I don't know if everyone would call his rods "impregnated," but Paul Young said that he used a Bakelite dip that entered the bamboo cells to at least some degree below the surface: "We dip our wrapped sections bodily into this dissolved bakalite solution, get all the penetration desired, and do not spoil the sweet action..." After treatment, it seems that the rods could be either varnished or oil finished. The photo shows a Summers-built oil finished Para 15 (above) and a Young-built varnished Para 17 (below). On the Para 15, the section of cane forward of the grip is varnished to protect the inked lettering; the rest is not varnished. Admittedly the Para 15 has been waxed in preparation for this season's fishing, which makes it glow, but in any season it's hard not to like its looks.

image

Quashnet's Paul H. Young Rod Database has photos and descriptions of over 1020 PHY Co. rods, plus catalogs, accessories, etc. If you have trouble viewing the Database, try logging OUT of Yuku.