List of Serial-Numbered Paul H. Young Co. Fly Rods
Copyright 2008-2009 Robert Jon Golder
315 rods listed.
This is 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 numbers in the numbering system, roughly from #2350 to #3300. 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 = Paul H. Young
MJK = Martin J. Keane
January 5, 2010 - Added #4116 Midge built Dec. 1963 for Dwayne Wood.
November 15, 2009 - Added #4176 Boat Rod.
November 5, 2009 - Added photo, #4503 Perfectionist owned by Per Brandin.
November 4, 2009 - Added two photos, #2152 Para 15 owned by Per Brandin.
October 26, 2009 - Added #3947 Spin Rod with additional fly rod tip.
October 22, 2009 - Added #4331 Midge.
October 21, 2009 - Added #4XXX Midge, Ritz-style grip.
SERIAL NUMBERED PHY Co. RODS BUILT FOR YOUNG FAMILY MEMBERS INCLUDE
#1968 Low water salmon rod
#2024 Perfectionist built for Martha Marie Young
#2168 Driggs built for PHY's brother Ben
#XXXX, a unique 7'6" PHY Princess, PHY's personal rod, built 1958, with two different tips, acquired after Young's death by Ernest Schwiebert (scroll to the bottom of this page to find this rod and other "XXXX" serial-numbered rods where the number is not known).
#XXXX, a Martha Marie Model built for Martha Marie Young (scroll to the bottom of this page to find this rod and other "XXXX" serial-numbered rods where the number is not known).
Serial #
Year, Model, Length, Writing on the flats, - Notes
19XX (? - see notes)
Para 17 Deluxe, 8'6", 2/2, 5.3 oz. Varnished, medium-flamed cane, antique gold/tan wraps, blued Super-Z ferrules, black screwlock cork seat with Young-marked cap, grip described as "unusual Wells grip w/a tapered cork into shaft" (no photo), rod was described by MJK as "...built during Paul Young's lifetime, ser. #14XX..." Serial numbering is believed to have begun in the year 1955, with either serial number 1955, or possibly 1950, so the number should be 19XX. Possible explanations: The number "9" may have been poorly written on the rod, leading MJK to interpret the mark as a "4", or PHY may have tried out an experimental numbering system prior to settling on the system that began with numbers in the mid-1900's. MJK catalog no. 49 (1988).
19XX
1955, Midge, 6'3" 2/2, - Bag, tube all original. By PHY. Summers rod sale Oct. 1990.
1957
Spinmaster. If "1957" is a serial number, this is one of EIGHT serial-numbered PHY spinning rods that I have identified (see #1981SP, #2112, #3351, #3745, #3947, #3953 and #4034). MJK's full description follows, from his catalog no. 50 (1988): "Fine orig. PAUL YOUNG "Spinmaster" in delightful lt. wt. design, 6'4", 3.10 oz., Ser. #1957, 2/1, Super-Z ferrules, gorgeous dark flamed exotic cane w/bronze wraps, double ring classic spin handle, orig. foul-proof standing guides, a surprisingly strong action - certainly one of America's best & most beautiful spinning rods ever built. Overall exc. cond. w/bag & tube. $400." Note that MJK definitely stated "1957" was a serial number. However, ZenCane pointed out that "1957" might be the year date the rod was built. If PHY did not serial number rods other than fly rods, and if he built this spinning rod in 1957, then he might have inscribed the rod with the number 1957, intended as a year date.
1959?
1955 date, Para 17, - Serial number partially removed, likely by refinishing, believed to be #1959. Owned by "Cimarron Red" from Classic Fly Fishing Forum. Of this rod, Cimarron Red wrote to me, "In measuring the rod along its length, I determined that the dimensions were in line with later Para 17's that I have measured." Purchased in January 1976 from Art Neumann at Wanigas Rod Co., Saginaw, MI.
1961
Para 16 Deluxe, 8'6", 2/2, 4.51 oz. Flamed varnished cane, step-down ferrules (not Super-Zs), cap and ring over cork (Detroit die-stamp on cap). Lettering on two flats can be seen in photos, First flat: "Parabolic 16" Deluxe Second flat: 8 1/2' - 4.51 oz. H.C.H. - H.C.F. Each tip is inked #1961 near the male ferrule, and the butt is inked #1961 near a snake guide. Rod was owned by French angler Jean-Paul Pequegnot, whose name is on the tube cap. The prior owner of this Para 16 was George Beall (American living in southern France, see PHY rod #4020). Forum member "jyl" wrote to me from France with the information that after George Beall's death, Beall's widow gave this rod to Jean-Paul Pequegnot. Original bag, may be original Champion tube. Offered on eBay by Hoagy B. Carmichael, April 2009, where it sold for $4160.
1968?
Texas General / Salmon Low Water, 9'6", 2/2 - Could this be rod #1968? Paper label on handle in PHY's handwriting: 1968 9 1/2 Salmon Low Water. Shaft marked: Texas General Sticks, Ext. Grip 9 1/2 4.72 oz. H.C.H. Sh. Taper. Thumbprint grip. Detachable handle with integral 1-1/2" ext. butt. Olive wraps. Original bag and tube. MJK wrote: "This rod is unused - came directly from the Young family, deluxe grade..." MJK catalog #52 (1989).
1981SP
Spinmaster. Marked first flat: "SPIN-MASTER" 7 1/2' - 5.55 oz. Second flat: Fer. 16/64 TipTop 8/64. Also marked 1981SP. SP would seem to stand for "Spinning" and "1981" is the serial number. Varnished, flamed cane. Unusual dual handle with length of cane in between. Dual rings on upper cork where reel would be seated. Came in brown, shiny bag and Weber Dot-Line Telescopic rod case (second PHY spinning rod I have seen in such a case). Briefly offered in eBay auction October 2008; auction was canceled. Then offered on Bob Summers' web site December 2008. Bob Summers told me that this rod was built for John Chew of Pennsylvania, who owned many Young rods. Spinning rods of this size were offered in the circa 1955 PHY catalog as light saltwater rods.
1984
1955, Bobby Doerr, 9', 2/2, Marked on five flats! First three flats: Bob Doerr Deluxe / 9' - 5.95 oz. G.B.F. / Fer. 17/64 Tip Tops 6/64 February 1955. 4th flat reads (something) Fond du Lac, Wis. 5th flat reads: Feb. '55 Offered by Bob Summers on web site June 2007. PHY's handwriting.
Rod #1984 "Bobby Doerr" Model
1990
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1.7 oz. Stated to be for H.F.H. line. Appears to have black anodized ferrules (judging from poor photo). Has two bright rings over cork, straight grip tapers to a point (not blunt at end). "In a bag and tube." Catalog of R.W. Oliver, Second High Roller Auction, held February 24, 1989. Rod was lot #259, sold for $2500 plus 10% buyer's premium.
1993
1955, Midge, 6'3", 2/2, "MIDGE", 6'-3" - 1.75 oz. H.E.H. "Paul H. Young Co. - Detroit, Maker" - Dated February 1955, according to Bob Summers (cannot see that flat in pictures), oil finish, aluminum ferrules, two bright rings over cork, rod offered for $5K on Summers web site, July 2007.
1997
1955, Texan, 8'6", "W.A. Reedy - Rochester - May, '55" "Texan" 8 1/2' - 4.39 oz. H.C.H - H.C.F" Fer. 15/64 Tip Top 5/64 Bomber conduit rod tube
2024
1955 PHY PERFECTIONIST, dated April 1955, built by PHY, gift of PHY to his wife Martha Marie Young. Flamed cane, 2/2 ventilated cigar grip, dual bright rings over cork seat. Rod inscribed: first line Martha M. Young April - '55, second line: "Perfectionist" 7-1/2', 2.51 oz., H.E.H. silk. Rod also is marked in ink at increments of 7 inches, 10 inches, and 12 inches up from the handle; thread wraps mark the measurements. Michigan fishing regulations for 1955 pertained to these lengths. The legal length limit for trout was seven inches; for bass, ten inches. Mrs. Young therefore could measure the trout she caught without carrying a ruler. Green bag has tag that reads Martha Perfectionist in two lines, in PHY's handwriting, plus tube. Owned by fishnbanjo.
Rod #2024, Perfectionist, built by PHY as gift for wife Martha Marie Young. It was quite a special moment when banjo invited me to make my first casts with Mrs. Young's rod. It has a strong easy stroke that is pure poetry. The rod is very comfortable in the hand, even though the grip is quite small for hands the size of banjo's, or mine. The thumb indentation orients your hand in the right place, and the spaces between the corks help improve your hold on the grip, much like tire treads improve a car's hold on the road. Banjo explained that in 1955 there were length limit rules in the Michigan fish laws that specifically pertained to trout of seven inches and bass of ten inches. So Paul Young put thread wraps on the butt of the rod, at these marked intervals, so his wife wouldn't have to carry a ruler with her.
203X
1955 Midge 6'3" 2/2 May 1955. 1.74 oz. Featherweight ferrules (=aluminum?). Stripping guide is a snake guide. MJK catalog 87 (2003).
2036
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Inked on shaft: Arnold Gingrich, New York, Paul H. Young Co. Detroit, Maker, Midge 6'3" 1.73 oz. H.E.H. All sections are marked 2036. Black anodized ferrules, two rings over cork, black wraps. Original bag & tube, letter of provenance from Bob Summers. Offered Lang's November 2, 2007 fishing tackle auction. Arnold Gingrich heavily promoted Paul H. Young and the Midge rod in books and magazine articles. In The Well-Tempered Angler (1965), Gingrich described his first experience with a Midge rod when fishing with his friends Charles and Vivian Kerlee: "Charlie had got one from Paul Young in Detroit... and had bought it with no intention of using it himself, as he is over six foot, with the build of a tackle. But Vivian is small, and he wanted a light little rod that she could use without arm fatigue... Vivian let me try it, and the very first cast was a revelation... giving it back was like giving back a piece of my arm. I wrote a check for one that same day. They only cost $65 at that time, but I'd have paid five times as much, if that had been the price. I never wanted anything more avidly in my life. Once I got it, I used no other rod..."
Note also PHY rod #2045, also a Midge; it was built very shortly after this one for Charles Coiner, a friend of Gingrich's, who is mentioned in The Well-Tempered Angler
Rod #2036 Midge, owned by Arnold Gingrich
2045
1955 Midge 6'3" 2/1 Paul H. Young Co. Detroit Maker June '55 "MIDGE" 6'3" 1.74 oz. H.E.H. "Charles T. Coiner - Mechanicsville, Penna." "June 1955, aluminum ferrules, two rings over cork, black wraps, may originally be a two-tip rod. Replacement bag & tube. Offered eBay April 2007, purchased by spruce grouse of the Classic Fly Rod Forum. Charles T. Coiner was a landscape painter, discussed by Arnold Gingrich in The Well-Tempered Angler (1965)."
2046
Bob Doerr Model, 9'0", 2/2, 6 oz. Refinished. Lettered in Bob Summers' handwriting on three flats: First flat: Paul H. Young Co. Det. Maker Second flat: Bob Doerr Model 9' 6 oz. GBF Third flat: Fer 17/64 TipTop 6/64 Tips are numbered 2046. One tip is still numbered in PHY's handwriting. The other tip is numbered in Summers' handwriting. Bob Summers showed me this rod, mid-October 2008.
2052
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2.48 oz. Flamed cane, sliding band reel seat. Old brochure, circa 1984, from Allan Liu, American Sporting Collector, Amawalk, NY
2070
1956 Para 15, 8'0" 2/2 3.98 oz. Built January 1956. Varnished, flamed cane; Super-Z ferrules, gold-brown wraps, screwlock cork seat. wet and dry tips; red spiral wrap on dry tip. Writing on first flat: "Parabolic 15" 8' - 3.98 oz. Second flat: Fer. 15/64 1- 5/65 1- 4/64 Tips Former owner's name and address also on butt section. Wet tip marked: WET H.D.H. 5/64 TipTop Dry tip marked: DRY H.E.H. 4/64 TipTop Info from John Feldenzer?
2078
Driggs, 7'2", 2/2, 2.36 oz. Varnished, heavily flamed cane. Bronze wraps, aluminum ferrules, aluminum dual rings, all cork slender, varigated grip with double thumbprint scallops. B-29 tube with brown satin bag. Rod is pristine with no marks and very slight anodization wear on one male ferrule. Slightly parabolic, medium fast, takes #4 line. Owned by Tim Simbari of the Classic fly Rod Forum.
2088
1955, 9'0" rod similar to or may be a Bobby Doerr model, 9', 2/2, marked 9' - 5.70 oz. - GBF - Fer 17/64 - tip Top 6/64. These measurements are typical of a Bobby Doerr model. Rod is also reportedly marked with the owner's name followed by 1955. Black screwlock cork seat, Super-Z ferrules, original bag & tube. Lot #16, R.W. Oliver's Fifth Annual Summer Auction, July 8, 1989, sold for $700. plus 10% buyers premium.
2093
1955, Bobby Doerr, 9', 2/2, owned by John A. Feldenzer, author of "Of Baseball and Bamboo: Bobby Doerr, Ted Williams, and the Paul H. Young Rod Company," The American Fly Fisher, Vol. 31 no. 4 (Fall 2005). Photographs of rod #2093 are found in the article. Acquiring rod #2093 from Bob Summers got John started researching PHY, and led to a friendship with Hall of Famer and former Red Sox second baseman Bobby Doerr. Varnished, flamed cane, brown wraps, screwlock cork seat, Detroit die-stamp on cap.
21XX
Princess 7'3" 2/2 Dark-flamed, blued Super-Zs, sm. Cigar grip w/ thumb indent., cork and ring seat, orig. Bag & tube. Corsetti #31 (Spring 2001).
2112
1957, "West's Pet" combination spin and fly rod, Spinmaster-grade, built March 1957. Super "Z" ferrule 16/64. 8 1/2" dual slide band grip w/ 3 5/8" screw DL cork insert fly seat. Spin slide bands and butt cap marked PAUL H. YOUNG CO. - DETROIT --- MICH. in rectangular box. Rod shaft inked - Chas. W. Walls Jr. Mar. '57 - on one flat, and - "SPIN-MASTER" 8' - 5.15oz - on adjacent flat. Rod marked with serial number - #2112 - near butt ferrule. Original khaki twill bag and period 2" Champion aluminum tube. Rod refinished by Bob Summers in 2006 - new grip with a more conventional shape, new Super-Z ferrules, writing in PHY's hand removed and redone by Bob, new varnish. The owner notes that in the 1950's combo rods were an option on PHY's 7'2", 7'6", and 8' spin rods, and says that this rod works nicely with 3/8 oz. lures or a WF7F fly line. PHY #2112, Combo Fly/Spin Rod, Spin-Master Grade and SpinMaster rod #4034, dated 1962, show that PHY did serial-number at least two rods with dual fly/spin capability.
"2114"
SEE DESCRIPTION OF ROD #2214.
2117 (duplicate number with rod below)
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Featherweight Deluxe variation (though it appears to have nickle silver ferrules). Two 4-1/2/64ths tips, ventilated cigar grip, two rings over cork, seen at http://vfish.net/MarthaMarie.htm
2117 (duplicate number with rod above)
I was shown this rod but took incomplete notes, including a failure to get the model name; probably a Texas General, possibly a Para 17. 8'6" 2/2 Black screwlock cork seat, exaggerated single thumb depression in cork grip, wet and dry tips. Wet tip is labeled on one flat: 2117 WET G.B.F. Dry tip is labeled on two flats, First flat: 2117 Second flat: DRY H.C.H. I recorded writing from two flats on the butt: First flat: from Dorothy - Jim - Kent Second flat: 8 1/2' - 5.46 oz. Dry Tip H.C.H. Wet Tip G.B.F.
2119
Para 15 8'0", 2/2 Wes Jordan's Para 15. Wet and dry tips. "Supposedly they were good friends and communicated rod building techniques. Original very good condition except Wes replaced the reel seat with an Orvis down screw locker…. With note from Gloria Jordan." - catalog description, Catskill Fly Fishing Center benefit auction, September 11, 1987.
2120
Martha Marie. Reported via private e-mail.
2125(see 4635)
Little Giant. 6'6" 2/2 Reported by Richard Shelton, whose rod has a butt and one tip marked #2125, and a second tip marked #4635. I have recorded another rod made up of parts from two rods (see listings for #4387 and #4389), but never with such widely different serial numbers.
2129
Boat Rod 8'0" 2/2 Varnished, flamed cane. Cigar grip, bright metal screwlock seat over cork, black butt cap, hookkeeper, Lettered on two flats, First flat: "Boat Rod" 8' - 4.65 oz. H.C.H. Second flat: Fer. 15/64 TipTop 5/64. Satin bag and Champion-style tube. Seen on eBay September 2009.
2145
1956 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Dated June 1956, built for Wm. J. Brennan. Paul Young's handwriting in black ink. Destroyed in shipment following eBay sale. Beware of fake eBay auctions using photos of this rod.
2152
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 One wet tip and one dry tip. Cigar grip, down-slide band skeleton cap & ring reel seat. "Detroit" die-stamp on butt cap. Inked on the shaft: William L. Hanford, West Stockbridge, Mass. / 'Parabolic 15' 1 wet H.D.H. 1 dry H.E.H. Owned by Per Brandin, who told me: "This rod is in my opinion, very well built for being a Paul Young rod (the workmanship is often pretty rough) and it is a spectacular rod to fish with. It will handle a DT5 line on the dry tip, but is better with a #6 line with either tip and I have even fished a WF 7 on the wet tip." Purchased by Per Brandin from Dana Gray, spring 2009.
2152 - Photo by Per Brandin
2152 - Photo by Per Brandin
2168
1956 Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2.68 oz. Marked: "Ben Xmas '56 from Paul" Gift from PHY to brother Ben. Ventilated grip with thumb flat, black-finished die-stamped cap & ring, gold/tan wraps, blued Super-Z ferrules, orig. bag & tube. MJK catalog no. 67 (1995).
218X
1956 Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 August 15, 1956. 2.69 oz. .275 butt (not .260). Lightweight ferrules, 2-band cork seat, slightly longer cork grip. MJK catalog 75 (1998).
2187
1956 (August), Bobby Doerr, 9'0". Marked on three flats, First flat: Mike Darcy Aug. '56 Second flat: "Bob Doerr" model 9' - 5.75 GBF Third flat: Paul H. Young Co. Detroit - Maker. PHY's handwriting. Rod was refinished by Bob Summers, and has additional writing in Summers' handwriting: Refinished by RW Summers 6/1/09. Varnished, flamed cane. Brown wraps. Rod has bright metal butt cap with black screwlock reel seat hardware. Gold coated Super-Z ferrules. Cork grip and cork reel seat spacer are replacements. Both tips are marked #2187 in Summers' handwriting. One tip 1/2" short. Tube is B-29 aircraft aluminum tube with additional cloth tube enclosure (not original). Reported by "bow river" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum, owned by a guided fishing trip client. Rod subsequently offered on eBay, September 2009, and sold for $1215.
2194
1958 Para 15 8' 3/2 (?) "L.B. Sheppard, June '58" "Parabolic 15 - 8' - 4.15 oz., H.D.H." Fer. 15/64 Tip Top 5/64 "Each section marked 2194, but Lang's reported writing on tips is lighter and different style than butt writing. Owner reports rod also has 5/64 TT inked at base of each tip. Two thumb depressions in cork. Butt 3X2X1 spacing, one tip 3X3, one tip 2X2."
22XX
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3.46 oz. Inking on two flats can be seen. First flat: Paul H. Young Co. Detroit Second flat: Martha Marie Mod. 7 1/2 3.46oz Rod is also reported to be marked HDH for line weight and to have a serial number in the 22XX range. Flamed varnished cane, gold-bronze wraps nearly blending into cane color, Half Wells grip, cap and ring over cork, ring appears silvery while cap has much black on it but also many scratches. Cap has Detroit die-stamp. One tip is short 1.3 cm (1/2 inch). Thanks to cdmoore of the Classic Fly Rod Forum for reporting this rod seen on a Japanese web site, Dec. 2007.
2203
1956 November 1956. Reported by uniphasian (Chuck Tinsley). No other data.
2212
Bobby Doerr 9'0" 2/2 #17 Super-Z ferrule, 6/64 tip top. varnished, flamed, Wells grip, screwlock cork seat, orig. bag & tube. MJK catalog No. 63 (1993).
2214
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 ""Parabolic 15"" 8' - 3.50 oz. H.D.H." Paul H. Young Co. Detroit - Maker "Lightweight; 2 dry tips; ventilated grip; eBay April 2007 (incorrectly listed as 2114). Fake eBay auction, July 2007, same serial # error." Fake eBay auction, March 2008, same serial # error." Fake eBay auction, July 2008, same serial # error."
2216
1956 Little Giant 6'6" Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction catalog states this rod was built.
2217
1956 Little Giant 6'6" Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction catalog states this rod was built.
2218
1956 Little Giant 6'6" 2/2 "LITTLE GIANT 6'6"" 2.78 oz. HDH" Paul H. Young Co. Cigar grip w/thumb depression. Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction.
2226
Para17. Serial #2226 dates the rod to about 1956, 8'6", 2/2, wet and dry tips, varnished flamed cane, 2X2 node spacing on wet tip, basically 3X3 node spacing with some node staggering on dry tip, 3X3 node spacing on butt. Half Wells grip, bright downlocking screwlock seat over cork with fixed two-inch all-cork extension butt, "Detroit" stamp on butt cap, bronze-brown wraps to match cane colors, decorative bronze-brown spiral wraps at base of female ferrule on butt section, and tiptop on wet tip; decorative deep red spiral wraps at base of male ferrule and tiptop on dry tip. Super-Z ferrules with encircled-Z logo on female ferrule. Hookkeeper. Inked on butt in PHY's handwriting on two flats, First flat: Lloyd Lawson - Dearborn Mich. Second flat: "Parabolic 17" 8 1/2 - 5.45 oz. Also marked #2226 on butt near stripping guide. Wet tip marked 2226 - Wet - G.B.F. Dry tip marked 2226 - Dry - H.C.H. Original owner may have been Lloyd Lawson of E&L Transport Co., Dearborn, MI who during World War II designed a custom dual-engine Ford truck used to haul military bomber aircraft parts to factories for final assembly.
#2226
2239
1957 Para 15 8'0" 2/2, build date March 21, 1957, marked Richard V. Rounds 3/21/57 / A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / "Parabolic 15" 8' 4.3 oz HDH HDG Butt cap has Detroit die stamp. Rod was refinished by Bob Summers, May 30, 1972. Reported by "troutbumwannab" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum, who purchased the rod directly from Bob Summers at Bob's shop in Traverse City, MI. In addition, troutbumwannab told me, "Bob [Summers] took me and my boy fishing on his river where he guided us for several hours on the Boardman where I fished with the traditional Adams and caught many fish. The boat we fished from was originally owned by George Griffith (the originator of TU) which he inherited and refurbished (they were friends)."
225X
1957 Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Marked "Apr, '57". 3.70 oz. 2X2 node placement, blued Super-Z ferrules, deluxe tan/bronze wraps with blued guides (does "deluxe" mean decorative spiral wraps?), slightly bulbous grip with thumbprint, reel seat is cap and ring over cork, cap with "Detroit" stamp. Original brown nylon bag and original tube with green screw-on cap. MJK catalog 82 (2001).
22XX
1957 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Built May 1, 1957. Dry and wet tips. Flamed cane, Super-Z ferrules, black screwlock cork seat, "Garrison-style" grip, "gold-tan deluxe wraps" (does "deluxe" mean decorative spiral wraps?), original bag & tube. MJK catalog 65 (1994).
2253
1959 Martha Marie "7'6"" 2/2" April '59. SB cork seat. Thumb-print grip. 3.70 oz. MJK catalog 55 (1990). Year date could be mistake; if so, could be same as rod 225X marked Apr. '57 in MJK catalog 82.
2284
1957 Para 15, 3.9 oz., 8'0", 4/2, a custom 4-piece pack rod version of the Para 15, with red aluminum ferrules and wet and dry tips. Cigar grip. Marked in PHY's handwriting: H.P. Langworthy, June '57, "Parabolic 15" - 8' - 3.9 oz., H.D.H. Was owned for about one year in the early 1990's by quashnet of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
2341
Midge 6'3" Built for Edsel Ford's daughter, Josephine Clay Ford, circa 1957. Reported by Sante Giuliani who saw the rod at SuperBoo IV in Maine. Rod was in almost unused, mint original condition with bag and tube, and owner's name inked on the rod. Granddaughter of automotive pioneer Henry Ford, Josephine Clay Ford (1923 - 2005) was a philanthropist who donated millions for the arts, cancer research, and similar worthy causes. Edsel Ford helped finance Admiral Richard Byrd's 1926 flight to the North Pole, in recognition, Byrd named his airplane "Josephine Ford."
GAP Some believe that a gap of 750 to as many as 1000 rods (roughly #2300 - 3300) was deliberately inserted by PHY.
3345
Texas General 8'6" 2/2 5.4 oz. Flamed varnished cane, black screwlock cork seat with gray threading, bronze wraps, original bag and aluminum rod case. Inked in PHY's handwriting on two flats; First flat: "Texas General" 8 1/2' - 5.40 oz. Second flat: G.B.F. C level Belonged to Roy D. Chapin, Jr., former chairman and CEO of American Motors Corporation, died in 2001 at age 85. Listed on Len Codella's web site, November 2008. Owned by "mosquito" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
3351
Spin-Master serial-numbered PHY spinning rod. 7'6", 2/2, 4.63 oz., Ferrule 16/64, TipTop 7/64. Currently measures 46" butt, one tip 43-1/2", other tip 37". Marked Stuart W. Fenton.
(Stuart W. Fenton, retired professor of chemistry and former department head, died Feb. 4, 2006. He was 83 and a resident of North Oaks, Minn. Fenton was born April 29, 1922, in London, Ontario, Canada. From 1942 to 1945 he worked as a wartime fuel technologist for the Dominion of Canada and also studied chemistry at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where he received a bachelor of science in 1945 and a master's degree the following year. He was a research officer for Canada's National Research Council from 1945 to 1946. In 1950 Fenton received a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in 1951 joined the University of Minnesota faculty as a professor of organic chemistry. He served as chair of the chemistry department from 1960 to 1968, and retired in 1986. Many thanks to his nephew John Fenton for providing the information on seven Paul H. Young Co. rods owned by Stuart W. Fenton.)
3352
Dated 1958 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 February 1958. Built with two original wet tips, 5/64 tiptops. Flamed cane, cork screwlock seat, gold/tan wraps, Super-Z ferrules. MJK catalogs 63 (1993), 64, 65 and 66 (1994), 67 (1995).
3361
June 1958. Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Built in June 1958 by both Paul H. Young and Bob Summers. Summers told current owner Chris Ringlstetter that it was originally built for Don Valley, CEO and chairman of the National Bank of Detroit. A well-known Michigan fly fisher, Valley owned many Young rods, and also bought four Summers rods. Rod was refinished by Summers in the 1980's.
3366
Dated 1958 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4 oz. May (or Mar.?) 1958. Built with a wet tip and a dry tip. Marked: Stuart W. Fenton, May '58 (or Mar. '58?)
(Stuart W. Fenton, retired professor of chemistry and former department head, died Feb. 4, 2006. He was 83 and a resident of North Oaks, Minn. Fenton was born April 29, 1922, in London, Ontario, Canada. From 1942 to 1945 he worked as a wartime fuel technologist for the Dominion of Canada and also studied chemistry at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where he received a bachelor of science in 1945 and a master's degree the following year. He was a research officer for Canada's National Research Council from 1945 to 1946. In 1950 Fenton received a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in 1951 joined the University of Minnesota faculty as a professor of organic chemistry. He served as chair of the chemistry department from 1960 to 1968, and retired in 1986. Many thanks to his nephew John Fenton for providing the information on seven Paul H. Young Co. rods owned by Stuart W. Fenton.)
348X (?)
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Super-Z ferrules, cigar grip, brown wraps, dual black bands on cork seat. Misprinted serial number is given as 34,8xx. My best guess is that MJK meant to write the serial number as 348x. MJK catalog 62 (1993).
3541
1958 Para 17 "8'6"" 2/2" A Paul H. Young Co. Rod "Parabolic 17 8'6"" 5-1/4 oz." Bob Summers' handwriting! Seen at www.bamburakentaja.com
3622
Midge "6'3"" 2/2" Paul H. Young Co. Detroit - Maker "6'3"" Midge 1.75 oz. HEH Line" "PHY's handwriting. Also hand-inked ""3622"" on butt and ""4 1/2 Tip Top"" on each tip. Super-Z NS ferrules. NS cap (usual stamp) & ring over cork seat. Butt & tips are all 2X2 node spacing. Reported first owned by a MI physician, then another MI resident, then Marty deSapio, now Bob Golder."
