A while back, a good friend of mine sent me this old ad from the legendary rod maker Walton Powell. The ad comes from the 1990 November/December issue of Fly Rod & Reel magazine.
It's interesting to look at this ad, as Walton was not the type of rod maker to go in for commercials of any kind. He believed in marketing his rods one-on-one. I think that's why this ad, if you want to call it that, is so different than what you normally see. It's authentic & personal.
Here, Walton is discussing graphite fly rods, particularly the "high modulus graphite" craze that was taking place in the late 80's. Back then everyone just had to get a rod made with higher & higher modulus graphite.....or so every rod company would have you believe. Some of the claims back then were nothing short of outlandish (that wouldn't happen today, would it?).
In the ad, Walton offers folks a chance to read an in-depth article he wrote concerning fly rods. I haven't been able to find a copy of it anywhere. Should you know where I can read it, please let me know.
You can read Powell's ad below:
It's interesting to look at this ad, as Walton was not the type of rod maker to go in for commercials of any kind. He believed in marketing his rods one-on-one. I think that's why this ad, if you want to call it that, is so different than what you normally see. It's authentic & personal.
Here, Walton is discussing graphite fly rods, particularly the "high modulus graphite" craze that was taking place in the late 80's. Back then everyone just had to get a rod made with higher & higher modulus graphite.....or so every rod company would have you believe. Some of the claims back then were nothing short of outlandish (that wouldn't happen today, would it?).
In the ad, Walton offers folks a chance to read an in-depth article he wrote concerning fly rods. I haven't been able to find a copy of it anywhere. Should you know where I can read it, please let me know.
You can read Powell's ad below:
For those of you not familiar with Powell rods, you're missing out on some real fly fishing history. Walton's father, E.C., was a very famous rod maker in the first half of the twentieth century. In fact he was one of the first single-craftsmen rod shops to make rods specifically to special order for individual anglers. Back then the majority of rods were made in production shops - even special order rods.
Walt carried on the family business & became a household name in many fly fishing homes around the world. His son, Press, carried on the tradition as well with both Walton & Press expanding the company into graphite & fiberglass rods. Ever heard of the Hexagraph fly rod? Walton Powell did that & many other things, too.
Unfortunately Walton lost the company in a deal gone wrong with the Wall Street stockbroker Charles Schwab in 1996. As a result, Walton was not allowed to build rods under his own name. He died in 2001 while suing Schwab to get his name back. In fact, you can read the whole history of the Powell's by going HERE.
Walton was an interesting guy & very knowledgeable about rods & fly fishing. The fact that he was such a skilled angler, I think, is why his rods were so popular - because he knew how to talk to fellow anglers & knew what they wanted & needed. The Powell name today evokes a long story of 20th century American fly fishing.
Walt carried on the family business & became a household name in many fly fishing homes around the world. His son, Press, carried on the tradition as well with both Walton & Press expanding the company into graphite & fiberglass rods. Ever heard of the Hexagraph fly rod? Walton Powell did that & many other things, too.
Unfortunately Walton lost the company in a deal gone wrong with the Wall Street stockbroker Charles Schwab in 1996. As a result, Walton was not allowed to build rods under his own name. He died in 2001 while suing Schwab to get his name back. In fact, you can read the whole history of the Powell's by going HERE.
Walton was an interesting guy & very knowledgeable about rods & fly fishing. The fact that he was such a skilled angler, I think, is why his rods were so popular - because he knew how to talk to fellow anglers & knew what they wanted & needed. The Powell name today evokes a long story of 20th century American fly fishing.
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