The Leonard Beveler
Chief of the several machines which he invented was the "beveler," which Leonard had in use certainly in 1877 and probably in 1876. It cut the triangular, tapered strips, six of which go into each section of a rod. It cut-and still cuts, for makers of Leonard, Thomas, and Payne rods, and maybe others, still use the beveler unchanged today-the strip complete with all the varying compound tapers on its outer surface. The beveler produced glue joints so closely fitted as to be invisible under a 20-power microscope and dimensions accurate to within a few thousandths of an inch at any point on the rod.
In an age of industrial secrecy Leonard was notable for his secretiveness. He realized that he had the rod-making world by the tail and took steps to maintain his hold. The beveler was always kept in a locked room and only he and his nephew Rube Leonard operated it. If Fred Thomas had not hung around and peeked until he found out how it worked, he and Payne and Edwards and Hawes would not have been able to make the rods they did when they quit the Leonard plant. To this day, according to my information, the beveler at the Leonard plant is kept in a locked room, and only one man knows how to run it.
From "The Father of the Fly Rod" by Sparse Grey Hackle (published in Sports Illustrated, June 4, 1956)
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