Wes Jordan is perhaps the most famous unknown person in fishing history.

If you visit special interest forums, he has got quite a name, but not like Leonard, Payne or J.H.Young.

But in his 50 years career he's been working as a rodbuilder and rod designer for Cross Rod Co in Lynn Massachussetts, then South Bend (Indiana) and eventually with Orvis (Manchester, Vermont) where he was asked to come in 1939 as the "heart and mind" of rod manufacturing until his retirement in 1970. During this time, he was behind the "impregnated" rod patent of the Orvis rods. And he contributed to resuurect Orvis which after the 1929s crisis and consequent depression years, was reduced to just 2 employees and was practically broke.

Here some other interesting insights from the classic fly rod forum:

"In a letter Wes Jordan wrote to Alfred Miller outlining his rodmaking career, he claims that he started making bamboo rods by hand in 1919, and that he worked for South Bend from 1926-1937, where he was superintendent of South Bend's rod manufacturing facility. He then left for Orvis. Another interesting fact about the letter: "I really believe that Montague put out a better bamboo rod than Orvis previous to 1940."

-- Dr. Todd

The date of 1926 also is in line with my research, which has not uncovered an independent Cross advertisement after 1926. I believe that is the year South Bend purchased Cross, and got the services of Jordan.

-- Dr. Todd

"The early SB Cross rods have continued the serial number series of the Lynn, Mass rods from what I can tell. So if your rod carries a serial number in the 3xxx or 03xxx series then it's early. Other clues are: lots of intermediates (red or gold), simple understated style, all metal reel seat, o writing on shaft other than s/n. The early SB Cross rods looked exactly like the old Lynn rods, except for the SB stamp on the reel seat and the different tag on the sox.

The ad that the Doc shows above was VERY early and VERY transitional... and part of the plan. The name of the game at SB was to use the Cross heritage to convince folks that SB was a superior product. Poor Wes went nuts trying to keep the quality in while SB management wanted to keep cost out! That he succeeded as well as he did is a real testimony to his talent.

Ralph "

Rolf Baginski's speaks about him in his book (Split-Cane Rods -- Bamboo Treasures) when he met Tom Moran while visiting Mike Brook in the Uk in the '80s (pagg. 26-27). I leave it to you to discover what Tom said about the impregnated system Wes Jordan contributed to. It's worth remembering.

From Wes Jordan back to the main old bamboo rods webpage

Source: http://home.myfairpoint.net/and96jac/fishnbanjossliceoflifeincyberspacecopy/id16.html
http://www.classicflyrodforum.com/topic/13548