Rod #3622, Midge
Rod #3622, Midge
37XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1 3/4 oz. Varnished flamed cane, black wraps, 2-band cork seat, has orig. Young label on outside of tube. MJK catalog No. 49 (1988).
3706
1958 date. Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Serial number and date reported by "dbauerle" on Classic Fly Rod Forum July 2007.
3707
June 1958 date. Para 17 8'6" 2/2 5.20 oz. Varnished flamed cane, cap (with diagonally marked decorative edge) and knurled ring over cork seat, "Detroit" stamp on cap. Blued Super Z ferrules. Lettered in Paul H. Young's handwriting on two flats, First flat: Walter G. Mentzer - Yonkers, N.Y. Second flat: "Parabolic 17" 8 1/2' - 5.20 oz. G.B.F. Serial number 3707 on all sections, looks as though redone and relettered by someone other than Paul Young. Original bag and B-29 aluminum tube. Sold in 1981 by Hoagy B. Carmichael, then offered by Carmichael again for a client using eBay, May 2009.
3711
1958 date. Driggs 7'2" 2/2 Varnished. Built in June, 1958 (per marking). Purchased in March 1977 by "Cimarron Red" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum from Larry Madison of CT.
3734
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Clyde G. Wagner "M.M.Y. 7 1/2' - 3.57 oz, HDH" Gold ink lettering. Mortised cork reel seat, sliding band, Detroit-stamp butt cap. One tip has a slight set and a 2" repair wrap at the top end. Sold at Lang's auction for $2300 plus buyer's premium, 11/5/05.
3738
1958 date. Para 15 #3738 Shop log build date: August 6, 1958, built for Carter H. Leslie of Chicago, Illinois. 8'0" 2/2 Wet (5/64 tiptop) and dry (4-1/2/64 tiptop) tips. 4.02 oz. Cork screwlock reel seat. Was originally a varnished rod. Marked HDH - HDG Aug '58 (handwriting looks like Summers). Purchased by Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm from Art Neumann of Wanigas Rod Co. in January 7, 1971. Mac's first fish on this rod was an 8" brown trout, taken on a #16 Tups at Potter Creek. The Paul H. Young Co. "overhauled" (to use Mac's term) this rod in 1972, installing a new grip, oil finish, and new guides. This all cost $37.90, including postage. The rod case was returned with the wrong cap, and no gasket. Bob Summers put new ferrules on this rod. On July 6, 1974, Mac took rainbow trout and a 16" brown trout on this rod at the Manistee River. Hoagy Carmichael sold this rod for Mac in 1984, Mac received $850. This rod also sold at Lang's April 13, 2002 auction and then at Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction, for $2640.
3744
1958 Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3.37 oz. HDH line. Marked: Stuart W. Fenton, Oct. '58.
(Stuart W. Fenton, retired professor of chemistry and former department head, died Feb. 4, 2006. He was 83 and a resident of North Oaks, Minn. Fenton was born April 29, 1922, in London, Ontario, Canada. From 1942 to 1945 he worked as a wartime fuel technologist for the Dominion of Canada and also studied chemistry at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where he received a bachelor of science in 1945 and a master's degree the following year. He was a research officer for Canada's National Research Council from 1945 to 1946. In 1950 Fenton received a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in 1951 joined the University of Minnesota faculty as a professor of organic chemistry. He served as chair of the chemistry department from 1960 to 1968, and retired in 1986. Many thanks to his nephew John Fenton for providing the information on seven Paul H. Young Co. rods owned by Stuart W. Fenton.)
3745
1958 Spin-Master serial-numbered PHY spinning rod. Dated October 1958. Appears inked in PHY's own handwriting. 7'6", 4.10 oz. Marked Stuart W. Fenton, Oct. '58.
(Stuart W. Fenton, retired professor of chemistry and former department head, died Feb. 4, 2006. He was 83 and a resident of North Oaks, Minn. Fenton was born April 29, 1922, in London, Ontario, Canada. From 1942 to 1945 he worked as a wartime fuel technologist for the Dominion of Canada and also studied chemistry at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where he received a bachelor of science in 1945 and a master's degree the following year. He was a research officer for Canada's National Research Council from 1945 to 1946. In 1950 Fenton received a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in 1951 joined the University of Minnesota faculty as a professor of organic chemistry. He served as chair of the chemistry department from 1960 to 1968, and retired in 1986. Many thanks to his nephew John Fenton for providing the information on seven Paul H. Young Co. rods owned by Stuart W. Fenton.)
3757
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Varnished. Wet and dry tips (5/64th and 4.5/64th tips). Purchased in 1976 by "Cimarron Red" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum from Anton Udwary, Spartanburg, SC.
3768
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Both tips look short but owner says they assemble full-length w/ tip and butt.. Serial number present on tips and butt. Varnished flamed cane, screwlock reel seat over cork (black cap and outer screwlock ring, grey threaded section), inked inscription by PHY, only one flat seen: M.M.Y. 7 ½' - 3.58 oz. H.D.H. Was on eBay, now owned by dshx of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
3770
1958 Midge 6'3" 2/2 First flat: Paul Jackson. March '58 Second flat: MIDGE 6'3" 1.75 oz. H.E.H. Third flat: Paul H. Young Co. Detroit Serial #3770 on all sections. Flamed cane, oil finish, black wraps, black aluminum ferrules, no hookkeeper. Outside rod tube says: Paul E. JACKSON / Attorney At Law / National Bank Bldg. / Ypsilanti, Michigan. Owned by "mosquito" of Classic Fly Rod Forum.
3771
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Inking visible on one flat: "Parabolic 15" 8' - 3.87 oz. H.D.H. PHY's handwriting. Gold wraps. Cigar cork grip. Cap and ring, cork spacer. Photos seen at a Yahoo! Japan site: blogs.yahoo.co.jp/captainbamboo.
3773
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 "M.M.Y. Model 7 1/2' 3.63 oz. H.D.H. Paul H. Young Co. Detroit - Maker " Detroit stamp butt cap. Gold ink. eBay Feb 2007, won by uniphasian (Chuck Tinsley).
3782
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 Restored condition. Cigar grip, dual black rings over cork. Original bag, tube. Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction catalog.
3789
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-7/8 oz. Marked for HEH line. Described as new condition. Described as built by Bob Summers. Cigar grip, dual black rings over cork, enlarged cork button on butt end to keep rings from slipping off. Original bag, labeled tube. Lot #601, R.W. Oliver's Sixth Annual Summer Tackle Auction catalog, sold July 1990 for $1000 plus 10% buyers premium. I remember seeing this rod at the auction. The cork of the grip and seat was whiter than any cork I've ever seen - dead white, as though it had been bleached.
38XX
1959 Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Grip has thumbprint rest. Tan/beige wraps, Super-Z ferrules, was refinished by Bob Summers. Original bag & tube. MJK catalog 65 (1994).
3809
Princess, 7'0", 2/2, 2.9 oz., blunt-end cigar grip, HDH line. Cap and ring over cork; cap is dark, ring is bright and may or may not have originally been blued. Catalog of R.W. Oliver, Second High Roller Auction, held February 24, 1989. Rod was lot #259, sold for $6500 plus 10% buyer's premium.
3816
Built 1959, Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Dual black rings over cork (some wear to cork butt), cigar grip, black wraps with small black spiral wrap at front of grip. Black aluminum ferrules. Lettering in gold ink in PHY's handwriting: First flat: owner's name, unknown Second flat: a Paul Young Rod Third flat: "MIDGE" 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. H.E.H. Reportedly also lettered May 1959. Original satin maroon-brown bag, probably replacement tube. Offered on Rick's Rods web site, April 2009.
3823
Built 1959, Para 17 8'6" 2/2 5.25 oz. First flat: "Parabolic 17" 8 1/2 5.25 oz. G.B.F. Second flat: Fred Nehabedian Royal Oak - May '59 Third flat: a Paul Young rod 3823 on two tips; no 3823 on butt. Lettering in gold ink in PHY's handwriting. Varnished flamed cane. Blk. finish butt cap with Detroit die stamp. Cork screwlock seat. Tube with partial PHY Co. label. Bag. Offered on eBay October 2007.
383X
Boat Rod 8' 2/2 "Could be #3837. 4.63 oz., Super-Z ferrules, Wells grip, Screwlock cork seat, thumbprint grip, MJK #75 (1998)."
3836
Texas General "8'6"" 2/2" """Texas General"" 8 1/2' 5.30 oz." A Paul Young Rod "One tip marked ""Dry"" with red tipping at ferrule and tip-top; other tip ""G.B.F."" (wet). Detroit stamp butt cap. Gold ink. eBay Jan 2007"
3837
Boat Rod 8'0" 2/2 4.63 oz. Flamed cane, Super-Z ferrules, orig. thumbprint grip, screwlock cork seat, refinished by Bob Summers. MJK catalog #52 (1989)
384X
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2.80 oz. Flamed varnished cane, 2-band cork seat, slight Wells-style grip with thumbprint, blued ferrules & guides, orig. bag & tube. MJK catalog No. 77 (1999).
3855
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Summers' handwriting. Marked: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / Parabolic 15 8' 4.03 oz. HDH. Black cap and screwlock with Detroit stamp, grey metal screw threading and cork seat. Wet & dry tips, flamed cane, brown wraps. Owned by uniphasian of the Classic Fly Rod Forum, who reports: "I bought this rod from Tom Hill on 03/17/05."
3858
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 PHY's handwriting. Lettering is in gold ink. Marked first flat: L.E. Smith Second flat: "Parabolic 15" 8' 3.78(?) oz. HDH or HDG Third flat: A Paul Young Rod. (The final number of the weight in ounces is difficult to read but most likely is "8.") Wet & dry tips, die-stamped cap and ring with coin-edge knurling, Wells grip. Offered October 2007 by Carmine Lisella.
3872
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1.74 oz. Marked for HEH line. Also marked: Stuart W. Fenton
(Stuart W. Fenton, retired professor of chemistry and former department head, died Feb. 4, 2006. He was 83 and a resident of North Oaks, Minn. Fenton was born April 29, 1922, in London, Ontario, Canada. From 1942 to 1945 he worked as a wartime fuel technologist for the Dominion of Canada and also studied chemistry at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where he received a bachelor of science in 1945 and a master's degree the following year. He was a research officer for Canada's National Research Council from 1945 to 1946. In 1950 Fenton received a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in 1951 joined the University of Minnesota faculty as a professor of organic chemistry. He served as chair of the chemistry department from 1960 to 1968, and retired in 1986. Many thanks to his nephew John Fenton for providing the information on seven Paul H. Young Co. rods owned by Stuart W. Fenton.)
3876
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2.71 oz. Flamed cane, gold ink writing. For HEH line. Black anodized Super-Z- type Alu-ferrules 14/64 th, and reel seat, 2 sliding rings on cork. Normal (unventilated) grip. One tip approx. 4 inches short. Belonged to the late rodmaker and fly tier Preben Torp Jacobsen, of Denmark. Reported by Wolfram Schott, rodmaker, from Germany, who wrote to me that "The Perfectionist he bought after some correspondence with Al McClane, who advised him to do so. It was his favorite rod, and he made a few clones from its taper, for friends. He told me it had cost 80 Dollars at that time, which was a lot of money then, in 1950-odd."
3883
Bob Doerr 9'0" 2/2 5.6 oz. "A Paul Young Rod" Marked: Stuart W. Fenton 1960.
(Stuart W. Fenton, retired professor of chemistry and former department head, died Feb. 4, 2006. He was 83 and a resident of North Oaks, Minn. Fenton was born April 29, 1922, in London, Ontario, Canada. From 1942 to 1945 he worked as a wartime fuel technologist for the Dominion of Canada and also studied chemistry at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where he received a bachelor of science in 1945 and a master's degree the following year. He was a research officer for Canada's National Research Council from 1945 to 1946. In 1950 Fenton received a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in 1951 joined the University of Minnesota faculty as a professor of organic chemistry. He served as chair of the chemistry department from 1960 to 1968, and retired in 1986. Many thanks to his nephew John Fenton for providing the information on seven Paul H. Young Co. rods owned by Stuart W. Fenton.)
3888
unknown "March 14, 1960. Reported last rod built during PHY's lifetime."
3889
unknown "May 21, 1960. Reported first rod built after PHY's death."
3890
Para 15 8' 2/2 K.T. Keller Model. 4 oz. Super-Z ferrules, screwlock cork seat, cigar grip, resourcinol glue. Wet & dry tips, flamed cane. MJK catalog, Fall 1984.
3895
Midge 6'3" 2/2 A Paul H Young Co. Rod "Midge 6'3" 1 3/4 oz. H.E.H." Circa 1960. Sold May 2007 on eBay by Hoagy B. Carmichael, bought by Art Czabaniuk. "...number 3895, three numbers after Young stopped working at the shop (#3892 according to M. Keane), which was a month before he died." Summers' handwriting in gold ink. Aluminum ferrules.
39XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Flamed, tan/gold wraps, sliding band cork seat. MJK catalog no. 47 (1987).
39XX
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 "very low serial number 39XX," appears to be Summers' writing (Carmine Lisella, #28, Spring 2007. 2.67 oz. cigar grip w/ thumb impression, cork dual ring seat, Super-Z's, 1960-61?, asked $3200.
3927
1960 Bobby Doerr, 9'0", 2/2, 6 oz., built with removable extension butt (present), Super-Z ferrules, half Wells grip, screwlock cork seat, has owner's name and 1960 date in ink, bag and tube. Catalog of R.W. Oliver, Second High Roller Auction, held February 24, 1989. Rod was lot #266, sold for $1500 plus 10% buyer's premium.
3947
Spin Rod, 7'6", 2/2 (original spinning rod tip plus a later fly rod tip built by Bob Summers). Varnished, flamed cane. Dual black rings, marked with Detroit die-stamp, over long, straight cork grip. Simple loop hookkeeper. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting, First Flat: John W. Chew Second Flat: 7'6" 14/64 FER. 8/64 tip top 4.22 oz Third flat: Paul H. Young Co. Detroit Mich. Both tips are serial numbered. Offered on eBay by "thomaswoodward," October 2009.
3950
1961 Perfectionist 7'6" 2/3 January 1961 2.60 oz. Built with three original tips, serial number on butt and all three tips. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting. First flat: A Paul H. Young Fly Rod Second flat: Glenn Snider Jan 20 1961 Third flat: Perfectionist 71/2 ft. 2.20 oz. Varnished flamed cane, dual rings over cork, gold wraps, original bag and tube. Codella web site Nov. 2007. Owned by mosquito of Classic Fly Rod Forum.
3953
1961 Spin Master 7'2", 2/1, serial-numbered PHY Co. spinning rod. Varnished flamed cane, inked on two flats, First flat: Spin Master 7'2" 3.55 oz. Second flat: Paul H. Young Co. Det. Mich. Dual black rings over cork, both rings marked with "Detroit" stamp, copper brown wraps, bag and tube. Offered on Bob Summers' web site, December 2008.
3969
1961 Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 May 1961. 3.4 oz. Flamed cane, Wells grip, sliding band cork seat. Rod was rewrapped due to "ghosting" of original thread wraps. MJK catalog 64 and 65 (1994)
3988
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2.67 oz. Super-Z ferrules. Garrison-style grip w/thumb flat, "reportedly built by Paul himself, but finished just after his death by the talented hands of Bob Summers at the Young company..." (MJK) No documentation for claim. MJK catalog 62 (1993), and also offered in MJK catalog 74 (1998).
3998
1961 Boat Rod 8'0" 2/2 4.47 oz. Dated July 6, 1961. Wet and dry tips. Blk. finished screwlock cork seat, Wells grip, tan wraps, Super-Z ferrules, dry fly tip has distinct resourcinol glue lines at edges, unlike wet tip and butt. MJK catalog 59 (1992) and 60 (1992).
4XXX
Midge 6'3" 2/2" 1-3/4 oz. Flamed cane, "rather attractive tapered Ritz-style grip." Cork sliding band seat, tan-gold wraps. MJK catalog No. 44 (1986).
40XX
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2.75 oz. Gold/tan wraps, sliding band cork seat "has been inletted a bit deeper than usual, easily corrected" (?). MJK catalog no. 47 (1987).
4009
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2.79 oz. Does not have Super-Z ferrules. Cigar/Ritz grip, 2-band cork seat, tan wraps, previous owner's name in ink, one tip though intact has a repairable fracture 6 inches from tip top, bag and tube. Catalog of R.W. Oliver, Second High Roller Auction, held February 24, 1989. Rod was lot #262, sold for $1500 plus 10% buyer's premium.
4017
Para 17 8'6" 2/2 5.45 oz. Flamed varnished cane, black screwlock cork seat, Super-Z ferrules, original bag & tube. Lot #15, R.W. Oliver's Fifth Annual Summer Auction, July 8, 1989, sold for $900. plus 10% buyers premium.
4020
1962 Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 First flat: George Beall Feb. 21, 1962 Second flat: Martha Marie Model 7 1/2' 3.4 oz. Third flat: Paul H. Young Co. Built for George Beall, believed to have been a US ambassador and member of Charles Ritz's International Fario Club, and known to have been an expatriate American who lived in southern France, fished in the Pyrenees and northern Spain, and authored magazine articles about the early fly fishing history of Spain. Detroit stamp butt cap. Black ink. Butt 2X2 node spacing, one tip 2X2, one tip 3X3. Rod is known to have been refinished at least three times: once by Lyle Dickerson, and twice (in 1990 and 2009) by Bob Summers, who added a replacement cork grip during the most recent refinish (the cork reel seat is original). Owned since 1990 by quashnet of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
Rod #4020, Martha Marie, with replacement grip added in 2009
Rod #4020, Martha Marie
4030
Midge 6'3" 2/2" Marked 1-3/4 oz., "rod weighs 2 oz. on our digital scale." Original bag & tube. Rick's Rods web site, 2007.
403X
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Dry and wet tips. Super-Z ferrules, screwlock cork seat, Wells grip, tan-gold wraps, flamed varnished cane, nylon bag, orig. tube. "...rod weighs 3.80 oz. w/DF tip & 4 oz. w/the more powerful wet tip... has orig. owners name + Young data inscribed on shaft..." MJK catalog No. 89 (2005).
4034
Rare Paul H. Young Spin / Fly Combo Rod, 8'0, was 2/1, now 2/2 with extra tip built by Bob Summers, 5.22 oz. Built 1962. Flamed varnished cane, brown wraps, spinning guides, all original. Inked on two flats, First flat: "Spin-Master" 8 FT 5.22 oz. Second flat: a Paul H. Young Co. rod Bob Summers estimates that no more than ten of these combination rods were made (see rod #2112 for another combo rod). For spinning, up to 8 lb line; for fly fishing, a DT6 fly line. Non-original bag. The adjustable-length tube may be original. Tubes of this type were sold at the Paul H. Young Co during the 1960's. Offered for $875 on Bob Summers' web site, December 2008. For Scott Davis, the purchaser, Bob Summers built an additional tip. Unlike the original tip (which is described as casting a fly line well, in spite of the spinning guides), the new tip was fitted with snake guides, and was signed and dated as a new tip by Summers. Offered for $1200, August 2009, Bill McRoy's tackle catalog. Offered for $1400, September 2009, Bob Summers' web site.
Rod #4034 Spin/Fly
4035
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4.09 oz. Notes from original owner: "Note this rod was purchased by me on April 24, 1962. I know that because I had the screw cap for the rod tube engraved , "W___ Z___ Apr 24, 1962." I was 21 years old when I purchased this rod and I drove from Chicago to Detroit to pick it up and drove back the same day. I can still remember meeting Mrs. Young and Jack Young when I went to the store and got the rod. 2pc-2tips, one tip 5/64 and the second tip is 41/2/64. The rod is signed on the 8'-4.09oz. It has a downlocking screw lock reel seat which is stamped P H Young on the cap. Very fine original condition without any set in the butt or the tips. Original varnish is very good condition with original brown silk bag and original aluminum rod tube."
4036
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 R.H. Hollister "13-12/64"" anodized aluminum step-down ferrules. Aluminum slip rings. 2.8 oz. Summers-built. Owned by Philip Anderson, Madison, WI. Repairs to one tip. Butt 2X2 spacing, both tips 3X2X1 (each tip has one spline displaced relative to its mates).
4083
1962 Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 First flat: Richard Drukker Second flat: Martha Marie 7 1/2' 3.74 oz. Third flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Lightly flamed, black screwlock cork seat, Super-Z blued ferrules, antique gold thread. reel seat length is 3-5/8". Length of the cork grip alone is 6-3/8". Miked and found to have a regressive taper and smooth but distinctly parabolic action. Owned at one time by Scott Davis of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
404X
Para 16 8'6" 2/2 5.44 oz. Flamed cane, dark olive/bronze wraps, Super-Z ferrules, Wells grip, screwlock cork seat, the extension butt is missing, original bag, replacement tube. MJK catalog No. 80 (2000). MJK stated there were less than twenty Para 16's listed in the original PHY records.
4041?
Midge 6'3" 2/1 1.86 oz. 1 tip very short. Not known whether second tip existed. eBay Feb 2007
4064
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Revarnished. Original bag, tube. Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction catalog.
4084
Texas General 8'6" 2/2 "excellent original condition": Bill McElroy Fall 2007 tackle list.
4086
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 3.2 oz. Purchased 1963. Owned by W___ Z___. Owner's notes: "This rod was purchased by me the following year, 1963, after I purchased the first rod, the Para 15 [see #4035]. 2pc-2tips and both tips are 41/2/64. The rod is signed 7'-2", 3.2oz. It has a downlocking screwlocking reelseat which is stamped P H Young on the cap. Rod is essentially in mint condition. No sets and beautiful original varnish with original brown silk bag and original aluminum rod tube."
4087
Texas General 8'6" 2/2 5.36 oz. Purchased 1963. Wet and dry tips. Owned by W___ Z___. Owner's notes: "This rod and the Driggs [see #4086] were purchased by me the following year, 1963, after I purchased the first rod, the Para 15 [see #4035]. Note the consecutive serial numbers on both rods. 2pc-2tips, one tip is a wet tip@6/64 and the second tip is 5/64 and is for dry fly work. The rod is signed 81/2'-5.36oz. It has a downlocking reelseat which is stamped P H Young on the cap. This rod is in essentially mint condition. No sets and beautiful original varnish with original brown silk bag and original aluminum rod tube."
4088
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2.68 oz. Dual black rings over cork. Mint condition with original cork ferrule plug, bag, tube. Lot #9, R.W. Oliver's Fifth Annual Summer Auction, July 8, 1989.
4097
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4.19 oz. K.T. Keller model. Wet and dry tips. Flamed cane, gold ink writing. Black anodized Super-Z- type Alu-ferrules 17/64 th. Black anodized screwlock reel seat. Belonged to the late rodmaker and fly tier Preben Torp Jacobsen, of Denmark. Reported by Wolfram Schott, rodmaker, from Germany.
4098
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4.12 oz. Flamed cane, black ink writing. First line: "Parabolic 15" 8 FT. 4.12 oz. Second line: a Paul H. Young Co. rod Definitely not Summers' writing; believe it is by Jack Young. Black anodized screwlock reel seat, cork spacer. Half wells grip. Gold wraps. Orig. bag & tube. Seen at the Corsetti booth, Lang's tackle show in Boxborough, MA, Nov. 2007. Also offered in Bob Corsetti's catalog #44 (Fall 2007) for $2750. Also offered in Bill McRoy's catalog (Fall 2008, Chelsea, MI) for $3095, then offered in Bill McRoy's catalog (April 2009) for $2950.
Rod #4098, Para 15
41XX
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3.7 oz. Screwlock cork seat, Wells grip, Super-Z ferrules, orig. bag & tube. MJK catalog no. 73 (1997).
4102
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Marked: Dave Jardine / M.M.Y. Model 7'6" - 3.72 oz. / A Paul H. Young Co. Rod. Lettering by Jack Young. Blk. Alum. Screwlock cork seat into stamped cap. Straight-taper cork grip. Gold silk, bronzed snakes. Deeply-flamed cane. Original bag and tube. Adams Angling catalog 32 (1998).
4104
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Marked: "Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. / A Paul H. Young Co. Rod on two flats. Black anodized aluminum ferrules, black dual rings over cork, Wells grip. Original bag, tube. I have seen this rod offered for public sale three times. R.W. Oliver, first High Rollers auction February 26, 1988, Marlborough, MA, lot 152; Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction catalog, lot 173 (sold for $2200 including buyer's premium) ; offered in Adams Angling catalog 51 (2004).
4107
Midge 6'3" 2/2 One tip 7-1/2" short, replacement all-metal cap & ring reel seat, at Lang's April 13, 2002 auction. Tired-looking rod sold for $400.
4116
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz., built December 1963, varnished flamed cane, black dual rings over cork seat, lightweight aluminum ferrules, probably original bag and tube. Built by Bob Summers, inked in his handwriting. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Midge 6'3" 1.75 oz. The name of the first owner, Dwayne Wood (deceased), is also inked on the rod in Bob's hand. Mr. Wood was from Beaverton, MI and purchased the rod directly from the Young shop. Reported by Jim Bresko of Coldwater Collectibles.
4121
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Marked: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / "Martha Marie" / 7'6" 3 ¾ oz. Lettering by Bob Summers. Blk. Alum. Screwlock cork seat into stamped cap. Half-wells grip. Gold silk, bronzed snakes. Deeply-flamed cane.
4124
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3.55 oz. Wells grip, sliding band cork seat, oil finish, flamed cane, orig. nylon bag & tube. MJK Catalog No. 59 (1992) and No. 66 (1994).
4127
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Purchased 1964. Owned by W___ Z___. Owner's notes: "This rod was purchased by me in 1964. 2pc-2tips I do not know the size of the tips, however they are whatever the standard size was for this rod. Aluminum ferrules and the reel seat is a featherweight all cork with two sliding bands. Very good condition without any sets and has beautiful original varnish. Original brown silk bag and original aluminum rod tube. Some wear on the cork handle because I have fished this rod quit a bit during the summer months."
4128
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Purchased 1964. Owned by W___ Z___. Owner's notes: "This rod was purchased by me, along with the Perfectionist [#4127] in 1964. Again note the consecutive serial numbers on these last two rods [see #4086 and #4087]. 2pc-2tips, one wet tip at 5/64 and the other is a dry tip at 41/2/64. The rod is signed 8'-4.08 oz. Downlocking reelseat stamped P H Young. Essentially mint condition. This rod has never been fished, although it has been cast on the lawn a few times."
4131
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4 oz. Wet and dry tips. Super-Z ferrules. Half Wells grip, blk. screwlock over cork seat, tan wraps, previous owner's name in ink, bag and tube. Catalog of R.W. Oliver, Second High Roller Auction, held February 24, 1989. Rod was lot #263, sold for $2000 plus 10% buyer's premium.
4137
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 A heavyweight version marked "4.27 oz." reportedly built with a .020" thicker butt than usual. Special deluxe wraps, wet and dry tips, black screwlock cork reel seat, orig. brown nylon bag & tube. MJK Catalog no. 59 (1992) and 60 (1992).
4155
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Butt and one full length tip are of dark flamed cane. Second tip is 3-1/2" short and is lighter cane. Cork seat and grip, maroon wraps, bronzed ferrules. Inked on three flats, First flat: "Tony Payson" Second flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Third flat: Midge 6'3" 1 3/4 oz Sold by Hoagy B. Carmichael years ago to the present owner, "JimP" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
4164
Midge, 6'3", 2/2, 1-3/4 oz., varnished flamed cane, black dual rings over cork seat, 5-1/2" cork grip, aluminum ferrules, orig. bag, tube. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting. Purchased by Dave Lyons of the Classic Fly Rod Forum from Bob Summers.
4176
Boat Rod, 8'0", 2/2, 4-1/2 oz. Varnished flamed cane, black screwlock seat over cork, half Wells grip, gold/bronze wraps. Lettered in Bob Summers' handwriting on two flats. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Boat Rod 8' 4 1/2 oz. Butt and both tips are also lettered #4176.
#4176 Boat Rod
4187
Driggs 7'2" Owned by "lmcevers", Classic Fly Rod Forum. No other info.
