Orvis Rods - RMargiotta

Given the recent discussion on Orvis products, I'll throw in my hat.  I have 
several Orvis rods, mostly from pre-1950.  The cane work on these rods is 
excellent with almost no flat-to-flat variation.  This is also true for the 
varnished models.  The ferruling is superb.  One rod, serial number 0959 
(August 1945) is by far the best 8'6" 3 pc 5wt I've ever cast, superior in 
every way to its peers like the 8'6" Granger and Phillipson.  (Haven't had 
the chance to cast a Payne 204, though).  This puts it at a time when both 
Pinky and Halstead were in the shop.  The cane color can olnly be described 
as "exotic" -- a dark mahogany like a really ripe chestnut.  It's 
impregnated, but I don't think the color is totally due to the resin.  (You 
can see watermarks on some Orvis cane -- this is the main reason why the 
always had 2 levels of rods like the Battenkill/Madison hierarchy.)   Here's 
the taper:

1.25    0.075
5   0.085
10  0.101
15  0.112
20  0.126
25  0.137
30  0.149
32.5    0.156
36  0.174
40  0.180
45  0.195
50  0.205
55  0.216
60  0.232
65  0.248
71  0.265
75  0.280
80  0.298
85  0.312
90  0.330
92.5    0.340
95   0.345
100  0.345


--Rich