History of the Sewell N. Dunton & Son Rod Co. and its models

History of the Sewell N. Dunton & Son Rod Co. Feel free to discuss Dunton Rods here.

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History of the Sewell N. Dunton & Son Rod Co. and its models

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The Sewell N. Dunton & Son Rod Co was established when Sewell N. Dunton assisted in the foreclosure of what was the Montague Rod Co. Sewell N. Dunton purchased machinery, bamboo stocks, which included partially finished rods, components etc. and moved the new company to Greenfield MA. While Sewell never built rods himself, his son, Sewell N. Dunton Jr, did as well as several other builders Sewell hired from the now defunct Montague. Rods at Duntons were marked as Sewell N. Dunton INC (usually those made from blanks that existed from Montague and several other makers who Sewell purchased stocks from) and the Anglers Choice Rods which varied in their fittings, top grades often used Super Z ferrules and excellent components that rivaled the best rods of the day. The following information is taken from a 1960 Sewell N. Dunton INC catalog and hopefully this will give those interested a better understanding of the rods offered and some of their characteristics. Anglers Choice Pack Rods For horseback, hiking, bicycling or airplane travel. Three piece flame finished hand filed split bamboo 26" sections. Straight nickel silver ferrules. Model 10 Light Trout (wet fly) action. #0 and 3/0 ferrule sizes with extra tip. Bronze Perfection Tops and guides. Black and gold trim, screwlocking aluminum reel seat. Poplin bag and screw cap aluminum rod case. Available in 6'6" weighing 3 1/4 oz for HEH or F lines. Model 11 Medium Trout (dry fly) action. #1 1/2 and 3/0 ferrule sizes with extra tip. Bronze Perfection Tops and guides. Black and gold trim, screwlocking aluminum reel seat. Poplin bag and screw cap aluminum rod case. Available in 6'6" weighing 3 1/2 oz for HEH or F lines. 3-piece fly rods Still the most popular type of rod for fly fishing both here and abroad, easily carried, easily stored between trips, action established thru many years of fishing. Model 108 Custom made "Anglers Choice" Three joints with extra tip of flame finished hand filed split bamboo. Super Z nickel silver ferrules. Milabridge wear resistant fly tops and butt guide, intermediate guides Perfection Bronze Snakes. Anodized aluminum screwlock reel seat with cedar insert. Cal-Air Champion rod case with poplin bag. 7'6" 1 1/2 and 2/0 ferrules, dry fly action for HEH or F lines. 8' 1 1/2 and 3/0 ferrules, light trout action for HDH or E lines. 8'6" and 9' 2 and 2/0 ferrules, med trout action for HCH or D lines. 9' 2 1/2 and 01/2 ferrules, bass action for HCH or D lines. 9' 35 and 32 ferrules, bass bug action for GBG or GAF lines. Model 107 "Anglers Choice" Flame Finish. Straight nickel silver bronzed ferrules. Bronzed Perfection Tops and Guides. Black screwlock reel seat with cedar insert. Cal-Air Champion aluminum rod case. Lengths and weights: 8' (under 4 1/2 ozs) Lt. action 8'6" (5 ozs) and 9' (5 3/4 ozs) medium trout 9' (6 3/4 ozs) Bass action 8' cork reel seat 3 3/4 ozs avaialable on special order. Model 117 "Anglers Choice" Flame Finish. Straight nickel silver ferrules. Perfection Gold Plated Tops and Guides. Black and gold trimmed screwlocking aluminum reel seat with cedar insert. Cal-Air Champion aluminum rod case. Lengths and weights: 8' (under 4 1/2 ozs) Lt. action 8'6" (5 ozs) and 9' (5 3/4 ozs) medium trout 9' (6 3/4 ozs) Bass action Special 8' cork reel seat 3 3/4 ozs. Model 106 "Anglers Choice" Flame Finish. Straight ferrules. Chrome Perfection Tops and Guides. Aluminum screwlock