I created a topic on another forum looking for the Gudebrod 'clown' thread. I found some, so thank you to all that replied to my post. I needed it to fix a couple of wraps on a Phantom Eventension fly rod. Its interesting because its square solid fiberglass for the first part of the butt section, then becomes solid round, and the entire tip section is solid round. The Johnson & Johnson book briefly mentions Phantom as an early producer of solid fiberglass rods and a 'Mr. McGuire' as perhaps the pioneer.

I was searching for more information, and didn't find very much, but did run across Phantom Eventension solid fiberglass bows (there are some on the auction site). If you look closely at the figure on the left hand side, its a phantom holding a bow (across the midsection) and I assume an arrow (or fishing rod) on the diagonal. If you zoom in you can make out his face. I guess that 'eventension' makes more sense for a bow than a fly rod, but I am not at all involved in archery.

I thought that this was very cool, and begs the question of what came first, the bow or the fly rod? It's also marked F70, which if I am not mistaken, is also what is on the fully square solid fiberglass Wright and McGill 'Panfish' fly rods. I wonder if they were sourced from Phantom or vice/versa?

John - to answer your questions:

The entire rod is varnished, and the yellowish cast is aged varnish. In other portions where a wrap is partially missing, it is much whiter.

I don't have a WM panfish rod, but do have a 7' WM 'Daisy' nylaglas spinning rod with the Tennessee handle and completely square blank. The spinning rod is heavy butt, limber tip, and faster in comparison, much like you describe. The Phantom fly rod is somewhat limber throughout, and reminds me more of a slow bamboo rod more than the nylaglas. I also have a solid round fiberglass actionglas rod, and the action is similar to the Phantom.

I've uploaded a picture of the transition from square to round. The transition is a couple of feet or so from the butt end. The latter half of the butt and the entire tip are round.

The ferrules don't attract a magnet, so I assume they are aluminum, at least they look like it to me.

The guide feet are not continuously wrapped, but each end is wrapped seperately. The ferrules are also wrapped, but not on the ferrule themselves.

I've attached a picture of the grip - its made with what I have always thought was a cheaper grade of cork, cut with the grain - its so dirty though, its hard to tell, and I might be mistaken on that. The shape reminds me a bit of the older Heddon grip, but much skinnier near the reel seat,

The reel seat is also aluminum, anodized green barrel with what appears to be gold for the reel seat hoods and locking nut - sorry, I am colorblind and green isn't my strong suit.

Joe

John-

Looking forward to seeing your pictures. Mustard cork is new to me, do you know the origin of the term? Searching online gives, as you would expect, mustard-colored cork.

Joe

Tom-

'Mustad' makes more sense, but even with that change not much with a google search. Was the cork cut that way so that they could use cheaper grades?

Joe

That's awesome, thank you.

I couldn't imagine wrapping those bands individually without going mad. I did manage to find a spool of silk Gudebrod that matches mine, and pretty sure that's what I am going to use.

I think I'm going to remove the yellowed varnish overcoat, except for over the decal/writing.

Joe

Doing a search, found the following:

McClane (McClane's Secrets of Successful Fishing) - mustard cork

Pfeiffer (Complete Book of Rod Building and Tackle Making) - mustard cork

No definition however, just that it's cut parallel and less durable

Where is a woodworker and historian when we need one? I think in those times, the cork harvest yielded some bark that could be more efficiently used if cut in this way. Various changes in the industry, including both failed and successful cultivation/management efforts, resulted in bark better used as cut now for rings. Upscaling the market for cork, and the demand for it in fishing tackle, also had an effect. Details? I know I left them out, which is why I am hoping for someone who has recently read or wants to read all about the cork industry, production methods, and processes. I think the full answer is available, but not in common rod-building sources as demand and production redeveloped in the post war boom. I think I even read about it once, but, well . . . .

I kind of like it, as on this South Bend knockabout, which I will never use enough to have durability be an issue.