My Dad passed in May - he was 93. One of his hobbies was crafting rods and working on reels. I inherited quite a bit of components like guides, ferrules, blanks, tips, big spools of winding thread, reel seats, and boxes and boxes of cork, wooden and hypalon(sp?) butts etc as well as a Rod making table a couple of lathes and a line winder with meter. I have plugged them in and they all run. Everything from fly rod stuff to parts to make surf rods. I am having an estate sale soon and how no idea what all this stuff might be worth. I would try to sell it online but it’s so heavy the shipping would be outrageous. I am in West Virginia. I have literally several hundred components. I also have a few 1950’s vintage reels, lots of old lures, etc. Any advice would be most appreciated. I have photos but am not sure how to post them. I would be happy to email them if anyone can look and give me some advice
Thanks,
JL
lemastermu@hotmail.com

Jim,
From one West Virginian (Madison ) to another, I'm sorry to hear about your loss. It sounds like your Dad was quiet a craftsman. A wealth of knowledge has been lost. I wish you well and wish I was still in WV to come see your Dad's treasures, but Arkansas is a little ways off. Good luck in selling.

tmbain@sbcglobal.net

tmbain@sbcglobal.net
Benton, Ar
"NEVER GIVE UP"

Thank you for your kind words. I wish I had learned more about how to build the rods. Like you said, much knowledge has been lost. Clearing out his house and workshops is an immense task. His home is quite large (7500 sq feet) and chocked full of stuff. He was not a hoarder. It was all neatly arranged, but there is a ton of it. Plus when Mom passed in ‘06 he never got rid of any of her things. Just an example - I shredded tax returns (neatly filed) as far back as 1954. I was three years old then ( turn 70 in a couple of months). He also had an incredible amount of tools being a plumber for many years, collected antiques and Indian artifacts, etc. Mom had six sets of china … why I have no clue. I am an only child so it all falls to my wife and I. Sorry to run on! Anyway, hopefully I can get some idea of the value and pass it on to someone who will use it.

Jim, it is always hard to lose a loved one, especially a man you truly cared for. There is a for sale page on this site and you can list the items there. Know that the items will go to a home where they will be used with an equal level of care and love of the craft.

Will do, is there a way to post images? There are drawers and drawers of ferrules, thread, tips, butts, reel seats, etc. I hope to find someone within driving distance or that I can meet halfway - there is literally a pickup load of stuff. I would adjust the price for travel in addition to making someone a heck of a deal, it will be priced to sell… throw in some tackle boxes, sinker molds, bunches of lures, etc. as well. My house is just not large enough to hold it all.

Jim,
I am also saddened by your loss and extend my deepest sympathies. Unfortunately, it seems that with the passing of 50 old-school craftsmen like your dad, maybe only one of the new generation picks-up the pride of craftsmanship banner and waves it proudly. PLEASE do not sell his precious relics to the insensitive bargain hunters; there will be plenty. Rather wait until THE RIGHT person comes along and deserves it and who will carry on your Dad’s legacy.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

I suspect that a great deal of the rod components you have are dated to a great extent and with all the modern innovations may not be of particular value to most custom rod builders. Your best bet may be a tackle shop that does rod repair work. You might want to poke around your local area and see what you can find along those lines.

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

Tom is offering sound advice (as usual). I wouldn't pay a plugged nickel for most any guide from 20+ years ago. However if I needed to match a guide on a rod someone brought to me for repair, all of a sudden that guide becomes a precious commodity.

There are certainly some blanks from the past that command top dollar. The rod lathes may be worth good money if they are the right names. I might covet your rod wrapping thread more than anything else without knowing what you have.

It is always worth looking at the big on-line @#$%& place to get an idea of worth. Sad fact is that if you don't know what something is worth someone will be looking to take advantage of you and your situation.

I suppose there is no chance that you are interested in taking up a new hobby at this point in your life? Maybe I am a strange one (okay I suppose I know I am) but I find a certain value in holding things I know a loved one touched and used daily. I still have a manual egg beater my grandmother used when she taught me how to bake a cake 60 years ago. Just seeing it in the kitchen drawer is enough for me to feel her energy. Ex wife, daughter, and new girlfriends have not been able to make me part with it.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

The thing is, I have several hobbies already, plus I still coach wrestling and I do plan to keep things of my parents as you mentioned. A lot of stuff has sentimental value. The problem is I have no place to keep all that rod building stuff or his equipment from his woodworking shop.). My house is modest (4 bed, 2.5 bath) and Dad’s was huge … he had three large workshops in addition to three garages. His house is almost 8,000 square feet. At this stage in my life, we need to either stay where we are, move to a mountain cabin or downsize. With just the two of us (my kids are 43 and 41 and 1 lives lives several hours away), I do not need a house that big. So, even if I took up the rod building, I would not have a place to do it unless I sold my house and moved into Dad’s PS . I think the thread is Gudebrod brand because some of the boxes have “Wrap A Rod with Gudebrod” on them. I appreciate all the advice you kind folks have given me.

Well I'll certainly volunteer to take that Gudebrod thread off your hands. By clicking on my name you should be able to email me if interested. I'd prefer you set the price as I wouldn't wish to feel I'm taking advantage.

I totally understand all the rest. My condolences. It seems your family has been blessed over the years. I'll pray that it continues to be so. The one thing none of here wants to see is your fathers accumulation of wealth over the years to be stolen by some dishonest person.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.