Appleton & Bassett of Boston - Montague?

Re: Appleton & Bassett of Boston - Montague?

feeds@yuku.com (notenoughhours) — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:39:03 GMT

I know one thing....this hobby can sure take up some time. The ferrules on your rod appear to be different with the markings on the tip of the butt section ferrule. I have seen them before, but I can't remember what rod they were on....Edwards?...Vom Hofe? Or is it the hand welted serrated Montague ferrule? Your tip tube is also like some of the Vom Hofe rods I have seen. So many ways to be wrong........

Re: Appleton & Bassett of Boston - Montague?

feeds@yuku.com (jeffkn1) — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:12:46 GMT

Hate to say it, but without more and/or better detail photos I can't be sure. If we could put it side by side with mine I could tell. Don't worry about asking and not contributing yet. None of us was born with this info, and I can guarantee you that ALL of us have had a lot of help along the way. That's precisely why we help the newbies.

Re: Appleton & Bassett of Boston - Montague?

feeds@yuku.com (notenoughhours) — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:45:27 GMT

So, Jeff, This was a learning exercise for me. I am hoping to get to the point to where I can actually contribute to the board, instead of always asking for it's help. Was I correct in my assumption that the rod was early Montague?

Re: Appleton & Bassett of Boston - Montague?

feeds@yuku.com (jeffkn1) — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:42:31 GMT

Rods of that era weren't often seen in 8' lengths. His correction was made after he had replied to my request for a measurement of the butt section. I figure that seat and grip combined are usually about 10-11" on rods that old and that was looking to me like it had 40" sections. I simply hold a ruler up to the screen and measure from butt cap to winding check, then extrapolate that for the whole length. After hearing it was 39" I told him he had a 10' rod rather...

Re: Appleton & Bassett of Boston - Montague?

feeds@yuku.com (notenoughhours) — Mon, 26 May 2008 20:48:16 GMT

I was interested in it for a while, but it went over my budget. It looks like two other rods I have that are much like yours without all of the other sections, and the one which was for sale. I know mine are early Montague. I thought that when he corrected his length description that it would go for much less than it did. But, you are a much better authority on them than I am. Rick

Re: Appleton & Bassett of Boston - Montague?

feeds@yuku.com (jeffkn1) — Mon, 26 May 2008 17:33:20 GMT

I saw that one on xbay and know that it went for what seems to be a reasonable price, but I haven't seen any detail photos yet. From a distance there are some similarities between that one and mine.

Re: Appleton & Bassett of Boston - Montague?

feeds@yuku.com (notenoughhours) — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:52:48 GMT

Re: Appleton & Bassett of Boston - Montague?

feeds@yuku.com (jeffkn1) — Mon, 26 May 2008 08:36:31 GMT

A rod marked Appleton & Bassett would be 1893 - 1901, a period during which Edwards was mostly a nonplayer in the rod biz. The example in question here appears to me to have a later, post-1900 style reel seat. A view of the grip and reel seat would tell us a bit more about it.
I have an Appleton & Bassett with all the characteristics mentioned by AJ. Notice the Kosmic-style winding check, 1/8" rings, and the Kosmic tip tube, identifiable by its tapered collar.
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Re: Appleton & Bassett of Boston - Montague?

feeds@yuku.com (Whitefish Press) — Fri, 23 May 2008 09:58:19 GMT

Mary Kelly in her new book references the history of George B. Appleton from Appleton & Litchfield to Appleton & Bassett, a name change that occurred in 1893. So that's the earliest your rod could have been made, and definitely right in Montague's prime rodmaking years. George Appleton was a very important player in the Boston tackle field for over two decades.

-- Dr. Todd

Appleton & Bassett of Boston - Montague?

feeds@yuku.com (notenoughhours) — Fri, 23 May 2008 09:13:28 GMT

I am researching a rod which is only marked Appleton & Bassett, Boston and the number 37. I have read the reference to this retailer in Campbell's book where he mentions that E, T and P supplied high quality rods to them and they had the reputation for carrying high quality fishing tackle. This one appears to me untrained eye to be an early Montague. I have not found any references to them in anything I have read. What say Ye?

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