The first Lew's Speed Stik was patterned almost identical, and my uncle had it matched with his 5000.
He was proud of it and took it out to show us when it was new.

I always thought my bronze-frame Millionaire was a perfect match with Fenglas Lunkerstik 2000.

Lew's Speed Stik changed the world. Fenglas Lunkerstik followed suite.
I gave away a very nice, though very soft Silaflex to my friend Tony for his Abu spincast.

bass rods that worked like bass rods

Lew's set the benchmark that has been copied ever since, even in finesse rods, both for handling lures and handling fish.
If you compare it to a Heddon Pal or even a late 70s Silflex bass rod rated 3/8- to 3/4-oz, the older rods have tapers more like fly rods and especially soft tips you wish they didn't have.
Quite simply, it was good enough it made you say "what were they thinking?" about most everything before.
Lew's Speed Stiks also began as glass.
The best glass bass rod I've ever handled is Falcon glass.
Though have to give some credit to John Harrington for his glass para rod tapers coming out of WWII.

what they were thinking had to be along the lines of protecting line test.