What do I have here?

Thank you to Google for giving me this site first!
I must admit ignorance in the world of fly fishing, so please pardon my novice attempt.

Over the holiday week-end I received a Bamboo Fly Rod that was my Gradfathers, an avid fly fisherman from the mid-west. It came to me from my father as an heirloom to be passed down, but without too much history other than, “I dont know what its worth…someone offered me $300.00 for it once…”

I know the rod the rod I have is one of 3 purchased in Nebraska by my Grandfather in the 1930’s. It came to in me in a screw top metal rod case with a paper label "Wright and Mcgill, Denver, Colorado. Inside wrapped in a cloth satchel is the bamboo fly rod in a total of 4 sections, the handle, middle section, and 2 tips that appear to be of different heavyness, but the same length. To my surprise it does not appear to have been used, and includes to plastic wrapping around the cork, still intact. Just above the cork, is the signature Wright & McGill rod Co, Denver, CO. 1930.

Im sure there is much more information needed to give an accurate identification of what I have received, but if someone can give me some specific history or other questions to assit with please let me know.

As I am new to your site, I would like to include some pics that may assist in this histry lesson, but need a little instruction. Thank you for your assistance!

Kalmed,

(there are some real artists here that work with Bamboo, so they’ll get back to you).

Welcome to a “community” of really nice people.

Stick around some, … you might just get “hooked”

To post pictures to the forum, … I invite you to look over a thread that ran here over the winter: [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/Forum1/HTML/012417.html:771b3]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/Forum1/HTML/012417.html[/url:771b3]

Sincerely,


Christopher Chin, Jonquiere Quebec

kalmed,
welcome aboard. you have stumbled upon the single best fly fishing forum on the internet. even the greenest of neophytes will soon find themselves casting and catching like a pro, if they only heed the advice offered in these pages.

let me also warn you not to neglect the other pages of this bountiful site. we have here an overwhelming stockpile of archives running the gamut of fly fishing from beginning techniques and gear reviews, to advanced fly tying lessons and annual gatherings. please feel free to browse the site. take it all in, and you will learn all about this fantastic lifestyle.

and just to put your mind at ease, someone will almost certainly know all about your rod. there are people on this board that will read your post and get teary-eyed, they know your rod so well.

get ready for a never-ending journey into the wonderful world of fly fishing. and welcome, once again, to the finest launching pad into this world that one could hope to find .

ps–if you still dont understand how to post pictures after reading over the topic that fcch posted, send me an e-mail(available in my profile), and ill be happy to walk you through it.

In answer to the question “What do I have here?”, you have a piece of family history. A bigger piece than some of us will ever have.
(Am I jealous or envious? Guess I gotta find that dictionary.) Oh, welcome to FAOL.

Kalmed

Welcome to FAOL. Can’t help you much with your rod, although Wright & McGill made some nice boo rods. As Chris menitoned, someone here will read your post and be able to help answer your questions.

This is a pretty friendly bunch of folks. Especially the pirates.

FRIENDLY PIRATES? Dave are you trying to ruin our reputa … oh, I get it. Yea they are a real friendly bunch. Always willing to lighten your (um what was that word, wallet, rum barrel, fly box, oh yea load) Always willing to lighten your load. Invite them over any time.

[This message has been edited by swen (edited 13 July 2005).]

now, now, boys. dont scare 'em away just yet…

Welcome to the best fly fishing forum found. On your rod, it is really hard to say without seeing, but it sounds like a W&M that was built by none other than Goodwin Granger in Denver, and the time fits as well. some good quality pictures would be essential in getting you close to the proper identification, but I can tell you that if it is a Granger W&M, in an “as new” condition with platic still on the cork, you have a highly collectable item that many would pay dearly for.

The grangers are highly respected as fly fishing rods and are sought after by many people. I have seen them sell for over $1000 many times, and of course, certain ones are more in demand than others. Now the big question, the identity of the one that you have. Pictures would be a great help in establishing the true identy of your W&M.

Thank you for such a warm welcome. I have wandered through some the articles and found them very interesting. I will post pic when I get the process down, which may help some identification.

It will not take too long for the addiction to set in as I already have a grafite fly rod with a simple martin reel. I have thrown a few flies around albeit my style is little more …say “Indiana Jones” than “A River Runs Through It”. I have found that trees love flies more than fish, the larger the “CRACK” the larger the fly, and you cant catch fish with a hook with no “FUZZ”! I tend to laught at life (and myself) than to take things too seriously. So as I see it, fly fishing should be the right fit.

Thank you again…

i’ll give you $20 for the rod.

aaarrrggghhh!

First of all ~~ welcome.

I may have missed it in the thread but did you mention the length of the rod? That has a lot to do with the value (generally speaking shorter rods are worth more and longer rods are worth less). Also the model of the rod will determine value. Does the rod have a model name ~~ Victory, Aristocrat, Special, anything like that? No matter what the length or the model you have a piece of family treasure that is priceless.

