Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

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MadRiver
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Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#1

Post by MadRiver »

F.E. Thomas made wonderful fly rods in an astonishing array of
configurations.  It would be great to see some examples of this fabulous
diversity.  Here are three Thomas rods to start things off:

8 1/2' 3/2 #6 Thomas Special
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8 1/2' 3/2 #6 Thomas Special on the banks of the Madison
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7 1/2' 2/2 #5 Thomas Special
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9' 3/2 #6/7 Thomas Special Streamer
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Best,

Jamie

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JPMarci
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Joined: 04/02/07 18:00

Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#2

Post by JPMarci »

Jamie,

You do love those Thomas rods, don't you. Did you get your 8 footer?

John

MadRiver
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Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#3

Post by MadRiver »

Hi John,


I haven't found a nice 8' 3/2 #5 Thomas for sale yet, but I am always looking.


Best,


Jamie

stoneflyer
Master Guide
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Joined: 11/25/06 19:00

Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#4

Post by stoneflyer »



Here is an FET 8 footer. I love the diversity of esthetics coming from FET....Image ImageImageImageImageImage

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firehole
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Joined: 03/22/04 19:00
Location: Island Park ID

Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#5

Post by firehole »

Here's a picture of my FET Browntone 7'6" 2/2 3 1/2oz 4/5wt. w/hang tag. The rod was built on 11/02/51 and sold to Bert Quimby's fly shop per steve Campbell.


Dennis


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fisheye444
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Joined: 08/20/07 18:00
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado

Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#6

Post by fisheye444 »

Beauties.  Came by this one courtesy of RyanAK.  Thanks bud!!!
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fishnbanjo
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Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#7

Post by fishnbanjo »

There are a few Thomas rods in this photo Image

Oxbow
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Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#8

Post by Oxbow »

Here's mine.  7 1/2 ft, 2/2 5 wt.

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MadRiver
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Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#9

Post by MadRiver »

Thanks for posting pictures guys.  Those are some sweet FE Thomas rods.  Keep them coming!

Best,

Jamie

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Kenneth
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Joined: 02/17/10 19:00
Location: Rome, Italy

Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#10

Post by Kenneth »

This thread is really bad for the family budget. All of a sudden I have a hankering for Thomas rods...


Thanks for sharing,

Kenneth

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Mainiac
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Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#11

Post by Mainiac »

9' 3/2 Browntone made in 1951. 5 5/8 oz. for a 6wt. 

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"If you act like an asshole, don't be surprised when people treat you like one." - Darth Nihilus

searun
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Location: Puget Sound environs

Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#12

Post by searun »

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 Here's my 9' Browntone Special Streamer model made in 1945 and sold through Eddie Bauer Sporting Goods in Seattle in the spring of 1946 according to records held by Steve Campbell of Thomas Rod Co.
It's a nice 8 weight, great for Northwest steelhead.

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Stomias
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Location: Chicago

Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#13

Post by Stomias »

1937 8.5' Special



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bulldog1935
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Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#14

Post by bulldog1935 »

My go-to tailwater rod, 8-1/2' Special, early 30s, butt-stamped 8.  I fish it with DT5 most often, but also with WF4, and BS-100 swinging soft-hackles in current.  Image  better photo of rodImage
better photo of fish
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Image Shotguns and flyreels are jewelry for men

eastprong
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Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#15

Post by eastprong »

Early 8'0" 3/2 Dirigo, with tip tube and heavy canvas bag.  I had to refinish the butt and the mid.  3.50 oz., a great 4wt:
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teter
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Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#16

Post by teter »

Very nice rods, guys. Here are my F.E. Thomas rods.
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From left, 9 1/2-foot Browntone Special Light Salmon, 9-foot Special Streamer, 8.5-foot Special, 8.5-foot Dirigo and 8-foot Special Wet Fly
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Browntone Special Light Salmon
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Streamer
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Special
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Dirigo
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Special Wet Fly
  

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EastslopesTH
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Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#17

Post by EastslopesTH »

eastprong wrote:Early 8'0" 3/2 Dirigo, with tip tube and heavy canvas bag.  I had to refinish the butt and the mid.  3.50 oz., a great 4wt:
Image

  
Rich, can I ask what silk you used for the restoration work and if cp was used (or shellac etc.).

Thanks,

Ron

And Teter, that's some nice line up of FET rods you have there. Nice to see you're getting them out on the water.
Last edited by EastslopesTH on 12/07/11 09:07, edited 1 time in total.

eastprong
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Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#18

Post by eastprong »

Belding Corticelli #3715 with 2# cut orange shellac. 

--Rich

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teter
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Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#19

Post by teter »

Thanks, Ron.
  Yes, they've all been fishing, except for the salmon rod. I haven't had a chance to take it out yet but I certainly plan to.
  I fish the 9-foot Streamer pretty often. It's not as clean as it looks in the pictures.  

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Mainiac
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Show Your FE Thomas Fly Rods

#20

Post by Mainiac »

8'6" 3/2 "medium dry fly" action 4 3/4 oz. Special.  According to the Thomas records, made for Abercrombie & Fitch in 1957.  Partial original Abercrombie price tag still visible on the tube above the Thomas label. 

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"If you act like an asshole, don't be surprised when people treat you like one." - Darth Nihilus

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