Edward vom Hofe rods

Question
QUESTION: Hi Joe,
I was given a casting rod, approximately 6-6.5' in length. It is a Edward vom Hofe rod and says...E vom Hofe & Co. N.Y., and has the # 69 underneath. I understand that vom Hofe was well known for his reels, and some are very valuable. I haven't been able to find out anything about rods. Does the rod have any value, or should I go ahead and fish with it? Also, it has a broken guide and I'd like to get it replaced with one like it, is this possible?

Thanks,
Dave Derrick

ANSWER: Hi David,

Sounds like you got a nice gift.  My reference books do not specifically note the model #69 (if that is a model number) but do list several Edward vom Hofe rods.  E. vom Hofe was a very well known and accomplished rod builder in the early era of bamboo rod construction.  He was known to produce very high quality rods and demand the highest quality from those who worked for him.  Most of the early rods appear to have been made in the late 1800s and early 1900s (roughly 1870-1920 or so) and the vom Hofe company produced rods until 1939 when it was sold.  These early rods were split bamboo with six strips.  Very early rods were made with seven strips, but are extremely rare.

First, I need some more information:

Is your rod bamboo?  or Greenheart wood?  or Hickory?

Is the handle detachable?

Are there ay other markings on the rod or handle or reel seat?

Is the handle cork or rattan?

What do the line guides look like?

I can tell you that the vom Hofe rods I do have information on average about $300 in value in good condition.  I would assume that if your rod is fishable, except for the one guide, that is is likely in the good condition category.

As far as replacing or repairing the guide goes, I suggest you may want to get an appraisal of the rod's value from a professional with experience in vintage rod appraisal or an established antique appraiser, then decide.  Some one who can inspect the rod first hand and do some research on its origin.  If you do replace or repair the guide, make sure you have it done by a professional rod builder with the expertise to restore the rod properly.

If it turns out this vom Hofe rod is fairly commonplace, then I would definitely fix the guide and fish with it.  If it turns out to be a rare item, you will have other choices to make.

Either way, you have a nice vintage rod that may or may not hold significant value in today's market.  Joe

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

QUESTION: Hi Joe,
First, thank you for a very thorough and helpful answer. I'll answer your questions to the best of my ability, and any further info you can provide me will be greatly appreciated.

The rod appears to be bamboo, and has six sides.

The handle is detachable. The top portion of the handle is made of cork that is still in pristine condition. The reel seat is polished and silver. The base of the handle is wood. The butt cap is again the polished silver and is engraved EDW vom Hofe & Co. and under that is the word Makers. In the bottom of the butt cap is a hole with threads in it. My guess, and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about this, is that it's meant to screw into some fish fighting harness device.

The guides are seated between two arches that I would describe as half-moon in shape and angled so that they come together and form the guide seat, which is then wrapped to hold it in place.

I don't know if this is significant or not, but at the base of the rod between where it fits into the handle and the first guide (which is the broken one) the rod is clearly signed cursively "vom Hofe".

As far as the condition. Except for the broken guide, I would say the rod is in near mint condition. The seats for the broken guide are still there and securely wrapped, the guide itself is missing. The other guides are undamaged and securely wrapped. nothing appears to have been replaced or fixed and the finish on the rod is unblemished. As I stated earlier, the cork part of the handle is pristine and the reel seat and the screw lock are nicer and in better condition than some of my modern rods.

No matter what the value turns out to be, it's a rod I'm proud to posses. It's an expertly crafted fishing rod.

Thank you again for your assistance,
Sincerely,
Dave Derrick


Answer
Hi Dave,

Thank you for the additional information.

My best guess now is that this is a rod from the 1900-1910 era.

If it appraises in excellent to mint condition, the value goes up to $400-$500 or even higher depending on the rarity of the particular rod model.  It would be worth your while to have it appraised.

I doubt that the broken guide would have too much affect on value with the rod in excellent condition.  If you decide to get it repaired, make sure you choose a qualified professional to do the work.  It may be necessary to manufacture the broken guide or create a replacement part for it.

Another guess regarding the threads on the butt end of the handle...many vintage rods were made to accommodate a spike that screwed into the butt end and then allowed the user to stab the rod into the ground.  This way you could fish without holding the rod constantly.  The spike was long and strong enough to support the rod and handle an initial strike.

Sounds to me like you have a very nice vintage rod.  One that is rare and well worth taking care of as an heirloom.

Joe