Crown Bamboo Fly Rod Info Needed

[skondolf]

I recently picked up an interesting bamboo fly rod and I'm looking for some info on it. It's a Crown bamboo rod KIT. It's a 5 piece "kit" as follows:

1 - reversible handle/reel seat which allows me to insert the butt end bamboo section in either end affording me either a fly or casting setup
1 - butt section
2 - fly tip sections
1 - casting tip section

All stored in a balsawood (I think) box.

The fly rod assembles into an 8' rod, no idea what the weight would be but I'm hoping a 4 or 5 wt.

While the box isn't in that great a condition, the fly rod is great. The only issue is the glue on the butt section female ferrule has failed and I can pull the ferrule off - no biggie as I have some rodbond. Also the wrappings on that ferrule is ruined so I have to find some thread. All ferrule connections seem tight and smooth.

2 questions. First has anyone heard of this brand before? Any comments? I definitely plan on fishing it but was curious if there's any worth to it or is it just another production rod from years ago?

Second, who has a good supply of verigated silk thread with color pictures so I can try and match the color of my thread? the color looks like white and green. I can't salvage the existing thread as most of it is gone or broken in a number of places.

Thanks for the help.

[jimswanson]

Steve,

Where do you get rodbond? I managed to pull the female ferrule off of my shorty bamboo rod with the male still stuck in it. If I can manage to get the male out, I can use that (I hope!) to get the female put back on. Thanks.

Jim

[bobbyg]

Hi Steve,

I could be wrong, but I think your rod is a Post WWII Japanese build.
Thousands upon thousands of these rods were sold to Amercian GI's
in occupied Japan.

The "balsa" wood box is the giveaway.

Not worth a lot in todays bamboo rod market, but could make an okay
fishable rod.

Bob

[bugman]

your rod would be a ww2 fly / casting rod... the box is not balsa but ho wood (made from the wood of a certain magnolia tree)... it is the same wood used in saya making (wooden scabbard of a katana)... anyhow these rods were sold to soldiers and tourist durring ww2 till about 2 years after the war... the tiny mycro cameras were sold also durring that time which used a 17mm or 16.5mm roll film that took 8 black & white snapshots... when the pictures from these cameras were developed at the lab, they could be blown up to a whoping size of about 2 by 2inches... there are still mycro cameras that can be found but usually around 100$... also filter lenses, tripods, and cases were available for them... a complete set today cost around 1000$...

[Host Ray]

I agree with Bobby, it sounds like you have a post WWII Japanese rod. American soldiers brought these home by the millions. Not worth much, not very well built. Probably won't fish very well, or should I say very long(the ferrules & guides were poorly mounted, the thread comes off). These come up daily on ebay and in mint condition bring between $50-$100.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Crown-Ba...3%3A3|294%3A50

[skondolf]

Jim - I got Rodbond from Anglers Workshop but just about any shop that sells rod building supplies should have it.

as for the rod, thanks for the info. I figured it wasn't worth much but hey, ya never know. I plan on fishing with it once I get the ferrule glued back on and I'll have to find some thread that is a close match to re-wrap the ferrule.