Heddon Bambo Flyrod

Question
I have a bamboo 3 pc 9' flyrod from Heddon Sons, Michigan. Its used, some of the gold is flaked off on the eyelets but the rod is in very good shape. Have the original case (dinged up) the clothing for the rod is quite stinky but still preserving the contents. Its an 880 Bass version. On the base it says Heddon Pal, Superlative. Also B-GBG and then number 8-4 on the first section, before the cork. It was my Grampa's. He won it in a fishing contest on the Fox River in St Charles IL (not sure when...).
Anyway, I was going to give it to my nephew since he is the only one in the family that seems to be a fisherman (I use to be but have replaced it with golf.....I think I will go back to fishing based on my game lately). If you know the value it would be helpful. I saw a similar response from you about a similar rod and you said it was worth around $450. Let me know. We will never give it up but still would be nice to know if its worth anything more than the sentimental value.

Thanks,
Paul

Answer
Hi Paul,

This one is a bit of a puzzle.  I'll tell you what I know and then what I think might be applicable to this rod.  

I assume this rod is really bamboo and not one of the faux bamboo fiberglass rods.  I don't really find much that specifies the numbers or inscriptions you have on the rod.  Heddon Pal rods are typically glass rods with only one tip and are valued much lower than bamboo.

If you can verify the rod is bamboo, the following may help.  If you find it is glass, it was made much later and most of the following does not apply to your rod.

The B-GBG puts this one at an 8WT rating in modern lines.  Definitely a bass rod.  The #8 model bamboo was produced in 1951 & 1952 only which fits with the Heddon Sons marking time wise.  The #8 model bamboo was introduced as the new low end of the Heddon line in 1951 and sold for $22.50 both years.  The #8 model bamboo is one of the hardest to find of the Heddon line due to the limited production.  I would definitely hang on to it if it is the real thing.

I do not find anything that indicates gold guides were used on the #8 model bamboo rods.  However, there appears to be two different techniques used on Heddon rods to achieve gold hardware and guides.  The top of the line model #1000 had real gold plated hardware.  Some other rod models and private brand models built by Heddon in the 1948-1952 era had gold hardware that was a result of "Japanning" or coating the hardware with gold tinted lacquer according to the Heddon book by Sinclair.  This is most likely what your rod has as it is flaking in spots and fits the time period.

If gold guides and hardware were not normally used on the #8 model bamboo (again, I find nothing that indicates they were), and this one was a presentation rod that your Grandpa won in a contest, it may have been made for that purpose.  This is all speculation, so I could also be way off base here.  It is quite possible that gold colored hardware and guides were used on the glass rods of the time (may even be probable that they were).

My D.B. Homel (2003) Value Guide lists the #8 model bamboo heavy trout rod fly rod in 9'0" length at between $120 and $230 in Very Good to Excellent condition.  There is no listing for an 880 Bass version which causes me to wonder about this rod being glass rather than bamboo.

The bag and tube for yours are original but well used with some damage so I doubt you can claim Excellent condition for the package.  The rod has some cosmetic issues but it is otherwise in Very Good condition by your estimate.  I would adjust these figures a bit for inflation and consider the rarity of a #8 model bamboo rod and estimate value in the $200-$300 range.

If it turns out to be glass, I would estimate the value more in the $50-$75 range and manufacture date more likely in the 1960s.

I hope this does more than simply confuse you further.  This one is a puzzler.   If you want to provide more data, I'll try to look deeper.

Thanks,  Joe