empire spinning rod

Question
Hi,

Saw some posts. I have a bamboo spinning rod. The only marking is "Empire Spinning Rod", written in black, in cursive, within quotation marks. Threading is also black. No plastic, good cork, reel holder is just two metal rings that slide into position. Is this an Empire City? Thoughts? Can you estimate a value? Another question, I want to start fishing with another rod and reel combo that was a grandparents. It is a Union Hardware Co. bamboo fly rod with a Briggs Reel Co. Model 2 Cortland 333 Reel. Probably circa 1930's. Is it OK to fish with these older rods? This one seems in good shape, as practiced in the yard. Or should I seek some restoration/refurbishing/etc?

Answer
Greg

I dont recognize that name, but a lot of rods were sold as trade rods, made by a major manufacture to be sold by a sporting goods company under their name. Bamboo spinning rods dont command much value $20-40.

Your Union Hardware rod is not terribly valuable, so if you break it, its not the end of the world. Typically, on the old bamboo rods the varnish cracks and the bamboo dries out or water gets to the glue holding it together. If this is the case, there is a good chance you will break the tip.

Never the less, I would use a light weight fly line to reduce the load on it....

Bob