Attention: Owners of pre 1937 FE Thomas Rods

fishnbanjo · Post by **fishnbanjo** » 03/25/09 04:55

The ledger was started by Leon Thomas post 1937 and he used a unique system of numbers, alpha characters and symbols to designate information about the rod, i.e. length, model, year built and conformation. Little is understood about Fred Thomas built rods. If you can post photos of these rods (identified by the bullseye rings and a single numeral (sometimes a symbol was used) specifically the butt cap end (with information) the reel seat and ring as well and the grip check if you can. I have a theory about this but it will need documentation to foster it, thanks.............

cwfly · Post by **cwfly** » 03/25/09 06:14

Banjo, As you may recall, I have an interest in this question and will be pleased to get to work with a camera and furnish whatever small assistance I am able. I like this place.
Charlie

spruce grouse · Post by **spruce grouse** » 03/26/09 04:26

Banjo,

I'll try and remember to take photos of my 8' 3/2 Browntone with single ring, 487 and a dot or rectangle (don't remember) stamp on the butt.

Bucktrout · Post by **Bucktrout** » 03/26/09 16:52

Spruce,

Isn't that rod too slow for you? Let me know when you want to sell it.

spruce grouse · Post by **spruce grouse** » 03/27/09 05:11

Eric,

I think Vlad said he wanted to buy it first at the western MD trip.

andre49 · Post by **andre49** » 03/27/09 14:24

Now that's a smart plan...waiting for Vlad to do anything.

Post by **Ken M 44** » 03/28/09 02:36

Banjo - here is mine ;

Bucktrout · Post by **Bucktrout** » 03/28/09 03:09

Spruce,

I'm fairly certain that Vlad was talking about FEjitas sizzling on his plate and not the rod.

fishnbanjo · Post by **fishnbanjo** » 03/28/09 03:39

Ken,
Welcome, I believe that is an early Leon Thomas ledger rod since the Streamer was not developed until around 1935 by Leon Thomas. Steve Campbell may be able to tell you date of manufacture he can be reached at info@thomasrodco.com

Pre 1935 Thomas rods are marked like the 3 I am posting here:

From L-R they are a CA 1918 6'6" 2 pc Browntone, CA 1920's 7 1/3' 2 pc Mahogany Fairy and CA 1907-08 7'6" 3 pc Dirigo

Here are what the reel seats and rings look like............

Regards.............

Post by **Ken M 44** » 03/28/09 04:06

Banjo,
Thanks for the welcome,
That is the only FET rod that I have so I was not sure about the date, apart from a protect wrap to one tip it is in very good all original shape - casts very well also, even with me on the end of it.
Steve came back already - Streamer rod and it is 135th rod in 1937.

Rolf Jacobsen · Post by **Rolf Jacobsen** » 03/28/09 10:51

Here are the only two I have left. The butt marked "3" with a triangle is from a Special, 8', 3/2 5 weight. It has full intermediates and originally came with a cigar grip. The butt marked with an "8" and a dot, is from a Dirigo, 7', 3/1 with full intermediates. While I never had the opportunity to ask Marty specifically about the 7', 3/1, he did tell me there were not many but a few were in fact made that way. Of interest is the differences in the seats and rings. The seat on the left is from the Special with the one on the right being the Dirigo. Marty Keane was nice enough to send me a letter in early 2004 and in it, he mentions the dot is symbolic of 1938 and the triangle is symbolic of 1937. If there were no symbols are characters, Marty said these were pre 1937. Hope this helps! Rolf

fishnbanjo · Post by **fishnbanjo** » 03/28/09 11:48

Very nice and has luck would have my rods are a 3 and 8 as well, check out the sliding bands against each.....

cwfly · Post by **cwfly** » 03/29/09 04:50

8' 3/2 Brown Tone, DT4. Number on the buttcap is 1.

Charlie

spruce grouse · Post by **spruce grouse** » 03/29/09 05:27

Either I misread Banjo's original post or he changed it. Either way, I guess mine is a later rod with only two rings, a n3 digit number and a rectangle stamp plus a screw lock reel seat.

fishnbanjo · Post by **fishnbanjo** » 03/29/09 05:52

Charlie,
Nice Browntone, post 1919 and pre 1930 would put it CA 20's I bet it casts great.

cwfly · Post by **cwfly** » 03/29/09 06:10

Thank you Banjo. It is a joy to cast. If the weather clears and my chores clear as well, I will try and post some photos of an 8 1/2, 3/2 Special, DT5 although Bruce Handley feels it could be a DT4, with intermediates and the number 8. This is it. I really admire this rod.

Charlie

Sal Fontinalis · Post by **Sal Fontinalis** » 04/06/09 02:20

Top to bottom:

7' 3wt Special Fairy - stamped "0" (3 rings)
7'6" 4wt Special - 3 rings only (no numbers)
7'6" 4wt Browntone - stamped "4" (3 rings)
8' 4wt Dirigo - stamped "22" (4 rings)
8' 4wt Special - stamped "30" (3 rings)
8' 4wt Special wet-fly - stamped "33" (3 rings)
8' 5wt Special - stamped "30" (3 rings)

fishnbanjo · Post by **fishnbanjo** » 04/08/09 11:25

An early Dirigo with heavily reworked Montague ferrules 31

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RPL · Post by **RPL** » 06/05/09 09:02

Here are three FE Thomas rods. All are 9 ft., 3-piece, 2-tip rods with full intermediate wraps. I think they date to about 1920. #1 and #3 came with flamed bamboo tip tubes. Each is a great casting rod, especially when throwing a brace of wet flies at wily trout.

#1 - FE Thomas 4-weight "Special" with cork reel seat. Cap is stamped with a "7" with 3 concentric circles.
#2 - FE Thomas 5-weight "Special" with nickel silver reel seat. Cap is stamped "6" with 3 concentric circles.
#3 - FE Thomas 4-weight (possibly a "Special") with wood reel seat. Butt end is stamped "Crown" with a stamping of a crown. The stamping on the side of the cap reads "J.D. Hunter," "The Hunter," and " Boston."

Top to bottom: #1, #2, #3

Left to right: #3, #2, #1

Winding checks. Left to right: #1, #2, #3

blacknosedace · Post by **blacknosedace** » 09/03/09 06:21

Banjo,
I just found this site and so this post. All my FET's are 30's or pre-30's. Hope these pictures are not too late to help you out.

These rods are in the same order in both pictures.
Top: 9' Dirigo
Second: 9' Special
Third: 9' Special
Bottom: 8 1/2' Special

Butt caps:
Dirigo: 3 circles with a "6" above a diamond
First 9' Special: 4 circles with a "6" above a dot
Second 9' Special: 3 circles with a "9" above a diamond
8 1/2' Special: 3 circles with a "6" above a diamond