The Rods

During all the time that I have attended auctions, tackle fairs and looked at sales lists I can only ever remember seeing one rod by the company. Once I had done some serious research it was easy to understand why. Having started with a large range of rods in many sizes in 1911 they ran out of material for rod making. By the time the 1920 catalogue came out, there were no rods offered. Instead, they announced that they had some rods available, especially in Greenheart.

By 1923 when Henry Milward & Sons owned the company rods reappeared in the catalogues but I believe that only one was made on the Island. In the 1927 catalogue, there were no rods listed. The table below will help identify the low number of rods made.

The Cantilever rods were an attempt to manufacture an entirely new type of rod. They do not disclose how they are made just that it is a secret process. The description from the 1911 catalogue will hopefully give you some idea of what they made. The fact that they do not appear in the 1913 catalogue confirms that they were not a commercial or viable success. An advert taken out by the company in July 1912 makes no mention of them among the sixty other specialities of the company.

These Rods are an entire innovation and we consider they will be very popular, as they possess many advantages to recommend them.

The Rods are made by a secret process, by means of which we can take a parallel cane, or bamboo, and reduce and taper it in any manner desired. In this way can get a Rod of perfect action ensuring a delightful weapon for all purpose,.

The Rods are strong, as the process of tapering converts each joint into a “cantilever” the strain of the fibres of the cane being thrown from end to end.

Knowing as we do (being large and expert users of celluloid) the protection afforded by celluloid against salt or fresh water, we have devised a means of covering the entire Rod with this material. We have no hesitation in saying that celluloid is a far better protection to a Rod than any varnish. We deposit the celluloid in two processes, flowing the grain in two diagonal directions, and this also adds to the strength of the Rods.

These Rods are one continuous and scientifically graded taper from tip to butt.

Two of these “Cantilever” Rods have been in use for the past five years, and have stood remarkably well several seasons’ hard fishing. We therefore feel justified in claiming all we do for them, there being no better test than “practical experience.”

As to the advantages of the “Cantilever” over ordinary whole-cane Rods:

In making a wholecane Rod it is extremely difficult to get action where required, the reason being that it is seldom that canes of a few feet in length can be obtained with much taper to them. For this reason most wholecane Rods will be found too stiff in the butt for comfortable use. The advantage we claim for the “Cantilever” Rod here, is that, as we state, above, we can while still using whole canes get any taper or action desired.

Again: In ordinary wholecane Rods the tops have to be either built cane or some solid wood whereas, in our Rods, the tops are made on the same principle as the other joints.

