I have been ill since Feb and not on the PC very much and this is the first time I have been logged in for quite awhile. This sounds like a rod that was built using the Silkien Process (i.e.) the rod was wrapped in white silk thread then vanished which would make it disappear, it probably had the varnish break down revealing the thread which then began to unwind. This process was used by the Divine Rod Co and several others whose name escapes me at the moment. The one person I can think of to contact would be Michael Sinclair who now owns the Divine name and is building rods, he has authored several books about bamboo rods and their makers including a restoration handbook. You can contact Michael at paducahmichael@newdivinerods.com Good Luck.......