Need some info please on this Rod.

Smiths of London, split cane, two piece, also has two top pieces, 7ft long, in a bamboo case with brass ferules, & canvas bag.









An imput appreciated, age, history of maker, value etc,

Cheers,

BF.

Does it say "Ogden Smiths"? It looks like their work, teens to mid '30s. I can't really tell you much about them. they were a mid level country sports company, and operated until the sixties at least.
English rods of that length are unusual and to have two tips rare, so it's a nice find. It looks a though it's missing a ring which is a shame, but it could be replaced. if it's the butt ring (can't tell from the photo) it should be a small, thick agate in quite a low frame.

I'm rubbish on values on this sort of rod but I can easily see someone giving £80-100 for it (maybe a fair bit more).

Tim.

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Hi Timmy, yes it does say Ogden Smith, my fault with the photo's, & also it does have a ring missing off the rod, but I have it kept separate, it's the first ring on the butt section, all the rings are original.

Didn't want to try & re-whip it in case I made a balls up.

Thanks for the info,

BF.

Lovely looking rod. Would be worth spending a few quid to get it professionally refurbished.

Nice rod, it could easily be rewhipped. Don't know if it needs refurbishing completely, it may well just need polishing up, and any varnish chips touching up, and then reblending. Many old rods are ruined by refurbishment, quite often it's renovation work that is needed. I've seen many an old rod refurbished with the wrong rings, unsuitable thread etc, it's like seeing an old guy wearing the clothes of a teenager, much better to grow old gracefully.

Thanks for the replies. I've had a good look at the rod, & I can only see one problem, & that's the butt ring, + a small patch of varnish missing. Everything else looks original, & in very good condition, taking into account it's age. The bamboo tube has loverly grain, got that tarnished look with age.

I doubt very much I'll use this rod, maybe let it go to someone who'll give it a good home, & let it grow old in a collection, see what happens,

BF.

I really think you should fish it, at least once. As long as it doesnt have any preexisting problems you are very unlikely to hurt it, and it should be the ideal tool for a little stream. Look it over very carefully for any broken strips or open seams. If you find none, put it together and give it a waggle, start gently but get quite firm with it. If you hear or feel any creaking or clicking there's a problem
I completely agree with Nick that any restoration must be done sensitively. My philosophy is to do as little as possible, but to the best standard. However whipping on a ring shouldn't be beyond you, the thread will be silk, and possibly quite heavy. Pearsall's Naples is a likely candidate for the original, but is tricky to get hold of. The Gudebrod silk from GuidesnBlanks might be a good match. The thread may have been colour preserved (can't tell from the photos, but the trim above the handle was) they probably used shellac originally, but on dark colours there are other things you can get away with. The tricky thing will be the varnish, matching it perfectly is very difficult, but for a repair, what is most important is that you use a traditional natural resin varnish. this shouldn't react with the old stuff, and will let you rub it around to blend better.

Tim.

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Hi BF, if you fish that rod chances are it will snap, By now it will have dried out to some extent, I have a few cane rods, Hardy perfection, Crown haughton, no way would I fish them, hang them on the wall and adore them.

BF, I agree with Tim, that you should fish it at least once-but with care.
If I recall rightly, Ogden Smith used to be at 2-3, Royal Exchange, and made very workmanlike rods, amongst all their other tackle, albeit a bit on the heavy side in comparison to other makers of the era. They used to make excellent "double-built" rods, i.e. one rod built outside of another, and sometimes with a steel centre!
The reel ferrule is typical of their own unique designs and it should have a "W" fitting for the lower leg of the reel saddle, which should bear their crossed fish on lines logo.
The general condition of the rod shows that it has been well used, because of paint wear on the reel ferrule, but by the same token, lovingly cared for, because of the overall appearance.
You say you have the missing line guide? It should not be beyond you to replace it. If the bindings above the brass fitting on top of the cork are original-and there is nothing to suggest they aren't, then it is almost certainly something like "Elephant" brand silk, which is heavier than "Naples". The colour looks bleached out by the photo flash, but is probably crimson. Before you replace the ring to the rod, strip the paint from a section of hexagonal wooden pencil and practice your whippings on that. You can also varnish this to test for colour match.
Because of its' age, the original varnish will have probably darkened from new colour, so you may have to add a little staining to the varnish to blend in; again, practice on the pencil, until you are satisfied the colour is right. You will get a smoother application by applying it with the finger, rather than with a brush, using several coats to build up the level.

I see no reason why you should not use it now and again. Rods were built to be used and this one, when matched with the equivalent of a No.2 'Kingfisher', something like a #5 line, will be an absolute joy to use.

Thanks for showing it.

Chough

You have a link with the dawn of dry fly fishing there. Ogden Smiths was the business that was carried on by James Ogden's daughter and her husband after James Ogden's death. He was probably the first to come up with short fly rods to take advantage of the new heavy silk casting lines. He called his first short rods (8ft to 9ft) "Multum in Parvo", which means "Much in Little". Perhaps not as historically important as a "James Ogden Maker Cheltenham" rod but still a true link and worth renovating and using.

richard

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