A.B.Urfabriken Rod Evolution

From 1940's Stalspo, Split-cane, Fibreglass to 80's Carbon Fibre

These are verbally and sequentially referenced and all available images can be seen on the catalog pages.

As time progresses, the quality of images and catalog layout improve considerably. Please click above link.

Sweden was a producer of fine steel and as a consequence it was ABU's natural first choice for rod building material.

They are obviously not as good as hand made split canes from the likes of Hardy of England, but definitely more robust and cheaper.

The very first steel rods that A.B.Urfabriken offered anglers were the one piece # 2 and #4. In the 1946 "You can Rely on Record" catalog , which was the first info in English, we see descriptions

"Made of seamless tapered drawn steel tubing. Detachable cork handle with sunk reel fitting. Top ring and rod rings of stainless steel or agatine. The is manufactured in 3 types, flexible, medium and stiff. Green lacquered. Length 4 1/2 , 5, 5 1/2 feet. The only difference for the #4 was that it had an extended cork foregrip."

The next page of this 1946 catalog shows 6 more rods where a variety of steel making is involved, seamless hollow drawn, solid steel, dovetailed tube ...please read on

The very first Napp och Nytt catalog from 1948 displays the already existing Stalspo steel rod models # 2, #4, #1, #40 and 2 handed 3 piece steel rod named flug-och spinnspo which was a massive 13 foot 6 inch in length. Too heavy for effective casting I feel. This catalog hosted the Nytt rods of the era too, which were #45 and # 25.

So it seems there were a total of 8 rods on offer, catering for spinning, baitcast and fly fishing.

Next year's N&N 1949 catalog was identical, so there is no way of seeing the new year's offerings.

N&N 1950 tells us that a number of new Stalspo offering were available # 101, # 22, # 102, #104, # 145 and for the first time a preview of the fabulous Norwegian Horgard split-cane spinning and baitcasting rods Norsk and Sjoa. They were 5 and half feet with stainless steel finger grip and cork fore-grips.

N&N in 1951 has 12 steel rods, beautifully displayed as well as documented with detail.

More than a dozen Horgard split-cane rods are similarly pictured and detailed, showing fly, spinning and baitcasting rods, in a catalog with great effort made to show off all the product line.

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Massive changes ahead for the world rod-building industry and in particular, lead by the USA based Narmco Inc (due to its Fibreglass innovations) and consequently the ABU and Garcia company relationships in the early 50's.

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Quote from John Jolly on Rodbuilders.org see http://rodbuilding.org/read.php?2,206979,423350#msg-423350

This quote from the President of Narmco-Conolon, Frank Brownson, printed in the catalog provides some insight into the beginnings of the company:

It is seldom that anyone has an opportunity to introduce a really new and fresh idea - one that differs sharply from anything ever presented in the past.

Soon after World War II Narmco was fortunately able to introduce the first tubular fiberglass fishing rod invented by Dr. Glenn G. Havens, noted physicist and head of Narmco Research.

It was quite a thrill and completely revolutionized the fishing rod industry, for up to that time, all fishing rods were either wood, bamboo, or steel.

Today there are no wooden rods - and more than 95% of all fishing rods sold are glass rods. Split bamboo and metal combined account for only 4.66% of all remaining rods.

Quite a revolution, wouldn't you say?

Today history is repeating itself because once again we have the pleasure of introducing another revolutionary concept in fishing rods...an absolutely new and highly unusual rod material called Missilite.

I believe the term Missilite was not used by NARMCO / Conolon, for fibreglass for very long due to negative connotations of weaponry being carried over to fishing rods.

Copied from Bill Batson CEO, public post on www.rodbuilding.org

Batson Enterprises ( would love to hear from you Bill to ask some questions )

