The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

I have a 16 ft Sowerbutts rod but the T looks like a J , the rest of the writing reads of Commercial St London E4, is there another Sowerbutts or is the J a T

Sorry about 3 posts, seems to be a problem this end with the iPad
I will try to attach a photo later.

Sorry it's upside down

I’ve put it the correct way for you Dollar58

Dollar58 There was 2 brothers making rods at the same time.

T.H. Sowerbutts
Commercial Street
London
E1.

The other Sowerbutts maker was
E.L. Sowerbutts
Waltham Way
Chingford
E4.

Your rod is the first one T.H. What looks like a 4 i would say is a 1

There was a John Sowerbutts but he was born in 1770 and died in 1820, so it is not one of his.I think the writer has used a little artistic licence and used an old fashioned style of "T". Whatever, it looks superb.

Hi , fred line is right John Sowerbutts was my great grandfather he was based at Old Ford Road ,Bow .He was the brother of T H Sowerbutts . He was mainly a walking stick maker and but also he was a cane dresser and prepaired the cane for the rest of the family occasionally he did make rods at his premises but used the family address on his work .I have one of his walking sticks and two of his rods ,

That's really interesting, any idea on the age ?

I have just looked at one of my Sowerbutts and believe this to be T.H.Sowerbutts



Cant see it being J.H. as that would make the rod over 200 years old.

I thought I recognised the name, just found an old picture of a sea rod I have/had? (might be stored) which is from this company.