James Heddons and Sons bamboo rod

Question
My dad recently gave me a pole that is beautiful and I am interested to see what you know about it.  It is in very good condition; it almost looks like it has never been used, but, there is one eye loop missing.  It came in the original aluminum screw top case with the Heddon's foil sticker, in a green cloth/cotton? bag with the Heddon's tag sewed in.  The tag is a little worn, but I think it says: length, 10 ft, weight 5 oz without locking reel, final inspector 250.  There are four sections, which includes 2 different tips.  The section where the locking reel goes looks like it is ivory or marble. The threading is red, and it looks like the connecting pieces are brass?  The handwriting on the neck reads:  #10-9'2 1/2 F- and then, letters hard to decipher, H @ H or D  ???  On the other faces of the bamboo in the same area it has Blue Waters and Heddon. I would appreciate anything/history you could tell me about it.  Thanks,
FisherGirl from Washoe Valley, NV

Answer
Hi Fishergirl,

The Heddon #10, Blue Waters, model fly rods were introduced in 1934 and stayed in the lineup until 1952.  These were rods designed for everyone to be able to afford and initially sold at only $10.00 for the complete rod, bag and tube.  The ivory color of the spacer on your reel seat indicates this rod was made about/after 1940...the material is a marbleized Tenite (a new plastic introduced in the late 1930s).  The wrap colors on the guides should be Red & Black twisted together (or what may be called Maroon & Black Jasper by Heddon).  The ferrules and reel seat hardware should be nickel silver.

The key to the coding on the rod is:

#10.......model number for the Blue Waters fly rods
9'........length of this rod 9 feet 0 inches when assembled
2 1/2 F...ferrule size used...2 1/2 is a 19/64ths ferrule (heavy rod)
HCH.......HCH is the line size rating(=7wt WF or DT modern line)
or D......D is an laternate line rating (=6wt Level line)

This rod is what they called a "heavy rod" rated for Bass, Salmon, or large Trout.  Everything sounds good on the rod except the one guide that is missing.  You can have this replaced by a professional rod builder and out the rod back into great shape.

Value depends on actual condition and scarcity of the rod.  This rod (with the guide replaced properly) in Very Good condition would be valued in the $175-$250 range; in Excellent/Mint condition in the $300-$350 range.  It would be worthwhile for you to have the guide replaced.

If you wish to use the rod, check it over closely for any damage to the bamboo.  If you find none, put it together and lawn cast it a few times to make sure the ferrules fit snug and that there is no looseness due to drying out of the glue holding the ferrules on the rod.  If not, put a reel loaded with 7wt WF or DT on the rod and enjoy it.  You could not buy a new bamboo rod of comparable quality today for $350 so you have a nice rod for free...what a deal.

I personally fish with a 7'0" Heddon #10 Blue Waters and I think you will find that even the so-called lower priced Heddon rods are very nice to fish with and make the day fun.

Thanks,  Joe