Ryder Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 I ducked in to Kimbriki Tip Buy Back centre today on my continuing quest to find a Sportex 663. No luck yet but I did find a couple of interesting rods. One is a vintage 3 piece Slazenger model 5 deluxe. 10 ft 6 it's a real noodle, I think it could be a Blackfish rod. The other Mitchell Conolon Companion, Spiraflex Custom Line 62:126. Again 10ft 6 but I'm pretty sure it's a beach rod from the sand spike. Ive put out a call to Royce, and waiting to hear back, but I would love to know anything Raiders know about them. I got them for $5 each, I thought if I don't buy them someone else will, I might have a problem. Haha 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Hornet Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 My first ever rod was a Slazenger that looked just like yours, however mine was 2 piece and 7 foot long. Matched it up with a bakelite 4 inch Alvey, one of those reels with the big metal ring hanging off the front. It would've been bought around 1967 - 68 I reckon. Man....that rod caught some fish and is still stashed away somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryder Posted May 16, 2019 Author Share Posted May 16, 2019 12 hours ago, Green Hornet said: My first ever rod was a Slazenger that looked just like yours, however mine was 2 piece and 7 foot long. Matched it up with a bakelite 4 inch Alvey, one of those reels with the big metal ring hanging off the front. It would've been bought around 1967 - 68 I reckon. Man....that rod caught some fish and is still stashed away somewhere. Cheers mate. They really made great rods, I believe they were the first or one of the first to make hollow glass rods in Australia. I reckon this one has been stashed away for decades. The green and gold bindings are still in great condition, the butt cap is beautifully perished, adds charm.Royce said Model 5 is a Blackfish rod, a bit on the heavy side due to the thickness of the walls. Not easy to fish all day with. Another one for my nephew, he’s young and works out. He said the Conolon came out of the Kilwell factory in New Zealand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61 crusher Posted June 5, 2019 Share Posted June 5, 2019 Hi @Ryder that’s a great score at $5 each & in such good condition for there age, I stumbled across this old approximately 9ft one piece in my travels this morning, has thick all metal runners with one damaged, no brand sticker, over & under bound, brown in colour, $15 & of course metal reel mount & full cork grip & very wobbly (noodle), I’m up at green Point, From memory we bumped into each other at a store in Sydney & you came up & had a look at an old two piece rod I had, if you’re interested let me know Cheers Dieter I Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Squidy Posted June 5, 2019 Share Posted June 5, 2019 On 5/15/2019 at 6:03 PM, Ryder said: The other Mitchell Conolon Companion, Spiraflex Custom Line 62:126. Again 10ft 6 but I'm pretty sure it's a beach rod from the sand spike. Hi Ryder, Reading this and some of your other posts on old rods had reminded me that I had two old rods under the house that I grabbed for nothing before they ended up on a council clean up heap when my Dad's old neighbor moved out a couple of years back back. I had been meaning to look into them a bit further to see if they were worth keeping, using, selling etc. Anyway, had a look last night and one of them is a Mitchell Conolon Companion, Spiraflex Custom Line 42:108, about 9 foot long. The rod pretty much looks to be in a usable condition straight off the bat with just some corrosion staining to a couple of guides and some minor fraying at the edge of a couple of bindings. It is fitted with an old Alvey that seems in pretty good condition also. My initial thinking is at 9 foot it might make a decent blackfish outfit which is something i dont have if I just clean it up and re-spool. Maybe re-epoxy a couple of the bindings. Anyway, my main question is do you know what that line classification translate to in today's terms? Would love to hear if you'd had any other interesting feedback from the investigation on yours. Where do you generally go to get information on the older gear? A couple of pics. Cheers, Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryder Posted June 5, 2019 Author Share Posted June 5, 2019 6 hours ago, 61 crusher said: Hi @Ryder that’s a great score at $5 each & in such good condition for there age, I stumbled across this old approximately 9ft one piece in my travels this morning, has thick all metal runners with one damaged, no brand sticker, over & under bound, brown in colour, $15 & of course metal reel mount & full cork grip & very wobbly (noodle), I’m up at green Point, From memory we bumped into each other at a store in Sydney & you came up & had a look at an old two piece rod I had, if you’re interested let me know Cheers Dieter I Thanks mate, I'm heading up to Umina sometime on the weekend. I will send you a PM when I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryder Posted June 5, 2019 Author Share Posted June 5, 2019 5 hours ago, Mr Squidy said: Hi Ryder, Reading this and some of your other posts on old rods had reminded me that I had two old rods under the house that I grabbed for nothing before they ended