Good morning I asked this on another topic today but I will ask again. I have colected cane rods for 40 years and I have a fair idea of what most olded rods are worth but this one has me stumped.
one of my fellow workers brought in a rod for me to see and value for him. i will discribe it and its history.
It is a 16’ two handed Hardy salmon rod 4 section that was built while Teddy Rosivelt was in the white house and presented to his great grand father by the same. The rod is fishable mint! in it’s original case.
history and for someone looking for something out of the ordinary, it might be
worth major bucks. Not something the
average Joe would consider fishing though.
Not sure how that might affect price.
Maybe Hardy would like to have it back for
a display.G Good luck. Warm regards, Jim
Tyler asurred me the rod is not for sale he is looking for an insurable value He contacted Hardy and they said rods like that were built per request, and could not give a cost for sure. some where around 200 pound in that time period.
Around the time that Teddy Rossevelt was President of the United States, the average worker made about 25?/per day for a days wages. The British Pound Serling was worth a little over $5.00. If Hardy said that this was a special ordered, built per request Fly Rod per, and cost over 200?, then the I would say that fly rod cost over $1000 at that time.
Since the average American worked made only $1.50 per week, that would make the fly rod cost about 12 years of pay.
I would say it is quite valuable, besides they don’t make them like that anymore.
~Parnelli
[This message has been edited by Steven H. McGarthwaite (edited 16 June 2005).]
[This message has been edited by Steven H. McGarthwaite (edited 17 June 2005).]
There are a few " English " web sites that have extensive listings on Hardy fishing products as collectibles. Only thing is that you’ll need to find a currency exchange chart to convert British pounds to American dollars.
The rod should have a model name, Hardy’s always did. How would you cast it ? With ease and pleasure.A two-handed salmon rod of this size would almost fish itself. With the right line, aftm 11/12 at a guess, and the right casting action it should be as sweet as a nut, heavy, slow but once you get used to the control of line and fly would be wonderful.
A rod like this is an elegant thing that only a wealthy person could have purchased at the time. Anyone who has ever built or restored one can tell you that there is significantly more work, time and material involved than in a trout rod. But what collectors are interested in is short rods, and so rods like this don’t sell for what they are actually worth, IMHO.
In this particular case, however, the connection to Teddy Roosevelt could greatly enhance the value. What your friend should do for future generations of his family is round up what antique dealers call “provenance”. That would be written proof of the Roosevelt connection. The ideal would be a letter or proclamation from Roosevelt presenting the rod. Any family letter at the time talking about the event would help, newspaper coverage at the time, a letter from his father telling the story, would all be useful.
A Hardy of this quality should have a serial number. They might have records proving the rod went to the White House.
Any such information kept with the rod will enhance its value.