentions Polyneon, I had been using it for 6 months at the time. [rodbuilding.org]

Here's the last page of a search for polyneon, you can see I was the only one using it for a while before others started catching on and posting abotu it: [rodbuilding.org]

Here's some more threads for you guys to read on the history of MAdeira: [rodbuilding.org]
One more: [rodbuilding.org]

I wonder how much money I made for MAdeira

Hi, Billy. Thanks for the history and old threads, interesting reading, put a lot of myths about it to rest.

Jersey, Channel Islands. (U.K.)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/26/2012 07:44PM by Steve Mcleod.

Hi Billy,
Thanks for the info, I now have a bit of background. People trying new things is the way that most new stuff gets started. Wish I'd been game about 35 years ago. When doing one of my first rods I couldn't get the line to stop touching the blank, a no no in those days. I had the thought "what if I put the guides on the bottom of the rod". I'd never heard of Roberts wrap, spiral wrap or acid rod, to me it was something new. I chickened out because I thought I'd get laughed out of the fishing club. Stupid me!! now you have to pay me to put guides on top!! These days I don't give a hoot what people think and on the odd occasion I come up with a new idea, to me, I go ahead and try it.
I started using madeira for guide wraps before I heard all those rumours and never had a problem. I beleived the extra stretch rumour and upped my tension by about 1/4 to compensate but I new the strength was not a problem. After I did the testing and found out that it's only about 1% more stretchy than gudebrod I left the tension the same as I could still move the guides with a bit of effort. Built a lot of rods with madeira and never had an issue with guide strength. Some people don't like using cp on guide wraps but I've been doing ever since I started building and never had an issue. Back in those days we used to call it filler as it did remove the small gaps between threads and that was the main reason I used the stuff. Madeira has to have it unless you want translucent wraps and to me it's a small price to pay for the oustanding colour range available.
I suppose I can forgive you for perpetuating the rumours as you help a lot of builders and do tremendous stuff.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia

Hi gang,

I wish my memory was better so I could be more accurate. I will give it my best shot.

I do not remember when and where I first heard or read about the Robison-Anton Textile Co. I was interested in their metallic thread. It was called "J" Metallic. I called their 800 number and asked for samples. They sent me spools that were almost empty. I remember them being about 4" long. I asked both of my daughters to call and ask for samples also. This is how i accumulated 11 of the 16 samples shown in their color card No. 10H. I still have that first color card. Then I was made aware of Maderia thread.

The samples were like an "A" size thread. I used the thread for underwraps and learned the hard way that the epoxy finish I was using at the time did not adhere to the thread very well. Color seal/preserver was a must.

I remember talking about this "J" metallic thread at a Rod Crafter National Seminar and telling how I got the samples. Yes, Al Goldberg took the journey to the net step by stocking and selling the thread. Not sure if Al started with the "J" Metallic or went right to the Maderia thread. I believe that he still uses it today. Billy Vivona then took Maderia to the next level by using and selling all the many shades of each color.

I am sure that someone around our country may have been early on the scene.

Many years ago there was a thread company who made many shades of each color and the weavers treasured the choices. I had some when I bought out a rod builder and sold it all over the world to weavers. Wish I could remember their name. Many of you know the name. Well, the arrival of Maderia thread championed by Billy V changed all that.

Capt Neil Faulkner



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/2012 08:01AM by Capt Neil Faulkner.

Billy I remember that all too well! You also got your Clemens lathe at that gathering! You beat me by minutes if I remember correctly!

As soon as I found out Dick was selling that lathe, I jumped on it. Best investment ever!!

Hi guys
I have been building rods rods since 1975 and used all available threads: Talbot (UK), Holland, Gudebrod, Madeira and Ackerman (Germany), there is no rule what to use just try them and if they do not work go to the next, Ackerman and Madeira where easy for me to get since i was living at the time in Germany, Billy Vivona got me back to them with finding access to them here in the US. Madeira had metalic threads way before Gudebrod.
Mark

When I started back building rods I went upstairs and stold my wife's embroidery thread. It was a no brainer for me. Just glad it worked out the way it did.

I knew guys that were using this stuff back in the 80's; long before forums and well before I started building. :)

I'm sure there were people using it, a sI posted I saw someone else's rods with it. But they didn't popularize it and make it a common household rodbuilding name.