| I've
created this site for my own pleasure, and there are few things that give
me more pleasure than old fishing rods and exchanging information about
them.
History fascinates me, and I want
to cover 19th century rods from a variety of angles. The period from
1850 to 1890 was a time of incredible change. The 1850s to 1870s saw
the end of the smith age. The 1860s also brought the upheaval of the
Civil War. The 1870s to 1890s ushered in the Industrial Revolution
in the fishing tackle industry - a great age of machinery that released or
spawned levels of creative energy and innovation in the tackle industry
that are rarer than "once in a life time."
I
enjoy studying the evolution of the rods and reels, as reflected in the
patents that were issued from 1850 to the end of 1900. So - there
are pages listing every rod related patent for the period, many showing
the original patents drawings along-side photographs of those very
components. The patents can be sorted by date of issue, by rod
maker, or by rod component, such as ferrules or reel seats.
I
enjoy reading books written by or about the early rod makers. There
are pages devoted to my favorite rod makers and pictures of their rods.
I love bamboo, but the earlier rods made of greenheart, bethabara,
hickory, ironwood, lancewood - they appeal to me even more.
Collectors
also face particular problems trying to identify antique rods. I'll
update the pages on rod identification clues and hints as often as I
discover new info.
So, my
plans are ambitious. My rod collection keeps growing, and I learn
something new every day. "Louie, this could be the start of a
beautiful friendship." - if you like reading about and talking about old
rods. |
