age/value of fly rod and reel

Question
Hello,  I have a JC Higgins fly rod/reel combo.  The rod had two tips, one being thinner that the other.  The rod has a decal at the handle end that has a fish jumping and the words JC Higgins and the numbers 3002.  The reel is a wind up type with a finger
lever to take up slack. The winder covers almost the entire side and is green.  It also has pat no 2475-756 and the words JC Higgins sold only by Sears Roebuck & Co.

I am unsure, but I can remember perhaps my Dad telling me he was
given this rod/reel combo as a gift for painting my Grandmothers house in 1947.  (I would think it would have been new then).

It hasn't been used for probably 50 years.

Can any one tell me the correct value of this and the age.

I do not plan to sell it, but would like this info to pass on
to my family.   

Thanks,   Tom

Answer
Tom,
The auto reel is very common , reels just don't resell like rods.
This rod was probably made in the 1940s ; if and only if it is 6 sided bamboo. If it is round then it is Made form fiberglass and is much newer.
J.C. Higgins rods were sold at Sears & Roebuck.
Sears never  made rods so yours was probably made by Horrocks-Ibbotson  who had a fish decal or Montague. I have seen several Higgins rods and they were lower quality and value Horrocks-Ibbotson rods.
Higgins is mentioned in the Price Book: Antique & Collectible  Fishing Rods: Identification & Value Guide Homel, Dan. 1997 (2nd edition 2000) add about 30% for age of book.

Homel gives the J.C. Higgins Model 3001 trout fly rod 9' with an extra tip, 3 sections the  value of  $20, 55 and $95 for poor, good, excellent condition respectively. Your rod is very close to that model number so the estimate is very close.

Luck,
Mac

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