On page 2 of the Original TECHNICAL MANUAL. The CONOLON Corporation..
History of Glass Fishing Rods:
Glass fishing rods are manufactured by processing a fiberglass material impregnated with a plastic known as phenolic resin. This resin impregnated fiberglass which possesses a unique combination of properties differing from all other materials, first evolved in the early 1940's. After intense research during this period by US aircraft industries and National Research and MFG Co. of National City, California, the proper combination of fibergass and plastic was discovered and a new industry was born.
As a result of this development in the Early 1940's, National Research and MFG. Co later named Narmco began production of resin impregnated fiberglass which was named Conolon. This new material made possible the manufacture of essential aircraft parts requiring lightweight, great strength, and the ability to withstand extreme changes in tempertures and humidity.
When world War 2 ended, aircraft production was sharply curtailed and Conolon was released for commercial use. When markets were explored for this material, it was discovered that resin impregnated fiberglass could be processed into glass fishing rods. Stronger and more flexible than steel or wood, glass rods soon took over the market. National Research and MFG. Co became Narmco Inc and produced glass fishing rods for several yeras under that name. Narmco eventually sold controlling interest to Telecomputing Inc., who later sold the assets of the glass rod business to Garcia Corporation, Then the Conolon Corporation was formed.
All of this information came right out of the pages of the Conolon Corporation " Technical Manual". It is very outdated compared to where the industry is today. But this is where it started and to have a document such as this is kinda Cool. It contains the following info:
Introduction & Discription:Purpose, Scope, History of Glass Fishing Rods, Description of Blank Process, Fiberglass Material, Resin System, B-Stage Material, Equipment Required & Layout.
Manufacture Of Glass Fishing Rod Blanks: Introduction, Reference Material, Equipment Required, Materials Required, Receiving Inspection, Blank Process, Quality Control, Manufacturing Notes.

If a picture is worth a thousand words then short short section of film about Garcia Conolon tubular fibreglass manufacturing is worth even more!

Garcia Conolon Rods

N&N 1952 heralds the introduction of hollow glass tubular fibreglass (Rorbyggda) and shows the products from Narmco/Conolon USA . They are named ABU Lapplandia, ABU Suecia, ABU Gothia and ABU Scandia, a selection of one fly, one spinning and 2 baitcasting rods. Following this, 9 steel rods are still being advertized, viz #22, #25, #40, #1, #101, #50, #2, #4 and #45

N&N 1953 show for the first time, and first in the catalog pages, the new Solid fibreglass (Massiva) rod models Record #55, Record # 60 , Record #57 as well as the Record # 200 which were believed to be sourced from Sportex in West Germany. Hollow tubular glass rods were the same 4 as last year ABU Sport and ABU Tournament baitcasters.

N&N 1954 offers 3 more new Solid fibreglass rods viz Record # 52, Record # 53 and Record # 65. It appears steel rods are not finished yet ! The hollow tubular fibreglass rods taking the world by storm are further expanded in range by offering re-named ABU Tournament #1 and #2 , an ABU Atlantic 430 as well as a very fetching "Vara eleganta spofodral" which from the picture looks like a nice carrying case. Still more hollow tubular fibreglass rods are offered with models ABU Suecia # 350, ABU Suecia # 330, ABU Atlantic # 450, ABU Lapplandia # 550, ABU Lapplandia # 560, and ABU Lapplandia # 580. The old faithful 7 Record steel rods are still being offered.

N&N 1955 shows us the same 7 Record solid fibreglass rods first, followed by the same 7 hollow tubular fibreglass rods as last year. A breathing, catchup year perhaps. There are 6 Steel rods still being offered # 20, 22, 25, 40, 1 and 50. The only new product is the Record snabbgrepp which is a cork handled cast-alloy rod grip featuring a nylon collet and spun aluminium locking collar.

Tight Lines 1956 will be accessed for information from now on as thus was the year the info was released in an English catalog.

I have discerned a slight overlap in what was considered new between Swedish N&N 1955 and the English TL 1956 (due to the fishing seasons of release I think)

NO Steel rods were advertized! The end is here for this style of rod.

Solid fibreglass rods under the Record name that were new, # 48, #49, #52, # 53, # 57, #75 and #250 while older models # 55, # 60, # 65 were also exhibited. ABU hollow tubular fibreglass rods shown were Sport, Gothia, Scandia, Tournament 1 and 2 as well as the new Brilliant, Suecia 320, Suecia 330, Adjusto, Combino, Atlantic 420, 430, 450 and the ABU All-Round Sliding Reel Seat model.

Tight Lines 1957

Confirming NO Steel rods were advertized!

Solid fibreglass rods shown were Record # 75, # 65, # 60, # 55 , # 57, # 53, # 52, # 49, # 48, # 15 followed by the previously released tubular fibreglass rods viz ABU Sport, ABU Tournament 1 and 2, ABU Gothia, ABU Scandia and the new ABU Corona. The solid fibreglass Record rods were #270, # 250 and newly released #230 and # 220. Hollow tubular fibreglass rods shown were the existing ABU Adjusto, ABU Combino, ABU All Round, ABU Suecia 330 and 320 and the new ABU Suecia 325 and 300. The tubular Salt water rods were the ABU Atlantic 450, 430 and 420 models while the tubular fly rods were ABU Salmo 590, ABU Lapplandia 560 and 550

Tight Lines was not issued in 1958

Tight Lines 1959

It seems no new rods were released this year , except for the tubular ABU Match, and the Solid Record 215, but the existing stock was displayed better in the catalog, with the small failing they did not place NEW next to the 2 previously mentioned rods. It made them hard to find for me.