4200
Martha Marie 7'6" Marked: A Paul H Young Rod / "Martha Marie" Model 7'6" 3.70 oz. CK Lively' written on 4th flat in different hand. Originally built for angling author Chauncy Lively. A Dymo label still on the tube has a Grayling, MI address where Chauncy and Marion Lively had a house and would fish with the Paul and Martha Marie Young. Another Dymo label on the cap reads "7 1/2' M.M." Now owned by Spruce Grouse of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
42XX
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 3 oz. (heavier than usual), varnished, flamed cane, golden-tan wraps, cork sliding band seat, cigar grip, Super-Z ferrules, orig. bag & tube. MJK Catalog No. 44 (1986). A rod of the same description, which may be this same rod, was listed in MJK Catalog No. 58 (1991).
42XX
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 with 0.275" diameter butt, varnished, flamed cane, bronze wraps with hi-arc guides, cork dual band seat, Wells grip, blued Super-Z ferrules, incorrect bag, orig. tube. Consecutively numbered with next rod. MJK Catalog No. 78 (1999).
42XX
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/1 with 0.275" diameter butt, varnished, flamed cane, bronze wraps with hi-arc guides, cork dual band seat, Wells grip, blued Super-Z ferrules, replaced bag, Young tube is 2" too long. Consecutively numbered with previous rod, of which it is an exact duplicate, except that there is one tip, not two. Has tiny repair to cork butt. MJK Catalog No. 78 (1999).
4223
Perfectionist 7'6". Thanks to Richard Shelton.
4226
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Super-Z ferrules, tan wraps, cigar grip, cork dual band reel seat, appears from photo to be varnished, flamed cane and to have original bag & probably original tube. Seen September 2008 on North West Classic Tackle web site, offered for $4450.
4227
Year 1965 Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Butt measurement: 0.245" Varnished, dual band reel seat. Build date: December 10, 1965, for Martin Emory of New York. Purchased from Martin J. Keane for $150 by Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm on June 29, 1971, received July 6, 1971. Mac sent the rod to the PHY Co. shop for ferrule straightening. It was returned to Mac with his name inscribed - no charge for the work. Mac first fished the rod on September 11, 1971 and got three trout on a #16 Wonder Bug. In July 1975 Mac installed a hookkeeper on the rod, worked on the female ferrule, and also carved a thumb indentation in the grip. Mac sold this Midge on September 20, 2000 for $2200.
4245
Para 17 8'6" 2/2 Flamed cane, screwlock cork reel seat, Wells grip, marked "5.50 oz." MJK Catalog No. 55 (1990).
4288
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Handwriting on two flats; First Flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second Flat: Midge 6'3" 1 3/4 oz. Serial number 4288 is on the flat just below the stripper guide, and on each of the two tips, just above the male ferrule. Original bag and tube. "Perry" wrote: "This was my first bamboo rod. The guy I got it from said he bought it at the Young shop in Detroit, he thought in the 60's, and then he never used it. I bought it (I would be embarrassed to name the price I paid) in 1982." Reported by "Perry", Classic Fly Rod Forum, December 2006.
43XX
1966 Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Varnished, flamed cane; Wells grip, blk. finished screwlock cork seat, blued Super-Z ferrules, tan/gold wraps. Sold 12/8/66 (December 8, 1966). MJK catalog No. 63 (1993).
43XX
1967 Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Super-Z ferrules, tan wraps, cigar grip, cork dual band reel seat, orig. bag & tube. Sold 1/3/67 (January 3, 1967). MJK Catalog No. 63 (1993).
43XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Varnished, flamed cane, bronze/tan wraps, cigar grip, cork sliding band reel seat, blued Super-Z ferrules, orig. bag & tube. MJK Catalog No. 65 (1994) and No. 66 (1994). Descriptions are not quite the same in the two catalogs, but still I think it is the same rod. Rod photo in catalog 65.
43XX
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Varnished flamed cane; ventilated grip with thumbprint flat, dual ring cork seat, golden bronze wraps. MJK catalog No. 49 (1988). This may be the same #43XX Perfectionist with similar characteristics but no weight given, described as a "Deluxe" rod with very darkly flamed cane and "silver blued ferrules" with "slightly more powerful tips for #5 line," listed in MJK catalog No. 52 (1989).
43XX
1967 Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Oil finish, flamed cane; ventilated Wells grip with thumbprint flat, sliding band cork seat. Sold 4/15/67 (April 15, 1967). MJK catalog No. 63 (1993).
43XX
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Wet and dry tips. Original bag and tube. "Vintage Tackle" catalog printed by Frederick E. Grafeld, Secaucus, NJ, Spring 1988.
4317
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Marked: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / "Martha Marie" Model 7'6" 3 5/8 oz. Lettering by Bob Summers. Blk. Alum. Screwlock cork seat into stamped cap. Half-wells grip. Gold silk, bronzed snakes. Deeply-flamed varnished cane. Adams Angling cat. 32 (1998).
4327
Midge 6'3" 2/2" 1-3/4 oz. Was listed on Bud Frasca's Northwest Tackle web site. August 2007: listed on Rick Sorenson's West Slope Classic Fly tackle site, initially asked $4250., sold for $3800. Marked: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. Replacement bag & original tube. Short Super-Z ferrules, Blk. alum. rings over cork, flamed cane. Summers' handwriting.
4329
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Marked: First Flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second Flat: Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. #4329 lettered near stripper guide on butt, and at base of male ferrule on each tip. Summers' handwriting. Gold wraps. Photos seen at a Yahoo! Japan site: blogs.yahoo.co.jp/captainbamboo.
4330
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Listed on Bud Frasca's Northwest Tackle web site, September 2007, offered for $4550. Flamed cane, dual ring cork seat, bag and tube.
4331
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Varnished, flamed cane, gold/bronze wraps, blued aluminum ferrules, black dual-bands over cork seat, cigar grip tapers to the cane in front,. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting. First Flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second Flat: Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. The serial number #4331 is lettered near stripper guide on butt, and at base of male ferrule on each tip. Cloth bag with darker piping, Champion-style tube. Offered for $4800 on Bob Summers' web site, October 2009.
4339
Perfectionist. Original owner was Bob Church, in 1966 or 1967 (see rod #4378). Bob Church was the real estate agent who found the commercial property that the Paul H. Young Co. moved into when the company moved from the Detroit area to Traverse City, MI. Bob Church also wrote a book titled Fly Fishing the Manistee (undated, I have seen the publication date cited as 1976) in which Church talks about Bob Summers and Paul Young. Present owner received rod #4339 from Bob Church in 1969 or 1970. Bob Summers rebuilt #4339 to original specs in 1980. Varnished cane. Half Wells grip, dual rings over cork, Super-Z ferrules. First flat: A Paul H.Young Co. Rod Second flat - Perfectionist 7' 6'' 2 1/2 oz HEH
4340
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4 oz. Cigar grip, downlocking screwlock seat, cork spacer. Wet & dry tips, each separately marked, original bag and tube (with no cap). Lot #12, R.W. Oliver's Fifth Annual Summer Auction, July 8, 1989, sold for $1100. plus 10% buyers premium.
4351
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Cigar grip, downlocking screwlock seat, cork spacer. Wet & dry tips. Dry tip has red spiral wrap at ferrule and tip. Summers' handwriting. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: "Parabolic 15" 8' 4 oz. eBay March 2007. In 2008, seen at http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/captainbamboo/folder/545358.html, a Japanese site.
435X
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Consecutive serial number to Perfectionist below; don't know order. Dark, flamed cane, gold/bronze wraps, blued lightweight ferrules, dual-band cork seat, cigar grip, 1-3/4 oz. MJK catalog no. 72 (1997).
435X
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Consecutive serial number to Midge above; don't know order. Dark, flamed cane, tan/bronze wraps, blued lightweight ferrules, 0.275" butt measurement, tips 1" and 2-3/4" short. MJK catalog no. 72 (1997).
4357
1966? Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Gold/tan wraps, black ferrules, 5" cigar grip, dual-band cork seat. MJK No. 62 (1993). Owned by Kaneman1 of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
4363
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3-1/2 oz. Oil finish, flamed cane, ventilated wells grip w/thumbprint, screwlock cork seat, orig. nylon bag & tube. MJK Catalog No. 59 (1992).
4369
Para 15 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, 15 ferrule, built for Henry Coe, NY (a location on Long Island?). From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4370
1967 date. Midge 6'3", reel seat: "2 band," ferrule 12, tiptop 4-1/2, thread 319, built for Harry Murray, Edinburg, VA, almost certainly the fly fishing author. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4371
1967 date. Para 15 8'0" 2/2, original maroon bag and tube. Summers' inked writing. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Parabolic 15 8 FT 4 oz. Offered by Bob Summers August 2007 for $3500. Offered on ebay by Hoagy B. carmichael ("lordfly") July 2008. Black screwlock cork seat, ferrule 15, thread 319, built for A.J. Crielo (?) who also bought #4397, a Perfectionist. Info about original owner from PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4372
1967 date. Martha Marie 7'6", reel seat: screwlock, ferrule 14, thread 319, original owner was from Rochester, NY. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney." This must be the rod listed as "437X" in two MJK catalogs: first, MJK catalog 51 (1989), Martha Marie 7-1/2' 2/2 3-3/4 oz. "2nd tip custom matched by Todd Young," Super-Z ferrules, Wells grip, screwlock cork seat, tan-green wraps, black fittings, blued guides, original tube, replacement bag - and then MJK catalog 80 (2000) which says of this "darkly flamed rod" that the "second tip is orig. Young replacement by company due to damage in shipping, its bronze-like wraps are slightly darker."
4373
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Super-Z ferrules, size 14; cigar grip, 2-band cork seat, tan wraps (from the ledger, the thread was #319), about mint in bag and tube. Catalog of R.W. Oliver, Second High Roller Auction, held February 24, 1989. Rod was lot #261, sold for $3500 plus 10% buyer's premium. On the PHY Co. ledger page #36 (courtesy "thorney"), this rod is shown as originally built for Ken Thomas of Yorktown, NY. A Perfectionist listed in MJK catalog 86 (2003) as Perfectionist #437X, 7-1/2' 2/2 2-1/2 oz. 0.275" butt Sold August 1967, Super-Z ferrules, cigar grip, 2-band cork seat, varnished, flamed, original bag & tube must be either #4373 or #4377.
4374
Midge 6'3", reel seat: "2 band," ferrule 12 tiptop 4-1/2, built for Dr. C. Hall Los Angeles, CA. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4375
Para 15 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, ferrule 15, tiptop 5/64, built for Howard Goldberg, NY, NY. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4376
Midge 6'3", reel seat: "2 band," ferrule 12, tiptop 4-1/2, built for Dr. Cryan (?). From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4377
1967 date: Perfectionist 7'6", reel seat: "2 band," ferrule 14, built for Frank M. Stoll, California. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney." A Perfectionist listed in MJK catalog 86 (2003) as Perfectionist #437X, 7-1/2' 2/2 2-1/2 oz. 0.275" butt Sold August 1967, Super-Z ferrules, cigar grip, 2-band cork seat, varnished, flamed, original bag & tube must be either #4373 or #4377.
4378
1967 date. Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Inked on three flats, first flat: Malcolm B. Seaholm Second flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Third flat: Parabolic 15 8' 4 oz. Butt and both tips are all inked: #4378. Built by Bob Summers, finish date from ledger is September 20, 1967. Built for Bob Church of Mancelona, Michigan, who was the real estate agent who found the commercial property that the Paul H. Young Co. moved into when the company moved from the Detroit area to Traverse City, MI. Bob Church also wrote a book titled Fly Fishing the Manistee (undated, I have seen the publication date cited as 1976) in which Church talks about Bob Summers and Paul Young. Rod was then owned by Malcolm B. ("Mac") Seaholm, whose name is now inked on the rod. On July 1, 1974, Mac acquired the rod in trade for a PHY Boat Rod and an Orvis Madison (Mac said he "detested" the Orvis, so he felt that he got a good deal). The rod tube was damaged, so Mac got a new tube. The rod has a replacement bag, in Royal Stewart plaid fabric. Since he did not like the brown satin Young bags of that time, Mac had rod bags specially made. Each model of Young rod was put in a different Tartan plaid bag. All Mac's Para 15 rods were put in Royal Stewart bags. Mac's first fish caught on this rod was a "pretty" twelve-inch brown trout from the Main Branch of the Au Sable, taken on a caddis dry fly. On July 5, 1974, Mac caught ten trout, including brown trout of 15" and 17", and rainbow trout of 14" and 16". In July 1974, Bob Summers put the oil finish, new guides, and attended to the ferrules on this rod. There was flaking on the ferrule; it was varnished. Summers probably also removed Bob Church's name from the rod and put Mac Seaholm's name on it at that time. On March 22, 1976, Bob Summers repaired the ferrule by removal, making a new disk, soldering the disk in place, and replacing ferrule. This cost $9.50. Rod #4378 is now owned by Bob Golder ("quashnet" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum). Ventilated half Wells grip, originally a varnished rod but now oil finish, ferrule 15/64, two "wet" parabolic tips each has a 5/64 tiptop, black screwlock cork seat. Bob Summers told me that this rod was built for night fishing for big brown trout on the Manistee River, Michigan. Interestingly, the PHY shop ledger lists the reel seat of #4378 as "2-band" but it is a screwlock seat! Seat looks original, but it could have been changed on request of or by its second owner, "Mac" Seaholm, who made similar modifications to many of his rods. However, the ledger entry may be incorrect, because a contemporary of Bob Church, who fished with him and who cast this rod many years ago, told me that the screwlock cork seat is indeed original. Bob Church died in 1980.
Rod #4378, Para 15
4379
1967 date. Midge 6'3", reel seat: dual band. Ferrule 12, built for Stan Erusoek (?), Michigan. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4380
1967 date. Boat Rod 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, built for M.P___(?), Alabama, 9/20/67.
4381
1967 date. Martha Marie 7'6", reel seat: screwlock, built for F. Carter, Jr. of Florida, 9/20/67.
4382
1967 date. Para 15 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, tiptop measurement not in records, built for Charles Claxton, Philadelphia, PA
4383
1967 date. Martha Marie 7'6", reel seat: screwlock, no original owner name shown on the PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4384
1967 date. Midge 6'3", reel seat: dual band, ferrule 12, built for Edward C____, looks like Bronx, NY for an address. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney." Midge #4384 was offered at Lang's April 13, 2002 fishing tackle auction, at that time described as having a reset female Super-Z ferrule, a repair to one tip, and some varnish & writing off the butt end.
4385
1967 date. Perfectionist 7'6", reel seat: 2 band, ferrule 14, thread: 319, built for Ralph Dougherty, M_________, PA. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4386
1967 date. Perfectionist 7'6", reel seat: 2 band, ferrule: 14, thread: 319, built for F.A. Bearsley, PA (?).From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4387 (see 4389)
Midge 6'3", reel seat: 2 band, ferrule: 12, thread: 319, built for Tim Monaghan (no address). The PHY Co. ledger shows that Midge #4387 was sold to a Tim Monaghan and Midge #4389 to a Joe Monaghan (brothers? father and son?). A Midge that has been legitimately offered on eBay by "thorney" has the butt section of #4389 and both tips of #4387. Status of the #4387 butt and #4389 tips is unknown.
4388
Para 15 8'0" reel seat: screwlock, ferrule: 15, thread 319, no original owner name or address is listed. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4389 (see 4387)
Midge 6'3" reel seat: "2 band," ferrule: 12, thread: 319, built for Joe Monaghan (no address). Midge ferrules appear to be aluminum. The PHY Co. ledger shows that Midge #4387 was sold to a Tim Monaghan and Midge #4389 to a Joe Monaghan (brothers? father and son?). A Midge that has been legitimately offered on eBay in 2008 by "thorney"has the butt section of #4389 and both tips of #4387. Status of the #4387 butt and #4389 tips is unknown. Fake eBay auctions for #4389 appeared April 2007 and October 2007.
4390
Martha Marie, 7'6", reel seat: screwlock, ferrule 14, thread: 319, built for Sam Simor___(?), "Sag. Mich." (Saginaw, MI?). From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4391
1967 date. Para 15, 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, ferrule 15, thread: 319, built for Torrance Parker (?), "Cal." (California?). From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4392
1967 date. Midge 6'3" reel seat: "2 band," ferrule: 12, thread: 319, built for Charles Peters of Massachusetts. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4393
1967 date. Martha Marie, 7'6", reel seat: screwlock, thread: 319, built for Dr. Rob. Millan, Middleton, Ohio (?).From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4394
1967 date. Para 15, 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, ferrule 15, thread: 319, built for Gus Goetz (?), Michigan. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4395
1967 date. Para 15, 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, ferrule 15, thread: 319, built for Dr. Lar. M____(?), Buffalo, NY. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4396
1967 date. Midge 6'3" reel seat: "2 band," ferrule: 12, thread: 319, built for Wm. Adams, Rutherford, NJ(?).From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4397
1967 date. Perfectionist 7'6" reel seat: "2 band," ferrule: 14, thread: 319, originally built for A.J. Crielo(?) of Downers Grove, IL, who also bought #4371, a Para 15. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney." Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Varnished, flamed cane; 5-3/8" cigar grip, black dual rings over cork reel seat, gold/tan wraps, measures 0.276" at butt wrap over varnish, orig. bag and tube. Inked handwriting is by Bob Summers, in two lines. First: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second: Perfectionist 7'6" 2 ½ oz. Owned by Dave Lyons of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
4398
1967 date. Perfectionist 7'6" reel seat: "2 band," ferrule: 14, thread: 319, built for ___ ___ of Herkimer, NY. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney." Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Non-ventilated grip, varnished finish. Bought from Thomas & Thomas, July 1978. Price was $395. Cimarron Red from Classic Fly Fishing Forum.
4399
1967 date. Para 15 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, ferrule 15, thread: 319, built for Paul F. _____. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4400
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Varnished flamed cane, Super-Z ferrules, tan/bronze wraps, cigar grip with single thumb depression, dual-bands (dark) over cork seat. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting, first flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Midge (can't see the rest of the line in photo provided). Reported by Chris Moore.
#4400
44XX
1968 Midge 6'3" 2/2 Varnished flamed cane, Super-Z ferrules, tan/bronze wraps, cigar grip, sliding band cork seat. Sold 2/20/68 (February 20, 1968). MJK Catalog No. 63 (1993).
44XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Varnished med.-dark flamed cane, original special-design truncated Super-Z ferrules, olive/tan wraps, cigar grip, sliding band cork seat (described as "2 tiny black bands"), 2X2 node placement, bag & tube. MJK Catalog No. 82 (2001).
44XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Varnished, very dark flamed cane, blued Super-Z ferrules, gold-bronze wraps, cigar grip is described as "good sized," cork seat is described as "the ususal 2-band cork seat." MJK Catalog No. 67 (1995).
44XX
1968 Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Varnished flamed cane, tan/bronze wraps. Sold 2/20/68 (February 20, 1968). One of the two tips is 3-1/2" short. MJK Catalog No. 64 (1994).
44XX
Circa 1968 Para 15 8' 2/2 4 oz. flamed cane, gold wraps, cigar grip, screwlock seat, Detroit die-stamp, Super-Z ferrules, "inscriptions clear and absolute" but unfortunately not recorded, "has seen much fishing on the DeBruce club water" (private trout club on the Willewemoc River, New York). Carmine Lisella's Jordan-Mills Rod Co. catalog no. 24 (Spring 2005).
4410
1968 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 A Paul H Young Co. Rod Parabolic 15 8' 4 oz. Offered June 2007 on eBay. Dark flamed cane, wet and dry tip, screwlock cork seat, brown wraps, resourcinol glue on all sections. Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. In 2008, was restored to as new condition by Bob Summers.
4412
Para 15. Original owner was from PA. Present owner traded rod with Len Codella, Anglers Den in New Jersey, 1971 or 1972. Varnished cane, dual rings over cork, wet and dry tips (5/64 & 4 1/2 tiptops), Super-Z ferrules. After a complete rebuild in 1973, "ventilated" half-Wells grip, screwlock wood reel seat, non-hooded cap, wood exposed. First flat, present owner's name - ''Chuck Gregwer'' Second flat ''A Paul H. Young Rod Co. Rod'' - Rebuild 1973 RW Summers Co. - 3rd Flat - Parabolic 15 8' 4 oz .
4423
Driggs, 7'2", 2/2, varnished, flamed cane. cigar grip, black screwlock cork seat, "Detroit" stamp on cap. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting on three lines. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: "Driggs Model'' Third Flat: 7'2" 2 7/8 oz . Truncated Super-Z ferrules. Orig. tube, bag. Mint condition. Offered by Rick Sorensen on West Slope Classic Fly Tackle web site, February 2009.
443X
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Special truncated blued Super-Z ferrules. Varnished flamed cane, tan/bronze wraps, cigar grip, sliding band cork seat. MJK catalog No. 79 (1999).
4434
Driggs, 7'2", 2/2, varnished, heavily flamed cane. 5-1/4" cigar grip, black dual rings over cork seat. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting. Truncated Super-Z ferrules. Orig. tube, bag. New and unfished condition, bought from an estate by Dave Lyons of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
Rod #4434, Driggs
4448
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Purchased from Bill McRoy's catalog by nccavalier of the Classic Fly Rod Forum. Sold as a one-owner rod refinished in 1988 by Bob Summers and unfished since.
4449
1968 Midge 6'3" 2/2 Offered by Bob Summers' web site, May 2007. Short ferrules.
4450
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat:Midge 6'3" 1 3/4 oz. Varnished, flamed cane, dual black rings over cork, original bag, tube. Offered for $4000 by John Pickard, seen at Lang's tackle show, Nov. 2007.
4460
Texan 8'6" 2/2 Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: "The Texan" 8'6" 4.85 oz. Varnished flamed cane, screwlock cork seat, cigar grip, bag & tube. Offered on eBay October 2007. Bought by "mosquito" of Classic Fly Rod Forum.
446X
Para 15 8' 2/2 Dry and wet tips. Built for Gene Anderegg (a founding member of FFF) with his name inked on rod. Screwlock cork seat, bronze-tan wraps, Super-Z ferrules. MJK catalogs No. 68 (1995) and No. 69 (1996). Anderegg also owned a Para 17, built 1964, serial number unknown (XXXX).
4462
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 varnished, flamed cane, cigar grip, gold/tan wraps, truncated Super-Z ferrules, black screwlock cork seat, Detroit die-stamp on cap, writing on cane in Bob Summers handwriting, two lines: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / "Driggs" 7'2" 2 7/8 oz. Owned by Dave Lyons of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
4463
Year 1968 Midge 6'3" 2/2 Butt measurement: 0.248" Varnished, dual band reel seat. Built in 1968, PHY shop log noted rod built for Dr. Ralph Dougherty of McKeesport, PA. On July 7, 1971, rod was bought used for $150 by Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm. Mac put his wife's name - B.A. Seaholm - on the rod, May 20, 1972. In 1975 Mac installed a hookkeeper on the rod, and varnished it. Mac sold this Midge on April 18, 1984, for $600 to Denis Mitchell.
4470
Perfectionist. Known solely from one existing tip section, shortened and modified to serve as a Driggs tip. This is a tip that was loose in the bag of Driggs #4661; see listing for rod #4661. Apparently the rest of the rod has been lost. Gold wraps. Tip owned by ctkenc of the Classic Fly Rod Forum. According to Bob Summers, this was originally a Perfectionist tip he made, that was cut down, re-ferruled to fit the Driggs, and the bottom two snake guides placed in the same relative position as on a Driggs tip. A new bag is being made for rod #4461 to hold all three tips plus the butt of the rod.
4472
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Lettered on two flats; First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Martha Marie Mod. 7'6" 3 1/2 oz. Inked near stripping guide: 4472. Cigar grip, black screwlock cork seat, brown wraps. This rod was shown to me in mid-October 2008 by Bob Summers.
4492
Midge 6'3" 2/2 A Paul H Young Co. Rod "Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz." Summers' handwriting. Short style Super-Z ferrules. Two rings over cork.
4500
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-7/8 oz. Flamed, Super-Z ferrules, Screwlock cork seat, tan/bronze wraps, in new condition when listed in MJK catalog, Fall 1984.
45XX
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-7/8 oz. Ritz-style grip, sliding band cork seat, blued tiptop & guides, reporeted to be in brand-new unused cond., MJK catalog no. 47 (1987).
45XX (see rod #4512)
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Varnished dark flamed cane. Truncated (short-slide), blued Super-Z ferrules. Cigar grip, "two-band cork seat," tan/gold wraps w/lt. wire guides, orig. bag and tube. Said to be a rod bought for a fisherman's wife "who apparently lawn-cast it only w/one of its tips." Offered for $2300, MJK catalog no. 65 (1994). This may be PHY rod #4512, seen on web site of Bob Selb, tackle dealer, March 2008, offered for $3600.
4503
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Ferrule size 14, cigar grip with skeleton reel seat and dual slide bands. Inked on butt: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / 'Perfectionist' 7'6" 2 1/2 oz. Bamboo rod maker Per Brandin reported that he has been familiar with PHY rod #4503 "since just after I started fly fishing; it belonged to Clem Fullerton who was also active in the Croton Watershed Chapter of TU in the late 60's and into the 80's. Clem showed the rod to me many years ago and I measured it with a micrometer in the 1970's and it became the basic starting point for my own quad parabolic designs. Clem bought the rod in the 1960's after reading Al McClane's articles where he extolled the virtues of a particular un-named rod; Clem wrote to McClane and was told the rod in question was a Paul Young Perfectionist... While it will cast a #4 line, it is better with a #5."
4503 - Photo by Per Brandin
4507
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4 oz. cigar grip, black screwlock cork seat, Super-Z ferrules. Seen at two public auctions: Lot #11, R.W. Oliver's Fifth Annual Summer Auction, July 8, 1989, sold for $1000. plus 10% buyers premium, and Lot #121B at R.W. Oliver's Seventh Annual Summer Fishing Tackle Auction, Kennebunk, ME, July 1991, sold for $1800. plus 10% buyers premium.
4512
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Varnished flamed cane, all sections marked with #4512. Blued nickel silver Super-Z ferrules; look like truncated ferrules as seen in available photo. Looks like Bob Summers' handwriting on the cane but can't be completely sure due to photo quality. Cigar grip, dual black rings over cork seat, light tan wraps, orig. maroon bag and aluminum tube. From web site of Bob Selb, tackle dealer, March 2008, offered for $3600.
4516
Built April 1, 1970, Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 0.280" butt diameter. Varnished, cigar grip, slip ring. Shop log date, April 1, 1970, sold to Bob Julius of Lansing, MI. Sold by Bob Julius on November 28, 1973 to Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm for $175, and received by Mac on December 4, 1973. Mac first fished this Perfectionist on May 18, 1974 at Green Springs, taking a 10" brown trout with a #22 Adams on 6X tippet. On August 27, 1974, Mac added a thumbprint indentation to the grip. Mac replaced the original bag with a "Black Watch" tartan bag. Mac sold the rod on February 4, 1990 to Francis Horner for $1700.
4519
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Solid (non-ventilated) cork grip, dual black rings over cork seat. Truncated nickel silver, blued Super-Z ferrules. Handwritten on shaft in Bob Summers' script: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod On another flat, the weight of 2 ½ oz. is given. Serial number 4519 is inked on the butt and both tips. Reported by rod maker Wolfram Schott, who cast this rod at a conclave in Germany, September 2009.
452X
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3-1/2 oz. Flamed cane, gold/tan wraps, Super-Z ferrules, screwlock cork seat. MJK Catalog No. 90 (2005).
4536
Driggs 7'2" 2/2" 2.8 oz. One tip is snapped at tip-top. eBay Feb 2007
4578
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4 oz. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting, first flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Parabolic 15 8' 4 oz. Wet and dry tips each marked #4578. Varnished dark cane, brown wraps, cigar/Ritz grip, screwlock cork seat, Detroit die-stamp on cap. Original bag, and a tube (original?). Seen on Bob Selb's site.
4586
Year date 1973 Driggs 7'2" 2/2 Butt measurement: 0.261" Oil finish, slip ring on reel seat, 5-1/2" ventilated grip. Ordered February 24, 1972 by Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm. Received April 6, 1973. The rod was ordered from the PHY Company, and cost $195. new. First fish on this rod: Mac caught a 12" brown trout on a Dorothea nymph, at the "Horse Pasture," Falling Springs, May 19, 1973. Mac caught ten fish that day, on nymphs and dry flies. Seaholm put a thumb indentation in the grip on August 27, 1974. The rod has a replacement bag, in Buchanan Plaid fabric. Since he did not like the brown satin Young bags of that time, Mac had rod bags specially made. Each model of Young rod was put in a different Tartan plaid bag. All Mac's Driggs rods were put in Buchanan Plaid bags. The rod was sold for $2000. on September 20, 2000.
4590
Perfectionist 0.265 butt, 2-1/2 oz. according to owner ""rdsphoto"" from Classic Fly Rod Forum.
