Clifford Constable Tapers?

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brookie
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Clifford Constable Tapers?

#1

Post by brookie »

I'm looking for tapers for rods by Cifford Constable of Bromley, England. The first decent rod I had was a little 6'9" Constable that I got from an outfit in Cleveland, although I was too dumb to know it at the time.

Oh yea - I've got the Constable tapers from David Ray's online archive and the Constable Wisp from the Hexrod archive. I'm looking for additional samples of the R.H. Woods, Wallop Brook, C.C. Lightweight, and anything else that might be floating around. Any pictures of Constable rods would be great too.

Thanks,
Bill B.
aka brookieVA

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czkid
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Clifford Constable Tapers?

#2

Post by czkid »

Bill;

My bride uses an Empress. Interested in that taper?

Ralph
CZKid

brookie
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Clifford Constable Tapers?

#3

Post by brookie »

Hey Ralph,

Yes please, I'd be interested in the numbers from the Empress.

Thanks,
Bill B.
aka brookieVA

brookstalker
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Clifford Constable Tapers?

#4

Post by brookstalker »

There,s a few photo,s of the rods . On WWW.danica.com/flytier/bamboo/bamboo.htm

brookie
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Clifford Constable Tapers?

#5

Post by brookie »

brookstalker,

Thanks for the suggestion. I found Hans' pictures a coupla days ago and printed some nice glossy copies of the Wallop Brook shots.

Bill B.
aka brookieVA

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gmflyfish
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Location: Lecanto Florida

Clifford Constable Tapers?

#6

Post by gmflyfish »

The Wallop Brook is a fine example of a parabolic. I got it for a song while I was working in the UK. 20 pounds if I rememeber correctly

Gregg

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Paul B
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Clifford Constable Tapers?

#7

Post by Paul B »

That was a long long time ago..............
Constable rods were only £20 when new !
Today a UK dealer would be asking anywhere between £250-450 UK sterling depending on the model and the condition.

Paul B

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tedgolden
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Clifford Constable Tapers?

#8

Post by tedgolden »

R H Woods, 6' 9" 4 wt Parabolic,

092
.105
.116.
.140
.145
.170
.174
.186
.195
.202
Ferrule .244
.234
.234
.260
.267
.280

Staggared ferrule type, tip 51?, butt 31?
Grip and reel seat are 8 3/4?

Awesome rod.

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bamboorods
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Clifford Constable Tapers?

#9

Post by bamboorods »

Do you need the taper for a 7' Wallop Brook? Have a nice one.

Cheerio,
Bamboorods

Longdaleflyfisher
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Clifford Constable Tapers?

#10

Post by Longdaleflyfisher »

Bamboorods,

I would like to have the Wallops Brooks taper if it is available. Thanks so much for offering.

Ted Golden,

on your taper do we have to substract varnish thickness?

Thanks and regards, Longdaleflyfisher

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tedgolden
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Clifford Constable Tapers?

#11

Post by tedgolden »

Quote:
on your taper do we have to substract varnish thickness?
Yes, measured over varnish.

Board member Cami (Trout Camp Rods) made a rod based on this taper and we cast both side by side. He nailed it. He didn't add the intermediate wraps to his copy and I sure couldn't tell the difference.

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bamboorods
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Clifford Constable Tapers?

#12

Post by bamboorods »

Oops! The Wallop Brook is a 7' 6" rod. Staggered ferrule. Lgth of tip- 52", lgth of butt- 39 1/2", lgth of grip- 5 3/4", lgth of cork reel seat- 3 7/8" D/L Ring. Guide spacing w/rod assembled. 4",8 3/4", 14 5/8", 21 5/8", 30", 38 3/4", 47 1/2", 57 5/8", Stripper- 68". Light polished varnish. Suggest deducting .003/.004 from taper
Tip.088
5"-.105
10"-.126
15'-.151
20"-.167
25"-.172
30"-.187
35"-.208
40"-.214
45"-.230
50"-.230

Butt -53 3/4" Below ferrule - .245
55"-.245
60"-.245
65"-.256
70"-.270
75"-.285
80"-.296

Signature- Written diagonally. The "Wallop Brook" by Constable of Bromley England. 7' 6" Serial # 812.
Does anyone know anything about his serial numbers?

Bamboorods

Godfroy
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Location: North Yorkshire, UK

Re: Clifford Constable Tapers?

#13

Post by Godfroy »

I came across this thread while searching Clifford Constable and offer some additional information.

