I need help identifying this rod because the part number is worn off. It looks to be ???5-D.
I looked online for old Garcia Conolon rod pdf's and found a few but couldn't find this exact rod listed.
If you look at the attached pdf from a 1976 model year catalog, it's just like #2552 except mine is mustard yellow in color and has 6 guides instead of five (the 2552 has 5 guides plus the carbide tip top and mine has 6 guides plus the carbide tip top).
Does anyone out there have an old catalog to reference?
When I got it, the tip top was broken and the reel seat had a stress crack but the cork was like brand new and the chrome handle needed some polishing. I traded some baked goods from my wife's kitchen to a welder at work in exchange for repairing the crack and I polished the chrome so it looks beautiful again. I also replaced the tip-top with another tungsten carbide unit and polished the other guides so they're nice and shiny.
I know these rods are considered old school but I think they are so classy.
Thanks in advance for any help.
You've probably noticed the length doesn't match anything on the table. You've probably also noticed the color is different from the ones shown. Probably a different generation of rods.
If i had to guess the missing numbers, it looks like 1145. But that's just me.
Jason, the length does match the 2552: 8-1/2' long
The last two # are 45 d . I have tried 11, 21,24, for the first # and no hits
Apologies. When i click the image that's clear. On the grainy reduced version that 8 looked like a 9. But none of the other numbers match, so...
Looks like a 25xx Garcia Conolon rod "Four Gold star" series and fairly rare one due to the lack of any online matches.
My guess is a 2545-D.
Somewhere on one of my computers, I have many of the Conolon catalogs, I just don't know where. I think it's on the RHEL OS server in my shop which I shutdown in the summer when it's 100F+ outside.
If I find the catalog, I will post it.
Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on September 26, 2023, 04:12:44 PMApologies. When i click the image that's clear. On the grainy reduced version that 8 looked like a 9. But none of the other numbers match, so...
Jason, my bad...the typo threw me too and I should have commented on it in the original post.
Quote from: jtwill98 on September 26, 2023, 05:07:46 PMLooks like a 25xx Garcia Conolon rod "Four Gold star" series and fairly rare one due to the lack of any online matches.
My guess is a 2545-D.
Somewhere on one of my computers, I have many of the Conolon catalogs, I just don't know where. I think it's on the RHEL OS server in my shop which I shutdown in the summer when it's 100F+ outside.
If I find the catalog, I will post it.
If you don't mind, if you do post it then please reply to this thread so I get notified.
Quote from: jtwill98 on September 26, 2023, 05:07:46 PMLooks like a 25xx Garcia Conolon rod "Four Gold star" series and fairly rare one due to the lack of any online matches.
My guess is a 2545-D.
Is there a method for the part number nomenclature & suffix (this one has a -D)? What is it that leads you to guess the first two digits are 25? For example, and I'm just making this up, but does the first digit indicate a spinning rod, the second digit the guide type, etc? I have a few Garcia Conolon rods and a couple have -A suffix and a couple have -D suffix. Do you know what the suffix indicates? Interestingly, the catalog page pdfs don't list any suffixes. They were all purchased new by an older gentleman and I bought them from his son after he passed away. The part numbers on the other rods are still legible but this one is a mystery.
I can't find any mention of how to decipher the model codes.
All I could find was mention of the Gold star ratings which came to be after Garcia acquired Conolon (https://www.rodbuilding.org/read.php?2,458621) & scroll down on this page (https://www.realsreels.com/RodsGarcia.html) for a slew of information.
Also https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=43865 has information, but I don't believe anyone has definitive information on decoding the model numbers and gold star rating system used by Conolon or Garcia Conolon as it appears to have changed over the years.
One person stated this - The suffixes were indicative of the year of make -- earliest to latest: T, B, C, D, & A. There was some discussion about whether the T rods meant "trout" and the B ones meant "bass" because the T's were lighter actioned than the B's. Ricard says no, it was just a year designation ... "
I'm not sure what to make of it - A = year one of Garcia's take over, B = year 2 and so fourth?
I thought I had semi-figure out the second digit was type of rod 22xx. 25xx, 26xx where 2 was bait casting, 5 was spin casting, and 6 was flyrods but that doesn't work across the yearly catalogs as some of them show 22xx as bait casting and spin casting rods.
Some reading suggest the first digit was color: 2=blue, 5=brown, but I could not determine if that was true either.
Your theory is as good as any I suppose, since no one seems to have internal knowledge.
Yer I read that too , and I could not see a pattern for coding . I thing you should try the 800 number and see if they can help you .
Quote from: oldmanjoe on September 27, 2023, 04:49:53 PMYer I read that too , and I could not see a pattern for coding . I thing you should try the 800 number and see if they can help you .
I called it and there was a recording that said "check www.alantani.com" ;D
Post pictures of your pole , this way we can see what guides are used . So far all I know is the seat .
Saltwater and possible surf caster / boat pole . I do believe some one made a comment that
D may stand for surf rod .
