Rod value and information

Question
Hi, what would the age and value be of this bamboo rod I have? Its has a label on it that says JC Higgins 30/69.
It looks to be perhaps a bait casting rod, as there is 15 1/2 inches of corked handle below the reel seat.
Thanks, Fred

Answer
Hi Fred,

I do not have much reference material on the J. C. Higgins brand other than a few fly rod models and the fact that it was sold by Sears.  Your description sounds like it could be a spinning rod.  Is the reel seat fixed or moveable?  It could also be a boat rod if the guides are smaller and located along the top of the blank in bait casting rod style.

Either way, the Higgins brand rods are not highly valuable.  A bamboo rod like this one, and branded Higgins, would probably date to the 1940s or 1950s; and was probably made by H-I or Montague.  Sears did sell H-I and Montague rods as early as 1900 but not with the Higgins brand.  Sears also sold high end bamboo fly rods made by Heddon, the Premier 115 and the Expert 125.

Depending on condition, I would think your rod could be worth $30-80 to the right buyer.  You may do better or you may do worse depending on how you negotiate and how the potential buyer rates the condition of your rod.  I assume the value of this rod would be comparable to an H-I of similar design and condition.

I hope this helps more than it causes confusion.  There is a lot of guessing and assuming without more detail.

Thanks,  Joe