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Post 05 Sep 2021, 13:50 • #1 
Guide
Joined: 03/24/08
Posts: 226
Location: Grantsville, Utah
Good Morning all, I know there has been a few threads concerning these rods but I thought I would share this exceptional example, The photos have been donated to the Library by Jim aka Jimmymac448. It is an amazing example and what I really am excited about is the original paperwork that comes with the rod. I thought you guys would appreciate seeing it.
(I have a couple of type Os in the listing on the Library link and will correct later but this is a 2.5 oz rod and has nothing to do with the black plague.) :lol
Richard
More photos at this link.

https://antiquerodandreels.com/rodmanufacturers/1278



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Post 05 Sep 2021, 14:07 • #2 
Administrator
Joined: 01/10/06
Posts: 7811
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Those don't show up often, particularly with the case and in such good condition. The ferrule plug is a very nice touch!

These rods are listed in the 1954-1956 Shakespeare catalogs (thanks to Wrong88 for posting these). The suggested retail price was $150!


Tom


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Post 05 Sep 2021, 19:23 • #3 
Guide
Joined: 03/24/08
Posts: 226
Location: Grantsville, Utah
I like what is written in the last two paragraphs in the last photo.
(The Wonder Wand is not guaranteed to be unbreakable, nor is it for novices. I personally guarantee you will have more fun for each pound of trout you release and can lay a more delicate fly than with any other rod you have ever used.)
(Don't try this rod unless you can afford it. And when you buy one, don't let that fly-casting wife try it unless the budget can make room for two.)
:lol


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Post 06 Sep 2021, 05:12 • #4 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19078
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
That's a jewel, and the only WondeRod that gets my attention - thanks for posting such nice photos.


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Post 06 Sep 2021, 07:55 • #5 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/19/14
Posts: 3924
Location: USA - Illinois
First I've seen or heard of, but a remarkably handsome WonderRod Wonder Wand. Thanks for sharing this.


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Post 06 Sep 2021, 08:07 • #6 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/11/05
Posts: 1008
Location: US-NY
Beautiful rod!


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Post 06 Sep 2021, 13:07 • #7 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/23/05
Posts: 4966
Location: US-MT
Holy smokes Batman, $150?? back then?

What a piece of history, and fun promo material!


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Post 06 Sep 2021, 14:20 • #8 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/12/07
Posts: 1292
Location: western Massachusetts
Yes, it is interesting to see how the copy changes from year to year in that short a time. I am sure no advertiser today would suggest such a wifely put-down; we've come a long way baby!

And $150 each - snob copy, and snob pricing - yikes! "nor is it for novices." I wonder if they would refuse to sell it to some novice who wanted to plunk down such a big chunk of his weekly earnings?
Nice rod though.


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Post 06 Sep 2021, 15:09 • #9 
Administrator
Joined: 01/10/06
Posts: 7811
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Silaflex offered their presentation rods for $225! Silaflex also offered gold plated hardware and a softly lined, deluxe, luggage case instead of a rod tube. I imagine they were given during retirement dinners and similar occasions.

I am impressed Shakespeare produced a 7'3" rod that only weighs 2-1/2 oz, complete with a metal ferrule and down locking reelseat, all while using a 50s era glass blank. I built a 7 foot, 3 weight Lami with a skeleton locking reelseat and it weighs 2-1/4 oz. Shakespeare showed what could be done when a builder put their mind to it.


Tom


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Post 06 Sep 2021, 18:21 • #10 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/05/06
Posts: 2086
Location: US-PA
That's a beauty, from the reel seat to the grip & color, not to mention the case!!


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Post 07 Sep 2021, 14:46 • #11 
Sport
Joined: 03/15/14
Posts: 29
Location: US-CO
Thanks Reelill for posting the photos here, as well as in the Antique Rod and Reel Library. As a retired marketing exec, I was quite surprised with the pre-Madmen product materials. Definitely written in another era. After much thought, and a conversation or two with Reelill, I going to take the #1295 out for a test drive in the park across the street this afternoon, set up with my trusty old Pflueger Medalist 1492 with a WF3F line. I don't have a 4wt spooled up right now or I'd try that too. The #1295 definitely has the smallest diameter tip I've ever seen. I'll take my Heddon Pal 8381- 7' 5wt out for comparison, since it's the lightest other fiberglass rod I have in my arsenal right now and is currently being discussed on another thread on this site. Will try and report back tonight if I don't break either of them..... ;) ;) ;)


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Post 09 Sep 2021, 14:44 • #12 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/08/09
Posts: 850
Location: US-VA
Nice to see the 1295, the one I had was a 4wt at most distances and a 5wt if you were fishing small mountain streams in close. The tip was the extra small diameter (3.0)... I feel the 3wt line might not load enough.
Well thought out rod and package. Super rare too!


