Poking around in AJ's archives

[jeffkn1]

Doing some fall cleaning up and while going through some of the AJ paper I ran into this one. I intentionally left out the dealer's name (in NH) because this was from 1996. As time allows I'll scan a few others. He was doing the wrapping and varnishing for Leonard at the time and there are some records from that. But this one is a killer for the collector of Maine-related tackle.....

[Woodlakejag]

Wow-nice rods
I’ll take the 8ft Wheeler!

[jeffkn1]

In 1996, someone ordered his&hers Hunt pattern 7 footers for Jimmy Carter and his wife. This is the production sheet for Jimmy's. I think AJ received these with grip and seat already installed. Unfortunately there was never a photo record for the completed rod.

[jeffkn1]

Here's the pattern he followed for those Hunts.

[jeffkn1]

And the pattern worksheet for a Catskill(49-5)

[Bamboocollector#1]

Thanks for sharing Jeff! The 1996 prices are like taking a trip back in time.

[eastprong]

Interesting and helpful! So, later model Hunts used a garnet/maroon silk with lacquer. I'm pretty sure the Maxwell ones used a rose colored thread with straight varnish -- maybe the effect is similar.

--Rich

[bluesjay]

Hi Guys, Well, now here's an expert 'how to' instruction booklet.

Jay Edwards

[munsey w]

Please keep these coming Jeff! love seeing the wrap layouts!

[cwfly]

Just wonderful, Jeff.
Many thanks,
Charlie

[Kenneth]

Absolutely fascinating!

Thanks much for sharing, and please keep'em coming,
Kenneth

[canesterdf]

Thanks very much Jeff, We still miss AJ. I love the notes on finishing the new Leonard rods. I have a 6ft 2pc Catskill and it is outstanding in fit and finish.
I look forward to more of the info you have shared. Is there any news of his research on early FE Thomas rods being published ? I thought that maybe he had a manuscript that was in possession of the family but do not remember the details. Thanks Again & Best, Paul

[jeffkn1]

Paul

There is an unfinished manuscript, perhaps 75% completed. Problem is that some of his theories were disputable and no one I know can complete it, so it remains in limbo. The family has it on a flash drive. He had gotten through the chapters on Thomas and Edwards, but had yet to finish up Payne. Access to Ed Payne samples was a problem so that chapter was dragging. With good photographs and access to just about everyone's rods and ephemera it was going to be a better looking finished product than his big book.
I had loaned him my Spalding Kosmics but he died before getting them photographed. The summer he died I brought them to Tim but he was having some difficulty handling the hot sunny weather. His preference was to shoot in slight overcast and he took my rods home to wait for the right conditions. I did recover them after his passing.

Jeff

[roycestearns]

Jeff,
Thanks for sharing this, and I look forward to future installments. As I've said before, I have great admiration for AJ's research and documentation.

It would be incredible if we could see some of his thread work on the Leonard's, to parallel the wrap maps.

[red 1]

In 1996, someone ordered his&hers Hunt pattern 7 footers for Jimmy Carter and his wife. This is the production sheet for Jimmy's. I think AJ received these with grip and seat already installed. Unfortunately there was never a photo record for the completed rod.

There was a person I always hoped I would run into on a trout stream.

[jeffkn1]

Cecil apparently had friends all over, if his bio is any indication. If I recall correctly, Cecil used to visit AJ's shop in Boothbay.

Writing on the back of this photo indicates that Cecil was making a binder. I don't know the exact year but Cecil's estate was auctioned off in July of 1996.

He made trout and salmon rods, that I know. This is one of his 2pc trout rods. I don't know if this example includes graphite or not. All the hardware was of his own manufacture.

In the folder were a few letters, this being an exchange between Marty Keane and Cecil regarding a salmon rod of Cecil's.

And after Cecil's death, AJ received this letter from Arthur Taylor. The photos that Taylor mentions may be the two I posted above.

[cwfly]

Jeff,
Is what is written on the opening lines of page 2 a well-known, or previously known fact?
Charlie

[jeffkn1]

Regarding an ad in the WSJ, or the SoCal maker? I don't recall if AJ had said anything about the WSJ to me or not. Only way we'll find out now is if someone else chimes in. I have no knowledge of a California maker trying Cecil's process, however there was a San Diego maker, Steve Small, who once sold rods through the shop in Rangeley. He might have known Cecil if he resided in Maine at some point. His better work suggested a reasonable skill level.

[cwfly]

so-cal maker.

[Mike N]

Great posts, thanks.

Seeing Marty Keane’s name brought back vivid memories of how exciting it was to get his newest catalog in the mail. Everything else could wait…

Mike N