The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

The half pipe method also works well for sanding balsa and cork for floats if one doesn't have a lathe!

Allcocks Eclipse added to the first post

E.T. Barlow The "General" 11ft Added to the first post

I never knew that ET Barlow had made cane rods until a fortnight ago when fishing with a couple of TFF members. One had this rod that I felt certain had a hollow-built butt section which felt seriously good in the hand. It certainly had 'the feel'.

I wonder who made them? ...Bob Kirk was only up the road..........???

Nobby wrote:I never knew that ET Barlow had made cane rods until a fortnight ago when fishing with a couple of TFF members. One had this rod that I felt certain had a hollow-built butt section which felt seriously good in the hand. It certainly had 'the feel'.

I wonder who made them? ...Bob Kirk was only up the road..........???

The rod is exactly the same as the "The Royalty" Barbel Rod. Made by Priory Rods.

I wonder where he got his cane? We only have this old thread:

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=3513&start=0

Sofa Surfer doesn't mention cane rods...they might be old or they might be more modern, but in line with his 'supply anything to do with angling' ethos.

Certainly the hollow-built rod I waggled, which had a huge diameter butt section...was really good. Not a design I've seen before but it felt very good. It wasn't a copy of any popular rod that I'm aware of, but a true original...and a good one at that.

Nobby wrote:I wonder where he got his cane? We only have this old thread:

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=3513&start=0

Sofa Surfer doesn't mention cane rods...they might be old or they might be more modern, but in line with his 'supply anything to do with angling' ethos.

Certainly the hollow-built rod I waggled, which had a huge diameter butt section...was really good. Not a design I've seen before but it felt very good. It wasn't a copy of any popular rod that I'm aware of, but a true original...and a good one at that.

Maybe one of the Youngs of Harrow Otter Brand rods, some of those had hollow-built huge diameter butt section,s



As well as the rod,s from Priory rod,s.

When speaking to Tony Fordham a while ago, he told me that he supplied
Ted Barlow with his blanks while working for Mordern Arms. When he setup
with Derek Davenport, their cane was supplied by Chapmans, then sold onto
Barlow no doubt. Not sure if they were finished rods or just blanks.


He supplied Barlow with the glass Sportex blanks as well.
Ted Barlows' son still runs a tackle shop in Staines. I spoke to him about
the Vortex glass rods and he remembered Tony visiting the shop and also
taking him fishing.

I think Davenport and Fordham went bust just after Tony moved to Marco. By the time he was at Marco I don't think they offered cane rods any more. This would be about 1971-72 I think.

Davenport and Fordham definitely built their own cane though...at least they did when they were in Dorset. They were in Ware before...and the City of London before that though. Ware is, of course, where Chapmans are........

My guess is that if E T Barlow offered cane rods it was before all this.

The E.T. Barlow The "General" is exactly the same rod as the Priory "Royalty"

The Handle length / shape and rubber cap are the same , the ring,s and ferrules are the same, and the dark flamed sections of cane are the same. I do believe both these rod,s to be made by the same company.

Priory Rod,s " The Royalty "


E.T. Barlow The " General"