North Western Rods

Rich P · May 2, 2009

Hi All,

I recently acquired (bought from Ebay) a North Western Sealey 11' Specimen rod - 2lb tc. Has anyone one of the learned FM correspondents used/owned one? I only ask as the rod's in excellent nick and has a lovely olive green finish, with red trim. Also interested as to whether it was a bargain at ?23 (plus postage) or not....

I appreciate the old adage of 'if it feels right and does the job then it's ok' but I was also after any experiences of North Western blanks/rods in general.

Thanks in advance.

Richard

Morespiders · May 2, 2009

Hi Richard, You got a bargain mate, North Western Blanks were some of the finest years ago, There factory was in Middleton if my memory serves me right, and most specimenanglers got theirblanks from themand if as you say its in very good nick you cant go wrong, Sealey were also one of the main rodmakers in their time.

I would assume it's afast taper rod?.

Rich P · May 4, 2009

Hi Morespiders - yes, a pretty fast action and very light. I'm based in Manchester myself so it's good to have a rod made here. Not many other anglers, I would think, can say the same. I found a couple of rod makers via Google who mention the blanks, and also rate(d) them up there with Harrison.

I take it you're NW-based, from the rivers you mentioned in the Barbel Rivers thread? I've fished the Goyt regularly for the past two seasons and caught my first two doubles in Feb.

Cheers, Richard

Derek Gibson · May 4, 2009

As Spider's says Rich cracking gear, both then and now. Used them myself in the past as did a lot of speci types of my aquaintance. Legendary rod builder of some years ago, Pete Evans of Sheffield always rated them. A pedigree bit of kit, even today.

EC · May 4, 2009

I've never used one, but as a kid I remember the weekly and monthly mags being full of adverts for north western blanks, and the fact that they are stillheld in such high regard says everything.

I assume they went bust lads? Any ideas why, what happened?

Rich P · May 4, 2009

EC - no, still trading and making rods I hear, though the company has been taken over. I read somewhere that they suffered by not marketing aggressively enough and/or less research & development than other leading blank manufacturers. This is all hearsay mind you.

Derek Gibson · May 4, 2009

If my memory is to be trusted N.W. were in the mix with ''Tri Cast'', and ''New Century'' who certainly did market aggressively. However I would still venture, that more speci types made their bones on N.W. gear, at least of my aquaintance. Still a great buy for what you paid Rich.

EC · May 4, 2009

Cheers lads.

Phillips Jerry · May 4, 2009

My heavy feeder rod was built on a North Western Blank in 96 and I am still using it now, but it has become a mixture of North Western and Tri cast after an accident with my car door.When I was going through the magazines whilst at Asda they were still advertiseing there rods in a sea angling mag

Rich P · May 4, 2009

Thanks Derek - that's good to know. My other rod's a Normark - another company who have lost some of their heritage (though I hope that doesn't sound disingenuous to NW) as they're now under the the Masterline badge. Very good blank though, despite its origins.

Rich

paraman the pre-hospital care qualified blanker · May 4, 2009

North Western were at the forefront of carbon technology and started producing rods in the early 80's, although they also produced excellent (for the time) glassfibre rods as well.

Probably their most popular models were the AC6 (1 3/4lb tc through action) and the SS6 (2.5lb tc).They were in the same class as tricast and both were based on North Manchester - Tricast in Rochdale and Northwestern in Grimshaw Lane, Middleton.

To start with they only produced blanks and sold these to other companies to make up, although you could buy direct and do it yourself, which is what a lot of people did.

At the time carpers used either the AC6 or the Terry Eustace T24.

They went on to make the Kevlite models which were a dream and revelation when they first emerged.

They also produced a very nice light specimen rod of 1 1/4 tc as well.

Great nostalgia from a mostly forgotten champion of specialist rods.

Robert Woods · May 4, 2009

My first carp rods were AC6 made up myself as rods were sold as kits with just handle fitted.

paraman the pre-hospital care qualified blanker · May 4, 2009

Robert, were these the original brown ones or the later black carbon composites? I had a matching set of three of the original brown ones, although all that remains now are bits of them in the garage - all three suffered from severe trauma at some part of their lives!

The originals had full length cork handles if I remember rightly.

The handle was about 30inches long!

preston96 · May 4, 2009

<blockquote class=quoteheader>paraman the pre-hospital care qualified blanker wrote (see)</blockquote><blockquote class=quote>

Robert, were these the original brown ones or the later black carbon composites? I had a matching set of three of the original brown ones, although all that remains now are bits of them in the garage - all three suffered from severe trauma at some part of their lives!

The originals had full length cork handles if I remember rightly.

The handle was about 30inches long!</blockquote>

Para.....i thought it was conoflex that were originally brown and then black,and the T24was certainly conoflex, wasn't it?.

I was told that NWwere back in action.....but had not got it right yet.

Lots of us had a dabble at making our own rods or had them made up from blanks from NW,Conoflex, Sportex,tricast being the main blanks used...............conoflex glass rods had parrellel butt/handle sections............i personally rated them best.

Robert Woods · May 4, 2009

Mine were black glass ones with short cork handle with sliding reel fittings like float rod. Were used for barbel as well.

Rich P · May 4, 2009

As of last September (this has been gleaned from Anglers Net), a company called Shannonvale Plastics now owns NW. They also have an in-house rod builder called Dave and, if anyone's interested, their number's on the aforementioned Anglers Net forum (I googled it).

Cheers, Richard

preston96 · May 5, 2009

<blockquote class=quoteheader></blockquote>
<blockquote class=quoteheader>Rich P wrote (see)</blockquote><blockquote class=quote>As of last September (this has been gleaned from Anglers Net), a company called Shannonvale Plastics now owns NW. They also have an in-house rod builder called Dave and, if anyone's interested, their number's on the aforementioned Anglers Net forum (I googled it). Cheers, Richard</blockquote>
What they do not have.......or at leastdidn't,according to a rod builder i rate highly,is any decent rods.

Rich P · May 6, 2009

Paul - thanks for your constructive comments. Like most aspects of life, it's probably horses for courses; whilst your rod builder might not like them, there are a good few that do/did rate them.

Rich

preston96 · May 8, 2009

No Rich,you misunderstand me.....the old NW rods are still superb..........and i

hasten to add much sought after on the secondhand market.

The latest ones,are not so good, as yet anyway........so i am led to believe

Rich P · May 9, 2009

Hi Paul - yes, I misunderstood. Sorry about that. You may well be right, though it seems unlikely that I ever will, due to the lack of marketing.

Cheers, Rich

North Western Rods

Well-known member

Senior Member

Well-known member

Well-known member

EC

Guest

Well-known member

Well-known member

EC

Guest

Phillips Jerry

Guest

Well-known member

New member

Robert Woods

Guest

New member

Well-known member

Robert Woods

Guest

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member