The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

I thought this may be of interest to someone here, it looks like a Dorset to me:

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It needs some attention, but the seller will not post, collection only.

If you're in the Leighton Buzzard area, then this may be a project for you.

It certainly was of interest Parabolic, Sir, and it is indeed a "Dorset" ... proving to be even more interesting when I finally got my hands on it. It arrived with me today, and here are a couple of hasty photographs to back up a little tale that came with it.

I had belonged to the Great Uncle, and then the Uncle, of the lady selling it ... sadly neither with us now. She knew nothing about the rod, but had heard her Uncle talking about using it for leger and barbel fishing. This must be the reason behind the interesting addition to a standard "The Dorset," though only the 'DO' of the name remains of the original transfers. Along with the three standard sections of the rod came an additional tip section ... 24 inches in length, with a measurement of 6.85 mm close to the ferrule (the same as the original tip) tapering over the 24 inches to 3.6 mm just below the tip guide. This is obviously not a snapped off section of another tip ... so suggests the possibility that it was either specially made or was a 'factory original.' The whipping on the tip section is remarkably similar to that on the other three sections of the rod ... with only the green being of a lighter shade. It could, of course, all have been re-whipped at some point.

Does anyone know if F T Williams did a 'leger tip' as an option for "The Dorset" ?

As it stands, what I'll end up with (after a complete strip and rebuild) is a combi of a 12 ft all-round bottom rod and a 10 ft leger rod.

Original or not you have a nice rod there Mal!

Sounds v nice Mal old boy.

Gaz

After my posting about whipping colours in 'Building and Restoring,' I thought I'd update my progress with this rod.

One good thing about my most chronic bout of gout to date is time sitting with my feet up ... and being able to get on with important stuff ... like this.

Having stripped the rod back to bare cane, I checked the ferrules and found that three needed re-gluing.

I also found that the sliding reel seat was stuck fast to the handle ... so fast that I was beginning to suspect that it had been glued in place !!! Fortunately, with time on my hands, I was able to apply a great deal of very gentle persuasion and, to my great relief, movement was felt. Slowly I eased it down, dreading what I would find underneath with the cork. Imagine my delight when the cork appeared completely undamaged !!! All that was holding the seat in place was an accumulation of alloy corrosion on the under surfaces of the seat ... that was easily removed with gentle use of fine steel wool ... and the handle come up a treat with my washing liquid/warm water/kitchen sponge ministrations. Result.

The new guides are now all in place thanks to masking tape, and I've started on the whipping ... Prowrap Tiger thread in a classic black and white twist.

By the way ... I use a loop of 6lb mono to pull the thread back under itself to finish a whipping ... just thought I'd mention it.



The rod ... as it stands today ... won't be long now ...

Very nice Mal!

I do like your whipping station, very neat!

LuckyLuca wrote:very neat!

Only because I was taking a picture !!!

AshbyCut wrote:

LuckyLuca wrote:very neat!

Only because I was taking a picture !!!

I did wonder of Mrs AC had been fussing around you with her duster!

A very nice rod indeed AC, can't wait to see it when you have finished it.

Thanks for your comments, Gentlemen. I think this was a real bargain at £12.37 (plus a couple of gallons of petrol to collect it) !!!