Edward vom Hofe Surf Pole

Question
Hi Rich,
What can you tell me about my E.vom Hofe & Co 404 EL surf rod?
It is 9 feet six sided bamboo with 3 eyelets at the end.
Has the 404 EL engraved below E.vom Hofe & Co.N.Y. name on top of reel holder, and No4 engraved below the reel holder.
I surf fished with this rod and a PENN 185 reel with no drag on it for many years before retiring it.
Just wondering,
Vic

Answer
Victor,
History:
http://www.antiquetackleobserver.com/2009/03/09/edward-vom-hofe-part-1/

I made this answer public so others can get the answer if they have a similar rod .

The Edward vom Hofe rod company built rods from 1867 to about 1940 and is well known for boat rods and other saltwater gear.  Yours is in the generic category of boat rod.  Edward vom Hofe boat rods are much more common than his fly rods.  

Most of the boat rods have two guides at each location along the shaft on opposite sides of the rod and a tiptop that allows line to enter from two sides.  This configuration allows the user to turn the upper section of the rod 180 degrees every so often and fish with both sides of the rod.  This tends to distribute the stress more evenly on the bamboo and minimizes the forming of a permanent set (curve in the rod).

Your rod may have agate lined guides or trumpet or bell guides or latter year wire guides.  This can help with identifying date and value of the rod somewhat.  The vom Hofe company tended to use components long after they were replaced by new technology simply because they had an inventory of parts and used them all up.

The handle can be all wood or wood wrapped in rattan.  The bamboo shaft is most liekly six sided.  If it is other than six strips, that would be important to know.

Assuming the rod is six strip bamboo and the handle is all wood and detachable, and the rod is in good condition needing a few repairs like  maybe refinish work, it's value is likely in the $100-$300 range.  Actual value depends on its age, its actual condition and the components on the rod. Just a guess.

This rod is too old for me . I stop at the 19th century as do my books.  I  am a bamboo trout fly rod man but I know some guys . One  in particular is Jeff 揋nome?Hatton -
Gnomish Rod Works  Paonia, CO e-mail [email protected]
He has written a great book "Rod Crafting A Full-Color Pictorial & Written History from 1843-1960 " which I own and has allot of wooden rods in it and he knows these really old rods pretty well.  If you contact him tell him Mac from Denver sent you.

Luck,
Mac

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