Very cool. Thanks for sharing!

We don't see very many Kilwell rods here in the U.S., but I sure would like to try out some of their fiberglass models. I had a couple of Kilwell graphite blanks 15-20 years ago that I ended up selling instead of building, but they would have made fine rods.

Very interesting catalog content. The lightest rod in the 1968 catalog was for a 6 weight line. Just a couple years later the 7'6" model 52-90 is listed as a 5 weight rod.

Far more interesting is the bottom of photo 10, the Kilwell Statesman fly rods. These are more expensive than the standard Kilwell Customline rods, but less expensive than the Feralite rods shown on the same catalog page. The Statesman rods are advertised as having a hollow fiberglass spigot ferrule. This is the earliest advertisement for a hollow glass spigot that I have seen. The 73/74 catalog states, "Solid glass spigots have been on the market for several years, but the use of a hollow spigot is new." Conolon was selling rods with hollow stainless steel ferrules in the US, but not hollow glass. Fisher sourced rods had solid glass spigots. Until this catalog the earliest hollow glass spigots I saw were in the 1977 Lamiglas catalog.


Tom

Thank you for a glimpse into the past. It's always interesting to see the tackle of yesteryear, and to remember how it was presented in the catalogs.

1977-78






















1982-83
'50 years in tackle'










1984-85
















1985-86

I missed that quote, and I absolutely agree with Mr or Mrs Wells.

Thanks Mudfish, let me know If I can help out here.

Have just uploaded the last of the catalogues that I currently have in my possession (1985-86) The images are four posts up above, just below 1984-85.

Mudfish Marquad, thank you for sharing your Kilwell treasures. Kiwiscanfly, thank you so much for scanning/uploading those catalogs, making them available to us. Absolutely marvelous that Jim, the Kilwell representative, will help with any missing catalogs. Don’t we wish all manufacturers and distributors would be so able and willing to help with documentation of their history?

I have two comments to add.

First, for certain some know, but likely not all are aware that Kilwell’s fiberglass plant was designed under the guidance of Conolon (as stated in the circa 1970 Kilwell catalog link below). Please note, I have Wayne Real’s permission to post here these image links from realsreels.com. Kiwiscanfly, I’m sending you a PM about Wayne.

circa 1970 cover
text about Conolon

Second, Kilwell Products Limited was incorporated and changed its name to Kilwell-ABU Limited on 16-Feb-1964, which lasted until Kilwell Manufacturing Limited 17-Jul-1985. This information may be useful for dating decals, should you encounter a rod.

Kilwell-ABU Limited incorporation

If anyone is wondering, I don’t own any Kilwell rods. My interest in Kilwell was in their production of ABU metal baits. (And, I do own some US Conolon rods.)

John

Hi all,

This is the last of the series from Mudfish - 1972. I was in my first year!

Thanks for posting the catalogs . I bought an older 8'6 5 Wt Innovation a couple years ago - great medium action Graphite rod . Hard to believe they aren't better known in the US .