CHAMPION FLY ROD MADE BY FOSTER BROS ASHBOURNE DERBYSHIRE

Question
I HAVE OWNED THIS FLY ROD FOR APPROXIMATE 30 YEARS, AND WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT WHAT THE APPROXIMATE VALUE OF THE ROD WOULD BE, ONLY TRIED TO FIND FOSTER BROS ASHBOURNE BUT THEY HAVE CLOSED.  DO YOU HAVE ANY  IDEAS WHERE I COULD FIND OUT THIS INFORMATION.IT AS A CORK HANDLE AND MADE OF SPLIT CANE, AND IS 7 FOOT FROM THE TOP OF THE HANDLE, IT HAS FOSTER BROS ON IT AND THE CHAMPION WRITTEN ON IT TOO. THE ROD IS IN  EXCELLENT CONDITION AS I HAVE NOT REALLY USED IT.  LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. PAUL

Answer
Hello Paul --

Foster Brothers was a well-known maker of 'workingmans' bamboo fly rods. So, generally, they are not worth much, usually $100 or less.

However, other factors can influence the value. Unusual (shorter) lengths or lighter weights are always a good sign--the 'usual' cane rod is a 9-foot, 3 piece, so yours is unusually short (*IF* it was originally built to that dimension, and was not broken off shorter--are both pieces exactly the same length?).

Other factors include the true age (is it pre- 1940s?), condition, extra tip-tops, and number of pieces. For example, a 5-piece Foster Bros rod is quite collectible and valuable.

In any case -- the fact that this rod is only 7 feet long means you might wish to get a professional appraisal, with some brands that can mean a very collectible rod. And even it is not particularly valuable (most vintage bamboo rods are not) it is probably an excellent rod to take fishing.

Before you pay for an appraisal, you might ask the fellows here -- they have been very helpful in the past for questions such as this, because I am located in the USA and do not see many British rods other than Hardy Bros.
http://www.flyforums.co.uk/vintage-collectable-tackle/

Best regards --

DAN