Lot # 86: Isaac Mackie's Fishing Rod Splice, Two-Piece Shaft

Starting Bid: $100.00

Bids: 0 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
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This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Fall 2022",
which ran from 11/3/2022 7:00 PM to
11/19/2022 8:00 PM



Isaac Mackie sought to overcome the perceived weakness of both socket and splice neck woods by combining a socket and splice neck into a two-piece shaft. 

As designed by Mackie, the club offered here is made from three separate pieces of wood: the head and a two-piece shaft.  The two-piece shaft consists of a full length piece and an intermediate piece. The full-length piece splices onto the back of both the neck and the upper part of the intermediate piece. The bottom part of the intermediate piece sockets into the head.

The beautiful workmanship that combined the two pieces of the shaft make the splice between those two pieces difficult to see, but it is definitely visible upon close inspection. Five sections of whipping help hold the two pieces together. 

Mackie received a US patent dated June 2, 1914, that covered his club. He believed his unique design would combine the distance provided by socket neck drivers with the accuracy provided by splice neck drivers. 

The 42 1/2" driver offered here was produced by Spalding in the early 1920s. The club shows little use and still has its original shaft. The three sections of whipping that were originally on this club are no longer there.  Consequently, the splice and socket aspects of this club are easy to see, as is the intermediate section of the shaft.  It would be a simple thing to install replacement whipping to match the period, but there is no real need to do that.  Being able to see all the intricate elements of this club in perfect view has its benefits.

For more on this club, see TCA2 volume 1 page 168.

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