4596
Para 17, 8'6", 2/2. Varnished flamed cane, half Wells grip, black screwlock cork seat, reportedly marked "A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / Parabolic 17, 8'6", 5-1/2 oz." Original bag and tube. Inaccurately described in Oliver catalog as a three-piece rod; photo shows otherwise (Richard W. Oliver Auction Gallery, catalog of First High Rollers Tackle Auction, held February 26, 1988, Marlborough, MA). This rod was also Lot #862 at the Lang's Sporting Advertising and Sportsman's Auction, Boxborough, MA, July 28, 1996 and correctly described as a two-piece rod.
459X
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 Varnished flamed cane, Wells grip, two-band cork seat, dk. choc. brown wraps, G. silver shouldered blued ferrules, orig. owners name on shaft. MJK catalog No. 79 (1999)
4600
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 3 oz. Varnished, dual rings over cork reel seat, dark brown wraps. Listed as "4600 serial #" which could possibly mean either #4600, or one of a hundred rods in the 46XX range. But since this rod list includes another Young rod and gives the exact number of that rod, it seems likely that this Perfectionst is truly #4600. Offered for $750. in the Hearthside News, Vol. 4, No. 2; December 1984, published by Thomas & Thomas, Turners Falls, MA.
46XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Built with ventilated grip, 1/8" space between corks, dark flamed cane with oil finish, German silver ferrules. MJK catalog No. 49 (1988)
46XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Reel seat not described. Cigar grip, dark flamed, dark brown/bronze wraps, "Blued lt. wire guides & tip tops, G. silver ferrules" (not aluminum). Bag, tube not described. MJK catalog No. 50 (1988)
46XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Reel seat not described. "Longer ventilated grip." Brown wraps. Bag, tube described as "not original." Bob Corsetti catalog no. 11 (Summer 1993).
46XX
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-7/8 oz. Varnished cane, "very dark," Wells grip, 2-band cork seat, blued ferrules, dark bronze wraps. MJK Catalog No. 63 (1993).
46XX
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-7/8 oz. Varnished dark flamed cane, Half-Wells grip, blk. finish screwlock cork seat, blued ferrules, brown wraps. MJK Catalog No. 66 (1994) and No. 67 (1995).
46XX
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-7/8 oz. Varnished dark flamed cane, Wells grip, blk. finish screwlock cork seat, blued Halstead-type ferrules, burgundy wraps with blued guides, appeared unused, orig. burgundy nylon bag and orig. aluminum tube. MJK Catalog No. 82 (2001).
46XX
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4 oz. Wet and dry tips. Varnished dark cane, blued Super-Z ferrules, brown wraps, Wells grip, cork sliding band seat, "rod used by fisherman's wife twice for a short time," MJK Catalogs No. 65 and 66 (1994).
4604
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Slight crack near node on butt. Original bag, tube. Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction catalog.
4614
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4oz. Flamed cane, black screwlock cork seat. Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: "Parabolic 15" 8' 4 oz. Dry fly and wet fly tips. Dry tip has red spiral wrap, marked #4614 Dry Tip; wet tip marked #4614 Wet Tip. Owned by mosquito of the Classic Fly Rod Forum. Also seen listed September 2006 on Rick Sorenson's West Slope Classic Fly tackle site, sold for $3450.
4616
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Martha Marie Mod. 7'6" 3 3/4 oz. Varnished, flamed cane; brown wraps. Half wells grip with screwlock seat, cork spacer, die-stamp marking on cap. Seen for sale at "Denver Dave's" web site, Dec. 2007.
4622
Year date 1974 Driggs 7'2" 2/2 Butt measurement: 0.265" Shop log build date: April 10, 1974 Ordered September 24, 1973 by Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm. Received April 23, 1974. The rod was ordered from the PHY Company, and Mac considered this turn-around time a "miracle". There was an error, the rod was delivered varnished; Mac had asked for his preferred oil finish. First fish on this rod: Mac caught a rainbow trout, May 19, 1974 at Falling Springs. Jack Young oil finished and installed hookkeeper in winter 1974-75. Seaholm put a thumb indentation in the grip. The rod has a replacement bag, in Buchanan Plaid fabric. Since he did not like the brown satin Young bags of that time, Mac had rod bags specially made. Each model of Young rod was put in a different Tartan plaid bag. All Mac's Driggs rods were put in Buchanan Plaid bags. Bob Summers later sold this rod as agent for Mac. Mac received $2240.
4629
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Varnished flamed cane, cigar grip. Dual black rings over cork. Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First Flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. Serial numbers on both tips just above male ferrule slides. Not aluminum ferrules; looks like Super-Zs. Original bag and tube. On eBay March 2007. Also offered on eBay September 2008.
4631
1974 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4oz. Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: "Parabolic 15" 8' 4 oz. Butt marked near stripping guide: #4631 #4631 DRY is marked on tip with red spiral wrap near male ferrule. #4631 WET is marked on the other tip. Owner Gordon Cox wrote to me: "I took delivery of this rod in June 1974. The description of this rod is as follows: Dry fly and wet fly tips. Beautiful dark flamed cane with dark brown wraps. Modified half wells grip with screw down-lock seat. Wonderful cork. Cork spacer with black anodized reel seat fittings. Oxidized dark Super Z ferrules. Carbaloy stripper and black guides. All original rod, bag and case. Condition: Mint."
Rod #4631, Para 15, "wet tip" and "dry tip" markings.
4635(see 2125)
Little Giant. 6'6" 2/2 Reported by Richard Shelton, whose rod has a butt and one tip marked #2125, and a second tip marked #4635. I have recorded another rod made up of parts from two rods (see listings for #4387 and #4389), but never with such widely different serial numbers.
4637
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4oz. Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: "Parabolic 15" 8' 4 oz. Butt marked near stripping guide: #4637 #4637 DRY is marked on one tip. #4637 WET is marked on the other tip. Dry fly and wet fly tips. Varnished, flamed cane; brown wraps. Half wells grip with cap and ring seat, cork spacer. Cap has no die-stamp marking on it but looks authentic. Super Z ferrules.
4638
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Martha Marie Mod. 7'6" 3 1/2 oz. Varnished, flamed cane; brown wraps. Half wells grip with cap and ring seat, cork spacer. Cap has no die-stamp marking on it but looks authentic. Offered for $4000 by John Pickard, seen at Lang's tackle show, Nov. 2007.
4658
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Belonged to author Gene Hill. Flamed cane, Super-Z ferrules, black finish cap and screwlock fittings. MJK catalog #56 (1991).
4661
Driggs 7'2" 2/2, plus a third tip, originally from a Perfectionist but shortened and modified to serve as a Driggs tip and marked 4470. See rod #4470 in this list. Rod is inked on four flats as follows: First: Vin Ringrose Second: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Third: Driggs Mod. 2 3/4oz 7'2" Fourth: #4661 Brown wraps, cigar grip, dual rings over cork reel seat. Rod owned by ctkenc of the Classic Fly Rod Forum. Offered August 2009 for $5250 for two-tip original rod, West Slope Classic Tackle web site.
Rod #4661 Driggs.
4664
Built 1975, Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Oil finish, ventilated grip, dual rings. Shop log date, March 17, 1975. Received March 26, 1975 by Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm. Mac first fished this Perfectionist on August 22, 1975 at Yellow Creek, taking a 9" brown trout and then a 13" brown, using an orange beetle pattern on 6X tippet. Ten fish were landed that day; all brown trout. On August 30, 1975, Mac added a thumbprint indentation to the grip. Mac turned down the grip in 1981. Hoagy Carmichael sold the rod in 1984; mac received $650.
4667
Para 15 8' A Paul H Young Co. Rod Parabolic 15 8' 4 oz. "Tips marked '4667 WET' and '4667 DRY'. Belonged to Bill Willers, author of "Trout Biology."
4678
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-3/4 oz. Flamed cane, oil finish, ventilated grip, dual rings over cork reel seat, blued ferrules, orig. bag & tube. MJK catalog no. 57 (1991).
4684
1975 Texas General 8'6", 2/2. Varnished flamed cane, black screwlock cork seat, Detroit die stamp on butt cap, cigar grip, brown wraps, bag & tube. Serial number hard to see in photo but appears to be 4684. Writing appears to be by Bob Summers. Seen on Bob Summers' web site, June 2008.
4687
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Marked with original owner's name "Keith Spalding". Two identical dry fly tips. The second tip top has been replaced with a chrome one - otherwise all original. Unique feature: reel seat - it is aluminum downlocking with white plastic insert. "The reelseat looks original to the rod. It fits perfectly to the cork grip - typical Young cigar shape. It has all the right patina to it. Just one of those quirky things." - Chris Bogart, Shenandoah Rods.
4689
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3-5/8 oz. Cap and ring reel seat. Bag and tube. Item 151A listed in separate Addendum sheet (NOT in printed catalog) for the Premiere (First) High Rollers Auction, R.W. Oliver Gallery auction at Marlborough, MA on February 26, 1988.
4694
1975 Driggs 7'2" 2/2 Ventilated grip, oil finish. Ordered March 1975, was received July 22, 1975 from Jack Young. Price was $195. Info from "Cimarron Red" of the Classic Fly Fishing Forum. This rod was described as 3 oz., flamed, oil finish, Halstead-type ferrules, Garrison-type tapered grip, screwlock cork seat, in MJK catalog No. 54 (1990).
4698
1975 Midge 6'3" 2/2 Ventilated grip, oil finish. Received from Jack Young, August 1975. Price was $190. Reported by Cimarron Red from Classic Fly Fishing Forum.
47XX
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2.5 oz. Ventilated grip, oil finish on flamed cane, dual band cork seat, Super-Z ferrules, brown wraps, orig. bag & tube. MJK catalog no. 49 (1988).
47XX
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-3/4 oz. Varnished, flamed cane, 100% black finish on fittings, possibly unused, "silver ferrules," original bag and tube. MJK catalog no. 52 (1989).
47XX
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3.5 oz. Varnished, flamed cane, burgundy wraps, screwlock cork seat, "natural colored" Super-Z ferrules, Wells grip, blued guides & tops, bag, tube. MJK catalog no. 49 (1988).
47XX
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4 oz. Flamed cane, wet and dry tips, "Detroit" stamp on butt cap, original nylon bag and tube. MJK catalog no. 47 (1987).
47XX
Boat Rod 8'0" 2/2 4.55 oz. Varnished, flamed cane, bronze wraps, screwlock cork seat, blued Super-Z ferrules, Wells grip, blued guides & tops, bag & tube. MJK catalog no. 49 (1988).
4704
Year date 1975 Driggs 7'2" 2/2 6" ventilated grip. Received August 25, 1975 by Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm. Inscribed "Barbara A. Seaholm" (wife). Mac added a thumb indentation on August 30, 1975. Rod was sold for $625.
4706
Perfectionist 7'6" Was originally 2/2, is now 2/3 with a later, additional tip built by Bob Summers, with his signature. Summers' invoice for the new tip indicates that he touched up the rod and built the new tip. The old tips have male ferrules with a band/notch that differs from the new tip's ferrule. One old tip is perfect, the other old tip is short by 5 inches. Rod now owned by "arthurk" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum. Flamed cane, cigar grip, sliding band over cork reel seat, original bag and aluminum tube.
4710
Perfectionist. Bob Summer's handwriting. Made for Dan Bean. Reported by "bearbutt" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum. Rod #4710 was listed and described in MJK catalog No. 64 (1994): "...even has orig. outer paper bag over perfect tube...," varnished, flamed, Garrison-style grip, dual band cork seat, brown wraps.
At about this point, between production of rods #4710 and #4722, "bearbutt" believes that Bob Summers left the Paul H. Young Co.
4722
1978 Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Two flats were seen in web photos: First flat: Perfectionist 7'6" 2-1/2 oz. Second flat shows owner's name and creation date, name hard to read in photos, possibly: Louis S. Hagendus Nov. 1978. Second tip 6"" short. On Rick's rods web site 2006, on Bob Selb's web site, early 2007.
4731
1978 Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Ventilated grip, oil finish. Ordered Dec. 1974, received from Jack Young, July 1978. Price was $235. Cimarron Red from Classic Fly Fishing Forum.
4733
1979 Perfectionist: 7'6", 2/2, 2 3/4 oz. Inked handwriting by Jack Young. First flat marked: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Perfectionist - 7'6" - 2 3/4 oz. Third flat: #4733 Owner Gordon Cox wrote to me: "I took delivery of this rod in March 1979. The description of this rod is as follows: Beautiful dark flamed cane with dark brown wraps. Modified cigar grip with two slide band down-lock lock reel seat over cork spacer. Wonderful cork. Black anodized reel seat fittings Oxidized Super Z ferrules. Carbaloy stripper and black guides. All original rod, bag and case. Condition: Mint."
4752
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Second tip has an invisible wrap 1 inch long, located 9" from tiptop. Dual band cork seat, Super-Z ferrules, varnished, orig. bag & tube. MJK catalog No. 55 (1990).
4757
1980 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Ventilated grip, oil finish, screwlock reel seat. Received from Jack Young, May 1980. Price was $335. Cimarron Red from Classic Fly Fishing Forum.
4762
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-3/4 oz. Super-Z ferrules, "almost nonexistent (?) half-Wells grip," brown silks, "...a tad more parabolic & a bit more powerful than usually found..." description in MJK catalog No. 54 (1990). Also listed in MJK catalog No. 74 (1998), which adds that the reel seat is a screwlock seat, 98% blueing on seat fittings and ferrules.
4765
Boat Rod 8'0" 2/2 Flamed cane, black screwlock cork seat, half Wells grip, offered in new, never fished condition on North West Classic Tackle web site, July 2008.
477X
Para 15 8'0" 2/1 (note) Dry tip good, wet tip broken; ferrules and fittings remain. Wells grip, screwlock cork seat. MJK catalog 75 (1998).
4773
1981 Driggs 7'2" 2/2 Ventilated grip, oil finish. Received from Jack Young, March 1981. Price was $335. Cimarron Red from Classic Fly Fishing Forum.
478X
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1 3/4 oz., 5" cigar grip, gold/tan wraps, black ferrules, dual-band cork seat, appears unused orig. cond. MJK #71 (1996). This rod could be #4781.
4781
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1 3/4 oz., 5" cigar grip, gold/tan wraps, MJK #52 (1989).
4783
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Half wells grip, cap and ring, cork spacer, brown wraps, Super-Z ferrules, original bag and tube. Inked writing by Jack Young. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: parabolic 15 - 8' - 4 oz. Both tips are the same; not known if both are "wet" or "dry" tips. Corsetti catalog No. 44 (2007). Owned by dshx of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
4794
Texan "8'6"" 2/2" 4.85 oz. One tip is snapped at tip-top. eBay Feb 2007
48XX
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Wet and dry tips. Flamed cane, sliding band cork seat, maroon wraps, Super-Z ferrules. 2-inch scratch was noted in varnish, middle of butt section. MJK catalog No. 51 (1989).
48XX
Texan 8'6" 2/2 4.85 oz. Screwlock cork seat, maroon wraps, Western grip. MJK catalog No. 51 (1989).
4814
Perfectionist, 7'6", 2/1 (built with only one tip, in 1981): Reported by Bob Ryan: "I had Jack Young build a rod for my then infant son, who was three years old at the time. I presented the rod to my son on his 16th birthday. It is a Paul Young 71/2 ft. Perfectionist serial # 4814. The rod has only one tip as I couldn't afford two at the time! My son is now 31 and living in Bozeman, Montana. His Paul Young Pefectionist has never been fished. I knew Jack, as my in-laws had a cottage in Traverse City near his shop in Bower's Harbor. I visited Jack at the shop frequently and always enjoyed his unique personality and fabulous workmanship."
4836
Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. Flamed cane, brown wraps, cigar grip tapers almost like an Orvis Superfine grip, dual black rings over cork reel seat, has a thin metal disk covering base of cork butt. Super-Z ferrules, outer color is bronze. Inked in three lines: First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Midge Model Third flat: 6'3" 1 3/4 oz Also inked #4836 on butt and each tip. Handwriting is not by Bob Summers. Jack Young? Original maroon bag, original tube. Offered for $3500 on Bob Selb's web site, November 2008.
4849
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Flamed cane, ventilated grip, bright ferrules, screwlock cork seat. Inked on butt, A Paul H. Young Co. Rod, Perfectionist Model, 7' 6", 2 ½ oz. (MJK indicated this rod actually weighs 3.30 oz. in a note attached to the tube.) Original bag, replacement tube. Formerly belonging to MJK, auctioned by Lang's in April 2009.
485X
1980 Para 17 8'6" 2/2 5-1/2 oz. Built 1980. (ordered Dec. 22, 1975). Wet and dry tips. Original bag & tube. RicksRods.com.
4852
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz., Super-Z ferrules, 2-band cork seat, one tip has 3/4"" repair wrap 6"" from top. MJK catalog 75 (1998).
4892
Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. Dark flamed cane, chocolate brown wraps, dual black rings over cork reel seat. Reported by "warrick" on the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
4895
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-1/4 oz. First flat: Paul H. Young Co. Second flat: "Driggs" 7'-2" 2 ¼ oz. Serial number 4895 is written on the butt and the ferrule end of the two tips. Believe built by Todd Young. Bought on eBay by nccavalier of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
49XX
Princess 7'0" 2/2 2-3/4 oz. Varnished flamed cane, blued Super-Z ferrules, dual-band cork seat. MJK catalog no. 73 (1997).
491X
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3-1/2 oz. Oil finish, flamed cane, burgundy/brown wraps, sliding band cork seat, Super-Z ferrules, Wells grip, original bag, Leonard-style tube. MJK catalog no. 81 (2000).
4935
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Flamed cane, cigar grip, cap and ring over zebra wood (NO "Detroit" die stamp on cap), brown wraps tipped red, bright ferrules, in a George Lawrence leather tube. Rods #4935 and #4936 were simultaneously purchased by two brothers. Butt section is marked Paul H Young Co. / "Perfectionist" 7' 6" ~ 4 wt. / "Pinnacle Series" Tips are both marked: #4935 Thanks to Carmine Lisella for the serial number and "JimP" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum for inked data. Rod was offered for $2500 in Lisella's Jordan-Mills Rod Co. Catalog no. 31 (Fall 2008).
4936
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Flamed cane, cigar grip, cap and ring over zebra wood (NO "Detroit" die stamp on cap), brown wraps tipped red, bright ferrules, in a George Lawrence leather tube (this tube is embossed with the Paul H. Young Co. logo). Rods #4935 and #4936 were simultaneously purchased by two brothers. Thanks to Carmine Lisella for the serial number; rod offered for $2500 in Lisella's Jordan-Mills Rod Co. Catalog no. 31 (Fall 2008).
494X
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/1 "A Paul H. Young Co. Rod" "Perfectionist 7'6" 2.5 oz" Only one tip present. Two black rings over cork seat. Black ink. eBay Feb 2007
494X
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Varnished flamed cane, wet and dry tips, Wells grip, wooden reel seat, blk. finished screwlock fittings, brown wraps, blued Super-Z ferrules. Bag, tube and fine green canvas outer bag. MJK Catalog No. 71 (1996).
4942
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Wet and dry tips. Blued Super-Z-type ferrules, zebra wood screwlock seat, half-Wells grip. MJK catalog No. 54 (1990).
4950
Perfectionist 7'6" Inked in two lines, Paul H. Young Rod Co. / 7'6" 4 wt. Serial number 4950 is written on the butt just below the stripping guide. Info from Marvin Roberson.
4966 (duplicate number with rod below)
1993 Princess 7'0" 2/2 "Princess" 7'0" 2.90 oz. / P.H.Y. Chapter T.U. / Spring 1993 Built by Todd Young, Spring 1993, for Paul H. Young Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Cap and ring over wood (bamboo); thumb indent in cork. Offered August 2007, Rick Sorensen, West Slope Tackle.
4966 (duplicate number with above)
Martha Marie, reported March 2009 by Gregg Santori of Tustin, CA, after he saw the Princess #4966 listed above.
4969
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Flamed cane, Ritz grip tapering to a conical point, dual gray rings over all-cork mortised reel seat, maroon/brown wraps tipped black at guides and hookkeeper, amber wraps tipped black at ferrules. Butt section is marked Paul H Young Co. / "Perfectionist" 7' 6" ~ 2 3/4 oz. Tips and butt are all marked: #4969
5000
Driggs, built by Todd Young. Reported by Gregg Santori of Tustin, CA.
5018
Smidgen 6'0" 2/2 1.75 oz. Built by Todd Young. Marked: First flat: Paul H. Young Co. Second flat: Smidgen - 6'0" - 1.75 oz. Third flat: 2 wt. Prototype #1 Flamed varnished cane, dual rings over cork reel seat. Owned by "canebum" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum, who says he has never cast a sweeter two-weight rod. Owner was told by Todd Young that the blank was one of a number of prototype blanks made by Paul Young, of which Todd Young had two that he finished, a 2wt (this rod) and a 3wt built later. Owner cannot confirm that PHY built the blank but says, "Whatever the story is behind it I would not sell it just because it casts so good."
5024
Para 16 8'6" 2/2 4.6 oz. Built by Todd Young. Flamed cane, wet and dry tips, chocolate brown wraps, modified Wells, screwlock downlocking cork seat with glossy black fittings differs somewhat from older style, blued ferrules. Butt is marked Paul H. Young Co. second line: Parabolic 16 8'6" third line: Joe Lehner Tips are marked DRY TIP #5024 and WET TIP #5024. Offered by Carmine Lisella in his Jordan-Mills Rod Co. catalog #30 (Spring 2008). Sold to dshx of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
XXXX - July 1955
1955 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Wet and dry tips. Flamed, varnished cane. Cigar handle, screwlock cork seat, deluxe wraps, blued Super-Z ferrules, built by PHY. MJK Catalog No. 66 (1994).
XXXX - October 31, 1955
1955 Bobby Doerr 9'0" 2/2 Two different weight tips. Size 17 ferrule. Rod is 5.6 oz. with one tip, 5.73 oz. with the other. Flamed, varnished cane. 2X2 node placement. Wells grip, screwlock cork seat, dark brown wraps w/burgundy tint, oxidized Super-Z ferrules, built by PHY, sold on October 31, 1955. MJK Catalog No. 88 (2004).
XXXX - 1956
1956 date, Texas General, 8'6", 2/2, 5.25 oz., dated 1956. Varnished, flamed cane, ventilated grip, black screwlock seat, bronze wraps, blued Super-Z ferrules. MJK Catalog No. 56 (1991). Almost certainly the same rod is described seven years later as item #76 in MJK Catalog No. 74 (1998) - all information is the same, plus the rod is described as having a dry fly tip and a heavier bug tip.
XXXX - May 1956
1956 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4.15 oz. Built with two dry tips, shaft marked "May 1956," also marked with original owner's name. Flamed, varnished cane. Cigar handle with thumbprint, blk. screwlock cork seat, gold/tan wraps, Super-Z ferrules, orig. bag & tube. MJK Catalogs No. 59 (1992) and 60 (1992).
XXXX - 1958
1958, a unique 7'6" PHY Princess that Paul H. Young built for himself in 1958, with two different tips, one tapered to 4/64 and the other to a 4-1/2/64 tip top. Slender cigar grip, reverse sliding band reel seat. Schwiebert acquired the Princess rod after Young's death. Schwiebert wrote: "John Waller Hills observed that once in his life each fly-fisher encounters a rod so perfectly suited to his personality and temperament and physical skills that it becomes a part of him. Thus far in my fishing odyssey, the seven-and-a-half-foot Princess passed on to me from the collection of its master is that rod - it is that exquisitely poetic balance of delicacy and power that comes alive in the hands."
XXXX - February 18, 1959
1959 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 K.T. Keller lighter-weight model. Built by Bob Summers. Presentation rod marked "To my Fishing Buddy Al McFarland From Bob Summers Feb. 18, 1959" Also marked: "8' 3 3/4 oz." Flamed cane. Wells grip w/ thumbprint, screwlock cork seat, special black wraps with beige tipping, Super-Z ferrules. Since this is a presentation rod, it may be unnumbered. MJK Catalog No. 53 (1989), and MJK Catalog No. 67 (1995).
XXXX - December 10, 1959
1959 Princess 7'0" 2/2 Was offered for $6500, MJK catalog No. 55 (1990). Was offered for $5850, MJK catalog No. 85 (2002). Rod weighs 3.16 oz. Screwlock cork seat w/aluminum colored threaded screwlock section. Flamed varnished cane, gold-bronze wraps, Super-Z ferrules, all sections have 2X2 node placement, orig. bag & tube.
XXXX - December 1959
1959 Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Rod reportedly marked "A Paul Young Rod - Midge 6'3", 1 3/4 oz. HEH - Arnold Gingrich, Dec. 1959" Serial number not reported. Sold as Lot 219, R.W. Oliver's 3rd Annual High Rollers Public Auction of Fine Fishing Tackle & Accessories, Marlborough, MA, on February 23, 1990. In his book The Well-Tempered Angler (1965), Gingrich wrote that he was able to buy rods from Jack Young, "...since Paul's death, every bit as good as those I got when his father was alive. Still, I was glad that I had got two more Midges and a Martha Marie, as a Christmas 1959 present from my wife, just a few months before he died." This rod is undoubtedly one of the two Midges.
XXXX - December 1959
1959 Midge 6'3" Known to me only from Arnold Gingrich's book The Well-Tempered Angler (1965), Gingrich wrote that he was able to buy rods from Jack Young, "...since Paul's death, every bit as good as those I got when his father was alive. Still, I was glad that I had got two more Midges and a Martha Marie, as a Christmas 1959 present from my wife, just a few months before he died." Whereabouts unknown to me, this rod would be the other one of the two Midges.
XXXX - December 1959
1959 Martha Marie 7'6" Known to me only from Arnold Gingrich's book The Well-Tempered Angler (1965), Gingrich wrote that he was able to buy rods from Jack Young, "...since Paul's death, every bit as good as those I got when his father was alive. Still, I was glad that I had got two more Midges and a Martha Marie, as a Christmas 1959 present from my wife, just a few months before he died." Whereabouts unknown to me, this Martha Marie model rod was built for Jane Gingrich.
XXXX - 1964
1964 Para 17 8'6" 2/2 Wells grip, screwlock cork seat, gold/bronze wraps, Super-Z ferrules, 5.10 oz., originally built 1964 for Gene Anderegg ( a founding member of FFF). MJK wrote, "tips although 1/4" short are clearly correct." Seen in MJK catalogs No. 68, 69, 71 (1996) and 72 (1997). Anderegg also owned a Para 15, serial number 446X.
XXXX - August 21, 1965
1965 Midge 6'3" 2/2 Dated August 21, 1965. Orig. brown wraps w/black tipping, additional wraps, satin oil finish, featherweight ferrules, cigar grip. MJK catalog No. 71 (1966).
XXXX - seen in Spring Special 1974 issue of Fly Fisherman magazine
Driggs 7'2" Only one tip shown in photo. Flamed cane, half Wells grip, black screwlock reel seat over cork, very dark (black?) wraps, can see "Driggs Model...." in Bob Summers' handwriting written on shaft, plus a four-digit serial number near stripper guide, but the number cannot be read. One of nine custom rods by various makers shown in double-page photo spread, pages 18-19, article by Don Zahner titled "The Bamboo Renaissance," Fly Fisherman, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Spring Special 1974).
XXXX - 1990
1990 Nymph Jr. 7'6", 2/2, 2-7/8 oz. Dark flamed cane, special Hi-Arc blued guides, screwlock seat, Wells grip, Super-Z ferrules, built for Martin J. Keane by Todd Young in 1990. MJK catalogs no. 76 (1998) and 77 (1999).
XXXX - built for Martha Marie Young
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3-5/8 oz. Reportedly marked "A Paul H. Young Co. Rod for Mrs. Paul H. Young - Martha Marie, 7 ft. 6 in., 3 5/8 oz." Reported that "The rod was made by the company, just prior to going out of business, for Mrs. Young (Martha Marie) at her request. This 7 1/2 ft., 2 piece, 2 tip rod is near mint in original bag and tube." Serial number not reported. Sold as Lot 218, R.W. Oliver's 3rd Annual High Rollers Public Auction of Fine Fishing Tackle & Accessories, Marlborough, MA, on February 23, 1990.
XXXX
Para 15 8'0", 2/2. Dry and wet tips. Wells grip, wooden reel seat, brown wraps, blued Super-Z ferrules.
Copyright 2008-2009 Robert Jon Golder
315 rods listed.
This is 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 numbers in the numbering system, roughly from #2350 to #3300. 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 = Paul H. Young
MJK = Martin J. Keane
January 5, 2010 - Added #4116 Midge built Dec. 1963 for Dwayne Wood.
November 15, 2009 - Added #4176 Boat Rod.
