Ephemera

The year(s) issued are estimates based on pricing in the pamphlet and how it matches up with Dickerson rod prices as recorded in his ledgers.  There are no dates listed anywhere in the pamphlets. I have seen previous writings of a stated year of release attributed to two of the Dickerson pamphlets.  It is not known how these exact dates were arrived at.  

Circa 1935-1937 pamphlet-  Only one single original currently known.  This pamphlet had not yet surfaced before the Dickerson book was published. There are a couple of corrections on the price page, written in Dickerson’s hand. It is possible it could have been a printers proof copy. Perhaps he did not have the money to move the print run ahead at the time? The pamphlet list rods for $35 and only three piece models are offered.  

Circa 1940 pamphlet-  Due to the scarcity and the fact that only a few examples have surfaced, it is possible this pamphlet was uncirculated. An example of this pamphlet is shown in the Dickerson book attributed to 1937. Based on Dickerson’s records, the rod pricing shown in the pamphlet is not seen in Dickerson's ledger until 1940. The Dickerson book states that the catalog was not circulated due to a print error on the first interior page. The error reads, “stands up under extreme abuse”. The print has been hand corrected, deleting the ab to read “use” rather than “abuse”.  There are perhaps five or less original examples of this pamphlet.  Both two and three piece rods are offered for $42.50.  Salmon rods with extension handles were $50.  

Please note- Rodmaker and Dickerson book author, Jim Schaaf, made a reproduction of this catalog to give to customers who bought his Dickerson Commemorative Series rods. The reproduction is printed on modern card stock and the image of the cover photo is dark and poorly defined.  This reproduction should not be confused with an original.  Be mindful if an early Dickerson pamphlet is offered for sale.  I have seen two cases in which unsuspecting buyers paid hundreds of dollars thinking they were buying an original.  Please see more on this reprint below in the paper ephemera section.

1948 pamphlet- Finally, the most often seen pamphlet, circa 1948. This pamphlet also appears in the Dickerson book and is attributed to 1947. However, since the $65 pricing shown does not appear in Dickerson’s records until the year after, I will refer to it as the 1948 pamphlet . While this pamphlet is not common, there are more than a few in circulation. Lyle Dickerson had copies of this pamphlet on hand for many years and would send them to inquirers all the way up into the late 1970s.  Both two and three piece rods are offered for $65.  Salmon rods with extension handles were $75. 

Circa 1935-1937 (unissued) pamphlet model and price list- Showing nine different three piece rod models offered at $35 each.  Dickerson was always a custom rod maker and never limited himself to the models offered in his pamphlets. In 1935 two piece models first appear in the ledger and Dickerson began using what would become his standard model designation using the rod length followed by the ferrule size in 64ths of an inch: 801510 (eight foot rod, three sections, size 15/64 and 10/64 ferrules).   

As previously discussed, rod maker and Dickerson book author, Jim Schaaf, made a reproduction of the Dickerson 1935-37 rod pamphlet to give to customers who bought his Dickerson Commemorative Series rods. The reproduction should not be confused with an original. 

Both of the pamphlets are exactly the same size.  However, there are several ways to spot the difference between the reproduction and the original; whether age is apparent or not on one or both:

-The reproduction's cover has a dark and poorly defined photo of a Dickerson rod compared to the original.

-The reproduction's cover has cream colored card stock paper with a non-glossy textured appearance. The inner pages are the same color but slightly thinner textured stock.   The original has a slightly darker cream colored cover and inner pages than the reproduction.  The paper stock used on the cover and inner pages of the original are smooth and glossy and of high quality. This feature would be the most positive identifier of an original.