Quote from: Walleye Guy on September 27, 2023, 05:10:14 PMI called it and there was a recording that said "check www.alantani.com (https://www.alantani.com/)"
Quite funny!
Quote from: oldmanjoe on September 27, 2023, 05:31:34 PMPost pictures of your pole , this way we can see what guides are used . So far all I know is the seat .
Saltwater and possible surf caster / boat pole . I do believe some one made a comment that
D may stand for surf rod .
Here are a few pics that I had when I was working on replacing the broken tip-top (documented in another Alan Tani post). Let me know if you need more.
Ok so it`s a boat pole . Helps with the high speed scanning !!!
I can take a couple more pics tonight if you need to see more of it.
Ok the first guide and a coulple different angles of the model number close up . Lets see if there is a ghost for the numbers .
You got it, I'll take the pictures tonight and will post them tomorrow. I appreciate your help!
The top rod in these pictures of this rod seem to match the color and wrapping of your rod, which is why I thought your rod might be a 2545-D.
The fiberglass color definitely looks close to my rod and also the thread color (both the gold and black lines) seem to match. I can read the 2404 number but not the other. What is the other rod number? After I post this response I'll be posting the pictures of the guides, etc that oldmanjoe requested.
oldmanjoe, here are the guide pictures.
oldmanjoe, here are misc pictures of the part number sticker as well as one that shows the entire rod (in two pieces). Note: the brown paper wrapped around the chrome reel seat is anti-corrosion paper like a ball bearing gets wrapped in for storage. Ever since we moved into this old farm house, my fishing gear is stored in my barn and this keeps it from rusting until I get my garage set up but that's another story for a another day...
oldmanjoe, for my own learning...what do you mean by a boat pole?
Quote from: Walleye Guy on September 28, 2023, 12:12:27 PMThe fiberglass color definitely looks close to my rod and also the thread color (both the gold and black lines) seem to match. I can read the 2404 number but not the other. What is the other rod number? After I post this response I'll be posting the pictures of the guides, etc that oldmanjoe requested.
Sorry, Also 2404-D. I should have included a link to the original source of the pictures. Here it is: https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=70584 & https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1128
2111-D looks like a shorter, lighter, later version (early ceramic guides)
what's the ferrule look like -- metal spigot?
https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=75175 (https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=75175)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/314851351758?hash=item494e9a5cce:g:qiAAAOSwVcllEeF4&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwMHo9bnNBeMj4t0PRfJIlxC6t%2Bn63uMg0DxTlcQdwEvgcFCPaTfdyr5KVm0lDiZNZpLzzigkMtG0ppNvX9%2BVqBQ3JQXGOmpef45D3w%2BcH8vJItYSePRgaik2ug3QfYHep0k5zfSL0xtvvq%2F4gH0vecnBsu7u1opVw5tsq%2FQ76BQInIvpgOZN4bKK29YUuFuv24QTSywDc2YzuDxzZ260OCbWaJfGslSA6n3BGRB5RZlCKwN1tjTtUJDvxIkT7iEMyQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR56CrMnbYg (https://www.ebay.com/itm/314851351758?hash=item494e9a5cce:g:qiAAAOSwVcllEeF4&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwMHo9bnNBeMj4t0PRfJIlxC6t%2Bn63uMg0DxTlcQdwEvgcFCPaTfdyr5KVm0lDiZNZpLzzigkMtG0ppNvX9%2BVqBQ3JQXGOmpef45D3w%2BcH8vJItYSePRgaik2ug3QfYHep0k5zfSL0xtvvq%2F4gH0vecnBsu7u1opVw5tsq%2FQ76BQInIvpgOZN4bKK29YUuFuv24QTSywDc2YzuDxzZ260OCbWaJfGslSA6n3BGRB5RZlCKwN1tjTtUJDvxIkT7iEMyQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR56CrMnbYg)
oops... dunno what happened w/ the fonts/sizes
These pictures did helped . You have a spinning rod with a steel seat . That makes it look like saltwater friendly stick .
The label pictures helped also , I will post the one that helped the most .
The >:D in me wants to hold off what I think I see .
Any body have a guess ?
That EB rod was close ,wrong length and guides .
Getting warm
If it helps, I bought five Conolon rods from the owner's son and three of them are from that ad. They are 2148A, 2159A and 2233A. I don't know why the letter suffixes are on the rod but not in the ad.
Regarding the other two rods, one is an ultralight (2121D) and the other one is the one we're trying to identify.
:) Ok that helps , He likes the 21xx
When I blow up the label , This is what i see . 21 or possible 24 . 21 was more likely because of the spacing between the numbers !!! Yet I can`t find a catalog with those # .
Eagle Eyes Joe, I think you're on the right track. I opened picture 3450 and zoomed in and noticed that the top of the number "1" from the P/N appears to match the same font of the #1 in the 8-1/2 rod length and 2-1/2 ounce lure weight. See snippet below. I also just happened to notice that the sticker is ripped through the letter "D"...