November 5, 2009 - Added photo, #4503 Perfectionist owned by Per Brandin.
November 4, 2009 - Added two photos, #2152 Para 15 owned by Per Brandin.
October 26, 2009 - Added #3947 Spin Rod with additional fly rod tip.
October 22, 2009 - Added #4331 Midge.
October 21, 2009 - Added #4XXX Midge, Ritz-style grip.
SERIAL NUMBERED PHY Co. RODS BUILT FOR YOUNG FAMILY MEMBERS INCLUDE
#1968 Low water salmon rod
#2024 Perfectionist built for Martha Marie Young
#2168 Driggs built for PHY's brother Ben
#XXXX, a unique 7'6" PHY Princess, PHY's personal rod, built 1958, with two different tips, acquired after Young's death by Ernest Schwiebert (scroll to the bottom of this page to find this rod and other "XXXX" serial-numbered rods where the number is not known).
#XXXX, a Martha Marie Model built for Martha Marie Young (scroll to the bottom of this page to find this rod and other "XXXX" serial-numbered rods where the number is not known).
Serial #
Year, Model, Length, Writing on the flats, - Notes
19XX (? - see notes)
Para 17 Deluxe, 8'6", 2/2, 5.3 oz. Varnished, medium-flamed cane, antique gold/tan wraps, blued Super-Z ferrules, black screwlock cork seat with Young-marked cap, grip described as "unusual Wells grip w/a tapered cork into shaft" (no photo), rod was described by MJK as "...built during Paul Young's lifetime, ser. #14XX..." Serial numbering is believed to have begun in the year 1955, with either serial number 1955, or possibly 1950, so the number should be 19XX. Possible explanations: The number "9" may have been poorly written on the rod, leading MJK to interpret the mark as a "4", or PHY may have tried out an experimental numbering system prior to settling on the system that began with numbers in the mid-1900's. MJK catalog no. 49 (1988).
19XX
1955, Midge, 6'3" 2/2, - Bag, tube all original. By PHY. Summers rod sale Oct. 1990.
1957
Spinmaster. If "1957" is a serial number, this is one of EIGHT serial-numbered PHY spinning rods that I have identified (see #1981SP, #2112, #3351, #3745, #3947, #3953 and #4034). MJK's full description follows, from his catalog no. 50 (1988): "Fine orig. PAUL YOUNG "Spinmaster" in delightful lt. wt. design, 6'4", 3.10 oz., Ser. #1957, 2/1, Super-Z ferrules, gorgeous dark flamed exotic cane w/bronze wraps, double ring classic spin handle, orig. foul-proof standing guides, a surprisingly strong action - certainly one of America's best & most beautiful spinning rods ever built. Overall exc. cond. w/bag & tube. $400." Note that MJK definitely stated "1957" was a serial number. However, ZenCane pointed out that "1957" might be the year date the rod was built. If PHY did not serial number rods other than fly rods, and if he built this spinning rod in 1957, then he might have inscribed the rod with the number 1957, intended as a year date.
1959?
1955 date, Para 17, - Serial number partially removed, likely by refinishing, believed to be #1959. Owned by "Cimarron Red" from Classic Fly Fishing Forum. Of this rod, Cimarron Red wrote to me, "In measuring the rod along its length, I determined that the dimensions were in line with later Para 17's that I have measured." Purchased in January 1976 from Art Neumann at Wanigas Rod Co., Saginaw, MI.
1961
Para 16 Deluxe, 8'6", 2/2, 4.51 oz. Flamed varnished cane, step-down ferrules (not Super-Zs), cap and ring over cork (Detroit die-stamp on cap). Lettering on two flats can be seen in photos, First flat: "Parabolic 16" Deluxe Second flat: 8 1/2' - 4.51 oz. H.C.H. - H.C.F. Each tip is inked #1961 near the male ferrule, and the butt is inked #1961 near a snake guide. Rod was owned by French angler Jean-Paul Pequegnot, whose name is on the tube cap. The prior owner of this Para 16 was George Beall (American living in southern France, see PHY rod #4020). Forum member "jyl" wrote to me from France with the information that after George Beall's death, Beall's widow gave this rod to Jean-Paul Pequegnot. Original bag, may be original Champion tube. Offered on eBay by Hoagy B. Carmichael, April 2009, where it sold for $4160.
1968?
Texas General / Salmon Low Water, 9'6", 2/2 - Could this be rod #1968? Paper label on handle in PHY's handwriting: 1968 9 1/2 Salmon Low Water. Shaft marked: Texas General Sticks, Ext. Grip 9 1/2 4.72 oz. H.C.H. Sh. Taper. Thumbprint grip. Detachable handle with integral 1-1/2" ext. butt. Olive wraps. Original bag and tube. MJK wrote: "This rod is unused - came directly from the Young family, deluxe grade..." MJK catalog #52 (1989).
1981SP
Spinmaster. Marked first flat: "SPIN-MASTER" 7 1/2' - 5.55 oz. Second flat: Fer. 16/64 TipTop 8/64. Also marked 1981SP. SP would seem to stand for "Spinning" and "1981" is the serial number. Varnished, flamed cane. Unusual dual handle with length of cane in between. Dual rings on upper cork where reel would be seated. Came in brown, shiny bag and Weber Dot-Line Telescopic rod case (second PHY spinning rod I have seen in such a case). Briefly offered in eBay auction October 2008; auction was canceled. Then offered on Bob Summers' web site December 2008. Bob Summers told me that this rod was built for John Chew of Pennsylvania, who owned many Young rods. Spinning rods of this size were offered in the circa 1955 PHY catalog as light saltwater rods.
1984
1955, Bobby Doerr, 9', 2/2, Marked on five flats! First three flats: Bob Doerr Deluxe / 9' - 5.95 oz. G.B.F. / Fer. 17/64 Tip Tops 6/64 February 1955. 4th flat reads (something) Fond du Lac, Wis. 5th flat reads: Feb. '55 Offered by Bob Summers on web site June 2007. PHY's handwriting.
Rod #1984 "Bobby Doerr" Model
1990
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1.7 oz. Stated to be for H.F.H. line. Appears to have black anodized ferrules (judging from poor photo). Has two bright rings over cork, straight grip tapers to a point (not blunt at end). "In a bag and tube." Catalog of R.W. Oliver, Second High Roller Auction, held February 24, 1989. Rod was lot #259, sold for $2500 plus 10% buyer's premium.
1993
1955, Midge, 6'3", 2/2, "MIDGE", 6'-3" - 1.75 oz. H.E.H. "Paul H. Young Co. - Detroit, Maker" - Dated February 1955, according to Bob Summers (cannot see that flat in pictures), oil finish, aluminum ferrules, two bright rings over cork, rod offered for $5K on Summers web site, July 2007.
1997
1955, Texan, 8'6", "W.A. Reedy - Rochester - May, '55" "Texan" 8 1/2' - 4.39 oz. H.C.H - H.C.F" Fer. 15/64 Tip Top 5/64 Bomber conduit rod tube
2024
1955 PHY PERFECTIONIST, dated April 1955, built by PHY, gift of PHY to his wife Martha Marie Young. Flamed cane, 2/2 ventilated cigar grip, dual bright rings over cork seat. Rod inscribed: first line Martha M. Young April - '55, second line: "Perfectionist" 7-1/2', 2.51 oz., H.E.H. silk. Rod also is marked in ink at increments of 7 inches, 10 inches, and 12 inches up from the handle; thread wraps mark the measurements. Michigan fishing regulations for 1955 pertained to these lengths. The legal length limit for trout was seven inches; for bass, ten inches. Mrs. Young therefore could measure the trout she caught without carrying a ruler. Green bag has tag that reads Martha Perfectionist in two lines, in PHY's handwriting, plus tube. Owned by fishnbanjo.
Rod #2024, Perfectionist, built by PHY as gift for wife Martha Marie Young. It was quite a special moment when banjo invited me to make my first casts with Mrs. Young's rod. It has a strong easy stroke that is pure poetry. The rod is very comfortable in the hand, even though the grip is quite small for hands the size of banjo's, or mine. The thumb indentation orients your hand in the right place, and the spaces between the corks help improve your hold on the grip, much like tire treads improve a car's hold on the road. Banjo explained that in 1955 there were length limit rules in the Michigan fish laws that specifically pertained to trout of seven inches and bass of ten inches. So Paul Young put thread wraps on the butt of the rod, at these marked intervals, so his wife wouldn't have to carry a ruler with her.
203X
1955 Midge 6'3" 2/2 May 1955. 1.74 oz. Featherweight ferrules (=aluminum?). Stripping guide is a snake guide. MJK catalog 87 (2003).
2036
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Inked on shaft: Arnold Gingrich, New York, Paul H. Young Co. Detroit, Maker, Midge 6'3" 1.73 oz. H.E.H. All sections are marked 2036. Black anodized ferrules, two rings over cork, black wraps. Original bag & tube, letter of provenance from Bob Summers. Offered Lang's November 2, 2007 fishing tackle auction. Arnold Gingrich heavily promoted Paul H. Young and the Midge rod in books and magazine articles. In The Well-Tempered Angler (1965), Gingrich described his first experience with a Midge rod when fishing with his friends Charles and Vivian Kerlee: "Charlie had got one from Paul Young in Detroit... and had bought it with no intention of using it himself, as he is over six foot, with the build of a tackle. But Vivian is small, and he wanted a light little rod that she could use without arm fatigue... Vivian let me try it, and the very first cast was a revelation... giving it back was like giving back a piece of my arm. I wrote a check for one that same day. They only cost $65 at that time, but I'd have paid five times as much, if that had been the price. I never wanted anything more avidly in my life. Once I got it, I used no other rod..."
Note also PHY rod #2045, also a Midge; it was built very shortly after this one for Charles Coiner, a friend of Gingrich's, who is mentioned in The Well-Tempered Angler
Rod #2036 Midge, owned by Arnold Gingrich
2045
1955 Midge 6'3" 2/1 Paul H. Young Co. Detroit Maker June '55 "MIDGE" 6'3" 1.74 oz. H.E.H. "Charles T. Coiner - Mechanicsville, Penna." "June 1955, aluminum ferrules, two rings over cork, black wraps, may originally be a two-tip rod. Replacement bag & tube. Offered eBay April 2007, purchased by spruce grouse of the Classic Fly Rod Forum. Charles T. Coiner was a landscape painter, discussed by Arnold Gingrich in The Well-Tempered Angler (1965)."
2046
Bob Doerr Model, 9'0", 2/2, 6 oz. Refinished. Lettered in Bob Summers' handwriting on three flats: First flat: Paul H. Young Co. Det. Maker Second flat: Bob Doerr Model 9' 6 oz. GBF Third flat: Fer 17/64 TipTop 6/64 Tips are numbered 2046. One tip is still numbered in PHY's handwriting. The other tip is numbered in Summers' handwriting. Bob Summers showed me this rod, mid-October 2008.
2052
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2.48 oz. Flamed cane, sliding band reel seat. Old brochure, circa 1984, from Allan Liu, American Sporting Collector, Amawalk, NY
2070
1956 Para 15, 8'0" 2/2 3.98 oz. Built January 1956. Varnished, flamed cane; Super-Z ferrules, gold-brown wraps, screwlock cork seat. wet and dry tips; red spiral wrap on dry tip. Writing on first flat: "Parabolic 15" 8' - 3.98 oz. Second flat: Fer. 15/64 1- 5/65 1- 4/64 Tips Former owner's name and address also on butt section. Wet tip marked: WET H.D.H. 5/64 TipTop Dry tip marked: DRY H.E.H. 4/64 TipTop Info from John Feldenzer?
2078
Driggs, 7'2", 2/2, 2.36 oz. Varnished, heavily flamed cane. Bronze wraps, aluminum ferrules, aluminum dual rings, all cork slender, varigated grip with double thumbprint scallops. B-29 tube with brown satin bag. Rod is pristine with no marks and very slight anodization wear on one male ferrule. Slightly parabolic, medium fast, takes #4 line. Owned by Tim Simbari of the Classic fly Rod Forum.
2088
1955, 9'0" rod similar to or may be a Bobby Doerr model, 9', 2/2, marked 9' - 5.70 oz. - GBF - Fer 17/64 - tip Top 6/64. These measurements are typical of a Bobby Doerr model. Rod is also reportedly marked with the owner's name followed by 1955. Black screwlock cork seat, Super-Z ferrules, original bag & tube. Lot #16, R.W. Oliver's Fifth Annual Summer Auction, July 8, 1989, sold for $700. plus 10% buyers premium.
2093
1955, Bobby Doerr, 9', 2/2, owned by John A. Feldenzer, author of "Of Baseball and Bamboo: Bobby Doerr, Ted Williams, and the Paul H. Young Rod Company," The American Fly Fisher, Vol. 31 no. 4 (Fall 2005). Photographs of rod #2093 are found in the article. Acquiring rod #2093 from Bob Summers got John started researching PHY, and led to a friendship with Hall of Famer and former Red Sox second baseman Bobby Doerr. Varnished, flamed cane, brown wraps, screwlock cork seat, Detroit die-stamp on cap.
21XX
Princess 7'3" 2/2 Dark-flamed, blued Super-Zs, sm. Cigar grip w/ thumb indent., cork and ring seat, orig. Bag & tube. Corsetti #31 (Spring 2001).
2112
1957, "West's Pet" combination spin and fly rod, Spinmaster-grade, built March 1957. Super "Z" ferrule 16/64. 8 1/2" dual slide band grip w/ 3 5/8" screw DL cork insert fly seat. Spin slide bands and butt cap marked PAUL H. YOUNG CO. - DETROIT --- MICH. in rectangular box. Rod shaft inked - Chas. W. Walls Jr. Mar. '57 - on one flat, and - "SPIN-MASTER" 8' - 5.15oz - on adjacent flat. Rod marked with serial number - #2112 - near butt ferrule. Original khaki twill bag and period 2" Champion aluminum tube. Rod refinished by Bob Summers in 2006 - new grip with a more conventional shape, new Super-Z ferrules, writing in PHY's hand removed and redone by Bob, new varnish. The owner notes that in the 1950's combo rods were an option on PHY's 7'2", 7'6", and 8' spin rods, and says that this rod works nicely with 3/8 oz. lures or a WF7F fly line. PHY #2112, Combo Fly/Spin Rod, Spin-Master Grade and SpinMaster rod #4034, dated 1962, show that PHY did serial-number at least two rods with dual fly/spin capability.
"2114"
SEE DESCRIPTION OF ROD #2214.
2117 (duplicate number with rod below)
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Featherweight Deluxe variation (though it appears to have nickle silver ferrules). Two 4-1/2/64ths tips, ventilated cigar grip, two rings over cork, seen at http://vfish.net/MarthaMarie.htm
2117 (duplicate number with rod above)
I was shown this rod but took incomplete notes, including a failure to get the model name; probably a Texas General, possibly a Para 17. 8'6" 2/2 Black screwlock cork seat, exaggerated single thumb depression in cork grip, wet and dry tips. Wet tip is labeled on one flat: 2117 WET G.B.F. Dry tip is labeled on two flats, First flat: 2117 Second flat: DRY H.C.H. I recorded writing from two flats on the butt: First flat: from Dorothy - Jim - Kent Second flat: 8 1/2' - 5.46 oz. Dry Tip H.C.H. Wet Tip G.B.F.
2119
Para 15 8'0", 2/2 Wes Jordan's Para 15. Wet and dry tips. "Supposedly they were good friends and communicated rod building techniques. Original very good condition except Wes replaced the reel seat with an Orvis down screw locker…. With note from Gloria Jordan." - catalog description, Catskill Fly Fishing Center benefit auction, September 11, 1987.
2120
Martha Marie. Reported via private e-mail.
2125(see 4635)
Little Giant. 6'6" 2/2 Reported by Richard Shelton, whose rod has a butt and one tip marked #2125, and a second tip marked #4635. I have recorded another rod made up of parts from two rods (see listings for #4387 and #4389), but never with such widely different serial numbers.
2129
Boat Rod 8'0" 2/2 Varnished, flamed cane. Cigar grip, bright metal screwlock seat over cork, black butt cap, hookkeeper, Lettered on two flats, First flat: "Boat Rod" 8' - 4.65 oz. H.C.H. Second flat: Fer. 15/64 TipTop 5/64. Satin bag and Champion-style tube. Seen on eBay September 2009.
2145
1956 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Dated June 1956, built for Wm. J. Brennan. Paul Young's handwriting in black ink. Destroyed in shipment following eBay sale. Beware of fake eBay auctions using photos of this rod.
2152
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 One wet tip and one dry tip. Cigar grip, down-slide band skeleton cap & ring reel seat. "Detroit" die-stamp on butt cap. Inked on the shaft: William L. Hanford, West Stockbridge, Mass. / 'Parabolic 15' 1 wet H.D.H. 1 dry H.E.H. Owned by Per Brandin, who told me: "This rod is in my opinion, very well built for being a Paul Young rod (the workmanship is often pretty rough) and it is a spectacular rod to fish with. It will handle a DT5 line on the dry tip, but is better with a #6 line with either tip and I have even fished a WF 7 on the wet tip." Purchased by Per Brandin from Dana Gray, spring 2009.
2152 - Photo by Per Brandin
2152 - Photo by Per Brandin
2168
1956 Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2.68 oz. Marked: "Ben Xmas '56 from Paul" Gift from PHY to brother Ben. Ventilated grip with thumb flat, black-finished die-stamped cap & ring, gold/tan wraps, blued Super-Z ferrules, orig. bag & tube. MJK catalog no. 67 (1995).
218X
1956 Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 August 15, 1956. 2.69 oz. .275 butt (not .260). Lightweight ferrules, 2-band cork seat, slightly longer cork grip. MJK catalog 75 (1998).
2187
1956 (August), Bobby Doerr, 9'0". Marked on three flats, First flat: Mike Darcy Aug. '56 Second flat: "Bob Doerr" model 9' - 5.75 GBF Third flat: Paul H. Young Co. Detroit - Maker. PHY's handwriting. Rod was refinished by Bob Summers, and has additional writing in Summers' handwriting: Refinished by RW Summers 6/1/09. Varnished, flamed cane. Brown wraps. Rod has bright metal butt cap with black screwlock reel seat hardware. Gold coated Super-Z ferrules. Cork grip and cork reel seat spacer are replacements. Both tips are marked #2187 in Summers' handwriting. One tip 1/2" short. Tube is B-29 aircraft aluminum tube with additional cloth tube enclosure (not original). Reported by "bow river" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum, owned by a guided fishing trip client. Rod subsequently offered on eBay, September 2009, and sold for $1215.
2194
1958 Para 15 8' 3/2 (?) "L.B. Sheppard, June '58" "Parabolic 15 - 8' - 4.15 oz., H.D.H." Fer. 15/64 Tip Top 5/64 "Each section marked 2194, but Lang's reported writing on tips is lighter and different style than butt writing. Owner reports rod also has 5/64 TT inked at base of each tip. Two thumb depressions in cork. Butt 3X2X1 spacing, one tip 3X3, one tip 2X2."
22XX
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3.46 oz. Inking on two flats can be seen. First flat: Paul H. Young Co. Detroit Second flat: Martha Marie Mod. 7 1/2 3.46oz Rod is also reported to be marked HDH for line weight and to have a serial number in the 22XX range. Flamed varnished cane, gold-bronze wraps nearly blending into cane color, Half Wells grip, cap and ring over cork, ring appears silvery while cap has much black on it but also many scratches. Cap has Detroit die-stamp. One tip is short 1.3 cm (1/2 inch). Thanks to cdmoore of the Classic Fly Rod Forum for reporting this rod seen on a Japanese web site, Dec. 2007.
2203
1956 November 1956. Reported by uniphasian (Chuck Tinsley). No other data.
2212
Bobby Doerr 9'0" 2/2 #17 Super-Z ferrule, 6/64 tip top. varnished, flamed, Wells grip, screwlock cork seat, orig. bag & tube. MJK catalog No. 63 (1993).
2214
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 ""Parabolic 15"" 8' - 3.50 oz. H.D.H." Paul H. Young Co. Detroit - Maker "Lightweight; 2 dry tips; ventilated grip; eBay April 2007 (incorrectly listed as 2114). Fake eBay auction, July 2007, same serial # error." Fake eBay auction, March 2008, same serial # error." Fake eBay auction, July 2008, same serial # error."
2216
1956 Little Giant 6'6" Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction catalog states this rod was built.
2217
1956 Little Giant 6'6" Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction catalog states this rod was built.
2218
1956 Little Giant 6'6" 2/2 "LITTLE GIANT 6'6"" 2.78 oz. HDH" Paul H. Young Co. Cigar grip w/thumb depression. Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction.
2226
Para17. Serial #2226 dates the rod to about 1956, 8'6", 2/2, wet and dry tips, varnished flamed cane, 2X2 node spacing on wet tip, basically 3X3 node spacing with some node staggering on dry tip, 3X3 node spacing on butt. Half Wells grip, bright downlocking screwlock seat over cork with fixed two-inch all-cork extension butt, "Detroit" stamp on butt cap, bronze-brown wraps to match cane colors, decorative bronze-brown spiral wraps at base of female ferrule on butt section, and tiptop on wet tip; decorative deep red spiral wraps at base of male ferrule and tiptop on dry tip. Super-Z ferrules with encircled-Z logo on female ferrule. Hookkeeper. Inked on butt in PHY's handwriting on two flats, First flat: Lloyd Lawson - Dearborn Mich. Second flat: "Parabolic 17" 8 1/2 - 5.45 oz. Also marked #2226 on butt near stripping guide. Wet tip marked 2226 - Wet - G.B.F. Dry tip marked 2226 - Dry - H.C.H. Original owner may have been Lloyd Lawson of E&L Transport Co., Dearborn, MI who during World War II designed a custom dual-engine Ford truck used to haul military bomber aircraft parts to factories for final assembly.
#2226
2239
1957 Para 15 8'0" 2/2, build date March 21, 1957, marked Richard V. Rounds 3/21/57 / A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / "Parabolic 15" 8' 4.3 oz HDH HDG Butt cap has Detroit die stamp. Rod was refinished by Bob Summers, May 30, 1972. Reported by "troutbumwannab" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum, who purchased the rod directly from Bob Summers at Bob's shop in Traverse City, MI. In addition, troutbumwannab told me, "Bob [Summers] took me and my boy fishing on his river where he guided us for several hours on the Boardman where I fished with the traditional Adams and caught many fish. The boat we fished from was originally owned by George Griffith (the originator of TU) which he inherited and refurbished (they were friends)."
225X
1957 Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Marked "Apr, '57". 3.70 oz. 2X2 node placement, blued Super-Z ferrules, deluxe tan/bronze wraps with blued guides (does "deluxe" mean decorative spiral wraps?), slightly bulbous grip with thumbprint, reel seat is cap and ring over cork, cap with "Detroit" stamp. Original brown nylon bag and original tube with green screw-on cap. MJK catalog 82 (2001).
22XX
1957 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Built May 1, 1957. Dry and wet tips. Flamed cane, Super-Z ferrules, black screwlock cork seat, "Garrison-style" grip, "gold-tan deluxe wraps" (does "deluxe" mean decorative spiral wraps?), original bag & tube. MJK catalog 65 (1994).
2253
1959 Martha Marie "7'6"" 2/2" April '59. SB cork seat. Thumb-print grip. 3.70 oz. MJK catalog 55 (1990). Year date could be mistake; if so, could be same as rod 225X marked Apr. '57 in MJK catalog 82.
2284
1957 Para 15, 3.9 oz., 8'0", 4/2, a custom 4-piece pack rod version of the Para 15, with red aluminum ferrules and wet and dry tips. Cigar grip. Marked in PHY's handwriting: H.P. Langworthy, June '57, "Parabolic 15" - 8' - 3.9 oz., H.D.H. Was owned for about one year in the early 1990's by quashnet of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
2341
Midge 6'3" Built for Edsel Ford's daughter, Josephine Clay Ford, circa 1957. Reported by Sante Giuliani who saw the rod at SuperBoo IV in Maine. Rod was in almost unused, mint original condition with bag and tube, and owner's name inked on the rod. Granddaughter of automotive pioneer Henry Ford, Josephine Clay Ford (1923 - 2005) was a philanthropist who donated millions for the arts, cancer research, and similar worthy causes. Edsel Ford helped finance Admiral Richard Byrd's 1926 flight to the North Pole, in recognition, Byrd named his airplane "Josephine Ford."
GAP Some believe that a gap of 750 to as many as 1000 rods (roughly #2300 - 3300) was deliberately inserted by PHY.
3345
Texas General 8'6" 2/2 5.4 oz. Flamed varnished cane, black screwlock cork seat with gray threading, bronze wraps, original bag and aluminum rod case. Inked in PHY's handwriting on two flats; First flat: "Texas General" 8 1/2' - 5.40 oz. Second flat: G.B.F. C level Belonged to Roy D. Chapin, Jr., former chairman and CEO of American Motors Corporation, died in 2001 at age 85. Listed on Len Codella's web site, November 2008. Owned by "mosquito" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
3351
Spin-Master serial-numbered PHY spinning rod. 7'6", 2/2, 4.63 oz., Ferrule 16/64, TipTop 7/64. Currently measures 46" butt, one tip 43-1/2", other tip 37". Marked Stuart W. Fenton.
(Stuart W. Fenton, retired professor of chemistry and former department head, died Feb. 4, 2006. He was 83 and a resident of North Oaks, Minn. Fenton was born April 29, 1922, in London, Ontario, Canada. From 1942 to 1945 he worked as a wartime fuel technologist for the Dominion of Canada and also studied chemistry at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where he received a bachelor of science in 1945 and a master's degree the following year. He was a research officer for Canada's National Research Council from 1945 to 1946. In 1950 Fenton received a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in 1951 joined the University of Minnesota faculty as a professor of organic chemistry. He served as chair of the chemistry department from 1960 to 1968, and retired in 1986. Many thanks to his nephew John Fenton for providing the information on seven Paul H. Young Co. rods owned by Stuart W. Fenton.)
3352
Dated 1958 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 February 1958. Built with two original wet tips, 5/64 tiptops. Flamed cane, cork screwlock seat, gold/tan wraps, Super-Z ferrules. MJK catalogs 63 (1993), 64, 65 and 66 (1994), 67 (1995).
3361
June 1958. Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Built in June 1958 by both Paul H. Young and Bob Summers. Summers told current owner Chris Ringlstetter that it was originally built for Don Valley, CEO and chairman of the National Bank of Detroit. A well-known Michigan fly fisher, Valley owned many Young rods, and also bought four Summers rods. Rod was refinished by Summers in the 1980's.
3366
Dated 1958 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4 oz. May (or Mar.?) 1958. Built with a wet tip and a dry tip. Marked: Stuart W. Fenton, May '58 (or Mar. '58?)
(Stuart W. Fenton, retired professor of chemistry and former department head, died Feb. 4, 2006. He was 83 and a resident of North Oaks, Minn. Fenton was born April 29, 1922, in London, Ontario, Canada. From 1942 to 1945 he worked as a wartime fuel technologist for the Dominion of Canada and also studied chemistry at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where he received a bachelor of science in 1945 and a master's degree the following year. He was a research officer for Canada's National Research Council from 1945 to 1946. In 1950 Fenton received a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in 1951 joined the University of Minnesota faculty as a professor of organic chemistry. He served as chair of the chemistry department from 1960 to 1968, and retired in 1986. Many thanks to his nephew John Fenton for providing the information on seven Paul H. Young Co. rods owned by Stuart W. Fenton.)
348X (?)
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Super-Z ferrules, cigar grip, brown wraps, dual black bands on cork seat. Misprinted serial number is given as 34,8xx. My best guess is that MJK meant to write the serial number as 348x. MJK catalog 62 (1993).
3541
1958 Para 17 "8'6"" 2/2" A Paul H. Young Co. Rod "Parabolic 17 8'6"" 5-1/4 oz." Bob Summers' handwriting! Seen at www.bamburakentaja.com
3622
Midge "6'3"" 2/2" Paul H. Young Co. Detroit - Maker "6'3"" Midge 1.75 oz. HEH Line" "PHY's handwriting. Also hand-inked ""3622"" on butt and ""4 1/2 Tip Top"" on each tip. Super-Z NS ferrules. NS cap (usual stamp) & ring over cork seat. Butt & tips are all 2X2 node spacing. Reported first owned by a MI physician, then another MI resident, then Marty deSapio, now Bob Golder."
Rod #3622, Midge
Rod #3622, Midge
37XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1 3/4 oz. Varnished flamed cane, black wraps, 2-band cork seat, has orig. Young label on outside of tube. MJK catalog No. 49 (1988).
