Milwards Floatcraft (and eBay sellers)

[Nobby]

Clearly missing the tip of the Avon top section and yet still it sold. I see one fetched £46 yesterday.

[Weyfarer]

It is extraordinary how many rods are sold quoting the wrong length...it's not that hard to measure a few bits of cane!



It's also amazing how many rods are described as in 'good condition' though no photo of all three sections together is offered.

An enquiry as the length of each section is paramount.

Yeah - "good condition for its age" is a good 'un. I think that every morning when I look in the mirror.

[Vole]

I used to, too...

[Nobby]

I try to avoid mirrors these days, nasty deceitful things!

[The Sweetcorn Kid]

I like mirrors, give me an old heavily scaled mirror any day!!!

[Weyfarer]

Here's a Milward's related link that may be of interest: http://www.pechemouche.be/f-dawuk2.htm

[Nobby]

A word for word lift from Wiki in one place there....and I think they're both wrong. The company made fishing tackle until 1967 at least, and I think that is when Henry Milward died.


Nevertheless a lovely bit of kit there.

[PDuffield]

I've sent a message to the ebay seller to point out the issues with the rod and ask for suggestions, we'll see what the response is. Now I've decided I'm not going to keep it I'm going to be firm about a full refund and the seller paying the return carriage. I don't see why I should be out of pocket for something that is so blatantly mis-described.

[CraigM]

I recently bought an unnamed & relatively cheap cane float rod on e.bay that was advertised at "12'" long & is in fact 14'1" !! [much of my fishing is done before or after work & I need all my tackle to fit in the car boot, out of sight, which this of course doesn't].

You appreciate that many sellers aren't fisherman but you'd think they could use a tape measure!

I hung onto the rod though as I reckon it was worth more than I paid for it & in surprisingly good condition for it's age.

[PDuffield]

I got a quick reply from the seller offering a goodwill refund of £10 or I could return the rod. The seller was adamant that the tip wasn't bent and it does seem to have straightened out a bit over the last few days so it may be temporary rather than a set - it was tightly wrapped up in bubblewrap for several days while on its way to me. Apparently the mix-up over the length (quoted 10ft 6in but is actually 14ft) is because the seller thought you didn't include the length of the handle

I've accepted the £10 and kept the rod which means I've paid £37 for it including postage. Avoids the hassle of sending it back and even if I decide to just strip it for parts, I've got a reasonable tip and butt ring, a set of 9 high bells guides that look brand new and a spare 4.5ft split cane top joint out of it which for the money doesn't seem bad.