Vintage Fiberglass rod identification

[Trichoptera42]

Received this rod recently. Trying to identify the manufacturer. 8'6" 2pc fiberglass rod. Believed to be made for LL Bean.
Mustard Gold in color, with a silver label, No text or markings visible on the rod. Does anyone recognize this rod and can provide some information. manufacturer, year range, designated weight? Thank you Phillipson, Fenwick, or Lamiglass (Fisher), .....

 

[CinnamonJoe]

Maybe a Phillipson blank?

Joe

 

[bikerfish]

As far as I can tell from what I've read so far, LL Bean rods were made by Wright&McGill, Phillipson, and Horrocks-Ibbotson. W&M rods had both names on them, the others were only labeled as LL Bean. I will try to look for some more info for you, this is what I came up with so far. You could go on the Fiberglass Flyrodders Forum, those guys are very knowledgeable about vintage glass.
Regardless what it is, I'd Put a Medalist on it with a 6 or 7wt line and fish the hell out of it!

 

[Mashbill]

Joe --- you might be on to something there .... the white underlay .... under the eyelet wraps, and that silver decorative part, and the hook keeper ---- looks to me like its some kind of 'production' rod .... i dont think a amatuer rod builder would bother with that white underlay. Frankly --- if it were me, i'd strip off / remove all the components, strip off that crappy oddly shaped cork and reel seat .... making sure the fiberglass blank is straight, true and undamaged .... and re-build it. it would be a fun project rod --- and might spark a new hobby for the OP. i build my own 'rod wrapper' for a situation like this a number of years ago --- very fun & satisfying winter project

 

[Mashbill]

I think we might be getting closer …. Let me post some pics of a beautiful vintage Wright & McGill ‘Trailmaster’ 7 1/2’ #6 I was able to get my hands on …. There is a distinct similarity between my Trailmaster …. And OP’s Rod ….

 

[Trichoptera42]

As far as I can tell from what I've read so far, LL Bean rods were made by Wright&McGill, Phillipson, and Horrocks-Ibbotson. W&M rods had both names on them, the others were only labeled as LL Bean. I will try to look for some more info for you, this is what I came up with so far. You could go on the Fiberglass Flyrodders Forum, those guys are very knowledgeable about vintage glass.
Regardless what it is, I'd Put a Medalist on it with a 6 or 7wt line and fish the hell out of it!

I agree and I have requested access to fiberglass flyrodders forum. thank you

 

[Mashbill]

Note —- the decorative wrap on the but section …. There’s that white underlay!!

I picked this up on EBay many years ago… I had to re-wrap the guides as 1) the stripper guide was for silk line and 2) the snake guides I didn’t like ….. under EACH original guide was that white underlay—- it turned out to be some kind of plastic ….

 

[CinnamonJoe]

The white underlay is too coincidental to Mashbill's Wright & McGill example.

I vote Wright & McGill OEM'd the blank/rod for someone else (LL Bean, some other sporting goods chain, other retailer, etc.); even the blank paint appears to match.

Joe

 

[Mashbill]

The white underlay is too coincidental to Mashbill's Wright & McGill example.

I vote Wright & McGill OEM'd the blank/rod for someone else (LL Bean, some other sporting goods chain, other retailer, etc.); even the blank paint appears to match.

Joe

WINNER!! Prize is a BIG slice of my homemade ricotta & meat lasagna… gravy on the side!

 

[Bamboozle]

Take some photos of the ferrules, winding check & more of the grip & reelseat; join the Fiberglass Flyrodders forum and post your question there.

The amount of knowledge among the some of the members is amazing...

BTW - The white underlay on Wright & McGill rods was usually paint or tape with a spiral over-wrap in brown on the butt section as a decorative wrap and sometimes on the stripper guide. The rest of the guides & the hook keeper were plain brown with no trim.

The OP's rod is white THREAD with brown thread over that and more white under wraps and trim wraps than is usual for W&M production rods.

 

[PennKev]

I'm going to throw out Heddon as a possibility due to the metallic foil section above the grip. Heddon used such a label on some rods but the print wears off them easily.

A picture of the ferrules would be very helpful. Rods of Phillipson origin are easy to ID based on ferrules for example.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

Am I the only person who sees the giant Wright & McGill / Eagle claw medallion on it?

 

[Bamboozle]

Am I the only person who sees the giant Wright & McGill / Eagle claw medallion on it?

It is a quirk of this forum that all photos in thread get linked together...

The Wright &McGill photos are comparison photos posted by Mashbill, not photos of the rod in question posted by Trichoptera42.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

Thank god, coz it was highyl annoying that everyone was mi ssing the very obvious.

Anyways, I'm going back to not paying attention.