Welcome to the group. A more friendly bunch you will never find. So pull up a chair, put your feet up and grab a cup of coffee (or rum if you’re near the salt). Oh yeah, and could you throw another log on the fire for us?


“If it was easy anybody could do it”
Timothy S. Furey Sr.

Kalmed,

Sounds like you’ll find all you need here.

Oh, … if you have time, … you can check out the Chat which runs every evening …


Christopher Chin, Jonquiere Quebec

kalmed–

one more thing…about your rod: its absolutely priceless. you cannot put a monetary value on family history. this is your legacy, and should remain as such, to be passed on to your children, your grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren…

Get in touch with Sante Guilliani who posts here as October Woods, I believe. He knows as much about bamboo as anybody living (and owns more 'boo than anybody, I think) He has a website: [url=http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2h7gi/fishnbanjossliceoflifeincyberspacecopy/index.html:b2ecf]http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2h7gi/fishnbanjossliceoflifeincyberspacecopy/index.html[/url:b2ecf]

I think he is traveling at the moment, but do get in touch with him.

BTW, that rod is a treasure, but don’t neglect to fish it. It needs some fishing memories to go along with granddaddy memories.

Kalmed…A little more history for you to help your search…This information is copied from FishnBanjo’s web site and he gets all the credits for the information in this… Banjo is very well known in the bamboo circles as a collector and aficianado…I think your rod may be a little younger than you think based on this history, but it is still old, and still valuable.

From Fishnbanjo’s website.
Wright & McGill Co. Rods

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Wright & McGill Rod Company

Shortly after World War II, the Wright & McGill Co. of Denver, Colorado, acquired the Goodwin Granger Co. Wright & McGill had been in the tackle business since the 1920’s, but had never produced rods. The Wright & McGill Rod Company was formed in 1946, and rehired many former Granger employees as well as many new employees to meet the post-war demand. The first year, there were no changes in the rods themselves. All Granger rods built by Wright & McGill Rod Co. were clearly marked and were referred to as Wright & McGill Granger Rods, not Wright & McGill Rods. From the very beginning of the rod company, the patented internal uplock reel seat used on all rods was stamped Wright & McGill Rod Co. and the Wright & McGill name was applied to the rod shaft two flats above the Granger model name.

Production of Wright & McGill bamboo rods eventually reached between two and three times the number of rods produced annually by the Granger Co. In 1947 W&M began to make changes. The Champion model was dropped and replaced by the Stream and Lake. Other changes by W&M were simply cosmetic, but can be used to help tell the earlier rods from the later ones. At some point, probably about 1951, the rod shaft markings were changed. The direction of the lettering was reversed so that it read toward the grip, rather than away from the grip. Also, the rubber stamp was changed to a heavier and larger script which made the marking much easier to read.

The only major addition by the Wright & McGill Rod Co. came in 1952 with introduction of the impregnated series of Water Seal rods. The company called the impregnated bamboo for these rods Densified Cane. This was the only bamboo rod model marketed by Wright & McGill that was not called a Granger rod. Water Seal rods were produced in two grades, the F. A. and the less expensive F. B. 1952 was the last year bamboo rod blanks were produced by the Wright & McGill Rod Co. There were still bamboo rods cataloged in 1953 on a limited basis, and bamboo rods were available during 1954 in limited lengths and weights, by special order only. Water Seal rods were available for several more years, in fact, as late as 1960.

The Granger Registered rods were the epitome of the rod makers craft in Colorado, and the one model that represents all three major Colorado companies. The Registered rod was designed by Bill Phillipson, produced first by Goodwin Granger Company and later by Wright & McGill Rod Co. The special features that set the Registered rods apart from all others include a serial number on each rod, white trim wraps at both ends of the black wraps, chrome plated internal up locking reel seat rather than the normal nickel silver type, and a hook keeper. They were the only Granger rods fitted by the factory with a hook keeper. The serial numbers ran consecutively from the first one built until they were discontinued in 1953. The first four digits of each serial number are the year the rod was built and the remaining numbers are the chronological number of the rod; numbering did not start over each year. No company records exist of exactly how many Registered rods were manufactured, but based on serial numbers of rods we have inspected, it appears fewer than 400 were built. Each rod came in a black bag and a black tube with an inscribed medallion attached to the tube. The tubes for Registered rods were aluminum for all years except 1942, when World War II forced a switch to plastic tubes.

