Rod Identification

[DFrink]

I have had these two old rods (they were my Dad's) laying around for some time now and I'm wondering if anyone can tell me anything about them? Looking for information like possible line weight, manufacturer, material (one's a glass rod). Any help appreciated. No I haven't taken them out and cast them yet, plan to do that soon though.

Here is the first one:

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/3380/1002166n.jpg
By colfaxtroutman (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/colfaxtroutman) at 2012-08-04

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/8073/1002167a.jpg
By colfaxtroutman (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/colfaxtroutman) at 2012-08-04

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/2793/1002168i.jpg
By colfaxtroutman (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/colfaxtroutman) at 2012-08-04

Here is the second one:

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/786/1002163a.jpg
By colfaxtroutman (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/colfaxtroutman) at 2012-08-04

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/1606/1002164b.jpg
By colfaxtroutman (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/colfaxtroutman) at 2012-08-04

Dan

[Tony Buzolich]

I just read a post on the Rogue River Steelhead Review about the Longfellow rod company. A lady by the name of Liz Stephensen wrote back and said that her parents were the original owners of the Longfellow company. Seems there are quite a few people wanting to know more about that company's history a well.

Also, there was a Longfellow rod for sale on E-Bay for $39.95.

Hopes this gets you started on it's history,
Tony

[DFrink]

Thanks Tony, that helps. Anyone recognize the maker of the other rod (red one)? It's scuffed up so I can't tell (as you can see in the pic's).

Dan

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Here is a message I got about these rods from Jim Adams of Adams Angling Books:
__________________________________________________ _______________

Bill-

Can't really tell on the first, but it looks like a Conolon blank or possibly an Orchard or early St. Croix. The ferrules are an important part of any identification.

I know Longfellow very well. It was a discount company very active in the late 1950's into early 1960's. Art Dedini of Ferndale CA used to sell many Longfellows at his shop for light steelhead fishing. We used to buy 8 1/2' 2 pc. Longfellows for a 6/7 wt. that had great action & made fine cheap [$10 or so] trout rods. They also sold 6-pc. pack rods that were too stiff because of all the metal ferrules. Norm Thompson of Portland OR was selling Longfellow 6'7" 6 pc. for $15 in 1966. I think St. Croix made the blanks for Longfellow.

Assume you have Johnson's FIBERGLASS FLY RODS. Great source of info.

Jim Adams
.

[Lincoln Gray]

Send pictures to Jim Clarkson at Raptor Rods. 530-894-2062 www.raptorrodworks.com

If you have any issue trying to get a hold of him, call me at 530-345-4261

Jim knows everything about fly rods.

[DFrink]

Here's a little history I got from Liz Stephenson:

Back in the late 1940's, George Latos had a grinding company (located in Detroit, Michigan) and did a lot of work for the US Government. As the war came to an end the war work started to evaporate and he needed to find other work to keep his center-less grinding equipment busy. He knew a guy by the name of Mr. Sweetwood who wanted Mr. Latos to starting taper grinding steel fish-rods in 1949. When the Korean war broke out in 1950, Mr Latos was asked by the government to build fiberglass survival seats for the Air Force and fiberglass battery boxes for Army tanks. Once the war was over, Mr. Latos thought he would use the fiberglass technology that he developed for the US Government and started building fish-rods out of fiberglass. This material was much more flexible, had better handling capabilities, was lighter and less costly. This was the creation of the Longfellow Company. With this manufacturing capabilities underway, he created the raw fiberglass shafts and then used his center-less grinding equipment to create different flexes based on different fishing conditions. These tapered fishing rod shafts were sold to a number of companies throughout the country. As the business flourished, he decided to get into the complete assembly of the fishing rods. This step enable Longfellow to create different rods at different price points and for different markets. As the fishing business expanded rapidly in the 1950, 1060's and 1970's. However, there was an ominous light starting to shine on the market. The Japanese entered the market and they started to undercut the market. Does this sound familiar. As time went ago, the economics and competition changed so much that it did not make sense to stay in this market. Therefore, Mr. Latos existed this business and started making automotive parts for the Big Three. This was the end of the Longfellow company and the great fishing rods that it had made for over 25 years.

Pretty cool bit of history.

Dan