Dickerson 861611 Special

The exchange of tapers forum is for classic and personally developed tapers. The definition of classic tapers are those tapers that were developed by rodmakers that are no longer alive. Please understand that rod makers who have developed their tapers, and are active in the community, should not have their tapers cloned, or shared, without their permission, please refrain for asking for those tapers as it infringes on the maker.

Moderator: pvansch1

Post Reply
User avatar
Carlin
Guide
Posts: 121
Joined: 01/11/09 19:00
Location: Alaska
Contact:

Dickerson 861611 Special

#1

Post by Carlin »

I was fortunate to have a customer send this rod to me to check out and figured there might be others who would be interested in seeing the taper.

The rod is a Dickerson 861611 Special made in 1940 for Elizabeth "Bess" Rennis. It is a 3/2 rod that was described as a 6 weight. I actually preferred it with a 5wt line but also cast well with a 6. The two tips are different actions with one being 1/4" shorter and a fair bit lighter/softer than the other. It has been restored by Bob Summers at some point and included new varnish, a new male ferrule on one tip, and a few other ferrules reset.

The tip sections are 34 11/16" and 34 7/16" long and the mid and butt are both 34 11/16". The grip is tiny at 5.5" long with a maximum diameter of .84". The seat is 3 9/16" long.

From the owner:
"Only three 861611's were made and the "Special" means they were all a tad different. This one was made for the wife of a well known angler who was also a coach in Michigan. Her name was Elizabeth Rennie."

Here are the measured taper numbers over varnish averaged over the 3 flat-to-flat measurements.
Tip 1:
1 0.0622
6 0.0873
10 0.0972
15 0.1095
20 0.1235
25 0.1428
30 0.1558
33 0.1657

Tip 2:
1 0.0667
6 0.0828
10 0.1000
15 0.1153
20 0.1298
25 0.1403
30 0.1532
33 0.1673

Mid:
40 0.1822
45 0.2050
50 0.2182
56 0.2300
60 0.2357
65 0.2408

Butt:
72 0.2678
76 0.2843
80 0.2973
85 0.3157
90 0.3440
94 0.4103

And the taper at 5" increments that I put in my file with an estimated .004" varnish subtracted:

Tip 1:
0.0580
0.0790
0.0910
0.1040
0.1190
0.1370
0.1510
0.1640
0.1790
0.2000
0.2130
0.2230
0.2300
0.2370
0.2570
0.2770
0.2930
0.3140
0.3530
0.4040
0.4070
0.4150

Tip 2:
0.0630
0.0760
0.0960
0.1120
0.1250
0.1360
0.1510
0.1670
0.1790
0.2000
0.2130
0.2230
0.2300
0.2370
0.2570
0.2770
0.2930
0.3140
0.3530
0.4040
0.4070
0.4150

Some Photos:
http://carlinbamboo.com/tapers/dickerso ... G_2828.JPG
http://carlinbamboo.com/tapers/dickerso ... G_2829.JPG
http://carlinbamboo.com/tapers/dickerso ... G_2830.JPG
http://carlinbamboo.com/tapers/dickerso ... G_2831.JPG
http://carlinbamboo.com/tapers/dickerso ... G_2832.JPG
Last edited by Carlin on 11/20/21 21:12, edited 1 time in total.
______________________________
Chris
Carlin Fine Bamboo Fly Rods

3creeks
Bamboo Fanatic
Posts: 1292
Joined: 08/28/16 00:19
Location: South Bay of So. Cal

Re: Dickerson 861611 Special

#2

Post by 3creeks »

Wow Chris, amazing. Thank you for posting the numbers and those pictures!

Jeff

User avatar
jan96
Master Guide
Posts: 780
Joined: 03/07/04 19:00
Location: Slovenia

Re: Dickerson 861611 Special

#3

Post by jan96 »

Thank You Carlin for these "numbers"! :) It would be an interesting winter project to "turn them" in a rod! ;)
r :)

User avatar
Tony_Young
Member
Posts: 13
Joined: 06/20/22 22:43
Location: On the Mitta Mitta R, Victoria, Australia. 36°12′S 147°15′E
Contact:

Re: Dickerson 861611 Special

#4

Post by Tony_Young »

You sir are a gent!

Tony
See my web page:
http://avyoung.com

The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.
Marcus Aurelius.

On the Mitta Mitta R Victoria, Australia. 36°12′S 147°15′E

rogerblong
Member
Posts: 22
Joined: 08/20/22 21:39

Re: Dickerson 861611 Special

#5

Post by rogerblong »

Looks like my next project.

Post Reply

Return to “Taper Exchange”