Leonard, Hiram　 English 《person》《company》

　 He was a noted American fly rod builder (1831-1907) who was called "the father of the modern bamboo rod."　Hiram Lewis Leonard was born in Sebec and lived in Bangor, Maine.　He liked hunting and fly fishing and he initially made rods as a hobby.　After he made an agreement to sell his rod with Bradford & Anthony company, he finally established his own company in 1869 and began making bamboo rods professionally.　At that time a beautiful raised pillar reel called Philbrook & Payne Reel was made.

　 In 1873, he built a 6-strip bamboo rod, a wonderful three-piece rod that was 10 feet long and weighed 9 oz. It had a stationary type reel seat.　He left Maine in 1881, and moved his craft studio to Central Valley north of Manhattan, New York.

　 Because he willingly taught people the technology, the knowledge and the pleasure of building a rod, many people gathered around him.　They included his son Reuben Leonard, his nephew Hawes brothers, Edward Payne, Fred Divine, Eutis Edwards, Thomas Chubb, and Fred Thomas.　Each of them later became excellent bamboo rods builders.　It was not until 1895 when Tonkin cane was imported for the first time into the United States, that Calcutta cane was used as the material of Hiram Leonard's rod.　After Hiram Leonard's death, his son Reuben Leonard succeeded him in leading the company that continued to build rods.

　 An interesting episode remains.　Leonard loved music, and it appears that he enjoyed giving concerts with his pupils.　In order to become one of his pupils, he conditioned they had to play at least one musical instrument.

　 H. L. Leonard Company kept producing quality bamboo rods, however his craft studio was totally destroyed by fire in 1964.　The company was restored, and it is presently producing rods.

【Reference】Classic rods and rodmakers, 1992 (1976).　The collector's guide to antique fishing tackle, 1989.　Trout (Schwiebert), 1978.　http://www.hlleonard.com

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