Despite being a tad under the weather recently, I thought Id update the TARTs on my obsession with rods made by Bernard Sealey under the brand name Precision Rods of Redditch. Thanks to a contact on Facebook, my collection of rods by this maker ... and the rod designer Robert Sealey ... will reach 12 (though I do have 2 of the same model) next week when I collect my latest acquisition ... an R. Sealeys Match Winner. JFT. This is a 12 foot, 3 piece match style rod with reed butt section, reed/whole cane mid section, and whole cane/split cane tip. Its finished in the almost obligatory black lacquered finish of many of R. Sealeys rods. The rods by this maker in my little collection will then number :- 1. Precision Rods, un-named, 10ft 9 inch, 3 piece, all split cane avon type rod. Thanks to a good friend, this rod has now been christened “The Princess.” Not short ... but as designed. A simply stunning rod. 2. Precision Rods “R. Sealey Precise.” 12ft. 3 piece. Butt = reed. Centre = reed/whole cane. Tip compound taper split cane. 3. + 4. A pair of Precision Rods “R. Sealey’s Brumas.” 13ft 3in. 3 piece. Butt = Spanish Reed. Middle = Spanish Reed spliced to whole cane. Tip = whole cane spliced to split cane. (Nb. Brumas was, apparently, something of a celebrity ... the first Polar Bear cub born in captivity in the UK on 27th. November 1949, who was instrumental in London Zoos record attendance figures in 1950. Erroneously referred to as male in the press of the time, she was named after her 2 keepers, Bruce and Sam ... hence Brumas. She died on 17th May 1958. Therefore, the rod was named either as a celebration of her birth (and I believe that R. Sealey started to make rods after WW2 until the early 1950s) ... or in remembrance of her after her death. Im leaning towards the former now.) 5. Precision Rods “R. Sealey Rapid Strike.” 13ft, 3 piece. Butt – reed. Middle – reed/cane spliced. Tip – compound taper split cane. 6. Precision Rods “R. Sealey Rapid Strike.” 12ft, 3 piece. Butt – reed. Middle - reed/whole cane spliced. Tip – whole cane/split cane spliced. 7. Precision Rods “R. Sealey’s Tudor Prince” 9ft. 3 piece, all split cane fly rod. 8. Precision Rods “Severn Perfection.” 11ft., 3 piece, all split cane float/trotting rod. 9. Precision Rods “R. Sealey’s Tudor Rose.” A light 3 piece, 10ft 6in rod of whole cane butt and mid sections and a whole cane/split cane tip. Though Im sure its not an original addition ... this rod arrived with an extra fibre glass tip with a 6 inch swing tip taped to its tip with insulating tape !!! 10. Precision Rods ‘un-named combi rod.’ 4 piece. 25 inch handle. 30 inch Spanish reed short butt. Spliced reed/whole cane centre. Spliced whole cane/split cane tip. The handle has a female ferrule, and the male ferrules on the short butt and centre sections are identical, meaning that it can be used as either a 10ft 6in ‘roach/match’ or 13ft ‘roach/match’ type rod. 11. Precision Rods “Vanguard.” 2 piece, 8ft., all split cane pike rod. 12. Precision Rods ‘R. Sealey’s Match Winner JFT.’ 12ft., 3 piece rod with reed butt, reed/whole cane centre, and whole cane/split cane tip sections. There are more on my bucket list, ... but this will do as a start ! ;-) A couple of photos of the rod arriving next week ... better will follow when its in my sticky little mitts !!!
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 19:50:49 +0000
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