The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Hello Everyone

I have received a couple of cane rods for payment from a friend who I did a small job for. This rod is 11ft in three sections of 44 inches. All the rings bar the tip which is missing look like agate. All I really wanted to know is. was it a Carp, Pike or other Rod. There is the markings 1999 or 6661 written on the blank

Any information would be much appreciated. Many thanks for your time.

Tony












I have rotated the image it does read '6661'

Hi Tony , I have no idea but it looks a stunning rod , is the number actually 6661 ?

Richard Jackson wrote: ↑Mon Sep 17, 2018 10:03 pm Hi Tony , I have no idea but it looks a stunning rod , is the number actually 6661 ?

Thank you Richard. Yes I suppose it could also be interpreted as 6661. I didn't think of that.

I suspect it was restored in 1999.

The 1 would be upside down then - look at the top of a 1 !

It's not an Edgar Sealey rod ... and it's not a Mordex (of Sheffield, who made the Mordex centrepin reels) "Royal Seal" brand ... it's a "Black Seal" branded rod, which ... as I learned from TFF member Nobby about 4 years ago ... " ''Black Seal' was R G Edwards of Carshalton, Surrey .... though Lords knows who actually made them......nearby Pegley-Davies or FT Williams?"

Just from the photos, I have no doubt it's not a pike rod ... nor one for today's carp 'leviathons' ... but a 'heavyish' float rod similar in style to the F. T. Williams "Dorset." I prepared to be shot down in flames, of course.

This is a photo of a"Dorset" which I restored during the winter of 2013/14.

It was bought from the neice of a Gentleman who had passed away, who told me he used it to fish for barbel on his local river in the 1970's and 80's ... but weights have increased quite a bit since then. The extra 'short' tip was for legering, she said.

Beresford wrote: ↑Mon Sep 17, 2018 10:34 pm I suspect it was restored in 1999.

Thank you Beresford. It is a possibility

Olly wrote: ↑Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:33 pm The 1 would be upside down then - look at the top of a 1 !

Thanks Olly. Now I've looked yes it was upside down.

Mal is spot on, Black Seal later changed their badge to a black 'wax' seal and I have several addresses for them in Carshalton, nearby Wallington and even Brixton. I think I once read a piece by John Andrews which suggested they were two brothers travelling around the country selling tackle from a van, but I can n o longer find that article.






They were also responsible for Wearside tackle