identification of bamboo fly rod

Question
Need help in identifing bamboo fly rod - here's what I know:  8'3 bamboo rod, looks like Ted Sykes Preferred written in cursive, 3 tips, metal reel seat.  Value?  Thanks so much-

Answer
Hi Leslie,

Nothing on Ted Sykes.  I did find an old discussion about a Ted Sykes Deluxe fly rod, but no one knew anything about it either.  Sorry.

My assumption is that Ted Sykes was a fly rod builder, either a hobbyist or a professional, but he did not appear to produce many rods.  At least not many seem to come to market.  It sounds like he produced at least a Deluxe and a Preferred model of his rods.

Deluxe, Special, Preferred are all typical model names used by many rod builders...I use all three myself for one series of rods I build.  The all metal (I assume you mean bright metal) reel seat could place the rod around 1910 plus or minus 15 years.  It depends on what it looks like.  The ferrules and guides might provide a clue as well.  Three tips is not too unusual in the early 1900s.  Builders pretty much settled on two tips as standard, but three was not unheard of then.  But...I really have no idea.

It is possible this was an individual rod builder selling (or giving away as gifts) his rods in a fairly regional locale.  I would have no idea as to value without knowing more about the rod builder and the real age of the rod and its condition.

I will keep the name in my file of things to check when I find new sources.  I'd like to hear if you learn any more about the rod just to add to my store of what my wife calls useless knowledge and trivia.

Thanks, Joe