I acquired one of Keith's 306s via Jason, & mounted it on a Heddon Pal Special Purpose #7444 6'3" I got at Goodwill. It seems matched perfectly, pretty stout live bait combo for $5 . So rabbit trail here, how bout some Heddon Pal history/stories?
I once owned a Heddon Pal Mark I spinning rod, 5 ft. red fiberglass, 2-piece with a metal ferrule. Sliding rings to hold the reel on, with a cork handle. I believe it was a Model 7250, but not sure. It was about the slowest action rod I have ever used; very "limp". You know what? I really enjoyed it, but my wife enjoyed it even more & it became "her" rod. A lot of fish caught on that one. It was misplaced in a store parking lot when we had stuff out of the back of a van & were repacking. Never seen again. Don't see them very often for sale online, or I'd get another. I would not think there would be much demand for a rod like this, but I guess I am wrong. A sentimental trip for me, mostly.
Frank
The thing about old fiberglass rods is that they all get softer/more limber with use. You might really like it at the beginning of its life or you might really like it at the end of its life. But, perhaps not both.
My mother had a 7 ft no-name solid glass rod with a relatively light tip and one of those heavy hardwood handles. She had a green Shakespeare Wonder Cast spincast reel on it. The rod and reel were a complete mis-match and the rod became a noodle from years of surf fishing for Gulf Whiting. That was the only outfit she fished with and would not let any of us kids touch it.
Steve it sounds like she had it broke in just right, hard to beat fresh whiting for supper.