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Post 09 Sep 2021, 17:04 • #13 
Sport
Joined: 03/15/14
Posts: 29
Location: US-CO
After taking the #1295 out for a lawn casting session Tuesday afternoon using my WF3F line, I've go admit it is a really fine rod for close quarters and probably one of the nicest rods I've cast out to about 60'. It really performs well using a double haul out to about 70 feet, but as someone else posted yesterday, probably would load up better with a 4 or 5wt line. I ran out of time the other day, but plan to string it up with my 5wt line later today or tomorrow and see whether the heavier line does the trick with longer distances. ;)


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Post 07 Oct 2021, 12:12 • #14 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/18/12
Posts: 461
Location: Troy Grove, IL.
THANKS Richard for posting this pic, what a rod for sure.......TOOTY


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Post 14 Dec 2021, 10:39 • #15 
Sport
Joined: 03/15/14
Posts: 29
Location: US-CO
Good morning,
I'm seriously considering parting ways with the #1295 this winter, but I honestly have no idea what it might be worth in today's market. Any thoughts? As folks have noted here, it really is a beauty, and it begs to be fished by someone who really appreciates it.


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Post 15 Dec 2021, 10:07 • #16 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/05/06
Posts: 2086
Location: US-PA
Spinoza Rod Company had one for sale a while back. You may want to contact them as see what it went for.


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Post 15 Dec 2021, 11:47 • #17 
Sport
Joined: 03/15/14
Posts: 29
Location: US-CO
Thanks for the info! I'll check with Spinoza then.


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Post 15 Dec 2021, 12:21 • #18 
Guide
Joined: 08/11/21
Posts: 208
Location: Tucson, AZ
Pretty cool...love the cosmetics, especially the wooden rod case.

Seems like a long tradition of "commemorative" editions, often with some sort of matching reel in the combo, that remains in the fly fishing world.

From the paperwork , there is a warranty of sorts...$25 to fix the rod for 3 years. The beginning of rod warranties, perhaps? Worth a chuckle, as we would have to work at breaking a fiberglass fly rod just over 7'...so a safe bet for the manufacturer.

Somebody showed me an Orvis catalogue from the 60's, and I vaguely recall the most expensive cane rod, a Battenkill with 2 tips for $150, so that was a lot of dough in the 50's. A Hardy or Bogdan reel was $100, a tidy sum..main reason most of us fished American-made Pflueger Medalists in the $20-30 range.


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Post 15 Dec 2021, 13:53 • #19 
Sport
Joined: 03/15/14
Posts: 29
Location: US-CO
Yup, I bet $150 was a lot of money in 1953. I bought my first fly rod in 1965, a Heddon Mark IV #8457 for about $35 and a South Bend Finalist 1144 reel in the red pouch for another $30 or so. It was a lot of allowance and lawn mowing money for a kid back then. This rod was the highlight of my meager collection of "presentation" rods that I've been selling off, which at one time included other 1950s Heddon 880, 770, and T70 fiberglass rods and several Heddon 125 bamboo rods.


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Post 18 Dec 2021, 18:39 • #20 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/18/12
Posts: 461
Location: Troy Grove, IL.
Thanks Jimmy for the heads up on this nice old rod......TOOTY


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Post 19 Dec 2021, 10:28 • #21 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/20/07
Posts: 8920
Location: US-ME
https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ $150, about $1560 in 2021 .


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Post 26 Dec 2021, 14:51 • #22 
Sport
Joined: 09/21/13
Posts: 71
Location: US-VT
The marketing hasn't really changed one bit since then. Always been that way, really.


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Post 28 Dec 2021, 12:44 • #23 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/19/08
Posts: 1218
Location: Branson, Missouri
Is that how a bone stock offering would appear ?
That is a fun looking fishing rod.


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Post 03 Jan 2022, 15:03 • #24 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/18/12
Posts: 461
Location: Troy Grove, IL.
THANKS JIMMY, IT'S a beautiful rod.......what kind of reel had you mounted on it any way?
TOOTY


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Post 13 Jan 2022, 13:15 • #25 
Sport
Joined: 03/15/14
Posts: 29
Location: US-CO
When I took the rod out to test it lawn casting, I used my Pflueger Medalist 1492 reel which felt great casting with a WF3 line. I never got around to casting it before the snow came, with my 1494 and a 5wt line. IMHO, it's one of the best lightweight fiberglass rods I ever cast.


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