Tight Lines 1960

Whilst fibreglass, both solid and tubular , had been in the ABU inventory since 1952 and 1953, for some reason, in this year's catalog, there were big graphics employed, to re-advertize what we had known for 8 years.

The only new presentations this year were the 3 piece solid fibreglass ABU Safari and the 2 piece tubular ABU Lapplandia 530

Tight Lines 1961

Here we still see the familiar and easy to understand categorizing of rods into solid and tubular construction and also by use viz casting, spinning surf and fly

New additions were the Hollow fibreglass tubular casting rods viz Caster, Royal and Strong and the budget solid fibreglass Record 175, 165, 160, 158 and 155 offered

A new tubular Spinning rod being available was the Suecia 340 whereas the only new Solid spinning rod was the Record 251. No new rods were offered in the Surf or Fly fishing categories.

Tight Lines 1962

The only new rods offered in any category this year were the larger tubular Surf rods viz ABU Atlantic 460, ABU Atlantic 450, ABU Atlantic 425, aBU Atlantic 410 and Record 290

An ABU Lapplandia 525 rod was offered for the first time in the Fly fishing category.

Tight Lines 1963 was not printed this year

Tight Lines 1964

Perhaps my favourite catalog, because it featured , both special rods and a special reel viz the first Ambassadeur 5000 Delux , by utiilzing the large triple page pull out display feature.

There were just 4 new models but no less than 42 other previously offered rods this year.

First of the rods were the pinnacle in luxury viz the magnificently appointed Diplomat series of 850 fly, 750 spinning, 650 single handed baitcaster and the 660 double handed baitcaster.

Tight Lines 1965

The new offerings for this year included an economical solid fibreglass ABU 152 and three more tubular hollow fibreglass ABU Suecia 351, 321 and 311 models. The only other new rod was the ABU Lapplandia 541 Fly rod.

Tight Lines 1966

This year, ABU advertizing tries to clarify the huge range of rods being offered ( 9 more new ones this year )and explains in detail that the 2 different types of glass fibre rods viz solid and tubular , with Solids being cheaper and more robust, but heavier and with slower action and consequent lack of elasticity and lesser casting properties. Tubular are in many ways the more expensive and finer instrument to use. The customer is advised to balance their cost/performance requirements. Rod blanks are manufactured into several types of usage, single handed V double handed with rods also have a offset casting handle or a straight reel seat, suiting both overhead reels like Record casting , Ambassadeur , Abumatic as well as underslung spinning reels and of course fly reels.

Rods are also categorized as to their Zoom action ( choice of 1, 2 3 or 4 light to heavy ) , thus being supple, medium or stiff in action

Two new Diplomats are advertized, viz spinning ABU Diplomat 752 and 826 models

Four new ABU Caster models are offered viz 152, 142, 132 and 122

The ABU Atlantic 423 was advertized twice in the same catalog ( in error or it was so good we were not allowed to miss it! ) The ABU Atlantic 422 was also released for the first time.

The fly rod ABU Lapplandia 526 was also a new line.

Tight Lines 1967

The weight limits of casting lures are specific for differ action rods Zoom 1 ( 1/16 to 1/2 oz ), Zoom 2 ( 3/8 to 1 oz ), Zoom 2 ( 5/8 to 2 oz ) and Zoom 4 ( 2 to 9 oz )

Also a new first for across the industry and across the range " One year, one claim, free replacement guarantee is being offered ".

ABU Atlantic 474 is offered for the first time, along with the ABU Atlantic 453.

Two new categories are specified " Special Rods for Boat Fishing" . Previously released the ABU Pacific and ABU Strong , but with ABU Strong being tweaked from offset casting handle to a straight handle reel grip. The other new category " Match Rod for Coarse Fishing" has only one member viz the huge tubular glass three piece 13 foot ABU Mark V specially packed in its own plastic tube.

The new all plastic Pimpel 2 was released for ice-fishing.

Tight Lines 1968

Fifteen new rods are released this year,

Two pages are dedicated to teaching the ever more descerning fishing public how to descrimate and appreciate the finer points of Action and importance of ferrules in selecting from such a huge range of rods.