3706
1958 date. Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Serial number and date reported by "dbauerle" on Classic Fly Rod Forum July 2007.
3707
June 1958 date. Para 17 8'6" 2/2 5.20 oz. Varnished flamed cane, cap (with diagonally marked decorative edge) and knurled ring over cork seat, "Detroit" stamp on cap. Blued Super Z ferrules. Lettered in Paul H. Young's handwriting on two flats, First flat: Walter G. Mentzer - Yonkers, N.Y. Second flat: "Parabolic 17" 8 1/2' - 5.20 oz. G.B.F. Serial number 3707 on all sections, looks as though redone and relettered by someone other than Paul Young. Original bag and B-29 aluminum tube. Sold in 1981 by Hoagy B. Carmichael, then offered by Carmichael again for a client using eBay, May 2009.
3711
1958 date. Driggs 7'2" 2/2 Varnished. Built in June, 1958 (per marking). Purchased in March 1977 by "Cimarron Red" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum from Larry Madison of CT.
3734
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Clyde G. Wagner "M.M.Y. 7 1/2' - 3.57 oz, HDH" Gold ink lettering. Mortised cork reel seat, sliding band, Detroit-stamp butt cap. One tip has a slight set and a 2" repair wrap at the top end. Sold at Lang's auction for $2300 plus buyer's premium, 11/5/05.
3738
1958 date. Para 15 #3738 Shop log build date: August 6, 1958, built for Carter H. Leslie of Chicago, Illinois. 8'0" 2/2 Wet (5/64 tiptop) and dry (4-1/2/64 tiptop) tips. 4.02 oz. Cork screwlock reel seat. Was originally a varnished rod. Marked HDH - HDG Aug '58 (handwriting looks like Summers). Purchased by Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm from Art Neumann of Wanigas Rod Co. in January 7, 1971. Mac's first fish on this rod was an 8" brown trout, taken on a #16 Tups at Potter Creek. The Paul H. Young Co. "overhauled" (to use Mac's term) this rod in 1972, installing a new grip, oil finish, and new guides. This all cost $37.90, including postage. The rod case was returned with the wrong cap, and no gasket. Bob Summers put new ferrules on this rod. On July 6, 1974, Mac took rainbow trout and a 16" brown trout on this rod at the Manistee River. Hoagy Carmichael sold this rod for Mac in 1984, Mac received $850. This rod also sold at Lang's April 13, 2002 auction and then at Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction, for $2640.
3744
1958 Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3.37 oz. HDH line. Marked: Stuart W. Fenton, Oct. '58.
(Stuart W. Fenton, retired professor of chemistry and former department head, died Feb. 4, 2006. He was 83 and a resident of North Oaks, Minn. Fenton was born April 29, 1922, in London, Ontario, Canada. From 1942 to 1945 he worked as a wartime fuel technologist for the Dominion of Canada and also studied chemistry at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where he received a bachelor of science in 1945 and a master's degree the following year. He was a research officer for Canada's National Research Council from 1945 to 1946. In 1950 Fenton received a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in 1951 joined the University of Minnesota faculty as a professor of organic chemistry. He served as chair of the chemistry department from 1960 to 1968, and retired in 1986. Many thanks to his nephew John Fenton for providing the information on seven Paul H. Young Co. rods owned by Stuart W. Fenton.)
3745
1958 Spin-Master serial-numbered PHY spinning rod. Dated October 1958. Appears inked in PHY's own handwriting. 7'6", 4.10 oz. Marked Stuart W. Fenton, Oct. '58.
(Stuart W. Fenton, retired professor of chemistry and former department head, died Feb. 4, 2006. He was 83 and a resident of North Oaks, Minn. Fenton was born April 29, 1922, in London, Ontario, Canada. From 1942 to 1945 he worked as a wartime fuel technologist for the Dominion of Canada and also studied chemistry at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where he received a bachelor of science in 1945 and a master's degree the following year. He was a research officer for Canada's National Research Council from 1945 to 1946. In 1950 Fenton received a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in 1951 joined the University of Minnesota faculty as a professor of organic chemistry. He served as chair of the chemistry department from 1960 to 1968, and retired in 1986. Many thanks to his nephew John Fenton for providing the information on seven Paul H. Young Co. rods owned by Stuart W. Fenton.)
3757
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Varnished. Wet and dry tips (5/64th and 4.5/64th tips). Purchased in 1976 by "Cimarron Red" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum from Anton Udwary, Spartanburg, SC.
3768
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Both tips look short but owner says they assemble full-length w/ tip and butt.. Serial number present on tips and butt. Varnished flamed cane, screwlock reel seat over cork (black cap and outer screwlock ring, grey threaded section), inked inscription by PHY, only one flat seen: M.M.Y. 7 ½' - 3.58 oz. H.D.H. Was on eBay, now owned by dshx of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
3770
1958 Midge 6'3" 2/2 First flat: Paul Jackson. March '58 Second flat: MIDGE 6'3" 1.75 oz. H.E.H. Third flat: Paul H. Young Co. Detroit Serial #3770 on all sections. Flamed cane, oil finish, black wraps, black aluminum ferrules, no hookkeeper. Outside rod tube says: Paul E. JACKSON / Attorney At Law / National Bank Bldg. / Ypsilanti, Michigan. Owned by "mosquito" of Classic Fly Rod Forum.
3771
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Inking visible on one flat: "Parabolic 15" 8' - 3.87 oz. H.D.H. PHY's handwriting. Gold wraps. Cigar cork grip. Cap and ring, cork spacer. Photos seen at a Yahoo! Japan site: blogs.yahoo.co.jp/captainbamboo.
3773
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 "M.M.Y. Model 7 1/2' 3.63 oz. H.D.H. Paul H. Young Co. Detroit - Maker " Detroit stamp butt cap. Gold ink. eBay Feb 2007, won by uniphasian (Chuck Tinsley).
3782
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 Restored condition. Cigar grip, dual black rings over cork. Original bag, tube. Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction catalog.
3789
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-7/8 oz. Marked for HEH line. Described as new condition. Described as built by Bob Summers. Cigar grip, dual black rings over cork, enlarged cork button on butt end to keep rings from slipping off. Original bag, labeled tube. Lot #601, R.W. Oliver's Sixth Annual Summer Tackle Auction catalog, sold July 1990 for $1000 plus 10% buyers premium. I remember seeing this rod at the auction. The cork of the grip and seat was whiter than any cork I've ever seen - dead white, as though it had been bleached.
38XX
1959 Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Grip has thumbprint rest. Tan/beige wraps, Super-Z ferrules, was refinished by Bob Summers. Original bag & tube. MJK catalog 65 (1994).
3809
Princess, 7'0", 2/2, 2.9 oz., blunt-end cigar grip, HDH line. Cap and ring over cork; cap is dark, ring is bright and may or may not have originally been blued. Catalog of R.W. Oliver, Second High Roller Auction, held February 24, 1989. Rod was lot #259, sold for $6500 plus 10% buyer's premium.
3816
Built 1959, Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Dual black rings over cork (some wear to cork butt), cigar grip, black wraps with small black spiral wrap at front of grip. Black aluminum ferrules. Lettering in gold ink in PHY's handwriting: First flat: owner's name, unknown Second flat: a Paul Young Rod Third flat: "MIDGE" 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. H.E.H. Reportedly also lettered May 1959. Original satin maroon-brown bag, probably replacement tube. Offered on Rick's Rods web site, April 2009.
3823
Built 1959, Para 17 8'6" 2/2 5.25 oz. First flat: "Parabolic 17" 8 1/2 5.25 oz. G.B.F. Second flat: Fred Nehabedian Royal Oak - May '59 Third flat: a Paul Young rod 3823 on two tips; no 3823 on butt. Lettering in gold ink in PHY's handwriting. Varnished flamed cane. Blk. finish butt cap with Detroit die stamp. Cork screwlock seat. Tube with partial PHY Co. label. Bag. Offered on eBay October 2007.
383X
Boat Rod 8' 2/2 "Could be #3837. 4.63 oz., Super-Z ferrules, Wells grip, Screwlock cork seat, thumbprint grip, MJK #75 (1998)."
3836
Texas General "8'6"" 2/2" """Texas General"" 8 1/2' 5.30 oz." A Paul Young Rod "One tip marked ""Dry"" with red tipping at ferrule and tip-top; other tip ""G.B.F."" (wet). Detroit stamp butt cap. Gold ink. eBay Jan 2007"
3837
Boat Rod 8'0" 2/2 4.63 oz. Flamed cane, Super-Z ferrules, orig. thumbprint grip, screwlock cork seat, refinished by Bob Summers. MJK catalog #52 (1989)
384X
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2.80 oz. Flamed varnished cane, 2-band cork seat, slight Wells-style grip with thumbprint, blued ferrules & guides, orig. bag & tube. MJK catalog No. 77 (1999).
3855
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Summers' handwriting. Marked: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / Parabolic 15 8' 4.03 oz. HDH. Black cap and screwlock with Detroit stamp, grey metal screw threading and cork seat. Wet & dry tips, flamed cane, brown wraps. Owned by uniphasian of the Classic Fly Rod Forum, who reports: "I bought this rod from Tom Hill on 03/17/05."
3858
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 PHY's handwriting. Lettering is in gold ink. Marked first flat: L.E. Smith Second flat: "Parabolic 15" 8' 3.78(?) oz. HDH or HDG Third flat: A Paul Young Rod. (The final number of the weight in ounces is difficult to read but most likely is "8.") Wet & dry tips, die-stamped cap and ring with coin-edge knurling, Wells grip. Offered October 2007 by Carmine Lisella.
3872
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1.74 oz. Marked for HEH line. Also marked: Stuart W. Fenton
(Stuart W. Fenton, retired professor of chemistry and former department head, died Feb. 4, 2006. He was 83 and a resident of North Oaks, Minn. Fenton was born April 29, 1922, in London, Ontario, Canada. From 1942 to 1945 he worked as a wartime fuel technologist for the Dominion of Canada and also studied chemistry at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where he received a bachelor of science in 1945 and a master's degree the following year. He was a research officer for Canada's National Research Council from 1945 to 1946. In 1950 Fenton received a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in 1951 joined the University of Minnesota faculty as a professor of organic chemistry. He served as chair of the chemistry department from 1960 to 1968, and retired in 1986. Many thanks to his nephew John Fenton for providing the information on seven Paul H. Young Co. rods owned by Stuart W. Fenton.)
3876
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2.71 oz. Flamed cane, gold ink writing. For HEH line. Black anodized Super-Z- type Alu-ferrules 14/64 th, and reel seat, 2 sliding rings on cork. Normal (unventilated) grip. One tip approx. 4 inches short. Belonged to the late rodmaker and fly tier Preben Torp Jacobsen, of Denmark. Reported by Wolfram Schott, rodmaker, from Germany, who wrote to me that "The Perfectionist he bought after some correspondence with Al McClane, who advised him to do so. It was his favorite rod, and he made a few clones from its taper, for friends. He told me it had cost 80 Dollars at that time, which was a lot of money then, in 1950-odd."
3883
Bob Doerr 9'0" 2/2 5.6 oz. "A Paul Young Rod" Marked: Stuart W. Fenton 1960.
(Stuart W. Fenton, retired professor of chemistry and former department head, died Feb. 4, 2006. He was 83 and a resident of North Oaks, Minn. Fenton was born April 29, 1922, in London, Ontario, Canada. From 1942 to 1945 he worked as a wartime fuel technologist for the Dominion of Canada and also studied chemistry at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where he received a bachelor of science in 1945 and a master's degree the following year. He was a research officer for Canada's National Research Council from 1945 to 1946. In 1950 Fenton received a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in 1951 joined the University of Minnesota faculty as a professor of organic chemistry. He served as chair of the chemistry department from 1960 to 1968, and retired in 1986. Many thanks to his nephew John Fenton for providing the information on seven Paul H. Young Co. rods owned by Stuart W. Fenton.)
3888
unknown "March 14, 1960. Reported last rod built during PHY's lifetime."
3889
unknown "May 21, 1960. Reported first rod built after PHY's death."
3890
Para 15 8' 2/2 K.T. Keller Model. 4 oz. Super-Z ferrules, screwlock cork seat, cigar grip, resourcinol glue. Wet & dry tips, flamed cane. MJK catalog, Fall 1984.
3895
Midge 6'3" 2/2 A Paul H Young Co. Rod "Midge 6'3" 1 3/4 oz. H.E.H." Circa 1960. Sold May 2007 on eBay by Hoagy B. Carmichael, bought by Art Czabaniuk. "...number 3895, three numbers after Young stopped working at the shop (#3892 according to M. Keane), which was a month before he died." Summers' handwriting in gold ink. Aluminum ferrules.
39XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Flamed, tan/gold wraps, sliding band cork seat. MJK catalog no. 47 (1987).
39XX
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 "very low serial number 39XX," appears to be Summers' writing (Carmine Lisella, #28, Spring 2007. 2.67 oz. cigar grip w/ thumb impression, cork dual ring seat, Super-Z's, 1960-61?, asked $3200.
3927
1960 Bobby Doerr, 9'0", 2/2, 6 oz., built with removable extension butt (present), Super-Z ferrules, half Wells grip, screwlock cork seat, has owner's name and 1960 date in ink, bag and tube. Catalog of R.W. Oliver, Second High Roller Auction, held February 24, 1989. Rod was lot #266, sold for $1500 plus 10% buyer's premium.
3947
Spin Rod, 7'6", 2/2 (original spinning rod tip plus a later fly rod tip built by Bob Summers). Varnished, flamed cane. Dual black rings, marked with Detroit die-stamp, over long, straight cork grip. Simple loop hookkeeper. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting, First Flat: John W. Chew Second Flat: 7'6" 14/64 FER. 8/64 tip top 4.22 oz Third flat: Paul H. Young Co. Detroit Mich. Both tips are serial numbered. Offered on eBay by "thomaswoodward," October 2009.
3950
1961 Perfectionist 7'6" 2/3 January 1961 2.60 oz. Built with three original tips, serial number on butt and all three tips. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting. First flat: A Paul H. Young Fly Rod Second flat: Glenn Snider Jan 20 1961 Third flat: Perfectionist 71/2 ft. 2.20 oz. Varnished flamed cane, dual rings over cork, gold wraps, original bag and tube. Codella web site Nov. 2007. Owned by mosquito of Classic Fly Rod Forum.
3953
1961 Spin Master 7'2", 2/1, serial-numbered PHY Co. spinning rod. Varnished flamed cane, inked on two flats, First flat: Spin Master 7'2" 3.55 oz. Second flat: Paul H. Young Co. Det. Mich. Dual black rings over cork, both rings marked with "Detroit" stamp, copper brown wraps, bag and tube. Offered on Bob Summers' web site, December 2008.
3969
1961 Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 May 1961. 3.4 oz. Flamed cane, Wells grip, sliding band cork seat. Rod was rewrapped due to "ghosting" of original thread wraps. MJK catalog 64 and 65 (1994)
3988
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2.67 oz. Super-Z ferrules. Garrison-style grip w/thumb flat, "reportedly built by Paul himself, but finished just after his death by the talented hands of Bob Summers at the Young company..." (MJK) No documentation for claim. MJK catalog 62 (1993), and also offered in MJK catalog 74 (1998).
3998
1961 Boat Rod 8'0" 2/2 4.47 oz. Dated July 6, 1961. Wet and dry tips. Blk. finished screwlock cork seat, Wells grip, tan wraps, Super-Z ferrules, dry fly tip has distinct resourcinol glue lines at edges, unlike wet tip and butt. MJK catalog 59 (1992) and 60 (1992).
4XXX
Midge 6'3" 2/2" 1-3/4 oz. Flamed cane, "rather attractive tapered Ritz-style grip." Cork sliding band seat, tan-gold wraps. MJK catalog No. 44 (1986).
40XX
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2.75 oz. Gold/tan wraps, sliding band cork seat "has been inletted a bit deeper than usual, easily corrected" (?). MJK catalog no. 47 (1987).
4009
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2.79 oz. Does not have Super-Z ferrules. Cigar/Ritz grip, 2-band cork seat, tan wraps, previous owner's name in ink, one tip though intact has a repairable fracture 6 inches from tip top, bag and tube. Catalog of R.W. Oliver, Second High Roller Auction, held February 24, 1989. Rod was lot #262, sold for $1500 plus 10% buyer's premium.
4017
Para 17 8'6" 2/2 5.45 oz. Flamed varnished cane, black screwlock cork seat, Super-Z ferrules, original bag & tube. Lot #15, R.W. Oliver's Fifth Annual Summer Auction, July 8, 1989, sold for $900. plus 10% buyers premium.
4020
1962 Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 First flat: George Beall Feb. 21, 1962 Second flat: Martha Marie Model 7 1/2' 3.4 oz. Third flat: Paul H. Young Co. Built for George Beall, believed to have been a US ambassador and member of Charles Ritz's International Fario Club, and known to have been an expatriate American who lived in southern France, fished in the Pyrenees and northern Spain, and authored magazine articles about the early fly fishing history of Spain. Detroit stamp butt cap. Black ink. Butt 2X2 node spacing, one tip 2X2, one tip 3X3. Rod is known to have been refinished at least three times: once by Lyle Dickerson, and twice (in 1990 and 2009) by Bob Summers, who added a replacement cork grip during the most recent refinish (the cork reel seat is original). Owned since 1990 by quashnet of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
Rod #4020, Martha Marie, with replacement grip added in 2009
Rod #4020, Martha Marie
4030
Midge 6'3" 2/2" Marked 1-3/4 oz., "rod weighs 2 oz. on our digital scale." Original bag & tube. Rick's Rods web site, 2007.
403X
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Dry and wet tips. Super-Z ferrules, screwlock cork seat, Wells grip, tan-gold wraps, flamed varnished cane, nylon bag, orig. tube. "...rod weighs 3.80 oz. w/DF tip & 4 oz. w/the more powerful wet tip... has orig. owners name + Young data inscribed on shaft..." MJK catalog No. 89 (2005).
4034
Rare Paul H. Young Spin / Fly Combo Rod, 8'0, was 2/1, now 2/2 with extra tip built by Bob Summers, 5.22 oz. Built 1962. Flamed varnished cane, brown wraps, spinning guides, all original. Inked on two flats, First flat: "Spin-Master" 8 FT 5.22 oz. Second flat: a Paul H. Young Co. rod Bob Summers estimates that no more than ten of these combination rods were made (see rod #2112 for another combo rod). For spinning, up to 8 lb line; for fly fishing, a DT6 fly line. Non-original bag. The adjustable-length tube may be original. Tubes of this type were sold at the Paul H. Young Co during the 1960's. Offered for $875 on Bob Summers' web site, December 2008. For Scott Davis, the purchaser, Bob Summers built an additional tip. Unlike the original tip (which is described as casting a fly line well, in spite of the spinning guides), the new tip was fitted with snake guides, and was signed and dated as a new tip by Summers. Offered for $1200, August 2009, Bill McRoy's tackle catalog. Offered for $1400, September 2009, Bob Summers' web site.
Rod #4034 Spin/Fly
4035
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4.09 oz. Notes from original owner: "Note this rod was purchased by me on April 24, 1962. I know that because I had the screw cap for the rod tube engraved , "W___ Z___ Apr 24, 1962." I was 21 years old when I purchased this rod and I drove from Chicago to Detroit to pick it up and drove back the same day. I can still remember meeting Mrs. Young and Jack Young when I went to the store and got the rod. 2pc-2tips, one tip 5/64 and the second tip is 41/2/64. The rod is signed on the 8'-4.09oz. It has a downlocking screw lock reel seat which is stamped P H Young on the cap. Very fine original condition without any set in the butt or the tips. Original varnish is very good condition with original brown silk bag and original aluminum rod tube."
4036
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 R.H. Hollister "13-12/64"" anodized aluminum step-down ferrules. Aluminum slip rings. 2.8 oz. Summers-built. Owned by Philip Anderson, Madison, WI. Repairs to one tip. Butt 2X2 spacing, both tips 3X2X1 (each tip has one spline displaced relative to its mates).
4083
1962 Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 First flat: Richard Drukker Second flat: Martha Marie 7 1/2' 3.74 oz. Third flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Lightly flamed, black screwlock cork seat, Super-Z blued ferrules, antique gold thread. reel seat length is 3-5/8". Length of the cork grip alone is 6-3/8". Miked and found to have a regressive taper and smooth but distinctly parabolic action. Owned at one time by Scott Davis of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
404X
Para 16 8'6" 2/2 5.44 oz. Flamed cane, dark olive/bronze wraps, Super-Z ferrules, Wells grip, screwlock cork seat, the extension butt is missing, original bag, replacement tube. MJK catalog No. 80 (2000). MJK stated there were less than twenty Para 16's listed in the original PHY records.
4041?
Midge 6'3" 2/1 1.86 oz. 1 tip very short. Not known whether second tip existed. eBay Feb 2007
4064
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Revarnished. Original bag, tube. Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction catalog.
4084
Texas General 8'6" 2/2 "excellent original condition": Bill McElroy Fall 2007 tackle list.
4086
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 3.2 oz. Purchased 1963. Owned by W___ Z___. Owner's notes: "This rod was purchased by me the following year, 1963, after I purchased the first rod, the Para 15 [see #4035]. 2pc-2tips and both tips are 41/2/64. The rod is signed 7'-2", 3.2oz. It has a downlocking screwlocking reelseat which is stamped P H Young on the cap. Rod is essentially in mint condition. No sets and beautiful original varnish with original brown silk bag and original aluminum rod tube."
4087
Texas General 8'6" 2/2 5.36 oz. Purchased 1963. Wet and dry tips. Owned by W___ Z___. Owner's notes: "This rod and the Driggs [see #4086] were purchased by me the following year, 1963, after I purchased the first rod, the Para 15 [see #4035]. Note the consecutive serial numbers on both rods. 2pc-2tips, one tip is a wet tip@6/64 and the second tip is 5/64 and is for dry fly work. The rod is signed 81/2'-5.36oz. It has a downlocking reelseat which is stamped P H Young on the cap. This rod is in essentially mint condition. No sets and beautiful original varnish with original brown silk bag and original aluminum rod tube."
4088
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2.68 oz. Dual black rings over cork. Mint condition with original cork ferrule plug, bag, tube. Lot #9, R.W. Oliver's Fifth Annual Summer Auction, July 8, 1989.
4097
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4.19 oz. K.T. Keller model. Wet and dry tips. Flamed cane, gold ink writing. Black anodized Super-Z- type Alu-ferrules 17/64 th. Black anodized screwlock reel seat. Belonged to the late rodmaker and fly tier Preben Torp Jacobsen, of Denmark. Reported by Wolfram Schott, rodmaker, from Germany.
4098
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4.12 oz. Flamed cane, black ink writing. First line: "Parabolic 15" 8 FT. 4.12 oz. Second line: a Paul H. Young Co. rod Definitely not Summers' writing; believe it is by Jack Young. Black anodized screwlock reel seat, cork spacer. Half wells grip. Gold wraps. Orig. bag & tube. Seen at the Corsetti booth, Lang's tackle show in Boxborough, MA, Nov. 2007. Also offered in Bob Corsetti's catalog #44 (Fall 2007) for $2750. Also offered in Bill McRoy's catalog (Fall 2008, Chelsea, MI) for $3095, then offered in Bill McRoy's catalog (April 2009) for $2950.
Rod #4098, Para 15
41XX
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3.7 oz. Screwlock cork seat, Wells grip, Super-Z ferrules, orig. bag & tube. MJK catalog no. 73 (1997).
4102
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Marked: Dave Jardine / M.M.Y. Model 7'6" - 3.72 oz. / A Paul H. Young Co. Rod. Lettering by Jack Young. Blk. Alum. Screwlock cork seat into stamped cap. Straight-taper cork grip. Gold silk, bronzed snakes. Deeply-flamed cane. Original bag and tube. Adams Angling catalog 32 (1998).
4104
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Marked: "Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. / A Paul H. Young Co. Rod on two flats. Black anodized aluminum ferrules, black dual rings over cork, Wells grip. Original bag, tube. I have seen this rod offered for public sale three times. R.W. Oliver, first High Rollers auction February 26, 1988, Marlborough, MA, lot 152; Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction catalog, lot 173 (sold for $2200 including buyer's premium) ; offered in Adams Angling catalog 51 (2004).
4107
Midge 6'3" 2/2 One tip 7-1/2" short, replacement all-metal cap & ring reel seat, at Lang's April 13, 2002 auction. Tired-looking rod sold for $400.
4116
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz., built December 1963, varnished flamed cane, black dual rings over cork seat, lightweight aluminum ferrules, probably original bag and tube. Built by Bob Summers, inked in his handwriting. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Midge 6'3" 1.75 oz. The name of the first owner, Dwayne Wood (deceased), is also inked on the rod in Bob's hand. Mr. Wood was from Beaverton, MI and purchased the rod directly from the Young shop. Reported by Jim Bresko of Coldwater Collectibles.
4121
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Marked: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / "Martha Marie" / 7'6" 3 ¾ oz. Lettering by Bob Summers. Blk. Alum. Screwlock cork seat into stamped cap. Half-wells grip. Gold silk, bronzed snakes. Deeply-flamed cane.
4124
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3.55 oz. Wells grip, sliding band cork seat, oil finish, flamed cane, orig. nylon bag & tube. MJK Catalog No. 59 (1992) and No. 66 (1994).
4127
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Purchased 1964. Owned by W___ Z___. Owner's notes: "This rod was purchased by me in 1964. 2pc-2tips I do not know the size of the tips, however they are whatever the standard size was for this rod. Aluminum ferrules and the reel seat is a featherweight all cork with two sliding bands. Very good condition without any sets and has beautiful original varnish. Original brown silk bag and original aluminum rod tube. Some wear on the cork handle because I have fished this rod quit a bit during the summer months."
4128
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Purchased 1964. Owned by W___ Z___. Owner's notes: "This rod was purchased by me, along with the Perfectionist [#4127] in 1964. Again note the consecutive serial numbers on these last two rods [see #4086 and #4087]. 2pc-2tips, one wet tip at 5/64 and the other is a dry tip at 41/2/64. The rod is signed 8'-4.08 oz. Downlocking reelseat stamped P H Young. Essentially mint condition. This rod has never been fished, although it has been cast on the lawn a few times."
4131
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4 oz. Wet and dry tips. Super-Z ferrules. Half Wells grip, blk. screwlock over cork seat, tan wraps, previous owner's name in ink, bag and tube. Catalog of R.W. Oliver, Second High Roller Auction, held February 24, 1989. Rod was lot #263, sold for $2000 plus 10% buyer's premium.
4137
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 A heavyweight version marked "4.27 oz." reportedly built with a .020" thicker butt than usual. Special deluxe wraps, wet and dry tips, black screwlock cork reel seat, orig. brown nylon bag & tube. MJK Catalog no. 59 (1992) and 60 (1992).
4155
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Butt and one full length tip are of dark flamed cane. Second tip is 3-1/2" short and is lighter cane. Cork seat and grip, maroon wraps, bronzed ferrules. Inked on three flats, First flat: "Tony Payson" Second flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Third flat: Midge 6'3" 1 3/4 oz Sold by Hoagy B. Carmichael years ago to the present owner, "JimP" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
4164
Midge, 6'3", 2/2, 1-3/4 oz., varnished flamed cane, black dual rings over cork seat, 5-1/2" cork grip, aluminum ferrules, orig. bag, tube. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting. Purchased by Dave Lyons of the Classic Fly Rod Forum from Bob Summers.
4176
Boat Rod, 8'0", 2/2, 4-1/2 oz. Varnished flamed cane, black screwlock seat over cork, half Wells grip, gold/bronze wraps. Lettered in Bob Summers' handwriting on two flats. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Boat Rod 8' 4 1/2 oz. Butt and both tips are also lettered #4176.
#4176 Boat Rod
4187
Driggs 7'2" Owned by "lmcevers", Classic Fly Rod Forum. No other info.
4200
Martha Marie 7'6" Marked: A Paul H Young Rod / "Martha Marie" Model 7'6" 3.70 oz. CK Lively' written on 4th flat in different hand. Originally built for angling author Chauncy Lively. A Dymo label still on the tube has a Grayling, MI address where Chauncy and Marion Lively had a house and would fish with the Paul and Martha Marie Young. Another Dymo label on the cap reads "7 1/2' M.M." Now owned by Spruce Grouse of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
42XX
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 3 oz. (heavier than usual), varnished, flamed cane, golden-tan wraps, cork sliding band seat, cigar grip, Super-Z ferrules, orig. bag & tube. MJK Catalog No. 44 (1986). A rod of the same description, which may be this same rod, was listed in MJK Catalog No. 58 (1991).
