Bean Double L Bamboo Rod

Question
QUESTION: My brother bought an old bamboo rod for me. 8 1/2 foot bamboo, 3/2. One tip is broken. Case is a Montague case,
which probably does not belong with it. I have tried to find a comparable but cannot. Written on butt piece is Bean Double L in yellow. Thread wraps around guides are black as is reel seat. Read some about track rods but just got confused. Any info on value, year, Phillipson would be appreciated. I read about Phillipson making the Double L but said to look for resorcinal glue lines? Thank you


ANSWER: Hi Gretchen,

This one is beyond my knowlege of the LL Bean rods.  But Joe Douglas on this Allexperts site will be able to answer this one.

Sorry,

Good luck,

Marc

Question:  

Answer
Hi Gretchen,

Trade rods was probably the confusing issue.  Outfits like L.L. bean do not make rods.  They contract with others to build the rods for them and put their name on the rods that are built.  These are called trade rods or private label rods or private brand rods.

Is the writing that says Bean Double L written in script with the letters going toward the handle?  It's probably white ink under there that looks yellow due to the varnish on the rod.

Montague, Edwards and Phillipson are all rod building entities who made rods for L.L. Bean.  Is it possible for you to take some digital pictures and send them to [email protected] for review?  

I'm not certain that Phillipson was the only maker of the Double L rods and I'll have to look into that some.  Resorcinol glue has a distinctive "purple" color and may appear along the lines where bamboo strips are joined together on a rod.

Bill Phillipson was originally employed by Goodwin Granger and went to Wrigth-McGill when they bought Granger rods.  He left W-M in 1946 and started the phillipson Rod Company which he sold to 3M corporation in 1972.  Phillipson designed and built high qulaity rods throughout his career.

Thanks,  Joe