The forgotten Hardy Gordon Avon Rods of 1966

Hardy had much to crow about in 1966. The new Willowburn factory was completed and opened by His Grace the Duke of Northumberland. The new symbol of a fly set inside a castle wall was developed, signifying that Hardy tackle is made to last. They continued the building of Palakona bamboo rods, handmade reels and accessories including flies that were fished the world over. The engineering department was growing in strength, and diversifying into the Aero engine components business was logical and profitable for the company.

In the coarse fishing sector, many developments and new ideas were brought to the Hardy table. If you talk to most people the 1960s were exciting, sometimes outrageous, and definitely memorable. Neocane rods were introduced into the range, a step down from Palakona and more affordable for the budget conscious. Glen and Ben models were on offer and  Fibreglass rods were taking centre stage but they lacked the fanfare and trumps we expect from Hardy in the coarse fishing department.

Yet if you ask any collector or traditional angler about said glass fibre rods, it’s probably the Jet, Perfection and Fibalite models which spring to mind, but we’re in the ’70s. So what happened to the ’60s?

Flip back to 1966 and a range of hollow tubular glass rods was launched, designed by Peter Hoyle and “finished to perfection”. Hardy claimed that Tubular glass fibre had “proved itself beyond any measure of doubt to be the outstanding material of construction, reliable and superior to any other”

Bearing the Hardy Gordon and Castle logos these rods have slipped through the collector radar. We don’t see many of them, being less famous. Less advertised than the Dick Walker, Fred Buller and Taylor rods only a handful of years later.

Two rods caught my eye this week in a lot we bought.

The Hardy Fenquest: a light leger rod designed to cast lead weights and fished with a swing tip.  At 9’6” long, two-piece, it’s a handy length and comes with a 24” cork handle, short for this period. 

The Avonquest is a float/leger rod of 10’ in two sections.  Listed as a Deluxe Avon rod it was designed for trotting for chub and barbel and listed as a good all-rounder of the highest quality. A 28” handle is heading toward the fashion of longer cork handles in the day. Built from Polychromatic precision tapered tubular fibreglass, it’s a ’60s colour to match your fashionable avocado bath suite of the day. So why don’t we see more of the rods? Methinks it’s the lack of famous anglers to advertise the product. 

The two rods shown here are wonderful. Slightly heavier compared to the later Fibalite, Avon, and Swingtip rods and still using bronze ferrules but that’s progression at its best.

I believe these rods ran 1966 to 1969 so a short production period for Hardy and good for the collector rarity.

Had I more of the rods I would keep them and fish them, but I don’t so I can’t.

Check our listings for these two rare rods and others to enjoy the nostalgia of fishing with a rod already 60 years old and a groundbreaker in its day, albeit it quietly.