42XX
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 with 0.275" diameter butt, varnished, flamed cane, bronze wraps with hi-arc guides, cork dual band seat, Wells grip, blued Super-Z ferrules, incorrect bag, orig. tube. Consecutively numbered with next rod. MJK Catalog No. 78 (1999).
42XX
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/1 with 0.275" diameter butt, varnished, flamed cane, bronze wraps with hi-arc guides, cork dual band seat, Wells grip, blued Super-Z ferrules, replaced bag, Young tube is 2" too long. Consecutively numbered with previous rod, of which it is an exact duplicate, except that there is one tip, not two. Has tiny repair to cork butt. MJK Catalog No. 78 (1999).
4223
Perfectionist 7'6". Thanks to Richard Shelton.
4226
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Super-Z ferrules, tan wraps, cigar grip, cork dual band reel seat, appears from photo to be varnished, flamed cane and to have original bag & probably original tube. Seen September 2008 on North West Classic Tackle web site, offered for $4450.
4227
Year 1965 Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Butt measurement: 0.245" Varnished, dual band reel seat. Build date: December 10, 1965, for Martin Emory of New York. Purchased from Martin J. Keane for $150 by Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm on June 29, 1971, received July 6, 1971. Mac sent the rod to the PHY Co. shop for ferrule straightening. It was returned to Mac with his name inscribed - no charge for the work. Mac first fished the rod on September 11, 1971 and got three trout on a #16 Wonder Bug. In July 1975 Mac installed a hookkeeper on the rod, worked on the female ferrule, and also carved a thumb indentation in the grip. Mac sold this Midge on September 20, 2000 for $2200.
4245
Para 17 8'6" 2/2 Flamed cane, screwlock cork reel seat, Wells grip, marked "5.50 oz." MJK Catalog No. 55 (1990).
4288
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Handwriting on two flats; First Flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second Flat: Midge 6'3" 1 3/4 oz. Serial number 4288 is on the flat just below the stripper guide, and on each of the two tips, just above the male ferrule. Original bag and tube. "Perry" wrote: "This was my first bamboo rod. The guy I got it from said he bought it at the Young shop in Detroit, he thought in the 60's, and then he never used it. I bought it (I would be embarrassed to name the price I paid) in 1982." Reported by "Perry", Classic Fly Rod Forum, December 2006.
43XX
1966 Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Varnished, flamed cane; Wells grip, blk. finished screwlock cork seat, blued Super-Z ferrules, tan/gold wraps. Sold 12/8/66 (December 8, 1966). MJK catalog No. 63 (1993).
43XX
1967 Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Super-Z ferrules, tan wraps, cigar grip, cork dual band reel seat, orig. bag & tube. Sold 1/3/67 (January 3, 1967). MJK Catalog No. 63 (1993).
43XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Varnished, flamed cane, bronze/tan wraps, cigar grip, cork sliding band reel seat, blued Super-Z ferrules, orig. bag & tube. MJK Catalog No. 65 (1994) and No. 66 (1994). Descriptions are not quite the same in the two catalogs, but still I think it is the same rod. Rod photo in catalog 65.
43XX
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Varnished flamed cane; ventilated grip with thumbprint flat, dual ring cork seat, golden bronze wraps. MJK catalog No. 49 (1988). This may be the same #43XX Perfectionist with similar characteristics but no weight given, described as a "Deluxe" rod with very darkly flamed cane and "silver blued ferrules" with "slightly more powerful tips for #5 line," listed in MJK catalog No. 52 (1989).
43XX
1967 Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Oil finish, flamed cane; ventilated Wells grip with thumbprint flat, sliding band cork seat. Sold 4/15/67 (April 15, 1967). MJK catalog No. 63 (1993).
43XX
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Wet and dry tips. Original bag and tube. "Vintage Tackle" catalog printed by Frederick E. Grafeld, Secaucus, NJ, Spring 1988.
4317
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Marked: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / "Martha Marie" Model 7'6" 3 5/8 oz. Lettering by Bob Summers. Blk. Alum. Screwlock cork seat into stamped cap. Half-wells grip. Gold silk, bronzed snakes. Deeply-flamed varnished cane. Adams Angling cat. 32 (1998).
4327
Midge 6'3" 2/2" 1-3/4 oz. Was listed on Bud Frasca's Northwest Tackle web site. August 2007: listed on Rick Sorenson's West Slope Classic Fly tackle site, initially asked $4250., sold for $3800. Marked: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. Replacement bag & original tube. Short Super-Z ferrules, Blk. alum. rings over cork, flamed cane. Summers' handwriting.
4329
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Marked: First Flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second Flat: Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. #4329 lettered near stripper guide on butt, and at base of male ferrule on each tip. Summers' handwriting. Gold wraps. Photos seen at a Yahoo! Japan site: blogs.yahoo.co.jp/captainbamboo.
4330
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Listed on Bud Frasca's Northwest Tackle web site, September 2007, offered for $4550. Flamed cane, dual ring cork seat, bag and tube.
4331
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Varnished, flamed cane, gold/bronze wraps, blued aluminum ferrules, black dual-bands over cork seat, cigar grip tapers to the cane in front,. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting. First Flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second Flat: Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. The serial number #4331 is lettered near stripper guide on butt, and at base of male ferrule on each tip. Cloth bag with darker piping, Champion-style tube. Offered for $4800 on Bob Summers' web site, October 2009.
4339
Perfectionist. Original owner was Bob Church, in 1966 or 1967 (see rod #4378). Bob Church was the real estate agent who found the commercial property that the Paul H. Young Co. moved into when the company moved from the Detroit area to Traverse City, MI. Bob Church also wrote a book titled Fly Fishing the Manistee (undated, I have seen the publication date cited as 1976) in which Church talks about Bob Summers and Paul Young. Present owner received rod #4339 from Bob Church in 1969 or 1970. Bob Summers rebuilt #4339 to original specs in 1980. Varnished cane. Half Wells grip, dual rings over cork, Super-Z ferrules. First flat: A Paul H.Young Co. Rod Second flat - Perfectionist 7' 6'' 2 1/2 oz HEH
4340
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4 oz. Cigar grip, downlocking screwlock seat, cork spacer. Wet & dry tips, each separately marked, original bag and tube (with no cap). Lot #12, R.W. Oliver's Fifth Annual Summer Auction, July 8, 1989, sold for $1100. plus 10% buyers premium.
4351
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Cigar grip, downlocking screwlock seat, cork spacer. Wet & dry tips. Dry tip has red spiral wrap at ferrule and tip. Summers' handwriting. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: "Parabolic 15" 8' 4 oz. eBay March 2007. In 2008, seen at http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/captainbamboo/folder/545358.html, a Japanese site.
435X
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Consecutive serial number to Perfectionist below; don't know order. Dark, flamed cane, gold/bronze wraps, blued lightweight ferrules, dual-band cork seat, cigar grip, 1-3/4 oz. MJK catalog no. 72 (1997).
435X
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Consecutive serial number to Midge above; don't know order. Dark, flamed cane, tan/bronze wraps, blued lightweight ferrules, 0.275" butt measurement, tips 1" and 2-3/4" short. MJK catalog no. 72 (1997).
4357
1966? Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Gold/tan wraps, black ferrules, 5" cigar grip, dual-band cork seat. MJK No. 62 (1993). Owned by Kaneman1 of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
4363
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3-1/2 oz. Oil finish, flamed cane, ventilated wells grip w/thumbprint, screwlock cork seat, orig. nylon bag & tube. MJK Catalog No. 59 (1992).
4369
Para 15 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, 15 ferrule, built for Henry Coe, NY (a location on Long Island?). From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4370
1967 date. Midge 6'3", reel seat: "2 band," ferrule 12, tiptop 4-1/2, thread 319, built for Harry Murray, Edinburg, VA, almost certainly the fly fishing author. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4371
1967 date. Para 15 8'0" 2/2, original maroon bag and tube. Summers' inked writing. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Parabolic 15 8 FT 4 oz. Offered by Bob Summers August 2007 for $3500. Offered on ebay by Hoagy B. carmichael ("lordfly") July 2008. Black screwlock cork seat, ferrule 15, thread 319, built for A.J. Crielo (?) who also bought #4397, a Perfectionist. Info about original owner from PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4372
1967 date. Martha Marie 7'6", reel seat: screwlock, ferrule 14, thread 319, original owner was from Rochester, NY. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney." This must be the rod listed as "437X" in two MJK catalogs: first, MJK catalog 51 (1989), Martha Marie 7-1/2' 2/2 3-3/4 oz. "2nd tip custom matched by Todd Young," Super-Z ferrules, Wells grip, screwlock cork seat, tan-green wraps, black fittings, blued guides, original tube, replacement bag - and then MJK catalog 80 (2000) which says of this "darkly flamed rod" that the "second tip is orig. Young replacement by company due to damage in shipping, its bronze-like wraps are slightly darker."
4373
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Super-Z ferrules, size 14; cigar grip, 2-band cork seat, tan wraps (from the ledger, the thread was #319), about mint in bag and tube. Catalog of R.W. Oliver, Second High Roller Auction, held February 24, 1989. Rod was lot #261, sold for $3500 plus 10% buyer's premium. On the PHY Co. ledger page #36 (courtesy "thorney"), this rod is shown as originally built for Ken Thomas of Yorktown, NY. A Perfectionist listed in MJK catalog 86 (2003) as Perfectionist #437X, 7-1/2' 2/2 2-1/2 oz. 0.275" butt Sold August 1967, Super-Z ferrules, cigar grip, 2-band cork seat, varnished, flamed, original bag & tube must be either #4373 or #4377.
4374
Midge 6'3", reel seat: "2 band," ferrule 12 tiptop 4-1/2, built for Dr. C. Hall Los Angeles, CA. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4375
Para 15 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, ferrule 15, tiptop 5/64, built for Howard Goldberg, NY, NY. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4376
Midge 6'3", reel seat: "2 band," ferrule 12, tiptop 4-1/2, built for Dr. Cryan (?). From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4377
1967 date: Perfectionist 7'6", reel seat: "2 band," ferrule 14, built for Frank M. Stoll, California. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney." A Perfectionist listed in MJK catalog 86 (2003) as Perfectionist #437X, 7-1/2' 2/2 2-1/2 oz. 0.275" butt Sold August 1967, Super-Z ferrules, cigar grip, 2-band cork seat, varnished, flamed, original bag & tube must be either #4373 or #4377.
4378
1967 date. Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Inked on three flats, first flat: Malcolm B. Seaholm Second flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Third flat: Parabolic 15 8' 4 oz. Butt and both tips are all inked: #4378. Built by Bob Summers, finish date from ledger is September 20, 1967. Built for Bob Church of Mancelona, Michigan, who was the real estate agent who found the commercial property that the Paul H. Young Co. moved into when the company moved from the Detroit area to Traverse City, MI. Bob Church also wrote a book titled Fly Fishing the Manistee (undated, I have seen the publication date cited as 1976) in which Church talks about Bob Summers and Paul Young. Rod was then owned by Malcolm B. ("Mac") Seaholm, whose name is now inked on the rod. On July 1, 1974, Mac acquired the rod in trade for a PHY Boat Rod and an Orvis Madison (Mac said he "detested" the Orvis, so he felt that he got a good deal). The rod tube was damaged, so Mac got a new tube. The rod has a replacement bag, in Royal Stewart plaid fabric. Since he did not like the brown satin Young bags of that time, Mac had rod bags specially made. Each model of Young rod was put in a different Tartan plaid bag. All Mac's Para 15 rods were put in Royal Stewart bags. Mac's first fish caught on this rod was a "pretty" twelve-inch brown trout from the Main Branch of the Au Sable, taken on a caddis dry fly. On July 5, 1974, Mac caught ten trout, including brown trout of 15" and 17", and rainbow trout of 14" and 16". In July 1974, Bob Summers put the oil finish, new guides, and attended to the ferrules on this rod. There was flaking on the ferrule; it was varnished. Summers probably also removed Bob Church's name from the rod and put Mac Seaholm's name on it at that time. On March 22, 1976, Bob Summers repaired the ferrule by removal, making a new disk, soldering the disk in place, and replacing ferrule. This cost $9.50. Rod #4378 is now owned by Bob Golder ("quashnet" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum). Ventilated half Wells grip, originally a varnished rod but now oil finish, ferrule 15/64, two "wet" parabolic tips each has a 5/64 tiptop, black screwlock cork seat. Bob Summers told me that this rod was built for night fishing for big brown trout on the Manistee River, Michigan. Interestingly, the PHY shop ledger lists the reel seat of #4378 as "2-band" but it is a screwlock seat! Seat looks original, but it could have been changed on request of or by its second owner, "Mac" Seaholm, who made similar modifications to many of his rods. However, the ledger entry may be incorrect, because a contemporary of Bob Church, who fished with him and who cast this rod many years ago, told me that the screwlock cork seat is indeed original. Bob Church died in 1980.
Rod #4378, Para 15
4379
1967 date. Midge 6'3", reel seat: dual band. Ferrule 12, built for Stan Erusoek (?), Michigan. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4380
1967 date. Boat Rod 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, built for M.P___(?), Alabama, 9/20/67.
4381
1967 date. Martha Marie 7'6", reel seat: screwlock, built for F. Carter, Jr. of Florida, 9/20/67.
4382
1967 date. Para 15 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, tiptop measurement not in records, built for Charles Claxton, Philadelphia, PA
4383
1967 date. Martha Marie 7'6", reel seat: screwlock, no original owner name shown on the PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4384
1967 date. Midge 6'3", reel seat: dual band, ferrule 12, built for Edward C____, looks like Bronx, NY for an address. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney." Midge #4384 was offered at Lang's April 13, 2002 fishing tackle auction, at that time described as having a reset female Super-Z ferrule, a repair to one tip, and some varnish & writing off the butt end.
4385
1967 date. Perfectionist 7'6", reel seat: 2 band, ferrule 14, thread: 319, built for Ralph Dougherty, M_________, PA. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4386
1967 date. Perfectionist 7'6", reel seat: 2 band, ferrule: 14, thread: 319, built for F.A. Bearsley, PA (?).From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4387 (see 4389)
Midge 6'3", reel seat: 2 band, ferrule: 12, thread: 319, built for Tim Monaghan (no address). The PHY Co. ledger shows that Midge #4387 was sold to a Tim Monaghan and Midge #4389 to a Joe Monaghan (brothers? father and son?). A Midge that has been legitimately offered on eBay by "thorney" has the butt section of #4389 and both tips of #4387. Status of the #4387 butt and #4389 tips is unknown.
4388
Para 15 8'0" reel seat: screwlock, ferrule: 15, thread 319, no original owner name or address is listed. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4389 (see 4387)
Midge 6'3" reel seat: "2 band," ferrule: 12, thread: 319, built for Joe Monaghan (no address). Midge ferrules appear to be aluminum. The PHY Co. ledger shows that Midge #4387 was sold to a Tim Monaghan and Midge #4389 to a Joe Monaghan (brothers? father and son?). A Midge that has been legitimately offered on eBay in 2008 by "thorney"has the butt section of #4389 and both tips of #4387. Status of the #4387 butt and #4389 tips is unknown. Fake eBay auctions for #4389 appeared April 2007 and October 2007.
4390
Martha Marie, 7'6", reel seat: screwlock, ferrule 14, thread: 319, built for Sam Simor___(?), "Sag. Mich." (Saginaw, MI?). From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4391
1967 date. Para 15, 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, ferrule 15, thread: 319, built for Torrance Parker (?), "Cal." (California?). From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4392
1967 date. Midge 6'3" reel seat: "2 band," ferrule: 12, thread: 319, built for Charles Peters of Massachusetts. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4393
1967 date. Martha Marie, 7'6", reel seat: screwlock, thread: 319, built for Dr. Rob. Millan, Middleton, Ohio (?).From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4394
1967 date. Para 15, 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, ferrule 15, thread: 319, built for Gus Goetz (?), Michigan. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4395
1967 date. Para 15, 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, ferrule 15, thread: 319, built for Dr. Lar. M____(?), Buffalo, NY. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4396
1967 date. Midge 6'3" reel seat: "2 band," ferrule: 12, thread: 319, built for Wm. Adams, Rutherford, NJ(?).From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4397
1967 date. Perfectionist 7'6" reel seat: "2 band," ferrule: 14, thread: 319, originally built for A.J. Crielo(?) of Downers Grove, IL, who also bought #4371, a Para 15. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney." Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Varnished, flamed cane; 5-3/8" cigar grip, black dual rings over cork reel seat, gold/tan wraps, measures 0.276" at butt wrap over varnish, orig. bag and tube. Inked handwriting is by Bob Summers, in two lines. First: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second: Perfectionist 7'6" 2 ½ oz. Owned by Dave Lyons of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
4398
1967 date. Perfectionist 7'6" reel seat: "2 band," ferrule: 14, thread: 319, built for ___ ___ of Herkimer, NY. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney." Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Non-ventilated grip, varnished finish. Bought from Thomas & Thomas, July 1978. Price was $395. Cimarron Red from Classic Fly Fishing Forum.
4399
1967 date. Para 15 8'0", reel seat: screwlock, ferrule 15, thread: 319, built for Paul F. _____. From PHY Co. ledger page, courtesy "thorney."
4400
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Varnished flamed cane, Super-Z ferrules, tan/bronze wraps, cigar grip with single thumb depression, dual-bands (dark) over cork seat. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting, first flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Midge (can't see the rest of the line in photo provided). Reported by Chris Moore.
#4400
44XX
1968 Midge 6'3" 2/2 Varnished flamed cane, Super-Z ferrules, tan/bronze wraps, cigar grip, sliding band cork seat. Sold 2/20/68 (February 20, 1968). MJK Catalog No. 63 (1993).
44XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Varnished med.-dark flamed cane, original special-design truncated Super-Z ferrules, olive/tan wraps, cigar grip, sliding band cork seat (described as "2 tiny black bands"), 2X2 node placement, bag & tube. MJK Catalog No. 82 (2001).
44XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Varnished, very dark flamed cane, blued Super-Z ferrules, gold-bronze wraps, cigar grip is described as "good sized," cork seat is described as "the ususal 2-band cork seat." MJK Catalog No. 67 (1995).
44XX
1968 Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Varnished flamed cane, tan/bronze wraps. Sold 2/20/68 (February 20, 1968). One of the two tips is 3-1/2" short. MJK Catalog No. 64 (1994).
44XX
Circa 1968 Para 15 8' 2/2 4 oz. flamed cane, gold wraps, cigar grip, screwlock seat, Detroit die-stamp, Super-Z ferrules, "inscriptions clear and absolute" but unfortunately not recorded, "has seen much fishing on the DeBruce club water" (private trout club on the Willewemoc River, New York). Carmine Lisella's Jordan-Mills Rod Co. catalog no. 24 (Spring 2005).
4410
1968 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 A Paul H Young Co. Rod Parabolic 15 8' 4 oz. Offered June 2007 on eBay. Dark flamed cane, wet and dry tip, screwlock cork seat, brown wraps, resourcinol glue on all sections. Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. In 2008, was restored to as new condition by Bob Summers.
4412
Para 15. Original owner was from PA. Present owner traded rod with Len Codella, Anglers Den in New Jersey, 1971 or 1972. Varnished cane, dual rings over cork, wet and dry tips (5/64 & 4 1/2 tiptops), Super-Z ferrules. After a complete rebuild in 1973, "ventilated" half-Wells grip, screwlock wood reel seat, non-hooded cap, wood exposed. First flat, present owner's name - ''Chuck Gregwer'' Second flat ''A Paul H. Young Rod Co. Rod'' - Rebuild 1973 RW Summers Co. - 3rd Flat - Parabolic 15 8' 4 oz .
4423
Driggs, 7'2", 2/2, varnished, flamed cane. cigar grip, black screwlock cork seat, "Detroit" stamp on cap. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting on three lines. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: "Driggs Model'' Third Flat: 7'2" 2 7/8 oz . Truncated Super-Z ferrules. Orig. tube, bag. Mint condition. Offered by Rick Sorensen on West Slope Classic Fly Tackle web site, February 2009.
443X
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Special truncated blued Super-Z ferrules. Varnished flamed cane, tan/bronze wraps, cigar grip, sliding band cork seat. MJK catalog No. 79 (1999).
4434
Driggs, 7'2", 2/2, varnished, heavily flamed cane. 5-1/4" cigar grip, black dual rings over cork seat. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting. Truncated Super-Z ferrules. Orig. tube, bag. New and unfished condition, bought from an estate by Dave Lyons of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
Rod #4434, Driggs
4448
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Purchased from Bill McRoy's catalog by nccavalier of the Classic Fly Rod Forum. Sold as a one-owner rod refinished in 1988 by Bob Summers and unfished since.
4449
1968 Midge 6'3" 2/2 Offered by Bob Summers' web site, May 2007. Short ferrules.
4450
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat:Midge 6'3" 1 3/4 oz. Varnished, flamed cane, dual black rings over cork, original bag, tube. Offered for $4000 by John Pickard, seen at Lang's tackle show, Nov. 2007.
4460
Texan 8'6" 2/2 Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: "The Texan" 8'6" 4.85 oz. Varnished flamed cane, screwlock cork seat, cigar grip, bag & tube. Offered on eBay October 2007. Bought by "mosquito" of Classic Fly Rod Forum.
446X
Para 15 8' 2/2 Dry and wet tips. Built for Gene Anderegg (a founding member of FFF) with his name inked on rod. Screwlock cork seat, bronze-tan wraps, Super-Z ferrules. MJK catalogs No. 68 (1995) and No. 69 (1996). Anderegg also owned a Para 17, built 1964, serial number unknown (XXXX).
4462
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 varnished, flamed cane, cigar grip, gold/tan wraps, truncated Super-Z ferrules, black screwlock cork seat, Detroit die-stamp on cap, writing on cane in Bob Summers handwriting, two lines: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / "Driggs" 7'2" 2 7/8 oz. Owned by Dave Lyons of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
4463
Year 1968 Midge 6'3" 2/2 Butt measurement: 0.248" Varnished, dual band reel seat. Built in 1968, PHY shop log noted rod built for Dr. Ralph Dougherty of McKeesport, PA. On July 7, 1971, rod was bought used for $150 by Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm. Mac put his wife's name - B.A. Seaholm - on the rod, May 20, 1972. In 1975 Mac installed a hookkeeper on the rod, and varnished it. Mac sold this Midge on April 18, 1984, for $600 to Denis Mitchell.
4470
Perfectionist. Known solely from one existing tip section, shortened and modified to serve as a Driggs tip. This is a tip that was loose in the bag of Driggs #4661; see listing for rod #4661. Apparently the rest of the rod has been lost. Gold wraps. Tip owned by ctkenc of the Classic Fly Rod Forum. According to Bob Summers, this was originally a Perfectionist tip he made, that was cut down, re-ferruled to fit the Driggs, and the bottom two snake guides placed in the same relative position as on a Driggs tip. A new bag is being made for rod #4461 to hold all three tips plus the butt of the rod.
4472
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Lettered on two flats; First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Martha Marie Mod. 7'6" 3 1/2 oz. Inked near stripping guide: 4472. Cigar grip, black screwlock cork seat, brown wraps. This rod was shown to me in mid-October 2008 by Bob Summers.
4492
Midge 6'3" 2/2 A Paul H Young Co. Rod "Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz." Summers' handwriting. Short style Super-Z ferrules. Two rings over cork.
4500
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-7/8 oz. Flamed, Super-Z ferrules, Screwlock cork seat, tan/bronze wraps, in new condition when listed in MJK catalog, Fall 1984.
45XX
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-7/8 oz. Ritz-style grip, sliding band cork seat, blued tiptop & guides, reporeted to be in brand-new unused cond., MJK catalog no. 47 (1987).
45XX (see rod #4512)
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Varnished dark flamed cane. Truncated (short-slide), blued Super-Z ferrules. Cigar grip, "two-band cork seat," tan/gold wraps w/lt. wire guides, orig. bag and tube. Said to be a rod bought for a fisherman's wife "who apparently lawn-cast it only w/one of its tips." Offered for $2300, MJK catalog no. 65 (1994). This may be PHY rod #4512, seen on web site of Bob Selb, tackle dealer, March 2008, offered for $3600.
4503
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Ferrule size 14, cigar grip with skeleton reel seat and dual slide bands. Inked on butt: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / 'Perfectionist' 7'6" 2 1/2 oz. Bamboo rod maker Per Brandin reported that he has been familiar with PHY rod #4503 "since just after I started fly fishing; it belonged to Clem Fullerton who was also active in the Croton Watershed Chapter of TU in the late 60's and into the 80's. Clem showed the rod to me many years ago and I measured it with a micrometer in the 1970's and it became the basic starting point for my own quad parabolic designs. Clem bought the rod in the 1960's after reading Al McClane's articles where he extolled the virtues of a particular un-named rod; Clem wrote to McClane and was told the rod in question was a Paul Young Perfectionist... While it will cast a #4 line, it is better with a #5."
4503 - Photo by Per Brandin
4507
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4 oz. cigar grip, black screwlock cork seat, Super-Z ferrules. Seen at two public auctions: Lot #11, R.W. Oliver's Fifth Annual Summer Auction, July 8, 1989, sold for $1000. plus 10% buyers premium, and Lot #121B at R.W. Oliver's Seventh Annual Summer Fishing Tackle Auction, Kennebunk, ME, July 1991, sold for $1800. plus 10% buyers premium.
4512
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Varnished flamed cane, all sections marked with #4512. Blued nickel silver Super-Z ferrules; look like truncated ferrules as seen in available photo. Looks like Bob Summers' handwriting on the cane but can't be completely sure due to photo quality. Cigar grip, dual black rings over cork seat, light tan wraps, orig. maroon bag and aluminum tube. From web site of Bob Selb, tackle dealer, March 2008, offered for $3600.
4516
Built April 1, 1970, Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 0.280" butt diameter. Varnished, cigar grip, slip ring. Shop log date, April 1, 1970, sold to Bob Julius of Lansing, MI. Sold by Bob Julius on November 28, 1973 to Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm for $175, and received by Mac on December 4, 1973. Mac first fished this Perfectionist on May 18, 1974 at Green Springs, taking a 10" brown trout with a #22 Adams on 6X tippet. On August 27, 1974, Mac added a thumbprint indentation to the grip. Mac replaced the original bag with a "Black Watch" tartan bag. Mac sold the rod on February 4, 1990 to Francis Horner for $1700.
4519
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Solid (non-ventilated) cork grip, dual black rings over cork seat. Truncated nickel silver, blued Super-Z ferrules. Handwritten on shaft in Bob Summers' script: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod On another flat, the weight of 2 ½ oz. is given. Serial number 4519 is inked on the butt and both tips. Reported by rod maker Wolfram Schott, who cast this rod at a conclave in Germany, September 2009.
452X
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3-1/2 oz. Flamed cane, gold/tan wraps, Super-Z ferrules, screwlock cork seat. MJK Catalog No. 90 (2005).
4536
Driggs 7'2" 2/2" 2.8 oz. One tip is snapped at tip-top. eBay Feb 2007
4578
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4 oz. Inked in Bob Summers' handwriting, first flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Parabolic 15 8' 4 oz. Wet and dry tips each marked #4578. Varnished dark cane, brown wraps, cigar/Ritz grip, screwlock cork seat, Detroit die-stamp on cap. Original bag, and a tube (original?). Seen on Bob Selb's site.
4586
Year date 1973 Driggs 7'2" 2/2 Butt measurement: 0.261" Oil finish, slip ring on reel seat, 5-1/2" ventilated grip. Ordered February 24, 1972 by Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm. Received April 6, 1973. The rod was ordered from the PHY Company, and cost $195. new. First fish on this rod: Mac caught a 12" brown trout on a Dorothea nymph, at the "Horse Pasture," Falling Springs, May 19, 1973. Mac caught ten fish that day, on nymphs and dry flies. Seaholm put a thumb indentation in the grip on August 27, 1974. The rod has a replacement bag, in Buchanan Plaid fabric. Since he did not like the brown satin Young bags of that time, Mac had rod bags specially made. Each model of Young rod was put in a different Tartan plaid bag. All Mac's Driggs rods were put in Buchanan Plaid bags. The rod was sold for $2000. on September 20, 2000.
4590
Perfectionist 0.265 butt, 2-1/2 oz. according to owner ""rdsphoto"" from Classic Fly Rod Forum.
4596
Para 17, 8'6", 2/2. Varnished flamed cane, half Wells grip, black screwlock cork seat, reportedly marked "A Paul H. Young Co. Rod / Parabolic 17, 8'6", 5-1/2 oz." Original bag and tube. Inaccurately described in Oliver catalog as a three-piece rod; photo shows otherwise (Richard W. Oliver Auction Gallery, catalog of First High Rollers Tackle Auction, held February 26, 1988, Marlborough, MA). This rod was also Lot #862 at the Lang's Sporting Advertising and Sportsman's Auction, Boxborough, MA, July 28, 1996 and correctly described as a two-piece rod.