up on a council clean up heap when my Dad's old neighbor moved out a couple of years back back. I had been meaning to look into them a bit further to see if they were worth keeping, using, selling etc. Anyway, had a look last night and one of them is a Mitchell Conolon Companion, Spiraflex Custom Line 42:108, about 9 foot long. The rod pretty much looks to be in a usable condition straight off the bat with just some corrosion staining to a couple of guides and some minor fraying at the edge of a couple of bindings. It is fitted with an old Alvey that seems in pretty good condition also. My initial thinking is at 9 foot it might make a decent blackfish outfit which is something i dont have if I just clean it up and re-spool. Maybe re-epoxy a couple of the bindings. Anyway, my main question is do you know what that line classification translate to in today's terms? Would love to hear if you'd had any other interesting feedback from the investigation on yours. Where do you generally go to get information on the older gear? A couple of pics. Cheers, Rich Hi Rich, I take the last 3 numbers to be length in inches, the first number wraps? Maybe? I have posted a question on another forum and I will get back. 4 wrap should make a decent Blackfish rod, probably around 3-6 kg weight range. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61 crusher Posted June 5, 2019 Share Posted June 5, 2019 1 hour ago, Ryder said: Thanks mate, I'm heading up to Umina sometime on the weekend. I will send you a PM when I know. Sorry Ryder forgot to mention it’s in a store for $15 do you want me to grab it for you for when you come up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryder Posted June 5, 2019 Author Share Posted June 5, 2019 I forgot to add where I get info. For me it started here with Fishraider, and it remains one of the best sources. A lot of guys still have and use dads or grandads gear, especially in Blackfish circles. Online auction sites, look for adds like Wanted to buy, best prices paid. These guys are collectors and dealers, they really know they’re stuff. Otherwise general online searches for brands and models will lead to other forums both local and international, guys like us who love their fishing. eg. Butterworth rods or Alvey reels turning up in England or NZ . In a lot cases there isn’t much info out there, but I am still surprised how much research leads back here to Fishraider. I search images too as a bit of a shortcut. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryder Posted June 5, 2019 Author Share Posted June 5, 2019 12 minutes ago, 61 crusher said: Sorry Ryder forgot to mention it’s in a store for $15 do you want me to grab it for you for when you come up Cheers mate, look interesting, why not. Someone else might buy it. Haha. Hope I can see you on the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Squidy Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 On 6/5/2019 at 6:19 PM, Ryder said: Hi Rich, I take the last 3 numbers to be length in inches, the first number wraps? Maybe? I have posted a question on another forum and I will get back. 4 wrap should make a decent Blackfish rod, probably around 3-6 kg weight range. Hi Ryder, Thanks for that. Its a very whippy rod especially when im used to graphite these days but id say 3-6kg feels about right. Sure enough the first link that comes up on google for "Mitchell Conolon Companion Spiraflex Custom Line" is this thread... Looking forward to giving it a crack now. Just need to get myself some Dunlop volleys and a terry towelling hat to go with it haha. Cheers Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryder Posted June 7, 2019 Author Share Posted June 7, 2019 Haha. When it comes to blackfish it's all about the hat. Crusher, I sent you a pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryder Posted June 14, 2019 Author Share Posted June 14, 2019 Hey Rich, Slowly breaking it down regarding the numbers. Is yours a 2 piece rod? The second number from 42:108 . It works for the 1 piece 61:132 and 2 piece 62:126. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryder Posted July 10, 2019 Author Share Posted July 10, 2019 With help from the US Mitchell reel museum and Kilwell in NZ, Mr Squiddy and my Mitchell Conolon Spiraflex rods were produce in the Kilwell factory in the early 70s, production ceased in 1975. Conolon arose from an American wartime company called NARMCO, who claim to be the first to produce hollow glass rods. The story goes on to include Conolon Garcia, Abu Garcia, Abu Kilwell. etc. Here is a bit of a taste. https://mitchellreels.ourboard.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=90&t=615 I have posted a link to Fishraider on their forum too. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackfish Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 Great stuff there, the first good reel I owned was a Mitchell 300. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Squidy Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 Cheers Ryder, Very interesting stuff, I can certainly see how this becomes a side hobby of its own for many. Still need to get out and give mine a run some time soon on the black fish and see how it handles, Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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