Casting a Spell by George Black

On Oct 3, 3:56 pm, "Tom Nakashima" wrote:

By any chance are you Don Phillipson of the famous Phillipson Bamboo rods?

No such luck: I would trade in at least two of my three cane
rods for a good Phillipson . . .

My point is that 99 per cent of all split-cane rods made over the last
150 years have six splines. The review's "generally four or five,
sometimes even six sections" suggests that 4 or 5 splines are
common, which is untrue, and that 6 is rare or exceptional --
which condemns either reviewer or author as ignorant about rods.

Don P

"Don P" wrote in message
ups.com...

.. . .

My point is that 99 per cent of all split-cane rods made over the last
150 years have six splines. The review's "generally four or five,
sometimes even six sections" suggests that 4 or 5 splines are
common, which is untrue, and that 6 is rare or exceptional --
which condemns either reviewer or author as ignorant about rods.

"Generally four or five, sometimes even six sections of this particular
species of bamboo are carefully milled over many hours, tapered according to
their particular mathematical formula, splice sectioned, and the line guides
wrapped."

Could he have meant that the bamboo used to make the 6 splines came from 4,
5 or 6 different nodes of the bamboo? To imply that the maker had to shop
around carefully to select the right pieces of raw bamboo to mill?

--riverman

"riverman" wrote in message ...

"Don P" wrote in message
ups.com...

. . .

My point is that 99 per cent of all split-cane rods made over the last
150 years have six splines. The review's "generally four or five,
sometimes even six sections" suggests that 4 or 5 splines are
common, which is untrue, and that 6 is rare or exceptional --
which condemns either reviewer or author as ignorant about rods.

"Generally four or five, sometimes even six sections of this particular
species of bamboo are carefully milled over many hours, tapered according
to
their particular mathematical formula, splice sectioned, and the line
guides
wrapped."

Could he have meant that the bamboo used to make the 6 splines came from
4, 5 or 6 different nodes of the bamboo? To imply that the maker had to
shop around carefully to select the right pieces of raw bamboo to mill?

--riverman

Very close answer (riverman) without reading the book, and I don't have the
book here with me, but I'll go memory.
I will go back and reread the point in question, but I believe Black was
referring to "sections" in length.
When Bamboo rods hit the US. market there was such a demand by the wealthy.
This was even before the Asian invasion of cane. The reason why, it was
such a demand by the wealthy because of the fine craftsmanship, the elegant
look, and the outrageous price. Mind you, most were not your die-hard,
in-the-water fly-fisherman, but enthusiast, some even famous were willing to
pay big money to have such a fine handmade work of art. Of course came the
demand for longer cane rods, thus piecing together many sections. The longer
the better to the enthusiast and collector. There were also aesthetics,
gold silk wrappings, fancy machined reel seats. This is why I said you have
to read the book and the section leading up to the quote in the CSMonitor.

I most enjoyed reading the Hiram Leonard chapter, his design of a beveling
machine in 1870 to precisely put in the angles of the hexagon. That's
pretty awesome! what the average master bamboo rod builder was producing
40-50 cane rods a year, compared to Leonard's 1000+ output.

On a side note: I have a Lew Stoner bamboo rod made in May of 1945, made
when he was part owner of Winston. It's a split cane hollow 8 1/2 in
length, 2 piece 5wt. in fine condition. I also have a custom made 2006 R.K.
Bolt bamboo rod 8' length, hollow, 2 piece 5 wt. Both cast like a dream,
and I do mean effortless, but I'll have to say, although they are 61 years
apart, the workmanship and the action are very similar. btw: Bolt uses
mathematical formulas in weight and length to produce his rods, just as Gary
Howells did.
fwiw,
-tom

Just noticed this discussion of my book and the reference to 4, 5 and
6-sided rods in the review in the Christian Science Monitor. If I had
made this error, I'd suggest that all copies of the book should be
burned. My jaw dropped when I read this, and even though it was a nice
review it made me wonder if the reviewer had actually read the book.
One portion of the book deals with the quadrate (4-sided) rods made by
Bill Edwards, and I think there may be one reference somewhere to the
5-sided format. But the book says, of course, that the vast majority of
bamboo rods are 6-sided.

Thanks to all for the interest.
George Black

"Canebrook" wrote in message
ups.com...

Just noticed this discussion of my book and the reference to 4, 5 and
6-sided rods in the review in the Christian Science Monitor. If I had
made this error, I'd suggest that all copies of the book should be
burned. My jaw dropped when I read this, and even though it was a nice
review it made me wonder if the reviewer had actually read the book.
One portion of the book deals with the quadrate (4-sided) rods made by
Bill Edwards, and I think there may be one reference somewhere to the
5-sided format. But the book says, of course, that the vast majority of
bamboo rods are 6-sided.

Thanks to all for the interest.
George Black


Wow, what an honor to have the author respond.
Mr. Black, I do admire your in-depth research on the history on the art of
bamboo rods
Would it be any trouble if I sent you my book for you to sign?
thanks,
-tom

"Tom Nakashima" wrote in message
...

"Canebrook" wrote in message
ups.com...

Just noticed this discussion of my book and the reference to 4, 5 and
6-sided rods in the review in the Christian Science Monitor. If I had
made this error, I'd suggest that all copies of the book should be
burned. My jaw dropped when I read this, and even though it was a nice
review it made me wonder if the reviewer had actually read the book.
One portion of the book deals with the quadrate (4-sided) rods made by
Bill Edwards, and I think there may be one reference somewhere to the
5-sided format. But the book says, of course, that the vast majority of
bamboo rods are 6-sided.

Thanks to all for the interest.
George Black


Wow, what an honor to have the author respond.


Yeah, that's pretty cool.

So George Black, do you lurk here often? And do you know where I can find a
Leonard rod?

--riverman