Vintage Rods Value?

handi2 · September 03, 2015, 10:14:34 PM

A neighbor brought over some old reels and rods. Also a like new, maybe never used, Heddon fiberglass fly rod. It's a Mark IV #8452 7'. I know the rod is worth something but what about the Heddon Pal Steel 5' rod and the other 3'6" split bamboo rod. The guides are coming off.

handi2 · September 03, 2015, 10:16:10 PM

Here is the fly rod.

handi2 · September 03, 2015, 10:17:54 PM

The fly rod has the cloth cover and cardboard tube the is green with Heddon in red scrolled on.

Penn Chronology · September 07, 2015, 05:20:54 AM

Hard to put a value on these. Even the spit bamboo is not valuable. Best test is to put them up for sale and see what happens.

Rods need name recognition to start with for solid values. Edward vom Hofe, Hardy, Tycoon rods raise eyebrows and values. Montague has value but not big value; but, the combine the name recognition with good condition and desirable styles and you have value.

What I find interesting is fly rods. They seem to hold value better than bait casting rods.

I used to have a friend that did the flea market circuit every weekend. He had hundreds of rods and reels for sale all the time. He used to tell me that the rods were good to draw in the reel buyers. The reels is where the money was made. When he would bulk buy, he would not pay for rods, he considered them mostly junk and would make it seem like he was doing you a favor to take them from you. Of course there are always high end items with every kind of product; but, for the most part, old fishing rods are a dime a dozen.

whalebreath · September 07, 2015, 03:05:20 PM

Quote from: Penn Chronology on September 07, 2015, 05:20:54 AM.... for the most part, old fishing rods are a dime a dozen.

Yeah I see that here all the time.

Normslanding · September 07, 2015, 05:40:39 PM

That is well put. Very few rods stand the test of time. Reels hold value longer, but few for a long time.
You have a expert on this site, Randy I hope you see this.
But most old stuff is just old stuff. The are two other things that add value, sentiment, and interior decorators. Look on ebay, see what is selling.
There is no sentimental value around this site, is there guys?

jigmaster501 · October 16, 2016, 06:56:00 PM

Hey guys and gals,

I bought and Edward vom Hofe No 4 fishing rod at a yard sale with a wooden TKO sidewinder on it. The guy wanted 70 dollars.

The rod was redone and painted green.

Does anyone know what this is worth?

Thanks

oc1 · October 16, 2016, 08:15:35 PM

I would pay $70 for that, but have no idea of the value to a serious collector.

Old rods are difficult to use. Wood and bamboo is dry and brittle, metal has poor action. Old rods are difficult/expensive to ship. Old rods are difficult to store or display in a collection. Old reels are more accommodating on all counts.

-steve

Penn Chronology · October 17, 2016, 04:45:06 AM

QuoteI bought and Edward vom Hofe No 4 fishing rod at a yard sale with a wooden TKO sidewinder on it. The guy wanted 70 dollars.

Edward vom Hofe rods are special. Any unbroken and complete Edward vom Hofe rod is worth $70. What is very important is if the guides are all there and original. Look for agate guides.

I am not sure what a #4 rod is. Usually EVH rods are tournament quality and stamped in a number of locations with the makers mark. I feel that true EVH rods are woodworking art.

Look for rod model names inscribed under the varnish with white India Ink.

Company Stampings and Era Material Stampings.

Agate guides and finely wrapped and built butts with German Silver seats.

.

In my opinion, everything about a vom Hofe is first class. This rod I am showing is not a top of the line rod, it is one of Edward vom Hofe's medium priced rods.

This rod was classified a Light Tackle rod for fishing in Tarpon Tournaments. After the restoration, the rod tip weighed in at exactly 5 1/2 ounces. The perfect weight for a light tackle, split cane tournament rod. The rod was named Useppa Light Tackle after Useppa Island in Florida where Edward vom Hofe would spend his winters fishing for Tarpon. It was a production rod from the vom Hofe shop in New York.

Look your vom Hofe rod over carefully, they are very special historical pieces. Not just old wood fishing rods.

jigmaster501 · October 17, 2016, 05:48:49 PM

mine was redone with green paint and stainless guides just wrapped on probably 30 years or so ago. has a round appearance and doesn't look like split bamboo.

I was thinking of stripping the paint to see the blank.

The wooden sidewinder on it is a TKO sidewinder in decent shape.

oc1 · October 18, 2016, 10:01:52 AM

Split bamboo can be round. It is unlikely to be hardwood or steel and the Vom Hofe name disappeared before fiberglass came along. Also, it could have been make by Cross or Montague and sold under the Vom Hofe name.
-steve

Maxed Out · October 18, 2016, 05:41:10 PM

Wow Keith, that's cool to find in such pristine condition.

Mike, that is one beautiful rod !!

I have a 7' one piece split bamboo rod that has no makers mark. I've never considered it valuable, just a neat piece of history. All 4 eyes still retain their original wrap !!

This may well be the Montague Mike had mentioned, but no markings at all. It's definitely the longest one piece split bamboo I've ran across.

Ted

The Great Maudu · October 20, 2016, 08:51:16 AM

Vintage rods are only valuable when connected with high end manufacturers like vom Hofe. Not many tackle collectors focus on rods partly due to their size and bulkiness. However I can't resist them. I love split bamboo surf and boat rods. Fly rods are in their own category but famous makers still rule. Here's a pics of a Kingfisher rod in mint condition and a pic some rods and reels I've picked up. If you ever want to sell bamboo remember I'm a sucker and an easy mark, lol.

Penn Chronology · October 21, 2016, 04:33:02 PM

QuoteMike, that is one beautiful rod !!

Thanks Ted.

I no longer own it. It now hangs in the Useppa Island Museum in Florida. It needed to be there, so I had to sell it to them under conditions that when they display it they give credit to me and the Old Reels Collector Association. They cooperated and it is now there. It was a very rare rod, the only one I have ever seen. It is in the Edward vom Hofe catalogs as a Useppa Island Light Tackle Tarpon rod.

One unanswered question about the rod is the material that EVH states the fore grip is wrapped in. What is """DAREX"""?

Tightlines667 · October 21, 2016, 05:08:25 PM

Mike,

DAREX is obviously a non-slip grip material of the day

http://reeltalk.orcaonline.org/viewtopic.php?t=8212

http://www.antiquetackleobserver.com/2009/03/09/edward-vom-hofe-part-1/#more-104

From what I can glean from Google Books (EPA documents), and MSDSs, it is a leather that is treated with a compound to make it waterproof... or maybe an early faux waterproof leather?