reel seat. Aluminum case. Same lengths and actions as Model 107. Model 105 "Anglers Choice" Flame Finish. Straight ferrules. Mildrum Tops and Guides. Screwlock and black plastic reel seat. Fibre rod case. Same lengths and actions as Model 106. Model 1145 "Anglers Choice" Flame Finish. Genuine tonkin split bamboo. Improved ferrules (i.e. female ferrule shouldered). Mildrum bronzed hard steel butt guide, large snake guides and tops. 3/4" metal screwlocking reel seat, 2" specie cork lower grip with satin finish butt bplate, 6" specie cork fly grip. Partitioned twill bag in Fibre rod case. Length 8'6" bass-salmon action. Improved or shoulder ferruled rods are HCH or D. Model 114 Flame finish, Improved ferrules. Black plastic nickel plated screwlock reel seat. Mildrum tops and guides. Fibre rod case. Lenght 8'6" and 9 ft medium trout action. Model 104 Flame finish, Improved ferrules. Screwlock and red plastic reel seat. Mildrum tops and guides, mustard cork grip. Same length and action as Model 114. Partitioned cloth bag. Model 103 Browntone, Improved ferrules. Screwlock and plastic reel seat. Mildrum tops and guides, mustard cork grip. Same length and action as Model 104. Partitioned cloth bag. Model 102 Browntone, Improved ferrules and rolled welt band. All metal screwlock reel seat. Bronze butt guide and tops, mustard cork grip. 8'6" and 9' lengths. Partitioned cloth bag. Model 101 Browntone, nickel plated Improved ferrules and rolled welt band. Reel seat. Bronze butt guide and tops, mustard cork grip. 8'6" and 9' lengths. Partitioned cloth bag. Model 100 same as Model 101 but with 1 tip. Dry Fly Salmon or Salt Water Rods Model 700 "Anglers Choice" Flame Finish straight ferrules. All metal 3/4" screwlock reel seat, chrome plated stainless steel Perfection guides and tops, detachable extension grip. Partitioned Canvas bag. Length 9' (9'6" with ext butt) 7 3/4 ozs. Model 715 Same as Model 700 with Perfection gold plated guides and tops, anodized aluminum reel seat. Poplin bag and aluminum case. Length 9' (9'6" with ext butt) 6 3/4 ozs. 2 piece fly rods Model 180 "Anglers Choice" Flame finish hand filed split bamboo Super Z nickel silver ferrule. Milabridge guide, Perfection Snake guides and tops. Anodized aluminum screwlock reel seat with cedar insert. Cal-Air Champion rod case with poplin bag. 8' dry fly action. Model 158 "Anglers Choice" Flame Finish. Straight ferrule. All metal screwlock reel seat. Bronze steel butt guide, snake guides and tops. Twill bag and fibre case. 8' Model 194 "Anglers Choice" Flame Finish straight ferrule. Bronzed Perfection butt guide bronze steel Tops and Guides. Metal scrulock reel seat with green plastic insert. Poplin bag and aluminum case. 8' medium dry fly action. Model 193 "Anglers Choice" Flame Finish straight ferrule. Bronzed Perfection butt guide bronze steel Tops and Guides. Metal scrulock reel seat with black plastic insert. Poplin partitioned bag and aluminum rod case. 8'6" medium dry fly action. Model 159 "Anglers Choice" Flame Finish straight ferrule all metal screwlock reel seat. Bronze steel butt guide, Tops and Snake Guides. Twill bag and aluminum case. 9' Either bass action or steelhead action as specified. Model 162 "Anglers Choice" Flame Finish split bamboo straight ferrule. Bronze Perfection butt guide, bronze steel snakes and tops. Cork reel seat with bronzed rolled welt band. Poplin bag and Cal-Air Champion aluminum case. 7' 3 1/4 ozs. Model 152 "Anglers Choice" Flame Finish, straight ferrule. Bronzed Perfection guides and tops, plastic screwlock reel seat. aluminum case. 7'6" 4 ozs. Model 153 as Model 152 with cork reel seat 3 3/4 ozs. Model 155 as Model 152 at 3 5/16 ozs extra light action. Model 154 as