ORIGINAL: trackerz
I saw another Granger advertised is there a price range for different models.
Trakerz,
I thought I could just paste a link but could’t find one article that had enough information.
I’ll do my best to confuse you. The following may or may not be entirely accurate.
Granger and W&M Granger Rods were built in Denver Colorado between 1918-1953.
Four major factors dictate the price of the rod.
First being length (a numerical reference)
Second is Model Name
Third is “eraâ€
Last is condition (which is self explanatory.
The shorter the rod, the more scarce/valuable the rod. The most common length were 8 ½ an 9 feet.
Model number were used on the sales brochures but are not scripted on the rod itself.
The first 2 numbers refer to length.
The second two numbers refer to weight in ounces.
The common model numbers are 7030,7633,8040,8642,9043,9050,9060,1062.
A 7633 is a 7 ½ ft., 3 3/4 once rod. An 8040 is an 8 ft. 4 oz. rod. An 8642 is an 8 ½ ft. 4 ½ oz. rod.
Model Names were written on a flat of the butt section of the rod.
Through the years, names were either added or dropped from the lineup.
All models shared the same quality hardware and reel seats.
All model names shared the same taper and fished the same.
The differences were mostly in cosmetics, such as grade of cork, clean looking cane and decorative wraps.
The lower grade Champion, Stream & Lake and Victory had 1 or 2 less guides, depending on length.
There were many different eras and hardware changes through the companies history.
The two major changes were divided by the year 1931. That is when Bill Phillipson took over the rod shop operations after Goodwin Granger’s death. Just before 1946 and under the supervision of Bill P., the tapers were tweaked slightly to the faster side of medium to better handle western type waters. Then, in 1946, The Wright & McGill Company bought the shop from Goodwin’s widow and Bill Phillipson left to form the Phillipson Rod Company. The name “Wright & McGill†was added to one flat of the butt section during this time. Some cosmetic changes and model name changes were made. One new taper (Water Seal) was added.
There are/were a few reasons driving the price of Granger and W&M Granger Rod.
The first is that they are just great casting rods ( IMO,especially the 8040 and 8642) which lead to sort of a cult following.
Then, John Gierach and Earnest Schweibert touted the Granger in their writings.
Then there is those Grangers used in that film “a River Runs…â€
As to which is better, Goodwin’s or W&M, it comes down to preference. A rare GG8040 is more of a 4 wt and a W&M8040 is a better 5wt. Some like the delicacy of GG. I prefer the dry fly and distance qualities of W&M.
Lastly, a new era came into it’s own recently and The Granger Company has been reestablished and producing new rods (for a buncha cash) based on the original tapers.
post edited by dano - 2010/08/07 12:57:54