View source for Phillipson

== The Phillipson Rod Company  ==

All text on this page, Thomas J. Gould, ©2012, 2022


THAT MEANS DO NOT COPY THIS TEXT INTO YOUR EBAY AUCTION! 



Phillipson made high quality fiberglass fly rods from 1950 to the mid 1970s.  There were four distinct fiberglass production eras in the company history:

=== The Phillipson Rod and Tackle Company === 
began selling fiberglass rods in 1950.  The early rods were made with conventional techniques using Hexcel phenolic impregnated fiberglass.  This gave a dark brown rod blank with a strong woven pattern.  The first rods were labeled P76, a two-piece rod 7'6" long and P86, a two-piece rod 8'6" long.  These rods were fitted with the Phillipson <i>Hammer Handle</i> grip and the unique Phillipson No-Rock reelseat.  In 1953, the the less expensive S-series rods were marketed.  These rods had a typical round full Wells grip.

This time period included quite a few rods with different names, but a similar look (Chieftain, PowerKast, and Scout).  The model number for these rods included a letter code and the length in feet and inches, i.e., TS76.  The line ratings are given by line diameter, HDH or HCH.  Some rods had painted blanks, but most are clear finished.  The rod grips are usually full wells and the reel seats are standard Phillipson aluminum design in a wide range of colors.  All Phillipson rods that I have seen from this era had nickel silver ferrules.

Around 1955, Phillipson developed the Eponite rod blank.  During heat curing of the Hexcel phenolic impregnated fiberglass, the rod blank was put under high pressure to prevent the formation of voids in the rod blank walls.  The Eponite rod blanks have a peculiar butterscotch color and distinct pattern.  The rods were always labeled EPONITE.  The first Eponite rods were given the letter code "X".  Later rods were simply marked with the EPONITE symbol.

In early 1960 the Phillipson Rod and Tackle plant suffered a serious fire.  After repairing the damage, Phillipson began to use 3M Scotchply epoxy impregnated fiberglass.

=== Johnson Reels, Inc. owned Phillipson === 
from 1962 to 1964.  In 1962 Johnson Reel Co. bought Phillipson Rod and Tackle.  There were three lines of Phillipson Crafted, Johnson Profile fly rods.  The Profile 800 and Profile 600 rods were made from 3M Scotchply epoxy/E-glass composite.  The Profile 400 rods were made on Eponite blanks.  All rods had classic Phillipson nickel silver ferrules. 

<b>Profile 800 Uniglas</b> rods are finished with a gold plated tip top and stripper guide.  The remaining guides are double spiral snakes.  The rod blank AND ferrules are painted golden brown.  The main guide wraps are a slightly darker brown with elaborate trim spirals of a darker brown still.  The rod grip is a simple cigar tapering to all the way to the rod blank to allow a thread wrap from the hook keeper up onto the grip.  The reelseats were either a solid reddish brown anodized downlocking seat or gold anodized cap and slip ring.  The rod bag was tan with black edging and the rod tube is gold anodized aluminum with a black cap bearing the model information.  In my opinion, these are the most aestetically pleasing glass rods ever made.

<table width="50%" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" style="width: 600px;">
<tr><th width="15%">Model No.</th><th width="12%">Length</th><th width="12%">Sections</th><th width="61%">Description</th></tr>
<tr><td>'''8F66LC'''</td><td>6½ foot</td><td>2 piece</td><td>Medium dry fly action, cork skeleton grip with slip ring</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''8F70LC'''</td><td>7 foot</td><td>2 piece</td><td>Medium dry fly action, cork skeleton grip with slip ring</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''8F76LC'''</td><td>7½ foot</td><td>2 piece</td><td>Medium dry fly action, cork skeleton grip with slip ring</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''8F76'''</td><td>7½ foot</td><td>2 piece</td><td>Medium dry fly action</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''8F80'''</td><td>8 foot</td><td>2 piece</td><td>Medium dry fly action</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''8F86'''</td><td>8½ foot</td><td>2 piece</td><td>Medium dry fly action</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''8F803'''</td><td>8 foot</td><td>3 piece</td><td>Medium dry fly action</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''8F863'''</td><td>8½ foot</td><td>3 piece</td><td>Medium dry fly action</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''8F86BE'''</td><td>8½ foot</td><td>2 piece</td><td>Bass action, extension handle</td></tr>
</table>

<b>Profile 600 Uniglas</b> rods are finished with a carboloy tip top and stripper guide.  The remaining guides are chrome plated snakes.  The rod blank AND ferrules are painted golden brown.  The main guide wraps are black with a black trim spiral.  The rod grip is a simple cigar tapering to all the way to the rod blank to allow a thread wrap from the hook keeper up onto the grip.  The reelseats are the standard black Phillipson downlocking seat. 

<table width="50%" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" style="width: 600px;">
<tr><th width="15%">Model No.</th><th width="12%">Length</th><th width="12%">Sections</th><th width="61%">Description</th></tr>
<tr><td>'''6F76'''</td><td>7½ foot</td><td>2 piece</td><td>Medium dry fly action</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''6F80'''</td><td>8 foot</td><td>2 piece</td><td>Medium dry fly action</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''6F86'''</td><td>8½ foot</td><td>2 piece</td><td>Medium dry fly action</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''6F86B'''</td><td>8½ foot</td><td>2 piece</td><td>Bass action</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''6FS76'''</td><td>7½ foot</td><td>4 piece</td><td>Fly spin rod with Medium-Light action</td></tr>
</table>

<b>Profile 400 Uniglas</b> rods are finished with a "dia-chrome" snake guides.  The rod blank is painted golden yellow.  The main guide wraps are black with a black trim spiral.  The rod grip is a half wells with a chrome plated winding check.  The reelseats are the standard black Phillipson downlocking seat.  The rod label bears the Eponite symbol used on earlier by Phillipson Rod and Tackle.

<table width="50%" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" style="width: 600px;">
<tr><th width="15%">Model No.</th><th width="12%">Length</th><th width="12%">Sections</th><th width="61%">Description</th></tr>
<tr><td>'''4F76'''</td><td>7½ foot</td><td>2 piece</td><td>Medium dry fly action</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''4F80'''</td><td>8 foot</td><td>2 piece</td><td>Medium dry fly action</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''4F86'''</td><td>8½ foot</td><td>2 piece</td><td>Medium dry fly action</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''4F86B'''</td><td>8½ foot</td><td>2 piece</td><td>Bass action</td></tr>
</table>

=== The Phillipson Rod Company ===
was formed when Bill Phillipson bought his company back from Johnson Reels in 1964.

=== 3M Corporation ===
bought Phillipson in 1972.

== References ==
[1] Vic Johnson Sr. and Vic Johnson Jr. "Fiberglass Fly Rods" 1996, Centennial Publications, Grand Junction, Colorado.

[2] Ernest Schwiebert "Trout Tackle Two" 1978, 1984, E.P. Dutton, Inc., New York, NY.

[3] Phillipson catalogs and pamphlets 1967, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1974.

[4] Johnson Reels catalog 1964.

For the trivia freak, Phillipson developed the Eponite process for their rods in the mid 50s, however the Eponite name was trademarked by Shell in 1956.

[[Category:Classic Rods]]