My Lucky Strike
- Gudgeon Basher
- Dace
- Posts: 163
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2018 9:45 pm
- 6
- Location: Deepest Darkest Essex
My Lucky Strike
Afternoon Gents
I recently took a bit of a punt buying this rod from the EvilBay! The seller had not posted very good pictures so I was unsure if it had a complete top section or, like many rods, was a tad on the short side, but from what I could see it looked fairly straight but the rings were definitely for the bin as they were almost rusted through but on the plus side the label was complete.
I just had a feeling that this was the one and bought it with the idea of having my first go at restoring, when it arrived I was almost too scared to open the tube but I eventually plucked up the courage and was greeted with an awful smell of mould and mildew, I reached in and felt the damp rod bag and was genuinely concerned at what I was going to find.
When I pulled the rod out section by section I was amazed that it was actually in far better condition than I could have hoped, yes the rings needed replacing and the varnish was lifting around some of the faded whippings but apart from that I was over the moon.
I'm putting up some photos, as most of the pictures of these are now sadly not available anymore.
I know its only a boys rod to some but to me its a treasure, and far too good to risk on my ham-fisted first attempt at restoration so she's winging her way to Dr Cane as she deserves to have our very own artisan fuss over her.
Any information I can glean from you gentleman as to Lucky's age or age range would be most welcome or does anyone know anything about the second transfer most likely the tackle shop I guess, but all/any info welcome.
I will stop prattling on now thanks for looking.
Regards GB
I recently took a bit of a punt buying this rod from the EvilBay! The seller had not posted very good pictures so I was unsure if it had a complete top section or, like many rods, was a tad on the short side, but from what I could see it looked fairly straight but the rings were definitely for the bin as they were almost rusted through but on the plus side the label was complete.
I just had a feeling that this was the one and bought it with the idea of having my first go at restoring, when it arrived I was almost too scared to open the tube but I eventually plucked up the courage and was greeted with an awful smell of mould and mildew, I reached in and felt the damp rod bag and was genuinely concerned at what I was going to find.
When I pulled the rod out section by section I was amazed that it was actually in far better condition than I could have hoped, yes the rings needed replacing and the varnish was lifting around some of the faded whippings but apart from that I was over the moon.
I'm putting up some photos, as most of the pictures of these are now sadly not available anymore.
I know its only a boys rod to some but to me its a treasure, and far too good to risk on my ham-fisted first attempt at restoration so she's winging her way to Dr Cane as she deserves to have our very own artisan fuss over her.
Any information I can glean from you gentleman as to Lucky's age or age range would be most welcome or does anyone know anything about the second transfer most likely the tackle shop I guess, but all/any info welcome.
I will stop prattling on now thanks for looking.
Regards GB
- PershoreHarrier
- Rainbow Trout
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2013 5:13 pm
- 11
- Location: North Worcestershire
Re: My Lucky Strike
Good Afternoon GB
That looks like an excellent acquisition and well worth handing over for restoration to a master of the art rather than selecting it as your first restoration attempt. It may be considered as a boys rod to some and whilst I do not have a Lucky Strike rod I do have and use a Harvey Torbett rod - actually offered as a boys rod. If the Lucky Strike is as good as the Harvey Torbett then you will have many hours of enjoyment in front of you.
I have often wondered about these so called boys rods and all I can say is any boys who actually got one of these in their early years were some lucky fellows indeed and I never saw one of these rods being used by a junior when I was a lad. £4 for a fishing rod in the early 1960s represented 80 weeks pocket money - instead we only had dreams but now have the opportunity to live those dreams - enjoy - you have waited long enough.
That looks like an excellent acquisition and well worth handing over for restoration to a master of the art rather than selecting it as your first restoration attempt. It may be considered as a boys rod to some and whilst I do not have a Lucky Strike rod I do have and use a Harvey Torbett rod - actually offered as a boys rod. If the Lucky Strike is as good as the Harvey Torbett then you will have many hours of enjoyment in front of you.
I have often wondered about these so called boys rods and all I can say is any boys who actually got one of these in their early years were some lucky fellows indeed and I never saw one of these rods being used by a junior when I was a lad. £4 for a fishing rod in the early 1960s represented 80 weeks pocket money - instead we only had dreams but now have the opportunity to live those dreams - enjoy - you have waited long enough.
