Heddon #14 9ft 3/2

Question
I received a Heddon #14 9ft rod. All pieces are of equal length. The cork has blackened, but is solid. There is one ferrule missing and a guide. The reel seat is in good condition. The bamboo appears to be all intact, no splits, the finish however has some gatoring and one piece has a slight bend. This rod has a nice feel to it and I would like to restore it so I can fish it. Would it be a bad thing to remove the guides and wrappings, refinish the bamboo and cork, replace missing guide or all of them and take this lovely thing fishing?

Answer
Arthur,
Price Book:
Antique & Collectible  Fishing Rods: Identification & Value Guide by Homel, Dan. 1997 (2nd edition 2000) add about 30% for age of book.

Homel gives the Heddon #14 "Thorobred" heavy trout fly rod 9' with an extra tip, 3 sections the  value of  $50, 115 and $210 for poor, good, and excellent condition respectively.

So I don't think it's a bad idea to restore it. You can not fish it as it is, never mind the missing guides but it is the finish where water can get into the bamboo around the ferrules, possibly weakening and causing a break, that is the big problem.

Make sure you maintain any writing on the rod, if you restore, or you will loose most of the value of the rod.

You have to strip all finish off before re wrap.

Denatured alcohol will clean your cork.
Use guides one size larger than current, as modern lines have a larger diameter than vintage.
Bamboo can be straightened using heat and pressure against the set.
See my inexpensive dip finish equipment  at http://www.macsrods.com/macsrodshome/dip.html

Yes take this rod out to your favorite spot
Luck,
Mac

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