I've seen them. As near as I can tell, these rods were not cataloged or advertised. To me they have more in common with the Scientific Anglers rods of the day than the Phillipsons. At the time, 3M owned both companies. Also, near as I can tell, these rods have brown glass under the paint. Phillipson Epoxites were made with 3M Scotchply, which is white glass.

My suspicion is the rods were made in the time frame you say, or perhaps a little later, but never actually marketed. There is a lot about the rods that says 'Fisher sourced' to me (solid spigots, brown glass, and the reel seats). Perhaps 3M changed course and mothballed everything - Phillipson trademark included. Then they put their marketing muscle into the Scientific Anglers graphite product line. Since then the rods and blanks have slowly trickled onto the secondary market.

I've got an 8 footer built on one of these blanks and I've seen a couple of other lengths. Mine is a nice casting rod, no doubt. It doesn't feel exactly like a Scientific Anglers System rod, nor does it feel exactly like an Epoxite. But it is a really nice classic rod. I just can't tell you how it came into existence. If anyone has a catalog or magazine advertisement for these rods it would help immensely.

Tom

A couple or three yrs back there was a couple of those brown spigoted Phillipson/3M rods sold on Ebay as single tip Registered Midges, 6'6" and a 7". Everything about them looked correct other being brown with brown spigot ferrules. IIRC they brought between $350-$400.

Corlay, are you saying that these dark brown spigot ferruled Phillipson 3M Epoxite blanks from 1974-1975 were not based on tapers designed by Bill Phillipson?

What about the honey colored sleeve/ring ferruled Phillipson 3M Epoxite blanks from just a year or so previous, from 1972-1973? Not a Bill Phillipson taper design?

I know the salmon colored blanks from 1970-1971 were pre-3M. Were these a different taper than the honey colored blanks from a year or so later? (they were both Scotchply, as far as I know).

Anyway, I'm just curious and trying to better wrap my mind around some more of the Phillipson history.

Thanks for any additional info, and the info so far!

^5 Tom!

Absolutely no doubt in my mind. So much so that I wouldn't consider one of those brown spigoted 3M/Phillipsons in my quest for a Registered Midge other than a curiosity.

By the way, I think the level of Bill's involvement at 3M will astound people. I went through approximately 1000 pages of correspondence between Bill and the folks at 3M concerning Phillipson rods. .. suffice to say, even to the team of 3M Ph.D.s working on Scotchply, Bill was a genius.

-- Dr. Todd

Todd, don't be a tease. What can you tell us about the brown spigot ferrule blanks?

Tom

@Golfswithwolves: Here's something for all the Swedes out there -- Bill Phillipson's Swedish passport (courtesy of Don Phillipson):



-- Dr. Todd

Thanks for sharing this info, Dr. Todd. Very cool!

I received 2 7' 5wt Phillipson Midge blanks from Randy Ruwe a couple of days ago, both stamped Phillipson 3M Epoxite. These are outstanding blanks, and I am amazed at the sophisticated taper from 40 years ago. Bill Phillipson really was a master. And thanks, Randy!

One of the blanks is the yellowish tan / honey kind of color with the sleeve ferrule with the ring (circa 1972-1973 I believe), and the other blank is the dark brown color with the fiberglass spigot ferrule (circa 1974-1975 I think).

There has been some speculation that the later dark brown blanks were not actual Phillipson tapers, but both of these blanks appear that they may in fact be identical tapers. While the dark brown blank is just a little heavier glass, several measurements at various places along the lengths showed no differences. Very interesting ...

Are we not talking about the brown EF70? There was also a 6'6", same blank. I have the 7-footer, brown color, spigot, labeled 3M Epoxite, bronze slide rings. Mine is a factory build, and it's very pretty! There is an ad in the Johnson book, pg 84.

The Swede

Russ, ask and ye shall receive:

(broken images removed)

In a nutshell here it is: Yes, the Spigot-ferruled rods were made by 3M Phillipson in Minneapolis. The 1974 3M catalog lists their Phillipson fly rods in two colors -- Series A (Caramel Tan--9 models) and Series C (Burgundy--5 models). The difference between the two, in addition to different glass (and color) was the spigot ferrule on the Series C as seen above.

FYI @chform's gorgeous, beautiful seven footer was listed as C702 in the final 3M catalog. It would have come with a folder with this:



I doubt any complete set of registered diploma (still signed by Bill Phillipson up the end of the 3M era), wallet card, patch, and 3 stickers exists.

I had so much fun doing the Sila-Flex book that I want to continue this series; I have just got a full set of Scott catalogs and will turn to that company next when Phillipson is done, and then hopefully do Winston, T&T, NARMCo/Garcia, Fenwick, Actionrod, and some others. Hope to have about a dozen or more when all is said and done.

-- Dr. Todd