- Liphook
- Barbel
- Posts: 4800
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2018 6:21 pm
- 5
Re: My Lucky Strike
Just the name makes me smile! Excellent find, I will look forward to seeing it restored
- Mole-Patrol
- Brown Trout
- Posts: 1438
- Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2019 8:04 pm
- 4
Re: My Lucky Strike
Looks like you struck lucky
Hope you get plenty of enjoyment from the rod.
Hope you get plenty of enjoyment from the rod.
- Marks7
- Bleak
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Sat May 27, 2017 11:28 am
- 7
- Location: Essex
Re: My Lucky Strike
I also have a Lucky Strike which has the same label as yours so I too would be interested to know its age. Mine, like yours needs a refurb which, hopefully will happen in he near future, but is usable in the meantime. It's one of my favourite rods!
- Gudgeon Basher
- Dace
- Posts: 163
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2018 9:45 pm
- 6
- Location: Deepest Darkest Essex
Re: My Lucky Strike
Really pleased to read your reply, I pondered for a long time whether to have a go fitting new eyes etc myself especially as its something I would love to be able to do, but I have never held a rod that just instantly put an inane grin on my face before and I would have been devastated to mess it up. So very glad to hear you think I have made the right choicePershoreHarrier wrote: ↑Mon Feb 17, 2020 4:16 pm Good Afternoon GB
That looks like an excellent acquisition and well worth handing over for restoration to a master of the art rather than selecting it as your first restoration attempt. It may be considered as a boys rod to some and whilst I do not have a Lucky Strike rod I do have and use a Harvey Torbett rod - actually offered as a boys rod. If the Lucky Strike is as good as the Harvey Torbett then you will have many hours of enjoyment in front of you.
I have often wondered about these so called boys rods and all I can say is any boys who actually got one of these in their early years were some lucky fellows indeed and I never saw one of these rods being used by a junior when I was a lad. £4 for a fishing rod in the early 1960s represented 80 weeks pocket money - instead we only had dreams but now have the opportunity to live those dreams - enjoy - you have waited long enough.
All the best GB
- Gudgeon Basher
- Dace
- Posts: 163
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2018 9:45 pm
- 6
- Location: Deepest Darkest Essex
- Mick
- Chub
- Posts: 1014
- Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2015 9:10 am
- 9
- Location: Buckinghamshire
Re: My Lucky Strike
Well done GB!! My first rod was a Lucky Strike and every time someone mentions one I am taken back more years than I care to tell!
Please put some pics up when you get it back, You will make an old man very happy!!!!
Please put some pics up when you get it back, You will make an old man very happy!!!!
- Gudgeon Basher
- Dace
- Posts: 163
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2018 9:45 pm
- 6
- Location: Deepest Darkest Essex
Re: My Lucky Strike
Don't worry Mick I haven't finished boring everybody just yet and will definitely want to show of Luckys new finish once I get her back home
- Gudgeon Basher
- Dace
- Posts: 163
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2018 9:45 pm
- 6
- Location: Deepest Darkest Essex
Re: My Lucky Strike
Well after an anxious wait and many courier issues Lucky has returned from Dr Cane's health spa and fitness resort and as a few of you asked, here are some photos of her now.
Apologies Wal the photos really don't do Lucky justice, but its the best I can do!
She has a new butt cap to enable me to screw in one of Wal's extensions and has a porcelain lined butt ring fitted as well, so not totally original but I am going to fish with Lucky not stuff her in a display case and I can't ever see me selling her so I think these little changes will make this even more pleasurable.
The last photo shows her fitted out with a DAM 220 which was sourced by Duebel (many thanks Martin) and this is the combo I will try first then maybe the DAM 110 then some of my Intrepids Hmmm I think I will need a big reel of 3lb line
Regards GB
Apologies Wal the photos really don't do Lucky justice, but its the best I can do!
She has a new butt cap to enable me to screw in one of Wal's extensions and has a porcelain lined butt ring fitted as well, so not totally original but I am going to fish with Lucky not stuff her in a display case and I can't ever see me selling her so I think these little changes will make this even more pleasurable.
The last photo shows her fitted out with a DAM 220 which was sourced by Duebel (many thanks Martin) and this is the combo I will try first then maybe the DAM 110 then some of my Intrepids Hmmm I think I will need a big reel of 3lb line
Regards GB