Model 152 with aluminum seat 3 3/4 ozs extra light action. Model 160 as Model 154 at 2 19/20 ozs at 6'. Model 161 as Model 155 at 2 11/20 ozs at 6'. Model 156 "Anglers Choice" Flame finish, straight ferrule, all metal screwlock reel seat. Bronze steel butt guides and tops. Fibre case. Light action 7 or 7'6". Model 157 "Anglers Choice" Flame finish, improved ferrule, red plastic screwlock reel seat. Bronze hard steel butt guides and tops. Mustard cork grip. Twill bag. Light action 7 or 7'6". Model 167 "Anglers Choice" Natural finish split bamboo, 15/64 improved (shouldered) ferrule, red plastic screwlock reel seat. Bronze hard steel but guide and one snake guide on butt, five snake guides on tips. Bronze hard steel tops, mustard cork grip, twill bag. bass action 7'6". Model 167S as Model 167 with 2" lower cork grip, satin finish butt plate, 3/4" metal screwlock reel seat. 7'9" bass or med salmon action. Model 151 Natural finish, improved ferrule, red plastic screwlock reel seat. bronze. 3 hardened steel guides on tips, hard steel one-ring guide on butt, hard steel top. Medium action 7'6", available as 1 or 2 tip rod. Model 150 Natural finish. No extra tip. Improved ferrule, mustard grip. Nickel plated rolled reel band reel seat. bronze. Hard steel top. Cloth bag. Medium action 7'6". Lines recommended for 2 piece rods: Extra Light action HEH or F Light action HDH or E Medium action HDH, HCH or D 2 piece Tournament fly rods Model 190 "Anglers Choice" Distance fly rod. Two joints of slected bamboo. 20/64"straight ferrule. 7/64" top, butt diameter at winding check 32/64". 7"satin finish solid specie cork grip, aluminum screwlock reel seat, chromestainless steel Perfection guides and top. One tip only, 9'. Partitioned canvas bag. Model 190 DA"Anglers Choice" Dry fly accuracy. 16/64" ferrule. 5.5/64" top, butt diameter at winding check 30/64". Model 190 WA"Anglers Choice" Wet fly accuracy. 17/64" ferrule. 6/64" top, butt diameter at winding check 30/64". We are happy to supply tournament casters with unfinished blanks or bare blanks alone. 2 piece Salmon fly rods Model 190 S "Anglers Choice" Heavy action rod for Salmon Wet Fly fishing or Salt Water fly fishing. Same as Model 190 except equiped with detachable extension lower grip and metal 3/4" screwlock reel seat. 9' (9'6" with ext grip) 8 3/4 ozs w/o ext grip. Model 191 "Anglers Choice" Miramichi 2 piece Salmon rod. Two joints and extra tip flame finished selected hand file genuine tonkin split bamboo. #2 (17/64") hand welt straight ferrule. 7" upper grip and 2" extension grip (not detachale) of satin finish solid specie cork. Bronze Perfection guides and tops. All metal 3/4" screwlock reel seat. 9' 7 1/4 ozs. A medium weight rod suitable for either wet or dry fly fishing. Model 192 as Model 191 except with # 1.5 (16/64) ferrule. For wet fly Salmon fishing. We can build lighter action 2 piece Salmon rods or Salt Water fly rods in 9', 8'6" or 8' and even 7'6" but if you use too heavy lines, try to reach too far or get excited and "horse" your fish in you can wreck the rod and all the pleasure of your fishing trip. Fishing is an individual sport but should be enjoyed cooperatively by your companions and your family and with split bamboo as a material. We can build thousands of variations not possible with mass production materials. Tell us what you think would be the ideal rod for you and let us see what we can do for you. Kit rods are also available in 2 and 3 piece kits, with and without extra tips in various grades.

Dunton sold his rod co in Greenfield MA to Thomas Dorsey and Thomas Maxwell and it was named Thomas & Thomas Rod Co and is still in operation.

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