Metrication comes to Zoom categories , Zoom 1 ( 2 to 15g ), Zoom 2 ( 10 to 30g ), Zoom 2 ( 18 to 60g ) and Zoom 4 ( 50 to 250g )

The ABU Atlantic 433 arrives to add more depth the Surf category and in the Fly fishing category, the huge double handed river/lake rods Salmo 5810 and 5812

The economical Solid glass baitcaster range is further enhanced with the offering of 7 new model viz ABU 81 and 82, ABU 71 and 72, ABU 61 and 62 as well as the ABU 40

Finally this year, the economical Solid glass spinning rod range is widened with the addition of 5 more new rods viz ABU 281 and 282, ABU 271 and 272 and ABU 240 .

Tight Lines 1969

The education and appreciation of Zoom rods continue.

This year we see the beautiful and innovative ABU Caster Duett baitcaster which was naturally supplied with 2 different tips to cater for Zoom 1 and 2 fishing.

As sister rod to the Caster above, the ABU Suecia Duett is also released with two tips for Zoom 1 and 2 fishing.

ABU Fladen is shown as a new tubular hollow glass rod for use in boat fishing. It has a straight reel seat catering for Ambassadeur of fixed spool spinning reels.

The exceptionally light and newly released ABU Feralite series of Fly rods hit the market place with tremendous popularity, due to their light nature putting nothing in the middle of the rod to retard the action. The angler feels like he is really using a rod with one piece feel and action. Four models were showered on the market to cater for all fly line classes. viz ABU Feralite 856, 878, 889 and 8910

Last offering for the year in the coarse Fishing category is the ABU Teleskop 4 and 5 which were 13feet 10 inches and a monsterous 17 feet 8 inches long. Both retracted to just 2'9" and 2' 11" respectively . They also had the modest weight for the era of 12 1/2 oz and 20 oz. Both were fitted with quick lock reel seats and an easy-grip or sure-grip handle.

Tight Lines 1970

This year we saw only a very brief 2 paragraph mention of ABU's new ultramodern purpose-built 5000 sq metre rod factory at Svangsta.

The only new rod released was an ABU Suecia 330 catering for finess or ultra light Zoom 1 fishing

All the past usual suspects are still in full production

Tight Lines 1971

This is ABU's Jubilee Year with 50 years of continuous output from the A.B.Urfabriken factory on the banks of the Morrum River. Watch-making to delicate fine fishing machinery, very little difference really.

Portability and transportation issues were a great consideration this year with the term Safari being utilized.

For the boat rod enthusiasts, the ABU Pacific Zoom was simply re-named ABU Pacific Zoom 6 and the ABU Pacific 8 Zoom was newly released. These denoted 30lb and 50lb line classes respectively.

The ABU Ferulite range was expanded with the addition of the neat little 5 piece ABU Ferulite Safari Zoom. (like the Hardy Smuggler) It catered for the line class 7 or 8 and was just 22 inches long.

In the same vein of portability the spinning enthusiast will now be catered for with the new ABU Suecia Safari, collapsing to just 16 inches to fit the rucksack carrying fisherman.

Another first for the year was the introduction of ABU Komplett fiskeset catering from ABU Junior, Aspirant, Entre, Finess, Superb, and Expert. These packages has 6 different rods and 4 different Abumatic reels and 2 different spinning reels. All came complete ready to use straight out off the box with line and lure included.

Tight Lines 1972

The Zoom features are further empasized at the beginning of the rods section and Ferulite is re-emphasized .

Less emphasis on the category Solid glass , these "knockabout" rods are re-named Budget Baitcasters, likewise Budget Spinners. Boat rods are now called Sea Class Zoom

Tight Lines 1973

This year is mainly consolidation displaying 40 previous year's rods in good detail as well as telling us again and in more detail about the ABU Zoom concept.

Tight Lines 1974
We now see ABU, in these pages, interleaving their chosen reels to match the appropriate rods. They are always trying to make the education/selection process easier for the consumer. We start with blurb citing 65 different Zoom rods in the stable.

ABU 506 or Cardinal 44X are paired with the existing Championship winners viz Combino1 Teleskop series and Mark5/6 series.

All ABU Abumatics and Ambassadeurs are matched with all 11 speedlock baitcasting rods.

All 10 straight reel seat ABU Sueica rods are paired with all the Cardinal and "500" series reels, for light to medium spinning/legering.

Zoom 3 Fishing with the 6 big ABU Atlantic rods 403, 403S, 423, 443, 443 S and 463 are matched with the Ambassadeur 6000, 6000C, 6500 C, 7000 and Cardinal 77 fixed spool.

Ambassadeur Sea Power Zoom 4 reels such as the 8500, 9000 and 10 000 C are paired with the ABU Atlantic Zoom 484, 464 and ABU Pacific 6, Pacific 8 and Fladen rods.

