The Carlson "Four"

A FEW WORDS ABOUT FOUR-STRIP BAMBOO FISHING RODS

To many, a fishing rod constructed of four strips of cane is an unknown. Others may own or have seen the "Quadrate" rod developed and produced by W. E. "Bill" Edwards of Mt. Carmel, CT between 1939 and 1955. Some may own or have seen four strip rods produced in our shop under the name of "Carlson", "Thomas-Carlson" and "Thomas-Four". When we aquired the Thomas Rod Co. of Bangor, Maine in 1958, it was our intent to add the four-strip rod, which we were producing, to the Thomas line. However, the increased demand for this item coupled with the limited production had restricted the output of the Thomas conventional "Hex" rod. The Thomas Rod Company was eventually sold in the late 1990's and now resides back in the Bangor, Maine area. The four strip rod is now, and has been many years, the prime product of the Carlson Rod Company.