Here is the label of the 2159A rod so you can see the larger font 2 and 1 next to each other. Notice how the thickness of the 2 gets skinny at the top (12 o'clock position). This narrow area of the font can be seen on the rod we're trying to identify. Not sure if I explained that very well...
Update: I added a zoomed view of the 2159A. The red arrow points to the area I'm referring to. It looks like this is where the sticker is torn on the rod we're trying to identify.
Here are the Conolon images from my server all wrapped up in one pdf file.
I hope it helps. I uploaded a newer version sorted by years.
I don't think it's a 2. If it was torn at the middle of the curve the 2 would interfere with the 1. Also on the 2159A the model number is in a more cursive font whereas on the mystery rod it's more blocky, like the line/weight specs. Compare the thickness of the horizontal and vertical strokes on the 5s.
I also found this file in my archive which I don't recall ever seeing.
Quote from: boon on September 29, 2023, 12:43:58 AMI don't think it's a 2. If it was torn at the middle of the curve the 2 would interfere with the 1. Also on the 2159A the model number is in a more cursive font whereas on the mystery rod it's more blocky, like the line/weight specs. Compare the thickness of the horizontal and vertical strokes on the 5s.
I am looking at it 200 % the clear finish and decal is scraped away . The D split .
When I try to drop the blown up picture to the post it goes back 28 %
jtwill98, thank-you for posting the catalog pages. There is a lot of good information in there but unfortunately I didn't see my rod in any of the listings. Ugh :-[
At this point ,I would now worry about it . Even thou fish are in schools , they don`t read labels :cf
Haha, that's true! It still bugs me that I don't know for sure what the part number is so I'm still hoping that someone out there in alantani land will post the original ad one of these days. Fingers crossed...
Quote from: boon on September 29, 2023, 12:43:58 AMI don't think it's a 2. If it was torn at the middle of the curve the 2 would interfere with the 1. Also on the 2159A the model number is in a more cursive font whereas on the mystery rod it's more blocky, like the line/weight specs. Compare the thickness of the horizontal and vertical strokes on the 5s.
You bring up a good point boon. The 2159 rod sticker is more of a cursive font whereas the mystery rod sticker is more of block font. 🤔 Check out the 6 in the 2159 sticker lure weight...specifically the tip of the 6. I wonder if if my rod is 6145-D?
8) Don`t look over there , look here . In regards to the font two different hand writings .
Or look here at another image:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/314851351758?_trksid=p1.c101732.m5053&_trkparms=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2F314851351758%3F_trkparms%3Damclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20230719113457%26meid%3D3a347d51dcd94ad6b6c3e80e5ba13985%26pid%3D101732%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D4%26b%3D1%26sd%3D404521054922%26itm%3D314851351758%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D1%26algv%3DDefaultOrganicWebWithV11WebTrimmedV3VisualRankerWithKnnV3AndUltBRecall&_trksid=p1.c101732.m5053&mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m5053.l9430&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=cd1f59dd3b104e899d4accfadc3896a7&bu=43185083021&ut=RU&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20230929014119&segname=11021
I would agree the model most likely 2145-D, could still be a [3,6,8,9]145-D but not 2545-D based on the closeup.
If I had to place a wager, it would be on 6145D.
Sorry for my delayed response, I was away from email all weekend. I think I'm pretty much sold on X145-D. This morning after looking over the pictures it occurred to me that it also might be a 9 (see attached picture from the 2159A rod). I'm leaning towards 6 or 9 rather than 2 for the first digit. However, the top end of the unknown first digit is above the sticker tear line so if it was a 9 I think I'd probably be able to see the start of the right half of the 9. As such, a 6 seems to be likely.
By dumb luck the 2552-D rod that I mentioned in my original post (the rod just like mine except for color and it has one less guide) is on Ebay right now. Interestingly if you look at the close-up of the decal it appears that the notch cut out of the lower left corner (immediately below the G in Garcia) is supposed to be missing and now that I look closely at my rod I can see that notch too. I thought that entire chuck of my decal had been torn off but now it looks like only a small portion is missing.
Here is the link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175935214079?hash=item28f68e51ff:g:RBsAAOSwDr1lGeeM
I intended to post this picture in my above response but it didn't work. Sorry!
Update: just in case any of you are still following this, I may have identified the rod. Over the weekend I was looking through an old Garcia tackle catalog and may have stumbled across an ad that showed my rod.
See attached image and towards the bottom you'll see #2145. This rod has the same specs as mine, same color and same "decorative diamond wrap" but mine has six reinforced guides plus a tungsten tip top whereas the catalog says five reinforced guides plus tungsten tiptop.
What do you guys think? Is it possible that Garcia revised the number of guides at some point and it used to have five and now has six or use to have six and now has five...but they didn't change the rod number?
Thanks in advance and I hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
Bump...
Can any Conolon rod experts tell me if it was standard practice back in those days to revise the features of a rod (in this case the number of guides) but keep the same rod number?
Bump...
Can any Conolon rod experts tell me if it was standard practice back in those days to revise the features of a rod (in this case the number of guides) but keep the same rod number?