"French type" rod rest.

[AshbyCut]

Perhaps it was just an attempt to foster Angler/French relations Jim, Sir ???

[The VFC]

Oh - Tres bon Monsieur, tres bon!

[Scott Thompson]

I think its more for holding a pole than a rod, thats possibly where the 'French' comes from. Ive seen a few pole rests that look like they have evolved from that rest.

[Gord]

AC I HAVE HAD ONE OF THOSE FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND IT CAN COME IN QUITE HANDY AND YES IT WAS A POLE REST AS I BOUGHT MINE IN FRANCE AFTER SEEING ONE IN USE SO DONT BE PUT OFF USE IT AND ENJOY IT AND YOU WILL FIND IT USEFUL

[Badger1]

I took my Allcock's rod rest out on sunday, in a similar style. Deading baiting for pike so a rod rest required.....no joy on the fish front though .

The rest worked great, kept the line off the racing surface.

[AshbyCut]

Thank you Gord and Badger1 ... excellent information, Gentlemen.

[Kevanf1]

Very nice AC, but how does one mount a bite alarm on it?

Ah, it must be rather difficult to place a penny on the edge of the spool with it sloping like that

[AshbyCut]

Well ... it's taken 8 years ... and the original photos in this thread may have been lost in the 'tinypic' debacle ... BUT ... I have always been intrigued by this rod rest,

NOW ...with the arrival of "Catalogue No. 17" from Albert Smith & Co. Ltd. of Redditch the answer has arrived (unless Redditch was in France back in the day !!!).

Top right of page 29 is the very item ... and very reasonably priced at only 1 shilling !!!



Needless to say I will be sitting my Albert Smith & Co, Ltd. "No 53. The Royal Gem" in this rod which features in the same 1937 catalogue. They belong together !!!!!

[Olly]

I may still have a similar item. I always thought it was a 'pole' rest. I cannot remember ever using it.

[Mole-Patrol]

This type of rod rest is still sold in French tackle shops and supermarkets. I have only seen a few being used on the bank, except for one particular water where just about every angler was using one per rod.