Nice Bamboo Project Rod

[AgMD]

I just picked up a nice bamboo project rod thinking that someone in the club would like it. I would do it myself but I have too many irons in the fire to do it.
SouthBend Doublebuilt model 119 8 1/2 ' 3/2 HEH or E line, I would guess 5 or 6 wt in a modern plastic line. Mid is missing 1 1/4 inch from the top and tip MIGHT be 1/4 inch short. Ferrules are chrome plated NS and Sinclair says they ahould have tabs, these might but the Female at the top of the mid is missing hers. The mid has been poorly re wraped. The cane is in excellent shape . All guides are there but rusty . These were made of hardened tool steel and would be worth refinishing.The cork is functional but as ugly as a mud fence and so is the reel seat Which is an interesting blend of Cross and SB parts. Yellow plastic insert and tinny down locking hardware.
This was SB's second highest priced rod in the 50's and sold for $33. The guides are really rusty so I havent cast it but I believe this is a nice casting rod. Light but with a fair bit of stiffness.
If you buy this I will be happy to help in the restoration/rebuild in any way I can.
I'm asking $60. If you are interested we could meet in Billsville or N.A. after 5:00. If after seeing the rod you decide it is something you want to play with , you can buy it. If you don't that is OK too.
Kim

[jlibs]

Hi Kim and club,

I just bought 3 bamboo rods locally at a tag sale from a nice guy who said the rods were his grandfathers. These rods must be 50+ years old, but what do I know? They could be a lot older. Each ofthe three rods is complete, and the bamboo seems ok, but the hardware all needs to be replaced badly and the bamboo needs refinishing.

I thought this could be a good summer project for me and I thought I might use them for future bamboo rod nights with the club.

If I take these rods to the next BFF meeting, would anyone help me identify them better and tell me what I need to do to clean them up? I don't have a clue.

JLIBS

[AgMD]

Boy -o-boy would I like to see them. If you can bring them to the next N. County meeting I'll bring my Sinclair book which may help to identify and maybe even determine era. Refinishing is easy and if as you say all seems to be intact and solid this can be a simple and fun project. The hardest part is wrapin guides and that is not hard just a bit fussy.
Now that you have teased us , can you give us any clues as to what you have. Names / decals? Length? How many sections/tips/ What kind of reel seats/seat inserts?
I would be happy to offer any assistance that I can through this project.
The first thing to do is to "map " each rod. I use long strips of mat board , about 3 ' wide and a bit longer than the rod. I draw a long pencil line the lenght of the board for each section and then place that section allong it's line. Mark the location of EVERYTHING,seat, cork , hook keeper, intermediates, guides AND WHERE EVERY WRAP BEGINS AND ENDS, including notes on color of wrap.
The only really big decision is varnish. Traditional or modern, dip/drip/brush. Being an old fart I prefer to use traditional spar ( Man-o-War) and I dip because it is so incredibly easy and produces a wonderul finish.
I think you are gonna have some fun here and you will come out of it with some nice fishin sticks.
AgMD

[jlibs]

Thanks for the reply. I know the bamboo is OK (at least I think it is), because it's not cracked and it's all there, but the rest of it is shot. I can't identify any of it. I'll bring it to the meeting to show all.

At this point, I plan on going to the meetings (north and south county), but I never know my travel schedule. I'm in Minnesota now, and I was in Argentina yestereday...

I'm very interested in learning about the rods and making them usable. I know it will require a lot of work and effort.

JLIBS