From my reading of the Johnson book, and my own collection I'd be surprised if Heddon used Conolon blanks.
Heddon long had its own blank making, and along with Conolon was one of the high production blank makers for OEM to those that put their own names on them.
I have a Pal Mark 3 with a yellow blank, and o-ring ferrules that's nothing like any Garcia or Conolon I ever saw.
I haven't seen any staggered ferrule Heddons, or Heddons with metal spigot ferrules as were used on some high end Conolons like Lee Wulff, Charles Ritz and some of the 5-star Conolons (and Walton Powells).
South Bend seems very likely could have used Conolon blanks, or Heddons for that matter.
Remembering the fly rod styles of the sixties, with bright blank colors, lots of decorative wraps, foil, and other aesthetic extremisms, it's not surprising that they might look alike.
-Vinnie in Juneau
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