ESS heavy ledger

[EdNash]

Hi everyone and in particular Wal! Another rod to love and restore if a bit of a mess. It is 3 piece 9 foot green whipped example . The label is poor but I think it is a heavy ledger. Any advice would be most welcome. Original vendor was a shop on 20a highgate road london.

[Wallys-Cast]

Hi Ed,
I think it would be called the Leger and heavy written underneath. However the name AAL showing in red capitals has me thinking its a different rod.
I seem to remember a similar rod on the forum a few years ago called the Vaal, probably named after the river in South Africa. I can't find it now but I think we agreed it would be the heavy ledger with a name change.

The rod looks like it will come up lovely, the only problem you may have is putting a new shoulder collar on without damaging the octopus transfer.

Mal may have more info, he is the Sealey man.

Hope all goes well with the restoration, dont forget to show the results.
Wal.

[EdNash]

Thanks Wal, what would i do without the knowledge of you lads! Never heard of a Vaal either. It has a bit of delamintaion on the butt section but no problem. I may use up my last spool of jasper if it is an interesting rod. I presume low bells were original.

[Tengisgol]

If you can work out for sure what the red lettering is I can probably reproduce the label for you. I have already produced similar and have the template here.

[EdNash]

If you can work out for sure what the red lettering is I can probably reproduce the label for you. I have already produced similar and have the template here.

Thanks very much that would look excellent. The cane is lovely and straight.

[AshbyCut]

I think Wal is perfectly correct, and you have an early Octopus 'Vaal' which could be used for spinning or sea fishing.

Edgar Sealey rods certainly had a strong link with South Africa in the 50's ... as the 'Late News Flash' in their 1958 leaflet shows :-





((I'm happy to cast 5 yards in my tiddler snatching escapades !!! ))

The leaflet also helps to date your rod to at least 1957 or earlier, as I believe it had been dropped from their range before this publication shows their move into solid glass rods for spinning and sea fishing ... and by the 1964 'Edgar Sealey Fishing Equipment Price List' they have expanded their range further into hollow glass spinning and sea rods too.



The only built cane sea and spinning rods by this year are the two Salmex, the Sea Leader, the Sea Sprite, and the Sea Standard.

[EdNash]

Thanks very much for the additional information. Just as an aside the rod has a Fields of 20a Highgate road London label on the reverse.
I have just sorted a bit of de-lamination, all looking good.

[EdNash]

I think Wal is perfectly correct, and you have an early Octopus 'Vaal' which could be used for spinning or sea fishing.

Edgar Sealey rods certainly had a strong link with South Africa in the 50's ... as the 'Late News Flash' in their 1958 leaflet shows :-





((I'm happy to cast 5 yards in my tiddler snatching escapades !!! ))

The leaflet also helps to date your rod to at least 1957 or earlier, as I believe it had been dropped from their range before this publication shows their move into solid glass rods for spinning and sea fishing ... and by the 1964 'Edgar Sealey Fishing Equipment Price List' they have expanded their range further into hollow glass spinning and sea rods too.



The only built cane sea and spinning rods by this year are the two Salmex, the Sea Leader, the Sea Sprite, and the Sea Standard.

Mr Cut Sir, any idea where I could find a picture of how the label looked, I have done the google thing but no luck. Ed.

[Liphook]

I'd be tempted to clean up the front of that cork (manicure files are useful for this job, as well as sharpening larger hooks) and just butt your thread up to it rather than use a winding check/collar

[AshbyCut]

The butt would look like this Edgar Sealey Floatcaster De-Luxe of similar period ... simply add a 'V' to the 'AAL' you already have in place.