Values , and where to sell

Question
Hello-Over the past 30 yrs I've accumulated several vintage rods all in good to very good condition. They are-"Orient" Md in Japan,3pc Bamboo spinning rod-(2) two 4pc "Montague" Flash bamboo fly rods-(1) Horrocks-Ibbotson 4pc bamboo fly rod-(1) "Conolon",live fibre,air flite 412 rod-(1) "Heddon" #22 ADB 5 1/2 m bamboo casting rod-(1)Tag missing,"Gouiror"written near handle 4pc bamboo fly rod- (1)Tag reads, HL Leonard, Lock Mtgs,8 1/2ft,4 3/8oz, 50 1/2, O with an + in the center,and a 7 with a - through it, 4pc in cloth bag in alum. tube. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thank You-Bill

Answer
Bill,
I use books and the Internet to research date, history and values of fly rods.
I sell them on my webpage and ebay.

If your rod has either of the following two labels Montague or Horrocks-Ibbotson, it is not very valuable. They are looked down upon by the collecting community and often they are justified. They were sort of mass produced , rather heavy and very slow. They are not going to resale for very much. A small portion of these rods are decent fishing tools . It is the collector community that decides the prices , please  don't blame the messenger.
I find two books are available at larger libraries to get history and or value:
Antique %26 Collectable Fishing Rods: Identification %26 Value Guide Homel, Dan. 1997 (2nd edition 2000# ,add 30% due to the age of the book.
Bamboo Rod Restoration Handbook -Michael Sinclair
History
H-I
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2h7gi/fishnbanjossliceoflifeincyberspacecopy/id22.h...
Montague
http://home.comcast.net/~splitcane/vintage_rod_history.htm

Japanese  same as HI ,Originally sold by the thousands to GIs in a light long box with lures and huge flies . Mostly considered trinkets by collectors but memorial to GIs , they have little resale or fishing value. I have never seen any written history on them in English except the following. http://www.maxrod.net/article/
There is  a book  on Google books, with a little history  and a  limited preview: Bamboo In Japan by Nancy Moore Bess

Bamboo casting rods are a little better than HI and Japanese but not much the collectors just don't want them, fly rods are much more desirable.

HL Leonard interests me and is really the most valuable rod in your bunch. I would be willing to sell it on commission.
Homel gives the HL Leonard 8' Model 50 trout fly rod  c.1975 , with an extra tip, 3 sections the  value of  $200, 650 and $1300 for poor, good, excellent condition respectively.

Books:
Antique %26 Collectible  Fishing Reels: Identification, Evaluation %26  Maintenance Homel, %26 Jellison. 1996.
Antique %26 Collectible  Fishing Rods: Identification %26 Value Guide Homel, Dan. 1997 #2nd edition 2000# add about 30% for age of book.
Bamboo Rod Restoration Handbook by Michael Sinclair
Classic %26 Antique Fly-Fishing Tackle: A Guide for Collectors %26 Anglers by A.J. Campbell
Fishing Tackle: A Collector's Guide  Hardcover, 1991 Graham Turner #hard to find#

You can sell rods for free at Clarks
http://clarksclassicflyrodforum.yuku.com/
You can research there also.

Orvis gives these folks for appraisal and sale of bamboo fly rods:
Len Codella
Len Codella's Heritage
Sporting Collectibles
2201 South Carnegie Drive
Inverness, FL 34450
#352# 637-5454
#352# 637-5420 FAX
[email protected]

Carmine Lisella
Jordan-Mills Rod Co.
#4 Hidden Ridge lane
New City, NY 10956
Phone: 845-639-7630
E-mail: [email protected]

Len is well known in  the collectors community.

I quote these books written by researchers so you know I am not making it all up, But I include my experience as well.

It has taken me the best part of an hour to write this up , please take a few seconds to provide feedback. Please remember I am a volunteer , the feedback is the only result I get from doing this.

Luck,
Mac

Please provide feedback, nominations are appreciated.