I just bought another American used fishing rod. Some of you may recognise the make.
The Payne factory at Highland Mills sadly closed in 1968 but the name Payne goes back to the birth of American high-end bamboo/cane fishing rod making in the 1880's. I suspect this rod was built in the 1950's. This is a reconditioned rod, and very expertly done, by J.A. Bradford. I had already bought the rod before looking into who J.A. Bradford was. He died in 2013 but, before becoming one of the world's leading makers of fly fishing rods he had a distinguished career in the U.S. Air Force.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/df...&pid=167078930

Rod collectors often avoid reconditioned fishing rods, preferring those in original condition but I intend to fish with this one, not put it in a museum. Buying a used rod like this (a bit like buying a steel bicycle frame) gives one not only a useful tool but a link to the persons who worked on creating it and to the history of the craft. In this case there is also a link to bit of U.S. military history.