Question on traditional bamboo rod windings
I have looked at a new Hardy cc de France 7 foot 2 pice 4 wt rod and it is gorgeous of course. There are a series of narrow winding bands (red thread) equally spaced along the length of the rod. These look perfect and also looks to me like it must have taken a lot of work to do this. I know the original CC de France was a 30's design. Are these windings cosmetic or structural? Is it a mark particular to Hardy or this particular rod perhaps? Or a tradition in bamboo rod building? I don't know boo about boo, so hope that someone here familiar with this rod and it's history can fill me in.
Thanks
Rich
The Hardy Casting Club de France
Hi Rich,
You are looking at one of Hardy's most venerable and coveted rods.
A most powerful 7 footer that has been in production by Hardy circa 1911.
The evenly spaced wraps are called intermediate windings.
I believe they were initially incorporated in the design as structural.
They were a kind of additional bonding of the bamboo strips.
They are cosmetically appealing, in my opinion.
And yes, it does take a lot of work to attain these wraps.
Just ask any restorer as he curses them while redoing an old rod.
As to whether this theory holds any water, I really don't know.
No, this feature is not limited to Hardy rods.
Many early rodmakers such as H.L. Leonard, F.E. Thomas, E.W. Edwards,
Hiram Hawes, and many others incorporated these intermediates.
Don't see them too often today. Although some makers offer them as a option to the buyer.
Hope this helps you a little.
Bob