Customer testimonial from the catalog.

I enclose cheque for 16ft Split Bamboo "Special" rod which arrived this afternoon. It is a very beautiful weapon and I am much obliged to you for your promptness in responding to my telegram.

- Field-Marshal Viscount Allenby

Of course we had to do a little research on Field Marshal Allenby. Turns out that in addition to being a fan of Hardy rods he is also quite famous.

Allenby commanded British forces in the Middle East during World War I. His victory over the Turks at Gaza in 1917 led to the capture of Jerusalem, and his capture of Damascus and Aleppo, ended Ottoman power in Syria. It was the last time calvary was to be decisive in modern warfare and Allenby and T.E. Lawrence of Arabia emerged from that part of the war as its most famous names. Allenby was also appointed high commissioner of Egypt and he steered that country to recognition as a sovereign state in 1922. The Field-Marshal retired from public service in 1925 and probably ordered that Hardy rod soon thereafter.

Hardy also liked to celebrate their casting exhibition victories with fancy posters.

Previously on MC

Nine years before Gore arrived on the scene.