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F. E. Thomas Rod Co.







Thomas & Edwards







It seems almost impossible to discuss the bamboo fly rods made by either Thomas or Edwards without mentioning the other; so I have combined the information and models made by these two great companies into one edition of the Value Guide. Early on in their careers, F. E. "Fred" Thomas and E. W. "Eustis" Edwards both worked for the Leonard Rod Co. in Central Valley, New York, and trained under Hiram Leonard. Eventually they both left and got together with another Leonard rod maker, Loman Hawes, to form the Thomas, Edwards & Hawes Rod Co. a short distance away in Highland Mills. Hawes's either leaves or passes away several years later and was replaced by Ed. Payne, another Leonard apprentice, so the company became known as Thomas, Edwards & Payne This enterprise did not last long and the Kosmic rods made by this company are vary scarce and valuable. A year or so later, Fred left the company when it was sold to U. S. Net & Twine, and returned to Bangor, Maine. Within a year or so he was again joined by Eustis and the resulting Thomas & Edwards Rod Co. built rods mostly under private label trade names such as Von Lengerke & Detmold or Empire City. After a couple years the pair split up again and Fred started the F. E. Thomas Rod Company in 1900, while Eustis started the E. W. Edward Rod Co. a couple years later, also in Bangor, Maine. Fred was eventually joined by his son, Leon, who then took over the company when Fred died in 1938. The Thomas Rod Company lasted into the 1950's when the embargo on Chinese cane and the emerging fiberglass technology combined to put an end to bamboo rod production.







The history of the Edwards family and their rods is often confusing because it involved some many different aspects at different times. In 1919 Eustis sold his young company to Winchester Repeating Arms, moved his operation to New Haven, Connecticut, and made rods exclusively for that company for five years; some years later he had a similar lease arrangement with Bristol Rod Co. Eustis had two sons, W. E. "Bill" and Leon, both of whom became involved in rod making prior to the formation of the E. W. Edwards & Sons Rod Co. shortly after the Winchester years. After Eustis died in 1931, his sons continued to make rods under the Bristol name. Eventually, discontent with the Bristol operation, Bill went out on his own and formed the W. E. Edwards & Son Rod Co. where he developed his new four-strip rod technology that became famous as the Edwards Quadrate; Gene also went out on his own and formed the Eugene Edwards Rod. Co., but he continued building the traditional 6-strip bamboo rods. Both of these companies also ceased operations during the 1950 era and were purchased by Clarence "Sam" Carlson.







Thomas Special Fly Rods







(Wet Fly models available in Soft, Moderate or Powerful actions; Dry Fly models available in Medium, Fast or Very Fast actions.)















7' Wet or Dry Fly 2-pc. $1475







7½' Wet or Dry Fly 2 or 3pc. $1325







8' Wet or Dry Fly 2 or 3-pc. $1150







8½' Wet or Dry Fly 2 or 3-pc. $875







8½' Streamer 2 or 3-pc. $1350







9' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc $750







9' Streamer 3-pc. $1350







9' Salmon 3-pc. $775







9½' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $550







9½' Salmon 3-pc. $525







10' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $475







10' Salmon 3-pc. $450







10½' Salmon 3-pc. $450







11-15' 2-Hand Salmon 3-pc. $375















Thomas Special Brown Tone Fly Rods







(Same specifications as the Special rods except for color of cane and oxidized ferrules.)











6'6" Wet or Dry Fly 2-pc $1800







7' Wet or Dry Fly 2-pc. $1625







7½' Wet or Dry Fly 2 or 3 pc. $1575







8' Wet or Dry Fly 2 or 3-pc. $1250







8½' Wet or Dry Fly 2 or 3-pc. $900







8½' Streamer 2 or 3-pc. $1450







9' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc $775





9' Streamer 2 or 3-pc. $1450





9' Salmon 3-pc. $800







9½' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $575







9½' Salmon 3-pc. $550







10' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $475







10' Salmon 3-pc. $450







10½' Salmon 3-pc. $450















Thomas Dirigo Fly Rods















8' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $1025







8½' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $700







9' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc $525







9½' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $400







10' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $300















Thomas Bangor Fly Rods















8' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $900





8½' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc. $500





8½' Streamer 3-pc. $1050





9' Wet or Dry Fly 3-pc $350





9' Streamer 3-pc. $1050