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Offline quashnet.clarksclassicflyrodforum

  • Age: 56
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  • Location: MA US
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Quashnets PHY Co Rod Photos

Rod Maker Handwriting and Other Identification Markings on Paul H. Young Co. Fly Rods

Several rod makers worked for the Paul H. Young Co. They include Paul H. Young, Robert W. Summers, Jack Young, and Todd Young.
These makers were active at various (sometimes overlapping) periods during the company's history.

Reproduced signature by Paul H. Young, from 1938 PHY catalog.
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Handwriting by Paul H. Young, July 1948.
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The link below takes you to a group of close-up photos identifying handwriting seen on PHY Co. rods. Although a signature helps to identify a rodmaker and thus the time period when a particular rod was built, note that the maker who signed a rod may or may not have carried out every step in that rod's construction. If you have useful photos that may be added, please contact me through my Forum inbox or at robertgolder AT comcast DOT net.

Handwriting by Bob Summers, 2009 rod refinish.
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To see close-up photos of inked handwriting by various Paul H. Young Co. rod makers, please click on the link below. Use your back button to return to the profile page.

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Quashnets NNN List

Quashnet's "NNN" List of
Notable, Non-Numbered PHY Co. rods

186 rods listed.
Most recent entry: November 20, 2009

The link below takes you to photos and descriptions of some interesting Paul H. Young Co. rods built before serial numbering was instituted in 1955. I call them "NNN" rods: Notable, Non-Numbered PHY Co. rods.

PHY PARA 17, dated November 1951, built for Herb Witte.
8'6", 2/2, 5.20 oz. Varnished cane, half-Wells grip, black screwlock cork seat, Detroit stamp on butt cap, brown decorative spiral wraps at ferrules, guides, tip tops, and at front of grip.
Lettered on two flats by PHY.
First flat: "PARABOLIC 17" 8 1/2' - 5.20 oz. HCH Herb Witte Nov. 1951
Second flat: Fer. 17/64 Tip Top 5 1/2/64
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Largemouth bass fishing with the Herb Witte Para 17 on June 19, 2009.
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Unique PHY 6'9" PUMPKIN SEED SPECIAL, built by Paul H. Young circa 1953 for nine-year-old Anne Lively - "I think I was about 9 years old when Mr. Young came to visit my parents in Pittsburgh. He took me out to the front yard to cast the little rod he'd brought. I remember we talked about his grandkids, who were the ages of my sister and me, dogs, and fishing. I told him I liked catching brook trout and bluegills. I guess I passed the casting audition because he then presented me with the rod. That was 1953, I think. I've used it ever since."
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PHY 8'0" ACE, Edwards-based, 3/2, very early, circa 1925-1927 according to Patrick Garner (author of Playing With Fire: The Life & Fly Rods of E.W. Edwards) , "clearly EW's work using Edwards components." Many features mirror the Edwards Special. One tip down 1/8". Never refinished & in excellent condition. Paul Young-style "thumb rest" in cork grip. No "Detroit" die stamp on butt cap. A 7'6" Ace of the same design is listed in MJK catalog 50 (1988).
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A few rods made after 1955 were built without serial numbers.

Please contact me if you know of similar rods that may be listed here, through my forum inbox or at robertgolder AT comcast DOT net. To see the list, please click the link below. Use your back button to return to the profile page.

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PHY Co Catalogs and Advertising

The link below takes you to photos of Paul H. Young Co. catalogs, books, and advertising pieces, shown in chronological order.

There you will find items spanning five decades, such as these catalogs:

Paul H. Young Co. catalog, 1938.
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Paul H. Young Co. catalog, 1940.
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Paul H. Young Co. catalog, circa 1952.
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Please click the link below. After viewing the photos, use the "back" button on your browser to return to my profile page.

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PHY Items and Accessories

A NOTE CONCERNING THE PHY CO. LEDGER: The PHY shop ledger, in which serial numbered rods were recorded from 1955 onward, was recently sold by Lang's Auctions. Some people have asked whether I bid on and won the ledger. I did not bid. I do not have the ledger, and do not know who now owns it. My hope is that the owner will make the contents of the ledger public, so that everyone has access to this important historical record of the Paul H. Young Company. My ongoing effort to document PHY Co. rods will continue, so that Paul H. Young's accomplishments may be better understood and appreciated.

THANK YOU! to the wonderful person who sent me a copy of this 1951 PHY catalog, for which I had been searching a long time.

