Rod Model Profile- 761510

The two 761510s that I have owned have been similar in that they were post-war rods with powerful actions. Both fell into the sweet spot of what I consider the best traits of Dickerson rods, which are the same traits that, in my opinion, make them the very best classic rods for fishing. I have difficulty coming up with adjectives to describe rod action in detail. There is so much subjectivity and so many clichés used to describe rod actions; the extent of which makes it difficult to find meaning in any description. Smooth and powerful can mean many things. An E.C. Powell C-taper rod is smooth and powerful, but it is nothing like what I’m speaking of when I say the same thing about a Dickerson. I think it is probably more appropriate to describe the rod's basic features and a firsthand account of usage.  

The 761510 I currently own is a unique version of the model. It’s a late rod, made in 1957, and the last 761510 recorded in Dickerson’s ledger which closed in early 1960. It was made and marked for Donald Valley, a close friend and customer of Dickerson’s dating back to the mid-1930s. Several features make this rod unique. One worth mentioning is the name Bergmann, written after 761510 on the rod above the grip. Of course, Bergman is correctly spelled with one n, which Dickerson should have known. Bergman was instrumental in Dick’s career which began in 1931 but didn’t really get going until after his association with Ray Bergman in 1935. Meeting Ray was probably the single most important occurrence in Dickerson’s career. Bergman was largely responsible for the mid-1930s increase seen in Dickerson’s orders. In the three years following the start of Bergman’s involvement (1935, 1936, 1937), approximately 120 of the 240, or 50% of the rods made were ordered by Ray Bergman.   The order increase does also coincide with the start of an upswing in the Great Depression, however, prior to 1935 Dickerson's business was hardly booming. His output total in 1934 was thirteen rods.

Early on, Dickerson occasionally wrote Bergman’s name somewhere on the rod in what likely began as a credit to his best customer/dealer. Some were signed Dickerson-Bergman in the spot usually reserved for Dickerson’s signature. Some rods had Bergman or R.B. written on the rod after the model number, most frequently on 8013 and 761510 models.  It has been theorized, and I agree, that the Bergman or R.B. after the model number eventually became a way of identifying a rod whose action was influenced by Ray’s specifications/preferences.  Rod maker Wm Abrams has held this assertion for some time, even offering his own version of the 8013 modeled after a particularly nice rod marked Bergman.  It seems the Bergman preference was for a touch more crispness or power. This would certainly explain much about the Don Valley 761510.   

The most unique aspect of the Valley 761510 is the ferrules. While mic’ing the rod, Per Brandin discovered that it actually had size 16 and 11 rather than 15 and 10 ferrules. While Dickerson was known for putting undersized ferrules on finished rods, apparently in this case he decided not to. The odd design of this rod could be what makes it so great and different, perhaps like a lab accident resulting in a fabulous new discovery. 

  Dickerson 761510 rod bag- The flap that once adorned this Dickerson rod bag can apparently be a maddening addition to a three piece rod with a narrow tube in which the rod and bag are a tight fit. Therefore, it is understandable that someone would simply snip the entire top flap off with what appear to be a dull pair of scissors. /S 

-Marc Bourgea