(thread title has been updated to reflect that the rod has been at least partially identified)
So this is a fun one. I've never seen this logo before. I can make out a "HOR... and a "co." On the top of the small diamond in the middle of the fish. I figured horrocks & ibbotson. It starts with the correct letters and their rods have sticker logos that share a lot of design elements, but none seem like a perfect match. (edit I found a pic of one whose sticker was intact, see next post) The bracket on the reel seat seems like a later addition.
Does this look familiar to anyone?
I found a pic of a similar logo. Confirmed Horrocks and Ibbotson. But I didn't see this on a list of rod decals with date ranges.
Yes looks familiar . Your reel seat has a replacement rear hold down . It should have been a slip ring .
Yet I have a Montague with that style rear hold down .
amigo Jason, you will need a bigger house if you keep finding more and more bamboo rods
Those are cool joe. I need to find a bamboo rod I can actually use.
Taking it with a grain of salt because the person was selling the rod, but that logo was described as being the rare and desirable "trout logo" discontinued in 1929. But I didn't think the "best by test" showed up til the early 30s.
Alex this one is gonna go on the wall in my office. I'm not gonna make a habit of collecting things I can't actually fish with.
I'm getting ready to start refurbishing this rod. Am I correct that those wraps on the guides are an owner repair, not factory wraps?
Does anyone know the age range of that pfleuger "griptite" clamp on the reel seat?
Red and yellow gold ,just like the decale . The test of patience is tying the intermediates . Narrow yellow broader red narrow yellow . The clamp may have came out in 1930-31 .
So I finished wrapping this one about a week ago, and finally got around to sealing it. I did a single coat of fast dry polyurethane (satin finish) to mimic the vintage style. I may add more coats but I'm not sure it's necessary. Not like the guides will be under a lot of load hanging on the wall. I went with a red and tan tiger thread wraps, with red and gold decorative bands.
I still don't quite understand the guide geometry, but that's ok it's for display.
I had a similar Montague, made from "Golf of Tonkin" bamboo. The double side guides are supposed to be on the rod spline so you can use either side, by turning the top 1/2. Less limber on one side, than the other? Less wear on the guides by switching to a different side? I like the way they designed the tip-top guide so you only have one less obtrusive ring to worry about.
There were three big players in the split bamboo rod game, Montague, Horrocks & Ibbotson, and Union Hardware. They all used Gulf of Tonkin bamboo and all made rods marked with other trade names as well. Tonkin cane is still the best species for rod building because it has really thick walls and long internodes. It became impossible to get in the Western World for a while during and after the Vietnam War
You're holding out on us Jason. Let's see that Vom Hofe reel.
I know zippo about bamboo any one that pole I cut a few weeks ago was heavy.At the thickest point where I cut was almost solid except for the center was maybe 1/8" hollow.
Back in elementary school we made pop guns to shoot plums at recess ??? The hollow of the bamboo had like a paper membrane
the best I recollect.
Quote from: oc1 on March 12, 2026, 07:10:05 PMYou're holding out on us Jason. Let's see that Vom Hofe reel.
The reel currently in place is a "Cozzone" reel, it's the right era and seems to be the right size.
I've yet to find a vom hofe reel in my price range that really interests me. Definitely found some in my price range. And definitely found some interesting ones. So patience prevails, for now.
Just gotta work on my display board.