Constable of Bromley - History and Models

[Parabolic]

Being the proud owner of two Constable rods, a Forty Fore carp rod and a Wallop Brook (6'9"), I wonder if anyone has any information about the history of this maker, and additionally what models they made (in split cane, whole cane, glass etc)?

Models that I know about (UPDATED):

Split cane:
Forty Fore Carp (10')
Forty Fore Deluxe Carp (10')
Forty Fore Plus Carp (10' stepped up)
Forty Fore Heavy (10' Stepped up)
Forty Fore Avon (10')
Twin Tip (unsure of the lengths, I've seen 9'6"/10'6" and 10'6"/11'6" versions)
Superb (I've seen 9'6", 10'8" and 12' versions)
Superb Carp 9'4"
Supreme Traveller Carp (10'6")
Pike KIng (8')
Wallop Brook series of fly rods (lengths 6'6", 6'9", 7'6", 8'2")
Frank Sawyer Nymph fly rod (8'9")
C C Lightweight fly rod (9')
Linedriver fly rod (9'6")
Ringwood fly rod (9'6")
Kingfisher fly rod (8'3")
Firefly fly rod (9')
Advance fly rod (10' with two tips)
Surf Queen (length ?)
Spin Gem (8')
The Colt (10'6")
Grilse fly rod (10'6")
Dual fly rod 2x butt sections 2x tip sections. One combination is 6’, looking for more info
Embassy fly rod (9')



Solid/Split Cane:
Ace (12')
Popular (10'6")
Matchestic (12' & 14')
Wizard (11')
Roach (10')



Glass:
Carp (10')
Carp (11')
Lintern (10')
Companion (13')
Premier (14')
Popular (10'6" cane with glass tip)
Manley SB beachcaster (12')
B66 Beachcaster (12'6")
Keanmatch (13')
Bosun (6') (boat rod)
Phoenix beachcaster (12')



Split Cane Fly Rods (US Market)
The Dart (5’9”)
The Brokenstraw (7’3”)
The Empress (8’)
R H Woods (6’9”)
R H Woods Classic (6’9”)
R H Woods (7’6”)
R H Woods Classic (7’6”)
R H W Dual (6’ and 6’9”, one tip two butt sections)
R H Woods Eighty Two (8’2”)


Glass Fly Rods (US Market)
Sceptre (7’, 7’6”, 8’, 8’6”, 9’) The blanks were made by Hardy (Fibatube) and assembled by Constable.



Can anyone add to this? It would be good to build up a catalogue of what they produced.

[Gurn]

There is also the 'Ace'. Details of which can be found here....http://traditionalfisherman.com/viewtop ... 94&t=11885

[Ljm183]

10ft and 11ft carp in what look,s to be Glass

http://www.antiquevintagefishingtackle.co.uk/id36.html

And another glass one a 13' Companion mentioned here

viewtopic.php?f=316&t=7155

[Nobby]

Quite a few respecteds rod makers consider Clifford Constable to be the finest rod maker this island ever produced.

Sadly, lung disease forced Cliff to retire early and he lived out his few remaining years on the South Coast for the fresh air. It has been suggested that the cane and cork dust caused his illness.

Our own Barney Gallop knew Cliff and bought a bit of rod making supplies from him when he retired and his blank planing deck was bought by none other than Edward Barder.

He was also pals with the last remaining Kent rod builder( Bromely was in Kent in those days )



http://www.norman-agutters.com/news4.htm




Somewhere on that site is a few words about Cliff, but I can't remember where.....


Oh, btw....you own what many consider to the best two rods he ever made.....

[Parabolic]

Thanks Gents

Just updated the original post with more models.

Any more out there?

[Catfish.017]

I'm sure there was a 10' 6" rod called T he Colt?

[Parabolic]

I'm sure there was a 10' 6" rod called T he Colt?

Catfish, was this spilt cane, whole/split, glass? Coarse or fly?

[Parabolic]

Updated with a few more. Any more would be much appreciated.

[Mark]

You are doing a grand job here chaps, I have changed the thread into a sticky post so it stays at the top of the section.

[Parabolic]

I've managed to find some US export models.