Parker-Hawes Fly Rods

[OH Osthaus]

Bob Taylor still attends the Catskills Rod Makers Gathering - he tells some interesting stories of the operation

and i have watched him demonstrate his wrapping technique - even videoed it once - still cannot figure out how he does it he is so fast

[stumpstalker]

I was just given a Weber MONOGRAM bamboo fly rod, accompanied by an Akron-built Pflueger Medalist 1494 ½ reel. Its owner (a neighbor) had inherited it, will not fish it and knew that I have connection, however tenuous, with fly-fishing.

I wasn’t going to get into another sphere of collecting vintage stuff (as per my above post on 6-11-18). But the gifted rod and reel were delivered to my door-step the day before yesterday –- left right there on a block of granite -- like an orphan. So, I guess it is my fate to be the person to render the rod fishable again.

The Weber MONOGRAM may not be the “Parker” of vintage bamboo fly rods, but doesn’t it at least qualify as an evocative, albeit "hardware store", side-by-side?

[Victor Wasylyna]

Originally Posted by Russell E. Cleary

I will not fish it

Then feed it to a panda. Fishing rods are for catching fish, not sitting in a closet.

-Victor

[stumpstalker]

Victor:

You misread my post and thus misquoted me.

It is my neighbor who will not fish it, and who gave it to me because I will fish it.

[stumpstalker]

When I removed the rod from its bag the tip guide slipped off the end of the upper section, and I could see that two loop guides were missing. Some helpful classic rod enthusiasts referred me to Dana Gray, current owner-operator of the Carlson Rod Company. As it turns out Dana’s shop is located in Townsend, Massachusetts, about four miles from my house; and not only does he build cane fly rods in the style, with techniques and equipment of C. W. (“Sam”) Carlson, with whom he worked and from whom he bought the business in 2002, but conveniently for me he does repairs.

I delivered the rod to Dana yesterday in Townsend, Massachusetts. It is an 8 ½-foot; 3-section, 1930s-era, Heddon-built, Weber Monogram, with Perfection tip; loop, and stripping guides.

Right off he began straightening the imperceptible-to-me bends in the rod and he will replace the two missing guides. Since there is a slight amount of play in the pined ferrules, he will re-secure those, as well.

Visiting the shop was a treat; and as for accessibility, who could ask for more?

[Parker-Hawes]

was likely made by Heddon of Dowagiac MI. They made many rods and had a complete line of rods under there own name such as Heddon Deluxe #35. They also made a line of quality rods that sold to the trade many of the same models and of similar quality. Your rod is in good hands with Dana. I have known him for many years and he is expert at repairs and building very fine rods himself.
Best of luck with your new classic bamboo fly rod, Paul

[stumpstalker]

My generous neighbor brought over what he called a “bonus”, to follow the gift of the Weber MONOGRAM rod: his grandfather’s aluminum fly box, containing some flies; and some vintage-looking rifle reloading implements.

The box itself I have started to clean up and restore, as the foam rubber material inside had petrified.

Below are pictured the flies. Large flies, I would say, for fishing in Big Country.

And the reloading items.

As it turns out, his maternal grandfather, George Alden Crandall (1906-1989), of Connecticut, farmed; was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; had a military career, then became a guide and sporting goods wholesaler based out of Casper, Wyoming.

Below is a photo of Colonel Crandall (standing to the left), on Peleliu Island, in 1945.