Extremely Rare 1929-1931 HEDDON #55 "President" 5-1/2', 2/2 Split Bamboo Casting

Description

It's my pleasure to offer at auction an Extraordinary and Extremely Rare 1929-1931 HEDDON No.55 "PRESIDENT" 5-1/2 FT., 2/2 SPLIT BAMBOO BAIT CASTING ROD WITH ORIGINAL STAMPED ALUMINUM TUBE & VELVET HEDDON BAG. Without question, the No.55 "President", only the second one I've seen in 20 years of collecting Heddon bamboo, was the finest production bamboo bait casting rod ever produced. This strictly hand-made model should be considered extremely rare. Only the finest Tonkin cane, mountings and hardware available on the market were used to create Heddon's highest grade rod. Because this example is equipped with the screw-locking ferrules, introduced sometime late in 1931, it's likely from this time period and thus was never cataloged. Heddon's Cleo Hanley has handwritten "Heddon" diagonally along three flats, "#55" just below it and "President" along an opposite flat. The reel seat locking nut is stamped "PAT. NO.1624052", the 1927 patent for the screw-locking seat. Comes equipped with all black nickel finished hardware & mountings, extra tip section, the finest genuine agate guides & tip tops, screw-locking nickel silver ferrules, solid "Heddylin" (actually Pyralin) fore grip, wound-over winding check, screw-locking "Hold-Tite" black pyralin reel seat, quality solid specie cork tournament grip, black plastic butt cap and wound in silver silk tipped in black, with full intermediates. I've added a photo of the original listing from Heddon's 1930 catalog. Rod is in Very Fine condition, showing some unsettled varnish in a couple areas that could be polished out if desired, but not much evidence of use. Bamboo is perfect, with no splits, cracks or delamination whatsoever. All three sections are the correct length and are quite straight. Rod shaft markings are pristine. All guides, ferrules, tip tops, fore grip and butt cap are very nice. Reel seat works perfectly, with bold stamping. All wraps are solid and complete. Solid cork grip is superb. Put up in what the catalog calls a "plush" bag, in excellent condition. Still carries a faded inspection tag that reads "Heddon". All this goes into the original aluminum tube, in very fine condition. The nickel plated cap, stamped "JAMES HEDDON'S SONS DOWAGIAC, MICH.", screws on tightly and securely.
On Jul-21-21 at 10:16:10 PDT, seller added the following information:
To be sold with a very low starting bid and NO RESERVE. Buyer to pay .00 shipping via U.S. Priority Mail, with full insurance and tracking. Payment must be received within 3 days of auction closure. Thanks for your time and good luck.