I own two "Wallop Brook", 6'9" rods. The serial numbers are 772 and C75. They have different shaped handles. The handle of 772 is as illustrated in the 1972 Dermot Wilson catalogue. The handle of C75 is similar to the handle illustrated in the Dermot Wilson 1976 catalogue. I don't have a 1975 catalogue but this makes me think that the 72 and 75 relate to the year of manufacture and the 772 is the earlier rod.

I measured the tapers over varnish. The figures given below are over varnish. While measuring, I accidentally managed to strip some varnish off the butt of C75 with some masking tape. This showed a varnish thickness of .004" (.002" each side), so I suggest subtracting .004".

772

0 - under tip top
1 .081
5 .098
10 .117
15 .128
20 .142
25 .154
30 .171
35 .178
40 .183
45 .204
49 .216
50 - ferrule
53 .237
55 .235
60 .241
65 .250
70 .268
72 .273
72-81 under handle

C75

0 - under tip top
1 .089
5 .095
10 .110
15 .127
20 .142
25 .155
30 .170
35 .183
40 .194
45 .201
49 .214
50 - ferrule
53 .230
55 .226
60 .237
65 .249
70 .263
72 .270
72-81 under handle


Of the two, I prefer C75 which is one of my favourite rods with a very powerful and accurate parabolic action for a #4 line, or heavier. Dermot Wilson used up to a WF6 but I like it with a #4. 772 is also a nice rod but a bit different.

The rods are both very staggered ferrule with a 51" tip and a 31" butt. The ferrule is placed quite close to where the lower ferrule would be for a 3-piece rod so I am thinking of building a 6'9" 3-piece rod based on the C75 taper.

The image shows C75 above and 772 below.

Image

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jan96
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Re: Clifford Constable Tapers?

#14

Post by jan96 »

Godfroy wrote:
06/23/21 14:45

The image shows C75 above and 772 below.

Image
Thank you for the tapers. Are ferrules made of brass?
r :)

Godfroy
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Location: North Yorkshire, UK

Re: Clifford Constable Tapers?

#15

Post by Godfroy »

[/quote]

Thank you for the tapers. Are ferrules made of brass?
r :)
[/quote]

The ferrules are brass. They are the sort of ferrules I could buy from numerous suppliers in England when I started building rods in the 1960's. They work well enough but are not as nice as Hardy ferrules, for example. Both the rods have what I consider perfect ferrule fits.

These rods were quite basic in their construction. Simple black wraps of quite thick gauge thread and simple cork and aluminium handles. The butt cap of 772 appears to be a re-cycled one. There is a partially polished out stamp showing PE in the remnant of a cartouche, presumably from PEZON et MICHEL. The price of a 6'9" "Wallop Brook" rod in 1972 was £13.95, about half the price of a 7' Hardy cane rod. That does not mean they are not great fishing rods.

By 1980 the price of a 6'9" Wallop Brook had risen to £59.40 and a Hardy CC de France was up to £120.

Even at £13.95, I could not afford to buy a "Wallop Brook" as a university student in 1972. When I eventually found one in 2008, I was stunned by how much I liked it.
Image

Image

Tom McCoy
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Re: Clifford Constable Tapers?

#16

Post by Tom McCoy »

Godfroy,

I've never cast the "C75" version but, as it turns out, I own #773, a 2/2, and love they way it casts. It was great with a couple of different wf5 lines but then I tried a Barrio Small Stream 5wt and it was lights out. Like having a little cane laser pointer in my hand...and it spey casts like a demon with that line. Once I get into the parabolic casting rhythm it's a tremendously effective rod/line combo from 15' to 50' that can drive it into a wind when needed. Good stuff.

Godfroy
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Posts: 483
Joined: 05/28/13 19:24
Location: North Yorkshire, UK

Re: Clifford Constable Tapers?

#17

Post by Godfroy »

Tom McCoy wrote:
06/26/21 15:29
Godfroy,

I've never cast the "C75" version but, as it turns out, I own #773, a 2/2, and love they way it casts. It was great with a couple of different wf5 lines but then I tried a Barrio Small Stream 5wt and it was lights out. Like having a little cane laser pointer in my hand...and it spey casts like a demon with that line. Once I get into the parabolic casting rhythm it's a tremendously effective rod/line combo from 15' to 50' that can drive it into a wind when needed. Good stuff.
Sorry for the belated respose Tom, I could not agree more.

Since I posted those taper numbers I have learnt to split my own cane and I am in the middle of making a rod to the C75 taper. As I suggested I might do, I am building it as a 3-piece. Because of the staggered ferrule, the tip of the Constable rod is 51" long so it is a 6'9" rod in the tube for an 8'6" rod. A three-piece version, if it works, will be more convenient to transport.

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