bamboo cross fly rod

Question
I recently acquired a 9' bamboo 3 piece fly rod with two tip sections. The only markings on this rod is on the reel ring it says "single CROSS built". There are no other markings on any of the rod sections. The cork has a thumb indentation and the reel foot fits in a slot under the cork. The first guide has plastic, but all others are wire and seem to be held on with black tape (not wound line). Also stock seems to be fiberglass with cork over. I am wondering how to tell the age of this rod and the range of fishing line weight.
Thanks for the info
eric

Answer
Hi Eric,

I would like to see some photos of this rod.  Send them to [email protected] and I'll review them.

Bamboo Cross fly rods were made by the Cross Rod & Tackle Company and the Single Built models tend to be dry fly rods.  In 1926, or so, the company was sold to South Bend and "Cross" models continued until just after WW II.  I suspect yours is one of the South Bend "Cross" rods but would like to narrow it down a bit.

The thumb indent is a South Bend clue.

The first guide is probably agate lined, not plastic, and i doubt the windings are tape...they are likely thread wraps, probably silk.  Sheet cork may be possible, especially if this is a later production model when they were trying to cut cost.  It also could be an early model using sheet cork...it gets confusing at times.  I doubt the handle core is fiberglass, it didn't appear until the mid-1950s, it is probably wood.  

Send me some photos and I'll take a look.

Thanks,  Joe