wright and mcgill rod

Question
Hi Micheal,
I recently aquired a fly fishing rod that is in an aluminum colored tube with a greenish lid and has a green cloth bag. The rod is bamboo with red wrapping with gold trim. It is a medium-dark laqcuerd wood color. The stripping guide is gold with a red inside. The rest of the snake guides are black. On the rod  above the handle reads "Wright & McGill" on one side and "Stream and Lake" on the other. The reel seat says "PAT. APR. 12. 1938; PAT NO. 2.114.107; MADE BY; WRIGHT & MCGRILL ROD CO; DENVER COLO. USA" The rod is 9 feet long. It is a 3 piece with 2 tips all in mint condition. Just wondering how old this particular rod would be and what is its value.

Answer
Hello Dave,

Your rod was made between 1947 and about 1952. It is essentially a Wright & McGill Granger rod, as it has the same reel seat, grip , bamboo and rod taper as the Granger rods. It was NOT generally referred to as a Granger, and that's why the name does not appear on the rod shaft where you see the name "Stream & Lake". This was a lower priced rod in the W&M line-up designed to appeal to fishermen on a budget who still demanded the performance of a good bamboo fly rod. It sounds like the wrappings may have been replaced at some time as the original color would have been plain red with no gold at all.  The stripping guide is actually lined with red glass, which was called "Garnix" by the Wright & McGill advertising gurus.

Nine foot rods by all makers are the most common. As a lower grade rod, many of this model were made and sold. In genuine mint condition, this rod might bring about $250 - but bear in mind that mint means mint, unused, looking just as good as when it was brand new. There is no allowance made for its age. When brand new, this rod would have had a clear plastic cover on the cork grip with the W&M logo stamped on it - if it doesn't have that plastic, it's not mint. It might be "near mint" without the plastic. And that would keep the value near the above figure. Originally this rod came in a cardboard tube with a label affixed to the outside. It is possible that it was ordered with an aluminum tube instead, but that, too, should have the label on the outside. The original bag would have been khaki or light tan. Having the original bag and tube adds a few dollars to the value.

This sounds like a nice rod, and I know it would be a pleasure to fish - Granger rods are my personal favorites!