Fly/spinning rods

Question
QUESTION: I have two antique rods.  One is an Abbey and Imerie bamboo rod, I think the label may say 1912.  It is 110" in three pieces, and in a "Montague" sleeve, which I know is not the original packaging, what I have found is Montague is another company (?)

Thesecond is in a cloth sleeve as well and marked "The Gliebe Co, #643, Fishing Tackle since 1906, Brooklyn, NY.  It is 77" in two pieces, and is fashioned in a multi-sided flat design. It looks like wood, but could it be fiberglass?  It has 6 loops and they are fashioned like a spinning rod, not a fly rod loop.  Can you tell me if I am correct in the compostion, and to the value of each of these rods.  I would give each of them a 9+ rating as to condition.  I thank you very much for your time. Joe B. Annapolis, MD.

ANSWER: Hi Joe,

Abbey & Imbrie sold fishing tackle and rods under that name beginning in 1875 taking over from the Andrew Clerk company which began in 1820.  They did not make rods, they sold rods made by others with the Abbey & Imbrie name put on them...these are called private label or trade rods.

If the "1912" is a designator for the year of production, some of the rod makers used by A&I at that time included Pritchard Brothers, Horrocks-Ibbotson and Thomas & Edwards.  There were probably others as well.   I do not believe A&I sold rods made by Montague.  Yes, the Montague City Rod Company was a maker of fihsing rods who sold their own line of rods and made private label rods for many retail outlet customers.

The actual maker of your rod would have an impact on its value as some of the old masters rods are more collectible than others.  However, in general, an A&I fly rod of that era...with all four rod sections (two tip sections), original bag and original rod tube...in excellent condition would be valued in the $250-$300 range.  If you have only one tip section and do not have the original bag or tube, The value would drop by about half.

I can not find much information on The Gliebe Company at all.  It does appear to have done business from about 1902-1960 or so...at least...but it does not look like it was a rod building company.  It was probably a retail outlet selling private label rods made by otehrs with the Gliebe name on them.  I don't know this for certain, but suspect it is the case.

I found a couple of links to online auctions for rods with the Gliebe name that were listed in the $25-$50 range.  Depending on when this rod was built, it would be either bamboo or fiberglass.  Fiberglass would indicate sometime from the early 1950s forward.  If your rod is four sided it may be solid fiberglass (not hollow).

Prior to the early 1950s, most of the rods would be either bamboo or a solid wood like greenheart, ash or hickory.  If yours is six sided and looks like wood, it is probably bamboo.  If it is round and looks like wood, it is probably greenheart.

Either of these rods can be fished with in their present condition.  You should check them over for cracks or splits and any obvious damage, but finding none, you can certainly fish with them.

Thanks,  Joe


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey Joe,
Thanks for the info.  I forgot to mention the rod in the sleeve marked "Gliebe" Co has a decal on it that reads "SPROT KING".  Can you tel me anything about these?

Thanks again for your time.  This is a great site.  Joe, Annapolis, MD.

Answer
Hi Joe,

Sorry, I thought the rod was marked Gliebe.  If the rod is marked Sport King it was sold by Montgomery Wards.  Wards did not make rods so this is a private label rod made for Wards with their brand (Sport King) on it.  In general, the Wards rods are at the lower end of rod quality for the time and don't have much collector value.  They should still make decent rods to fish with.

If it is a fiberglass Sport King, value is probably in the $25-$30 range in excellent condition.  If it is bamboo, value may be a bit higher but not much unless it is a fly rod.

Thanks,  Joe