Quote Originally Posted by Stripercoast1 View Post
I earned bench time by cleaning the shop, then setting grips, splining blanks, until I finally got to do underwraps. Never made a penny, I got to watch the masters as payment.

Murats Custom rods, N. Smithfield Rhode Island, long gone now.
I still have a brand new Harnell 11 foot blank, waiting for the time is right to build it. Still, in my opinion, one of the best blanks ever made and it's almost 40 years old.
How many people would be willing to do that today, work somewhere in return for the chance to learn from a master?

Your post reminds me of a past way of living that most people seem to have forgotten or pushed aside. Anytime ya want to start a thread about the old rod builders you remember, Gunny, here or on Stripercoast, I'm sure people would be very interested in reading it.