History and values of FE Thomas Rods.
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History and values of FE Thomas Rods.
#1It seems almost impossible to discuss the bamboo fly rods made by either Thomas or Edwards without mentioning the other; so I have combined the information and models made by these two great companies into one edition of the Value Guide. Early on in their careers, F. E. "Fred" Thomas and E. W. "Eustis" Edwards both worked for the Leonard Rod Co. in Central Valley, New York, and trained under Hiram Leonard. Eventually they both left and got together with another Leonard rod maker, Loman Hawes, to form the Thomas, Edwards & Hawes Rod Co. a short distance away in Highland Mills. Hawes leaves and passes away Dec. 1897 he was replaced by Ed. Payne, another Leonard apprentice, so the company became known as Thomas, Edwards & Payne This enterprise did not last long and the Kosmic rods made by this company are very scarce and valuable. A year or so later, Fred left the company when it was sold to U. S. Net & Twine, and returned to Bangor, Maine. Within a year or so he was again joined by Eustis and the resulting Thomas & Edwards Rod Co. built rods mostly under private label trade names such as Von Lengerke & Detmold or Empire City. After a couple years the pair split up again and Fred started the F. E. Thomas Rod Company in 1900, while Eustis started the E. W. Edward Rod Co. a couple years later, also in Bangor, Maine. Fred was eventually joined by his son, Leon, who then took over the company when Fred died in 1938. The Thomas Rod Company lasted into the 1950's when the embargo on Chinese cane and the emerging fiberglass technology combined to put an end to bamboo rod production.
The history of the Edwards family and their rods is often confusing because it involved some many different aspects at different times. In 1919 Eustis sold his young company to Winchester Repeating Arms, moved his operation to New Haven, Connecticut, and made rods exclusively for that company for five years; some years later he had a similar lease arrangement with Bristol Rod Co. Eustis had two sons, W. E. "Bill" and Eugene "Gene", both of whom became involved in rod making prior to the formation of the E. W. Edwards & Sons Rod Co. shortly after the Winchester years. After Eustis died in 1931, his sons continued to make rods under the Bristol name. Eventually, discontent with the Bristol operation, Bill went out on his own and formed the W. E. Edwards & Son Rod Co. where he developed his new four-strip rod technology that became famous as the Edwards Quadrate; Gene also went out on his own and formed the Eugene Edwards Rod. Co., but he continued building the traditional 6-strip bamboo rods. Both of these companies also ceased operations during the 1950 era and were purchased by Clarence "Sam" Carlson. Sam Carlson passed away in 2002 but he sold the FE Thomas Co. business to Steve Campbell who operates it in Brewer Maine where it started. Sam Carlson Rod Co. is now in the hands of his apprentice Dana Gray.
Thomas Special Fly Rods
(Wet Fly models available in Soft, Moderate or Powerful actions; Dry Fly models available in Medium, Fast or Very Fast actions.)
7' Wet or Dry Fly 2-pc. $1475
7½' Wet or Dry Fly 2 or 3pc. $1325
8' Wet or Dry Fly 2 or 3-pc. $1150
8½' Wet or Dry Fly 2 or 3-pc. $875
8½' Streamer 2 or 3-pc. $1350
9' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc $750
9' Streamer 3-pc. $1350
9' Salmon 3-pc. $775
9½' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $550
9½' Salmon 3-pc. $525
10' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $475
10' Salmon 3-pc. $450
10½' Salmon 3-pc. $450
11-15' 2-Hand Salmon 3-pc. $375
Thomas Special Brown Tone Fly Rods
(Same specifications as the Special rods except for color of cane and oxidized ferrules.)
6'6" Wet or Dry Fly 2-pc $1800
7' Wet or Dry Fly 2-pc. $1625
7½' Wet or Dry Fly 2 or 3 pc. $1575
8' Wet or Dry Fly 2 or 3-pc. $1250
8½' Wet or Dry Fly 2 or 3-pc. $900
8½' Streamer 2 or 3-pc. $1450
9' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc $775
9' Streamer 2 or 3-pc. $1450
9' Salmon 3-pc. $800
9½' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $575
9½' Salmon 3-pc. $550
10' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $475
10' Salmon 3-pc. $450
10½' Salmon 3-pc. $450
Thomas Dirigo Fly Rods
8' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $1025
8½' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $700
9' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc $525
9½' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $400
10' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $300
Thomas Bangor Fly Rods
8' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $900
8½' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $500
8½' Streamer 3-pc. $1050
9' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc $350
9' Streamer 3-pc. $1050