Champion

8?’ 4? oz. Model GC8642 $325

9’ 5 oz. Model GC9050 $250

9? 5? oz. Model GC9660 $250

Stream & Lake

8?’ 4? oz. Model SL8642 $325

9’ 5 oz. Model SL9050 $250

9? 5? oz. Model SL9660 $250

Victory

7’ 3 oz. Two-Piece $950

8’ 4 oz. Model GV8040 $675

8?’ 4? oz. Model GV8642 $375

9’ 5 oz. Model GV9050 $275

9? 5? oz. Model GV9660 $275

Special

7?’ 3 oz. Model GS7633 $775

8’ 4 oz. Model GS8040 $700

8?’ 4? oz. Model GS8642 $400

9’ 5 oz. Model GS9050 $300

9? 5? oz. Model GS9653 $275

Aristocrat

7’ 3 oz. Two-Piece $1050

7?’ 3 oz. Model GA7633 $825

8’ 4 oz. Model GA8040 $725

8?’ 4? oz. Model GA8642 $425

9’ 5 oz. Model GA9050 $325

9? 5? oz. Model GA9653 $300

Favorite

7?’ 3 oz. Model GF7633 $825

8’ 4 oz. Model GF8040 $725

8?’ 4? oz. Model GF8642 $425

9’ 5 oz. Model GF9050 $325

9? 5? oz. Model GF9653 $300

DeLuxe

7’ 3 oz. Two-Piece $1100

7?’ 3 oz. Model GD7633 $850

8’ 4 oz. Model GD8040 $750

8?’ 4? oz. Model GD8642 $500

9’ 5 oz. Model GD9050 $375

9? 5? oz. Model GD9653 $325

Premier

7?’ 3 oz. Model GP7633 $900

8’ 4 oz. Model GP8040 $775

8?’ 4? oz. Model GP8642 $500

9’ 5 oz. Model GP9050 $400

9? 5? oz. Model GP9653 $350

Water Seal

8?’ 4? oz. Model FA $425

9’ 5 oz. Model FA $325

8?’ 4? oz. Model FB $425

9’ 5 oz. Model FB $325

Wright & McGill Granger Registered

7’ 3 oz. Two-Piece $3500

7?’ 3 oz. Model RX7633 $3000

8’ 4 oz. Model RX8040 $2500

8?’ 4? oz. Model RX8642 $1500

9’ 5 oz. Model RX9050 $900

9’ 5? oz. Model RX9053 $900

Thank you, dleo,
as I now know,That I have a 9’water seal,
Rod in near new condition.with the exception of the label,the word “seal” is a little hard to read…other than that it’s near mint.has dark red windings with white tippings…

I do have a q though,other than the fact that the numbered rods had that feature,why are they worth more,with,what I thought was infeareor componets (mean the chromed reel seats as opposed to the nickel silver. ??..seems odd to me is all.

another Q, Would be how one tells weather you have an FA or FB…?

Have one marked Goodwin Granger but it’s at my mother’s in PA yet…In the process of restoration.Did I make a boo boo,in doing that ?..it needed it…
My pair of southbends are my real pride and joys…wonder what I’m sitting on there…lol…guess I really do need to search these things out…some day…


“I’ve often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before” A.K.Best

“Wish ya great fishing”

Bill

Kalmed,

The prices listed above from Banjo’s site tend to be a little on the low side. I have been pricing bamboo rods as of late, and have found as a general rule that they sell for more than the values listed. For example, the Granger Special 7?’ 3 oz. Model GS7633 listed at $775, good luck trying to buy one for less than $900. Since the rod still has the plastic wrapping around the cork, its’ value is probably significantly higher.

There are certainly some knowledgeable bamboo folks here, but I would also suggest [url=http://p205.ezboard.com/bclarksclassicflyrodforum:212cf]http://p205.ezboard.com/bclarksclassicflyrodforum[/url:212cf] , as this board is also run by Banjo, and is a forum specifically geared to bamboo. There is a section there for appraisals, and once you get photos, as well as full info (length, etc) you will be able to get a very accurate idea of its’ value - not to mention a bunch of offers to buy it.

Jeff


I work only so that I can afford to fish

[url=http://nwcttu.tripod.com:212cf]http://nwcttu.tripod.com[/url:212cf]
Northwest CT TU web site

Wow such great replies with so much information. As I’m at work right now…dont tell anyone…I will post more info and pics on the 15th.

Again thank you all for the warm welcome and plethora of information.

Sorry for getting away from the boo for just a second. The guy at the local shop picked up 2 aluminum cases for 4 piece from a yard sale for $2 each. As he was walking away, he could feel there were rods in them. Because I give him every other pay check, he said he’ld give me one. 7 1/2 foot Write & Mcgill 7wt Traimaster, glass. Any ideas what this is worth? Another thing, I have a good 7wt(8’ 7wt or HCH I think, glass Phillipson). With the changes in line since, what weight should I use for this rod. I can’t remember to go up or down. Thanx guys/gals.

[This message has been edited by mwebb (edited 14 July 2005).]