The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

This is a bit of an oddity that I do not understand. It is a three piece but, the top piece is glass fiber. It has the Marco label with the numbers 42 stamped above it. Is this a model number or a rod number? The glass section looks like it was part of the original rod (the ferrule fits perfectly) but, the bottom sections I am not sure what they are. Are they cane or greenhart?. Did Marco make greenhart rods and was glass fiber around when rods were made of greenhart? Is it a very early marcop rod, what does the number 42 represent.Sorry lots of questions.

Looks like whole cane to me, but the photo is not that clear. Looks like there are nodes, if so it's whole cane. Very unlikely to be made of greenheart with a fibreglass tip section. How long is the rod?

Agreeing with Santiago ... I think I can see nodes there, so probably whole cane.

It wasn't unusual for companies to make rods with a solid glass of fibre glass tip section instead of split cane ... saving on production costs, presumably.

For example ... the last incarnation of the long running Allcock's 'Isis' was the same format as your Marco ... whole cane butt and centre with glass tip.

I'd guess it was a bit of a revelation at the time...a nice light, stiff, quick-striking whole cane rod and a nearly unbreakable tip section.

Fibreglass first appeared in fishing rods in 1953, for Allcocks at least...not sure about Hardy, their catalogues are a bit hard to find ( and afford!), but woods other than cane and reed were on the wain by then.

Ashbycut's example of the Isis is a particularly pertinent one as the early versions of the rod had a greenheart tip section and later ones had fibreglass.

isnt 42 the answer to life the universe and every thing (the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy) sorry about that but i just had to do it

Gord wrote:isnt 42 the answer to life the universe and every thing (the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy) sorry about that but i just had to do it

I will forgive you, there's always one,

Actually I have been a bit dumb on this one, after a close look it does have nodes so, it is a whole cane rod with a fiber tip. It is 10-1/2 ft long. It is in nice condition, I guess it has been touched up at some point. I bought it for £10. I don't like the mixture of cane and fiber, it just not look right somehow but. I might try a fish with this. Might be suitable for a spot of roach fishing.
So, it must be a later Marco model, possibly 1950yish. Was it worth a tenner?
If old Mr Marco did not discover the meaning of life, what is the 42?

(I am sorry for the poor pics, it did not help)

I would say that it is probably 1960s. For £10 you can't really go wrong. Although not regarded as the best brand Marco made some pretty decent rods. use it and enjoy it.