old rods

Question
Hi Joe
Fund a couple of old rods in my fathers basement.
# 1)  H-I Genuine Tonkin Cane  Fish Rod  Then Black River hand engraved on it. It has 4 extentions 2 end ones.  One is heavier than the other, fly rod  or boat rod i gess? Has cork handle.
what is tonkin cane?

# 2) H-I  Blue Devil boat rod No. 3648  71/2 foot.
         Mohawk fiber glass
  This being a much heavier rod.
  Are these rods rare or did they make a ton of them? Im guessing they are circa 1950
Ant info would be aprecieted
Thanks in advance.
K

Answer
Hi Kevin,

The H-I Black River model is a combination (or convertible) rod probably from the lare 1930s or the 1940s.  The handle and reel seat section should be able to be reversed to make an 8 1/2 foot fly rod or a 6 1/2 foot casting rod by choosing the right set of mid and tip sections. let me know if yours is not convertible.

One rod for fly fishing and one rod for bass fishing all in one set. Value would depend on actual condition but could be anywhere in the $25-$175 range.

Tonkin cane is bamboo from the Tonkin Province in China.  Tonkin cane is the bamboo of choice for builders since the early 20th century.  It replaced Calcutta cane which was imported from India.  Tonkin cane has more dense fibers and requires less reinforcement of the glued strips to make an effective bamboo rod.  Tonkin cane does also come in various grades so quality can be different between rods that are labeled Tonkin Cane.

The H-I boat rod would be valued in the $10-$50 range depending on actual condition of the rod.  These are good boat rods, but the collectibility of the older glass boat rods is not that much.  If you are not near saltwater, it would make a good catfish rod.

Thanks,  Joe