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I am always interested in obtaining Paul H. Young Co. catalogs, fliers, correspondence and accessories. These items shed light on the history of the PHY Co. and help me better understand its development. Please contact me at robertgolder AT comcast DOT net to discuss sales or trades. Thank you!

Welcome to the PHY Database Page

The Paul H. Young Database Pages celebrate the work of master bamboo rod maker Paul Holden Young (1890 - 1960), and the history of the Paul H. Young Co.

Very early PHY Para 15 dated July 1949, 8'0", 2/2, 4 oz. Varnished, flamed cane, deluxe open-spiral gold/bronze wraps. Cork grip has two thumb indentations.

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PHY's handwriting on four flats. First flat: "Parabolic 15" 8' - 4 oz. Second flat: 15/64 Fer. 5/64 Tip Top. Third flat: Dr. Carleton A. Smith, Birmingham. July 1949. Fourth flat: PAUL H. YOUNG Co. - Detroit Maker. "Birmingham" is believed to be Birmingham, Michigan, a town located north of Detroit. Tube is probably made from surplus B-29 aircraft aluminum tubing. Reported by Chuck Snyder.

Quashnet

I am a full-time illustrator and artist with thirty years of professional experience, who specializes in fisheries and wildlife subjects. I illustrate books and magazines, design exhibit spaces for museums, nature centers and zoos, and accept commissions for framed artwork and murals. To discuss illustration projects, please contact me at robertgolder AT comcast DOT net.

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For more information about me and my artwork, please click on the link below. Use your back button to return to the profile page.

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Quashnets List of Paul H Young Co Bamboo Fly Rods

Quashnet's List of
Serial-Numbered Paul H. Young Co. Fly Rods

314 rods listed.

Most recent entry: November 15, 2009

The link below takes you to a list of serial numbered Paul H. Young Co. rods that I have researched.


Serial numbering began in 1955, beginning with the serial number 1955, or possibly #1950. It is believed that Paul H. Young deliberately introduced a gap of 750 or more serial numbers in the numbering system, roughly from #2350 to #3300.

PHY "Bob Doerr" model, serial #1984, built February 1955 by Paul H. Young.
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Paul H. Young died on April 28, 1960. Rod #3888, model unknown, build date March 14, 1960, is reported to be the last rod built during PHY's lifetime. Rod #3889, model unknown, build date May 21, 1960, is reported to be the first rod built after PHY's death.

If you know of PHY serial-numbered rods that may be added to this list, please contact me through my Forum inbox or at robertgolder AT comcast DOT net.


PHY #3622, Midge, built in 1958 by Paul H. Young.
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To see the list, please click the link below. Use your back button to return to the profile page.

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PHY Co Photo Display

A small, occasionally-changing exhibit of Paul H. Young Co. flies, small tackle items, and accessories.

A 1930's-era PAUL H. YOUNG "SPORTSMAN" VISE. The fly in the first photo is a 1940's Spent-Wing Adams Egg Sac from the Paul H. Young Co. The second fly is a Black Bivisible, also from the PHY Co.
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A PHY Preen tin. This fly and line dressing was marketed by Paul H. Young as early as 1933, and probably earlier. Bob Summers has shown me two different sizes of Preen tins, plus Liquid Preen in a small glass bottle. This tin measures 2-3/4" across, and is the larger tin. This tin is nearly full, and the contents look like mink oil or similar stuff for waterproofing boots.
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Two PHY Trik-Kutters and a PHY line and leader gauge. Both tools were available at least as early as the 1930's. Shown with the materials they were designed to be used with: a packaged PHY Spanish gut leader, and a PHY dry fly (spentwing Adams Egg Sac pattern, circa 1942).
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A PHY folding "Trik-Kup" shown with its catalog listing.
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Two PHY spent-wing dry flies, an Adams Egg Sac and a Royal Coachman, circa 1942.
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The "Trout Fisher's Cleaning Knife," shown with its description in the Paul H. Young tackle catalog.
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Martha Marie Young's own Hardy St. George fly reel. Mrs. Young's initials are on the reel foot of this 2-9/16" Hardy St. George Junior, and her name and the address of the PHY Co. are on the side of the leather case. Built with an agate line guide and adjustable drag, the reel came with a letter of authenticity, circa 1991, when Martin J. Keane offered it for sale in his Classic Rods & Tackle catalog, No. 74 (1998).
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Paul H. Young's own Meek (Horton Mfg.) No. 4 bait casting reel. Used by Paul Young in casting tournaments and for fishing, this reel was accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Mrs. Young, dated October 1985, when it sold at Lang's November 11, 2000 auction.
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