It is a honking big rod, but it feels as light or lighter than my '65 FF90 with a DT 7 on. I believe the 337 is a post 1956 introduction, and is intended for 7 weight. The other 9 footer, the 335, was a 9 weight. I don't know what the 335 weighed. It's in the '56 catalog. The only other 337 I've heard of is a guy on another board who has one with two tips. I find the styling and grip shape to be a kind of transition into the early Feralite style.

It is nice; the ff90-3 is the longest 6 weight they made that I know of. Thanks for sharing that A series rod, Carlz. That Mylar can be seen from space, I'm sure of it. I'm going to check google earth and find out your fishing spots.
Also, does the pattern in those transitional-era Fenwick blanks not look a lot like Eponite?

I assume it is. That old, flattened, almost still Deco script is really cool.

Sweeeet! I kinda wish they'd stayed with that flat, golden butt wrap. It's alright.

Just purchased this and I wanted to add some photos of another early Fenwick...still waiting for it to arrive in the mail (photos from seller)

Thanks! I can’t wait to try it out. It will be my bass setup...just need to find a reel.

That is pretty. Thanks for posting the pictures.

First let me say I do not know much about Grizzly other than they supplied blanks to Fenwick, while at the same time selling their own rods. I vaguely remember something about Fenwick acquiring Grizzly, as was the case for the major rod distributors acquiring the manufacturers of their blanks.

I have 2 categories of items that may be helpful to this discussion:
1. I have a copy of Fenwick by Victor R. Johnson, Jr., EP Press 2005
2. I have 3 Grizzly or Grizzly-Fenwick fly rods (in a storage unit)

Victor Johnson writes that the Feralite ferrule (aka Jim Green ferrule; aka taper lock ferrule) was granted a patent Jun-1-1965 (applied for Mar-23-1962). Further, that the first Fenwick rods with the new ferrule system were sold in 1962.

An excerpt from my spreadsheet on rods in storage is below. The dates are based on what I found in excerpts from catalogs (some years ago) and I acknowledge they may not be correct given sales started in 1962. However, the other details are correct.

Comments and corrections, as always, are welcome.

line weight distributor model # length ' weight oz years comment
6-7 Grizzly-Fenwick FL1022 8.5 2.50 1969 Golden Supreme glass; gold anodized Featherweight center ferrule; eagle logo
7-9 Grizzly-Fenwick FL1083 9.0 3.25 1970 honey glass; Feralite ferrule; eagle logo
8-9 Grizzly FL90 9.0 1969 Golden Supreme glass; gold anodized Featherweight center ferrule; bear logo

majicwrench, Are you saying later than 1962?

Yes, if the catalog dates on models I found are correct. Based on my 3 rods, it looks like the switch from gold-anodized aluminum to Feralite ferrules may have occurred 1969-70. But again, I can't say with absolute certainty because it's been a few years since I looked into this and I would need to review further.

I have C-serial Fenwick rods with the Feralite ferrule; that’s the 1962-63 production year. I’ve also seen photos of A and B-serial rods with the taper-lock/feralite ferrule. These are “patent pending/patent applied for” Feralites.

those are handsome reel seats, too - they look like business

whrlpool, your trademark link doesn't work, but thanks for pointing us to the document.

FERALITE trademark registration certificate

The trademark doesn't specify use for Feralite blank or Feralite ferrule. Interesting though is the first use in commerce date on the certificate: Dec-6-1961. That date requires documentation to USPTO of transport or sale of trademarked product (advertising does not count towards that date). Victor Johnson, Jr. also wrote that before it was known as Feralite it was called "Supreme Quality Glass".