CLASSIC RODS AND RODMAKERS. By Martin J. Keane. Reprint.

(1976) 1992 3rd printing. 4to (225 x 286mm). Ppx,246. Colour and b/w photographs, line illustrations. Grey boards, spine titled in silver-gilt. Third printing limited to 1500 copies.

"Today's advanced quad and hollow construction fly-rod designs are a far cry from the ash and lancewood rods of the early nineteenth century. Whilst the modern American fly rod perhaps began with Samuel Phillippe, it took the undeniable genius of Hiram Leonard to bring it worldwide acclaim. Proceeding chronologically, and moving across the country, Martin J. Keane investigates the handiwork of virtually every master rod-craftsman, and considers every major development in the craft over the last hundred years". Chapters include; the classic rod - early history, stages of rod evolution and how to recognise them; Eastern rodbuilders - Hiram Lewis Leonard, the E.F. Payne Rod Company, Charles F. Orvis, the Thomas Rod Company, the Edwards rodmaking family I and II, Harold Steele Gillum, Edmund Garrison, more Eastern rodbuilders; Middle-American rodbuilders - Lyle L. Dickerson, the Paul H. Young Rod Company, more Middle-American rodbuilders; Western rodbuilders - Edwin Courtney Powell, Walton Powell, the R.L. Winston Rod Company, the G.H. Howells Rod Company, more Western rodbuilders; collecting classic rods - selection of classic fly rods, care of split bamboo rods, buying and collecting classic/antique rods.