Name	Material	Pieces	Length	Period	Notes
Record	SC	3	9 to 11ft. in 6 ins. Increments 11 to 18ft. in 1 foot increments	1911-20	Fly rods. Two tops, cork handle, lockfast joints, “W” winch fitting agate butt and end rings with bridge rings, rubber butt piece 14 to 18 ft. double built. Steel centre extra
E. Valentine Corrie	SC, or G	2 or 3	9½, 10, 10¼, 10½	1911-20	Dry Fly rods. Cork handle, lockfast joint, revolving agate butt and end ring, cork stoppers, rubber butt piece, reversible butt spear, “W” reel fitting and facsimile signature E. Valentine Corrie. Spare tops extra
Mab Corrie	SC or G	2 or 3	9 ft. 10 ins. 10ft. 5 ins.	1911-20	Dry Fly rods. As above except no butt spear signed Mab Corrrie. Also available with whole cane butt, split cane top or Greenheart top.
The King	SC	2	9, 9½, 10, 10½ and 11 ft.	1911-20	Wet Fly rods. Cork handle, lockfast joints, revolving agate butt and end rings, intermediate bridge rings, rubber button and “W” reel fitting. Steel centre extra.
The Invincible Brand	G	3	9, 9½, 10, 10½, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18ft.	1911-20	Fly rods. Cork handles, lockfast joints, bridge rings, “W” reel fitting and rubber button. Two tops. The option of having splice joints was available.
2^nd Quality Salmon & Trout Fly Rod	G	3	9, 9½, 10, 10½, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18ft.	1911-13	A similar rod to above but of a lower quality. Snake rings, rubber button, suction joints and cedar wood handle
The Dart	G	2	9, 9½, 10 & 10½ ft.	1911-20	Fly rods similar to the Invincible but with revolving gold plated steel butt and tip ring, bridge rings, rubber button. Spare top extra.
The No. 2 Dart	G	2	9, 9½, 10 & 10½ ft.	1911-13	A similar rod to above but of a lower quality. Snake rings, suction joints and cedar wood handle.
Two Piece Greenheart Fly Rod	G	2	9, 9½, 10 & 10½ ft.	1911-13	Supplied with one top only.
The Barle	G	3	9, 9½, 10 & 10½ ft.	1911-20	Fly rod, cork Handle suction ferrules and snake rings.
The Wadham Salmon	SC, or G	3	10ft to 14ft. in 6 inch increments	1911-20	Spinning rod double cane built with spare top, solid cork handle, lockfast joints, revolving agate butt and tip rings. Special movable winch fitting. Also available with steel centres and in Greenheart. With two tops All Wadham rods with “Wadham” just above the handle.
The Wadham Salmon	SC, or G	2	10, 10½, & 11ft.	1911-20	As above but two piece.
The Wadham Trout	SC or G	3	10 & 10½ ft.	1911-20	Spinning rod double cane built with spare top, solid cork handle, lockfast joints, revolving agate butt and tip rings. Special movable winch fitting. Also available with steel centres and in Greenheart. With two tops All Wadham rods with “Wadham” just above the handle.
The Wadham Trout	SC or G	2	6 & 8½ ft.	1911-20	As above but two piece.
The Wadham Trout	SC or G	1	5 & 6ft	1911-13	With either a fixed or detachable handle
The Scott	SC or G	3	10ft & 8½.	1911-20	Casting, spinning for Pike, Salmon, and Mahseer also suitable for sea fishing. Cork handle, lockfast joint, encased agate rings throughout, special moving winch fitting and rubber button.
The Needful Combination General Rod	SC or G	6	14ft Fly 12½ft Spinning, 11½ft Trolling.	1911-13	Multipurpose rod two fly tops, one spinning and one trolling top. Double cane built with the option of steel centre. Solid cork handle, “W” winch fitting, encased revolving agate butt and tip rings, bridge rings for the others and rubber button.
The Ganges Mahseer	SC or G	3	11½ft, 12½ft & 14ft.	1911-13	Spinning Rod Cork or pig skin handle, lockfast joints, agate butt and tip rings, bridge rings, “W” winch fitting rubber button. Steel centre an option. All bindings silk covered with copper wire.
The Avon	C & G	3	11ft. or 9½ ft	1911-13	Pike spinning and trolling rod. Whole-cane butt and middle with Greenheart tops one spinning and one trolling. Cork handle, lockfast joints, revolving gold plated steel butt and end rings, plus bridge rings, “W” winch fitting and rubber button.
The Avon Second Quality	C & G	3	11ft. or 9½ ft	1911-13	Pike spinning and trolling rod. Whole-cane butt and middle with Greenheart tops one spinning and one trolling. Cedar wood handle, suction joints, snake rings and rubber button.
Perch & Roach Rods	C & G	3	10ft, 10½, 11 & 12ft.	1911-13	Whole-cane butt and middle two Greenheart tops cork handle, serrated suction joint, gold plated steel revolving butt and tip ring, other rings bridge, “W” winch fittings and rubber button. Also available in second and third quality.
Perch & Roach Rods	C & G	2	10ft, 10½, 11 & 12ft.	1911-13	As above but two piece
The Solent	C or G	2	7, 7½ and 8 ft.	1911-13	Sea rod with cork handle, lockfast joints, encased porcelain revolving rings throughout, “W” winch fitting and rubber button.
The Bickerdyke	C & G	3	15ft with long top 11ft with short top	1911-13	Butt and joint E1 cane, Greenheart tops, extended butt available making it 19ft.Built as per Bikerdykes instruction. Also available in 2^nd quality.
The Baby Dreadnought		2	7½ft.	1911-13	Cork handle with strongly protected porcelain rings.
Plain Sea Rod	C & G	2	7,8 and 9ft.	1911-13	Bamboo butt Greenheart top
Tarpon Rod	C &G			1911-13	Made to order, double built cane and Greenheart top.
Dapping Rods	C & G	3	15, 16 & 17ft.	1911-13	Bamboo butt and middle with two Greenheart tops, cork handle, suction joints, gold plated revolving steel butt and tip rings, bridge rings throughout “W” winch fitting and rubber button. 2^nd quality also available.
Cantilever Trout Fly	C	3 & 2	9, 9½, 10, 10½ & 11ft.	1911-13	Olive green or brown celluloid finish, solid cork grip, serrated suction ferrules, snake rings and rubber button.
Cantilever Roach & General Rods	C	3 & 2	10, 11 & 12ft.	1911-13	As trout rods.
Cantilever Pike Rods	C	3	10, 10½ & 11ft.	1911-13	As trout rods
Cantilever Sea Boat Rod	C	2	7, 8 & 9ft.	1911-13	As trout rods but with porcelain rings throughout.
Cantilever Sea rod for Lighter fishing	C	3	9, 10 & 11ft	1911-13	As above.
The Wadham 1923 model	SC or G	2	6, 8½ & 10ft	1923	No whippings on the rod and celluloid used to fix the rings and cover the whole rod in lieu of varnish. Cork grips, suction joints and “Unbreak” porcelain rings.

SC = Split Cane C = Cane G =Greenheart