The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Here's my new "baby", a Tom Watson "Wasp"





No-one else made a bid on ebay!
Crisp, straight, good joints, a full-length tip, stoppers, plus bag. Underused, I'd say.
A couple of issues to put right. The rings are badly tarnished and need replacing, likewise the whippings are peeling, but not the rest of the rod or the intermediate tyings. The tip ring has been rewhipped and although it's agate, it has a screw fitting so is it standard or was it changed for swingtip use?
The butt is quite wide and as it's very light, it must be hollow-built. Middle section too?
It's more powerful than I expected, in the Avon-class and will make a good chub-tamer. Not sure about barbel though....
The rings are ridiculously small, but the blank is superb quality, so does anyone have any idea who the maker may be?

I have one of these too...it's an Aspindlae Aero 890 written up for Tom, I believe. This would date them to 1946to 1949 when the two brothers parted their ways, unless they were built to the same tapers by Peter Aspindale's father afterwards. And, yes the butt and middle are hollow built without dams...don't twist it!

Thank you for the advice and information Nobby, I feel like putting a "Do Not Twist!" label on it. I twist cane rods by holding the ferrules anyway.
I've found your other posts on this. (I've got to get used to a Forum, having never used one before and realise I should have done a wider search). I'll look up Aspindale Aero 890 next.
The only thing that is strange about the rod is the tiniest stand-off agate butt ring I've ever seen. It's ID is smaller than the first intermediate. Looking forward to working on it and getting the rings and whippings done.
Chris

It turned out we were all kidding ourselves that large butt rings enhanced casting. Even Richard walker may have fallen for this one. Aspindales may have known this all along as it is a trait of their rods to have small butt eyes. I must admit to see one smaller then the next eye does seem daft, but apparently it's best to get the line under control with a small butt eye first....though a trumpet shape, reversed is even better apparently.

I bought my first rod from Tom Watsons on Canal Street.

They did have a number of locations over the years and at the hight of their fame they even sold Hardy tackle.

My grandfather had two Hardy reels from them. I will post more I just need to dig out what I have.

Stef

I have found lots of items relating to Tom Watson his accounts from 1936 to 1940, fishing licenses from the 1920's 30,40 50 and 60's

letters regarding the gun trade rental agreements and his rent book from 1959 to 1966



Hours of reading for me here.

Regards

Stef

Were most of his rods via Aspindales?

Off Topic - Re butt rings see the Fuji guide regarding sizes. That's why the inline rods were made!

Aspindale seems to have shut up shop when Tony Croft left in 1967 and then Peter Aspindale seems to have learned to make rods, having previously been in the office, giving the name yet another lease of life.
I do think 'someone else' was making rods, an ex-employee maybe......perhaps Ken Johnson working as Falcon Rods? I think he may have given his name to Taylor and Johnson who also made rods that look just like an Aspindale. That firm ended up briefly owning Hardy Brothers!

Certainly I have a Tom Watson 'Wasp' that is pure Aero 890 in both looks and feel...the weighted butt cap is my playing at trying to change the balance to lighten the tip:






And these come up from time to time: Taylor and Johnson Rapier




Surely it's no accident that both rods are identical to Aspindale offerings, even down to the whipping and serial numbers?

Isis wrote: ↑Mon Aug 27, 2012 2:55 pm Absolutely loved this tackle dealer. My local shops were Youngs of Harrow and Chubbs of Edgeware

Funnily enough, I fished this morning with my Tom Watson Rivercraft, which was restored by Clive Young, nicely tying together the ends of your opening

Being local to Nottingham I get a few Tom Watson rods.Have a Wasp and Hornet down to be restored.