Shown below, a model #G.F.702, is what I now believe to be the first tubular glass fly rod produced and marketed by Heddon. This rod pre-dates the #T-70, which was the first "cataloged" tubular glass fly rod ever offered by Heddon and what many, including myself, thought was their first glass fly rod entry into the market. This rod is marked "Heddon Tubular Glass - #G.F. 702 - 7-1/2'". I assume the "G.F." stands for "Glass Fly". What's telling is that it's also marked "6-1" above the hook keeper, which was Heddon's date code for June,1951. These would have been built and marketed during the 1951 season, a full year before what was previously believed and before their first cataloged tubular glass model was assigned with the #T-70 model number in the 1952 catalog. It has the same components and cosmetics as the later #T-70 and comes with the correctly marked tube. I believe I've seen several rods marked like this one but, until I acquired this particular example, I've never seen one with the date code on the shaft that finally made me pay close attention. I'd be curious to know if there were other different models produced during 1951.

Just looked through my 1951 Heddon Deluxe Catalog. The only glass rods shown are the "new" solid glass baitcasting rods. No Hollow glass rods and no glass flyrods. I'll check 1952 and let you know.

Thanks for posting that Heddon Mark! Painted to resemble bamboo "progressing" slowly I guess

John

No. It'll go up for sale shortly. Little use, if any.

I can't say it's a prototype, because what's left of my memory tells me I've seen others, although I don't remember seeing the "G.F." and date code markings before. Maybe others will chime in that have similar models. I'd love to see other examples, if they do in fact exist.
Mark

Tom,
That's good news if you do have one, because I do believe they were marketed for maybe a half year or so before they started producing the #T-70 late in 1951, for the 1952 season. When you get a chance, let me know what the markings are. If you remember, that is!
Mark

According to another of my earlier posts, mine is marked 4.1. another forum member started his was marked 3.1. Another post reports a rod marked 5.0, but the photos from that thread are gone. Post #9 in that thread quotes the Heddon historian, Joan Lyons. She notes these rods were not cataloged, but were listed in a 1951 New Products flier.

Thanks, Tom. This is just the information I was after. If the glass fly rods were rolled out in 1951 as a "new item", then actual production would have been sometime in 1950, at least a full year or more before what was previously believed. Heddon then, wasn't that far behind in the production of glass fly rods compared to other manufacturers. They were just slow in finally cataloging and marketing them to the public in 1952. Good stuff!
Mark

Joan at the Heddon Museum was kind enough to send me a copy of the 1951 Heddon "New Items" catalog listing, shown below.
Tom, I'd like to add this listing to the Heddon Catalogs thread at some point, as this is truly the First Heddon glass fly rod. When you get a free moment, let me know when I can edit the thread again and I'll slip this one in there. Thanks.
Mark

It's come to my attention that there was also a 7 ft. version of the #G.F.702, marked "Light Trout", built in June of 1950 for release in 1951.

Tim,

Check out the Heddon Catalog thread that Mark (wrong88) put together for us. He has catalog images from 1952-1980.

Heddon reused many of their product names over the years. They were trying to sell product, not make life easier for the historians. The original Pal glass rod lasted almost thru the 50s. The Heddon 'Mark' rods came next. The first Pro Weight shows up in 1963. I think Heddon made the 8381 for awhile, so the next step is matching your rod to the catalog images.


Tom

That's one sweet looking rod.