Who Came First?

Dr. Henshall, in his "Book of the Black Bass," pp. 201-203, under the caption of  "Origin of the Split Bamboo Rod," says:

"For though purely an American invention as now constructed, the idea or principle is really of English origin."

The Doctor then gives the date of the first split bamboo rod made in this country, by Samuel Phillippi, as about 1848; but all dates are from memory, and I believe, the date given by Mr. Wilkinson is the nearer approach to the correct one. Mr. Phillippi never made a complete rod of split bamboo, only a tip and joint to a three-pieced rod, the butt of ash, and the joint and tip made in three sections. Mr. Phillippi died about 1878.

Mr. Murphy, of Newark, N. J., in an article by Mr. B. Phillips, on the origin of the split bamboo, published in the New York "Times," gives the date as 1848 when Mr. Phillippi used the natural bamboo, and subsequently made a joint of bamboo.

The next date given is about 1860, when Mr. E. A. Green, of Newark, N. J., made the first complete split bamboo rod. This date cannot be far astray, for Mr. Green made (that is, glued up) for the trade a few; and I find my record, made at the time, to be Sept 16, 1863. These rods were made in four sections. Mr. Thaddeus Norris of Philadelphia, is mentioned in connection with the invention, but he never claimed it. In 1863 or 1864, Mr. Murphy, an acquaintance of Mr. Green, commenced to manufacture split bamboo rods for the trade; these were in four sections.

The first rods constructed in six sections that were put into the market were made by Mr. H. L. Leonard, of Bangor, Me. This was about 1870, and Dr. A. H. Fowler soon followed; Mr. Murphy, however, claims to have made one some time before.

Taken from:

Sport with Gun and Rod in American Woods and Waters By Alfred Marshall Mayer (published in 1883)

September 28, 2007 | Filed Under News

 

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