459X
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 Varnished flamed cane, Wells grip, two-band cork seat, dk. choc. brown wraps, G. silver shouldered blued ferrules, orig. owners name on shaft. MJK catalog No. 79 (1999)
4600
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 3 oz. Varnished, dual rings over cork reel seat, dark brown wraps. Listed as "4600 serial #" which could possibly mean either #4600, or one of a hundred rods in the 46XX range. But since this rod list includes another Young rod and gives the exact number of that rod, it seems likely that this Perfectionst is truly #4600. Offered for $750. in the Hearthside News, Vol. 4, No. 2; December 1984, published by Thomas & Thomas, Turners Falls, MA.
46XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Built with ventilated grip, 1/8" space between corks, dark flamed cane with oil finish, German silver ferrules. MJK catalog No. 49 (1988)
46XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Reel seat not described. Cigar grip, dark flamed, dark brown/bronze wraps, "Blued lt. wire guides & tip tops, G. silver ferrules" (not aluminum). Bag, tube not described. MJK catalog No. 50 (1988)
46XX
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Reel seat not described. "Longer ventilated grip." Brown wraps. Bag, tube described as "not original." Bob Corsetti catalog no. 11 (Summer 1993).
46XX
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-7/8 oz. Varnished cane, "very dark," Wells grip, 2-band cork seat, blued ferrules, dark bronze wraps. MJK Catalog No. 63 (1993).
46XX
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-7/8 oz. Varnished dark flamed cane, Half-Wells grip, blk. finish screwlock cork seat, blued ferrules, brown wraps. MJK Catalog No. 66 (1994) and No. 67 (1995).
46XX
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-7/8 oz. Varnished dark flamed cane, Wells grip, blk. finish screwlock cork seat, blued Halstead-type ferrules, burgundy wraps with blued guides, appeared unused, orig. burgundy nylon bag and orig. aluminum tube. MJK Catalog No. 82 (2001).
46XX
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4 oz. Wet and dry tips. Varnished dark cane, blued Super-Z ferrules, brown wraps, Wells grip, cork sliding band seat, "rod used by fisherman's wife twice for a short time," MJK Catalogs No. 65 and 66 (1994).
4604
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Slight crack near node on butt. Original bag, tube. Lang's Jan. 3, 2004 auction catalog.
4614
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4oz. Flamed cane, black screwlock cork seat. Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: "Parabolic 15" 8' 4 oz. Dry fly and wet fly tips. Dry tip has red spiral wrap, marked #4614 Dry Tip; wet tip marked #4614 Wet Tip. Owned by mosquito of the Classic Fly Rod Forum. Also seen listed September 2006 on Rick Sorenson's West Slope Classic Fly tackle site, sold for $3450.
4616
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Martha Marie Mod. 7'6" 3 3/4 oz. Varnished, flamed cane; brown wraps. Half wells grip with screwlock seat, cork spacer, die-stamp marking on cap. Seen for sale at "Denver Dave's" web site, Dec. 2007.
4622
Year date 1974 Driggs 7'2" 2/2 Butt measurement: 0.265" Shop log build date: April 10, 1974 Ordered September 24, 1973 by Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm. Received April 23, 1974. The rod was ordered from the PHY Company, and Mac considered this turn-around time a "miracle". There was an error, the rod was delivered varnished; Mac had asked for his preferred oil finish. First fish on this rod: Mac caught a rainbow trout, May 19, 1974 at Falling Springs. Jack Young oil finished and installed hookkeeper in winter 1974-75. Seaholm put a thumb indentation in the grip. The rod has a replacement bag, in Buchanan Plaid fabric. Since he did not like the brown satin Young bags of that time, Mac had rod bags specially made. Each model of Young rod was put in a different Tartan plaid bag. All Mac's Driggs rods were put in Buchanan Plaid bags. Bob Summers later sold this rod as agent for Mac. Mac received $2240.
4629
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Varnished flamed cane, cigar grip. Dual black rings over cork. Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First Flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. Serial numbers on both tips just above male ferrule slides. Not aluminum ferrules; looks like Super-Zs. Original bag and tube. On eBay March 2007. Also offered on eBay September 2008.
4631
1974 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4oz. Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: "Parabolic 15" 8' 4 oz. Butt marked near stripping guide: #4631 #4631 DRY is marked on tip with red spiral wrap near male ferrule. #4631 WET is marked on the other tip. Owner Gordon Cox wrote to me: "I took delivery of this rod in June 1974. The description of this rod is as follows: Dry fly and wet fly tips. Beautiful dark flamed cane with dark brown wraps. Modified half wells grip with screw down-lock seat. Wonderful cork. Cork spacer with black anodized reel seat fittings. Oxidized dark Super Z ferrules. Carbaloy stripper and black guides. All original rod, bag and case. Condition: Mint."
Rod #4631, Para 15, "wet tip" and "dry tip" markings.
4635(see 2125)
Little Giant. 6'6" 2/2 Reported by Richard Shelton, whose rod has a butt and one tip marked #2125, and a second tip marked #4635. I have recorded another rod made up of parts from two rods (see listings for #4387 and #4389), but never with such widely different serial numbers.
4637
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4oz. Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: "Parabolic 15" 8' 4 oz. Butt marked near stripping guide: #4637 #4637 DRY is marked on one tip. #4637 WET is marked on the other tip. Dry fly and wet fly tips. Varnished, flamed cane; brown wraps. Half wells grip with cap and ring seat, cork spacer. Cap has no die-stamp marking on it but looks authentic. Super Z ferrules.
4638
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Inked handwriting by Bob Summers. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Martha Marie Mod. 7'6" 3 1/2 oz. Varnished, flamed cane; brown wraps. Half wells grip with cap and ring seat, cork spacer. Cap has no die-stamp marking on it but looks authentic. Offered for $4000 by John Pickard, seen at Lang's tackle show, Nov. 2007.
4658
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 Belonged to author Gene Hill. Flamed cane, Super-Z ferrules, black finish cap and screwlock fittings. MJK catalog #56 (1991).
4661
Driggs 7'2" 2/2, plus a third tip, originally from a Perfectionist but shortened and modified to serve as a Driggs tip and marked 4470. See rod #4470 in this list. Rod is inked on four flats as follows: First: Vin Ringrose Second: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Third: Driggs Mod. 2 3/4oz 7'2" Fourth: #4661 Brown wraps, cigar grip, dual rings over cork reel seat. Rod owned by ctkenc of the Classic Fly Rod Forum. Offered August 2009 for $5250 for two-tip original rod, West Slope Classic Tackle web site.
Rod #4661 Driggs.
4664
Built 1975, Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Oil finish, ventilated grip, dual rings. Shop log date, March 17, 1975. Received March 26, 1975 by Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm. Mac first fished this Perfectionist on August 22, 1975 at Yellow Creek, taking a 9" brown trout and then a 13" brown, using an orange beetle pattern on 6X tippet. Ten fish were landed that day; all brown trout. On August 30, 1975, Mac added a thumbprint indentation to the grip. Mac turned down the grip in 1981. Hoagy Carmichael sold the rod in 1984; mac received $650.
4667
Para 15 8' A Paul H Young Co. Rod Parabolic 15 8' 4 oz. "Tips marked '4667 WET' and '4667 DRY'. Belonged to Bill Willers, author of "Trout Biology."
4678
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-3/4 oz. Flamed cane, oil finish, ventilated grip, dual rings over cork reel seat, blued ferrules, orig. bag & tube. MJK catalog no. 57 (1991).
4684
1975 Texas General 8'6", 2/2. Varnished flamed cane, black screwlock cork seat, Detroit die stamp on butt cap, cigar grip, brown wraps, bag & tube. Serial number hard to see in photo but appears to be 4684. Writing appears to be by Bob Summers. Seen on Bob Summers' web site, June 2008.
4687
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-1/2 oz. Marked with original owner's name "Keith Spalding". Two identical dry fly tips. The second tip top has been replaced with a chrome one - otherwise all original. Unique feature: reel seat - it is aluminum downlocking with white plastic insert. "The reelseat looks original to the rod. It fits perfectly to the cork grip - typical Young cigar shape. It has all the right patina to it. Just one of those quirky things." - Chris Bogart, Shenandoah Rods.
4689
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3-5/8 oz. Cap and ring reel seat. Bag and tube. Item 151A listed in separate Addendum sheet (NOT in printed catalog) for the Premiere (First) High Rollers Auction, R.W. Oliver Gallery auction at Marlborough, MA on February 26, 1988.
4694
1975 Driggs 7'2" 2/2 Ventilated grip, oil finish. Ordered March 1975, was received July 22, 1975 from Jack Young. Price was $195. Info from "Cimarron Red" of the Classic Fly Fishing Forum. This rod was described as 3 oz., flamed, oil finish, Halstead-type ferrules, Garrison-type tapered grip, screwlock cork seat, in MJK catalog No. 54 (1990).
4698
1975 Midge 6'3" 2/2 Ventilated grip, oil finish. Received from Jack Young, August 1975. Price was $190. Reported by Cimarron Red from Classic Fly Fishing Forum.
47XX
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2.5 oz. Ventilated grip, oil finish on flamed cane, dual band cork seat, Super-Z ferrules, brown wraps, orig. bag & tube. MJK catalog no. 49 (1988).
47XX
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-3/4 oz. Varnished, flamed cane, 100% black finish on fittings, possibly unused, "silver ferrules," original bag and tube. MJK catalog no. 52 (1989).
47XX
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3.5 oz. Varnished, flamed cane, burgundy wraps, screwlock cork seat, "natural colored" Super-Z ferrules, Wells grip, blued guides & tops, bag, tube. MJK catalog no. 49 (1988).
47XX
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4 oz. Flamed cane, wet and dry tips, "Detroit" stamp on butt cap, original nylon bag and tube. MJK catalog no. 47 (1987).
47XX
Boat Rod 8'0" 2/2 4.55 oz. Varnished, flamed cane, bronze wraps, screwlock cork seat, blued Super-Z ferrules, Wells grip, blued guides & tops, bag & tube. MJK catalog no. 49 (1988).
4704
Year date 1975 Driggs 7'2" 2/2 6" ventilated grip. Received August 25, 1975 by Malcolm B. "Mac" Seaholm. Inscribed "Barbara A. Seaholm" (wife). Mac added a thumb indentation on August 30, 1975. Rod was sold for $625.
4706
Perfectionist 7'6" Was originally 2/2, is now 2/3 with a later, additional tip built by Bob Summers, with his signature. Summers' invoice for the new tip indicates that he touched up the rod and built the new tip. The old tips have male ferrules with a band/notch that differs from the new tip's ferrule. One old tip is perfect, the other old tip is short by 5 inches. Rod now owned by "arthurk" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum. Flamed cane, cigar grip, sliding band over cork reel seat, original bag and aluminum tube.
4710
Perfectionist. Bob Summer's handwriting. Made for Dan Bean. Reported by "bearbutt" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum. Rod #4710 was listed and described in MJK catalog No. 64 (1994): "...even has orig. outer paper bag over perfect tube...," varnished, flamed, Garrison-style grip, dual band cork seat, brown wraps.
At about this point, between production of rods #4710 and #4722, "bearbutt" believes that Bob Summers left the Paul H. Young Co.
4722
1978 Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Two flats were seen in web photos: First flat: Perfectionist 7'6" 2-1/2 oz. Second flat shows owner's name and creation date, name hard to read in photos, possibly: Louis S. Hagendus Nov. 1978. Second tip 6"" short. On Rick's rods web site 2006, on Bob Selb's web site, early 2007.
4731
1978 Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Ventilated grip, oil finish. Ordered Dec. 1974, received from Jack Young, July 1978. Price was $235. Cimarron Red from Classic Fly Fishing Forum.
4733
1979 Perfectionist: 7'6", 2/2, 2 3/4 oz. Inked handwriting by Jack Young. First flat marked: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Perfectionist - 7'6" - 2 3/4 oz. Third flat: #4733 Owner Gordon Cox wrote to me: "I took delivery of this rod in March 1979. The description of this rod is as follows: Beautiful dark flamed cane with dark brown wraps. Modified cigar grip with two slide band down-lock lock reel seat over cork spacer. Wonderful cork. Black anodized reel seat fittings Oxidized Super Z ferrules. Carbaloy stripper and black guides. All original rod, bag and case. Condition: Mint."
4752
Midge 6'3" 2/2 Second tip has an invisible wrap 1 inch long, located 9" from tiptop. Dual band cork seat, Super-Z ferrules, varnished, orig. bag & tube. MJK catalog No. 55 (1990).
4757
1980 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Ventilated grip, oil finish, screwlock reel seat. Received from Jack Young, May 1980. Price was $335. Cimarron Red from Classic Fly Fishing Forum.
4762
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 2-3/4 oz. Super-Z ferrules, "almost nonexistent (?) half-Wells grip," brown silks, "...a tad more parabolic & a bit more powerful than usually found..." description in MJK catalog No. 54 (1990). Also listed in MJK catalog No. 74 (1998), which adds that the reel seat is a screwlock seat, 98% blueing on seat fittings and ferrules.
4765
Boat Rod 8'0" 2/2 Flamed cane, black screwlock cork seat, half Wells grip, offered in new, never fished condition on North West Classic Tackle web site, July 2008.
477X
Para 15 8'0" 2/1 (note) Dry tip good, wet tip broken; ferrules and fittings remain. Wells grip, screwlock cork seat. MJK catalog 75 (1998).
4773
1981 Driggs 7'2" 2/2 Ventilated grip, oil finish. Received from Jack Young, March 1981. Price was $335. Cimarron Red from Classic Fly Fishing Forum.
478X
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1 3/4 oz., 5" cigar grip, gold/tan wraps, black ferrules, dual-band cork seat, appears unused orig. cond. MJK #71 (1996). This rod could be #4781.
4781
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1 3/4 oz., 5" cigar grip, gold/tan wraps, MJK #52 (1989).
4783
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Half wells grip, cap and ring, cork spacer, brown wraps, Super-Z ferrules, original bag and tube. Inked writing by Jack Young. First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: parabolic 15 - 8' - 4 oz. Both tips are the same; not known if both are "wet" or "dry" tips. Corsetti catalog No. 44 (2007). Owned by dshx of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
4794
Texan "8'6"" 2/2" 4.85 oz. One tip is snapped at tip-top. eBay Feb 2007
48XX
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Wet and dry tips. Flamed cane, sliding band cork seat, maroon wraps, Super-Z ferrules. 2-inch scratch was noted in varnish, middle of butt section. MJK catalog No. 51 (1989).
48XX
Texan 8'6" 2/2 4.85 oz. Screwlock cork seat, maroon wraps, Western grip. MJK catalog No. 51 (1989).
4814
Perfectionist, 7'6", 2/1 (built with only one tip, in 1981): Reported by Bob Ryan: "I had Jack Young build a rod for my then infant son, who was three years old at the time. I presented the rod to my son on his 16th birthday. It is a Paul Young 71/2 ft. Perfectionist serial # 4814. The rod has only one tip as I couldn't afford two at the time! My son is now 31 and living in Bozeman, Montana. His Paul Young Pefectionist has never been fished. I knew Jack, as my in-laws had a cottage in Traverse City near his shop in Bower's Harbor. I visited Jack at the shop frequently and always enjoyed his unique personality and fabulous workmanship."
4836
Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. Flamed cane, brown wraps, cigar grip tapers almost like an Orvis Superfine grip, dual black rings over cork reel seat, has a thin metal disk covering base of cork butt. Super-Z ferrules, outer color is bronze. Inked in three lines: First flat: A Paul H. Young Co. Rod Second flat: Midge Model Third flat: 6'3" 1 3/4 oz Also inked #4836 on butt and each tip. Handwriting is not by Bob Summers. Jack Young? Original maroon bag, original tube. Offered for $3500 on Bob Selb's web site, November 2008.
4849
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Flamed cane, ventilated grip, bright ferrules, screwlock cork seat. Inked on butt, A Paul H. Young Co. Rod, Perfectionist Model, 7' 6", 2 ½ oz. (MJK indicated this rod actually weighs 3.30 oz. in a note attached to the tube.) Original bag, replacement tube. Formerly belonging to MJK, auctioned by Lang's in April 2009.
485X
1980 Para 17 8'6" 2/2 5-1/2 oz. Built 1980. (ordered Dec. 22, 1975). Wet and dry tips. Original bag & tube. RicksRods.com.
4852
Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz., Super-Z ferrules, 2-band cork seat, one tip has 3/4"" repair wrap 6"" from top. MJK catalog 75 (1998).
4892
Midge 6'3" 1-3/4 oz. Dark flamed cane, chocolate brown wraps, dual black rings over cork reel seat. Reported by "warrick" on the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
4895
Driggs 7'2" 2/2 2-1/4 oz. First flat: Paul H. Young Co. Second flat: "Driggs" 7'-2" 2 ¼ oz. Serial number 4895 is written on the butt and the ferrule end of the two tips. Believe built by Todd Young. Bought on eBay by nccavalier of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
49XX
Princess 7'0" 2/2 2-3/4 oz. Varnished flamed cane, blued Super-Z ferrules, dual-band cork seat. MJK catalog no. 73 (1997).
491X
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3-1/2 oz. Oil finish, flamed cane, burgundy/brown wraps, sliding band cork seat, Super-Z ferrules, Wells grip, original bag, Leonard-style tube. MJK catalog no. 81 (2000).
4935
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Flamed cane, cigar grip, cap and ring over zebra wood (NO "Detroit" die stamp on cap), brown wraps tipped red, bright ferrules, in a George Lawrence leather tube. Rods #4935 and #4936 were simultaneously purchased by two brothers. Butt section is marked Paul H Young Co. / "Perfectionist" 7' 6" ~ 4 wt. / "Pinnacle Series" Tips are both marked: #4935 Thanks to Carmine Lisella for the serial number and "JimP" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum for inked data. Rod was offered for $2500 in Lisella's Jordan-Mills Rod Co. Catalog no. 31 (Fall 2008).
4936
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Flamed cane, cigar grip, cap and ring over zebra wood (NO "Detroit" die stamp on cap), brown wraps tipped red, bright ferrules, in a George Lawrence leather tube (this tube is embossed with the Paul H. Young Co. logo). Rods #4935 and #4936 were simultaneously purchased by two brothers. Thanks to Carmine Lisella for the serial number; rod offered for $2500 in Lisella's Jordan-Mills Rod Co. Catalog no. 31 (Fall 2008).
494X
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/1 "A Paul H. Young Co. Rod" "Perfectionist 7'6" 2.5 oz" Only one tip present. Two black rings over cork seat. Black ink. eBay Feb 2007
494X
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Varnished flamed cane, wet and dry tips, Wells grip, wooden reel seat, blk. finished screwlock fittings, brown wraps, blued Super-Z ferrules. Bag, tube and fine green canvas outer bag. MJK Catalog No. 71 (1996).
4942
Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Wet and dry tips. Blued Super-Z-type ferrules, zebra wood screwlock seat, half-Wells grip. MJK catalog No. 54 (1990).
4950
Perfectionist 7'6" Inked in two lines, Paul H. Young Rod Co. / 7'6" 4 wt. Serial number 4950 is written on the butt just below the stripping guide. Info from Marvin Roberson.
4966 (duplicate number with rod below)
1993 Princess 7'0" 2/2 "Princess" 7'0" 2.90 oz. / P.H.Y. Chapter T.U. / Spring 1993 Built by Todd Young, Spring 1993, for Paul H. Young Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Cap and ring over wood (bamboo); thumb indent in cork. Offered August 2007, Rick Sorensen, West Slope Tackle.
4966 (duplicate number with above)
Martha Marie, reported March 2009 by Gregg Santori of Tustin, CA, after he saw the Princess #4966 listed above.
4969
Perfectionist 7'6" 2/2 Flamed cane, Ritz grip tapering to a conical point, dual gray rings over all-cork mortised reel seat, maroon/brown wraps tipped black at guides and hookkeeper, amber wraps tipped black at ferrules. Butt section is marked Paul H Young Co. / "Perfectionist" 7' 6" ~ 2 3/4 oz. Tips and butt are all marked: #4969
5000
Driggs, built by Todd Young. Reported by Gregg Santori of Tustin, CA.
5018
Smidgen 6'0" 2/2 1.75 oz. Built by Todd Young. Marked: First flat: Paul H. Young Co. Second flat: Smidgen - 6'0" - 1.75 oz. Third flat: 2 wt. Prototype #1 Flamed varnished cane, dual rings over cork reel seat. Owned by "canebum" of the Classic Fly Rod Forum, who says he has never cast a sweeter two-weight rod. Owner was told by Todd Young that the blank was one of a number of prototype blanks made by Paul Young, of which Todd Young had two that he finished, a 2wt (this rod) and a 3wt built later. Owner cannot confirm that PHY built the blank but says, "Whatever the story is behind it I would not sell it just because it casts so good."
5024
Para 16 8'6" 2/2 4.6 oz. Built by Todd Young. Flamed cane, wet and dry tips, chocolate brown wraps, modified Wells, screwlock downlocking cork seat with glossy black fittings differs somewhat from older style, blued ferrules. Butt is marked Paul H. Young Co. second line: Parabolic 16 8'6" third line: Joe Lehner Tips are marked DRY TIP #5024 and WET TIP #5024. Offered by Carmine Lisella in his Jordan-Mills Rod Co. catalog #30 (Spring 2008). Sold to dshx of the Classic Fly Rod Forum.
XXXX - July 1955
1955 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 Wet and dry tips. Flamed, varnished cane. Cigar handle, screwlock cork seat, deluxe wraps, blued Super-Z ferrules, built by PHY. MJK Catalog No. 66 (1994).
XXXX - October 31, 1955
1955 Bobby Doerr 9'0" 2/2 Two different weight tips. Size 17 ferrule. Rod is 5.6 oz. with one tip, 5.73 oz. with the other. Flamed, varnished cane. 2X2 node placement. Wells grip, screwlock cork seat, dark brown wraps w/burgundy tint, oxidized Super-Z ferrules, built by PHY, sold on October 31, 1955. MJK Catalog No. 88 (2004).
XXXX - 1956
1956 date, Texas General, 8'6", 2/2, 5.25 oz., dated 1956. Varnished, flamed cane, ventilated grip, black screwlock seat, bronze wraps, blued Super-Z ferrules. MJK Catalog No. 56 (1991). Almost certainly the same rod is described seven years later as item #76 in MJK Catalog No. 74 (1998) - all information is the same, plus the rod is described as having a dry fly tip and a heavier bug tip.
XXXX - May 1956
1956 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 4.15 oz. Built with two dry tips, shaft marked "May 1956," also marked with original owner's name. Flamed, varnished cane. Cigar handle with thumbprint, blk. screwlock cork seat, gold/tan wraps, Super-Z ferrules, orig. bag & tube. MJK Catalogs No. 59 (1992) and 60 (1992).
XXXX - 1958
1958, a unique 7'6" PHY Princess that Paul H. Young built for himself in 1958, with two different tips, one tapered to 4/64 and the other to a 4-1/2/64 tip top. Slender cigar grip, reverse sliding band reel seat. Schwiebert acquired the Princess rod after Young's death. Schwiebert wrote: "John Waller Hills observed that once in his life each fly-fisher encounters a rod so perfectly suited to his personality and temperament and physical skills that it becomes a part of him. Thus far in my fishing odyssey, the seven-and-a-half-foot Princess passed on to me from the collection of its master is that rod - it is that exquisitely poetic balance of delicacy and power that comes alive in the hands."
XXXX - February 18, 1959
1959 Para 15 8'0" 2/2 K.T. Keller lighter-weight model. Built by Bob Summers. Presentation rod marked "To my Fishing Buddy Al McFarland From Bob Summers Feb. 18, 1959" Also marked: "8' 3 3/4 oz." Flamed cane. Wells grip w/ thumbprint, screwlock cork seat, special black wraps with beige tipping, Super-Z ferrules. Since this is a presentation rod, it may be unnumbered. MJK Catalog No. 53 (1989), and MJK Catalog No. 67 (1995).
XXXX - December 10, 1959
1959 Princess 7'0" 2/2 Was offered for $6500, MJK catalog No. 55 (1990). Was offered for $5850, MJK catalog No. 85 (2002). Rod weighs 3.16 oz. Screwlock cork seat w/aluminum colored threaded screwlock section. Flamed varnished cane, gold-bronze wraps, Super-Z ferrules, all sections have 2X2 node placement, orig. bag & tube.
XXXX - December 1959
1959 Midge 6'3" 2/2 1-3/4 oz. Rod reportedly marked "A Paul Young Rod - Midge 6'3", 1 3/4 oz. HEH - Arnold Gingrich, Dec. 1959" Serial number not reported. Sold as Lot 219, R.W. Oliver's 3rd Annual High Rollers Public Auction of Fine Fishing Tackle & Accessories, Marlborough, MA, on February 23, 1990. In his book The Well-Tempered Angler (1965), Gingrich wrote that he was able to buy rods from Jack Young, "...since Paul's death, every bit as good as those I got when his father was alive. Still, I was glad that I had got two more Midges and a Martha Marie, as a Christmas 1959 present from my wife, just a few months before he died." This rod is undoubtedly one of the two Midges.
XXXX - December 1959
1959 Midge 6'3" Known to me only from Arnold Gingrich's book The Well-Tempered Angler (1965), Gingrich wrote that he was able to buy rods from Jack Young, "...since Paul's death, every bit as good as those I got when his father was alive. Still, I was glad that I had got two more Midges and a Martha Marie, as a Christmas 1959 present from my wife, just a few months before he died." Whereabouts unknown to me, this rod would be the other one of the two Midges.
XXXX - December 1959
1959 Martha Marie 7'6" Known to me only from Arnold Gingrich's book The Well-Tempered Angler (1965), Gingrich wrote that he was able to buy rods from Jack Young, "...since Paul's death, every bit as good as those I got when his father was alive. Still, I was glad that I had got two more Midges and a Martha Marie, as a Christmas 1959 present from my wife, just a few months before he died." Whereabouts unknown to me, this Martha Marie model rod was built for Jane Gingrich.
XXXX - 1964
1964 Para 17 8'6" 2/2 Wells grip, screwlock cork seat, gold/bronze wraps, Super-Z ferrules, 5.10 oz., originally built 1964 for Gene Anderegg ( a founding member of FFF). MJK wrote, "tips although 1/4" short are clearly correct." Seen in MJK catalogs No. 68, 69, 71 (1996) and 72 (1997). Anderegg also owned a Para 15, serial number 446X.
XXXX - August 21, 1965
1965 Midge 6'3" 2/2 Dated August 21, 1965. Orig. brown wraps w/black tipping, additional wraps, satin oil finish, featherweight ferrules, cigar grip. MJK catalog No. 71 (1966).
XXXX - seen in Spring Special 1974 issue of Fly Fisherman magazine
Driggs 7'2" Only one tip shown in photo. Flamed cane, half Wells grip, black screwlock reel seat over cork, very dark (black?) wraps, can see "Driggs Model...." in Bob Summers' handwriting written on shaft, plus a four-digit serial number near stripper guide, but the number cannot be read. One of nine custom rods by various makers shown in double-page photo spread, pages 18-19, article by Don Zahner titled "The Bamboo Renaissance," Fly Fisherman, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Spring Special 1974).
XXXX - 1990
1990 Nymph Jr. 7'6", 2/2, 2-7/8 oz. Dark flamed cane, special Hi-Arc blued guides, screwlock seat, Wells grip, Super-Z ferrules, built for Martin J. Keane by Todd Young in 1990. MJK catalogs no. 76 (1998) and 77 (1999).
XXXX - built for Martha Marie Young
Martha Marie 7'6" 2/2 3-5/8 oz. Reportedly marked "A Paul H. Young Co. Rod for Mrs. Paul H. Young - Martha Marie, 7 ft. 6 in., 3 5/8 oz." Reported that "The rod was made by the company, just prior to going out of business, for Mrs. Young (Martha Marie) at her request. This 7 1/2 ft., 2 piece, 2 tip rod is near mint in original bag and tube." Serial number not reported. Sold as Lot 218, R.W. Oliver's 3rd Annual High Rollers Public Auction of Fine Fishing Tackle & Accessories, Marlborough, MA, on February 23, 1990.
XXXX
Para 15 8'0", 2/2. Dry and wet tips. Wells grip, wooden reel seat, brown wraps, blued Super-Z ferrules.
Last edited by: quashnet 01/04/10 21:39:08.
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