Tight Lines 1975

The only new additions this year are the Caster 1 or 2 baitcasters and a Colorit /Colorit Super which featured a more comfortable hand grip. Call me traditional, but I like the feel of cork in the hand.

Similarly, the ABU Sueica has a Colorit 1 and 2 added to its range along with the ultralight Sueica 300.

Tight Lines 1976

The only new product this year is the ABU Parazoom Series, viz 300, 361, 362, 381 and 382. All feature adjustable straight shaft reel-seats. The blank or action is made such that is is more even over the whole length of the rod rather than just in the tip. It is for fishing situations where a soft bait needs to be cast, sometimes close bushy cover to the water and light gear is being used to play out big fish.

All other rods covered, we know well.

Tight Lines 1977

Parazoom rods are still the flavour of the year being the lead-in pages. The ABU Parazoom 181/182 are wrongly claimed to be new, whereas these were in last year's catalog.

In the coarse fishing category, there are 4 new Zoom 1 and 2 rods called ABU Siesta 3, 4, 5 and 6 . Very simple gold and green series of rods to be used without a reel in fact. 2 pins exist on the rod merely to wind on a short amount of line. One is not expecting to play a fish, merely lift it from the water . Not the sort of fishing I could see myself doing for long. I guess it is for competitions where hundreds of small fish are caught and stored in a long net and points awarded and finally released to repeat the process next weekend.

There is a new ABU Atlantic 463S released which features the mammoth rugged offset seat seat and hand grip used in the surf or off rocks ( Zoom 3/4 and IGFA situations ).

The serious IGFA Pacific Zoom just released this year is the 30 S and it sports cork fore and aft and has the same handgrip/reel-seat as the previous Atlantic 463 S. It has a roller-tip and 7 hard chromed heavy duty rod rings.

I do not see any more solid rods or Budget baitcasters as they were renamed, being advertized any more.

Tight Lines 1978

The new Carbolite series number 4, and cover bait-casting, spinning, surf-casting as well as fly fishing. The models are ABU Carbolite 11, 31, 43S and 910. They are constructed of a special formulation of 70% carbon fibre and 30% glass. The inclusion of glass softens the action, making it sweeter to cast and fish with. The first 2 are Zoom 1 fishing for baitcasting and spinning and the 3rd is a very strong Zoom 3 rod for surf-casting. The easy to use 910 is a big water line weight 9 and 10 with slim wind cutting properties, fitted with a solid carbon spigot joint and 14cm cork butt extension.

The new coarse fishing series, Siesta De luxe came in 370, 490 and 610 models all have ring tip , line winder and whipped handle. For transporting, these rods reduce to 125, 135 and 145cm.

The all-speedlock ABU Atlantics series have 2 new models viz the light and sensitive tipped beach fishing 402 S and 43 S

All other rods are the same as last year's offerings.

Tight Lines 1979

Great 2 page lead-in article called "From the rodmakers at ABU" that is well worth reading.

From this year the ABU rod program undergoes great changes.

4 price ranges will exist , Red/Low priced, Blue/Economy priced, Yellow/Medium priced and Brown/Exclusive

These are models 1101/1102, 1121/1122, 1141/1142 and 1161/1162. The price will reflect variation in blank design, colour, ferrules and fittings and are matched with Ambassadeurs.

The same procedure is being followed for the New Lightweight Zoom Spinning rod models, 3301/3302, 3321/3322, 3341/3342 and 3361/3362 and are matched with Cardinals.

Parazooms are marketed but no different models are offered.

Solid glass rods reappear again...for the last time.

Tight Lines 1980

ABU Balance seems to be the expression of the year in regard to rods.

Six models that are more finely tuned for Balance than ever before.

Counterstrikes 12/13 with the very latest ultra-light profile lined rings.

The same is utilized for Cobra-Carbon 12/13 , Matchmarks 12/13, Newmark 5 and Ferulite Mark 7

Anglers can now have a custom, counter-balanced rod that will strike faster, feel lighter and fish all day long without wrist fatigue.

Nine Legering rods are presented, from Quiverlite 100 ( with its screw-in bite-indicator tip ) , Legerlite, 101, 112, 123, 223, 234, 200, 201 and 211 having shorter and standardized lighter and shorter handles, along with lighter and more closely spaced rings. The joints are made from precision carbon spigots.

Tight Lines 1980/1981

ABU Royal Carbolite features with 3 new models called 645, 667 and 678 for AFTM 4-5, 6-7, 7-8 . These are exceptionally high performance rods that combine superb power and sensitivity of carbon with traditional strength, desirability and flexibility of fibreglass. Each blank is 37% woven glass as a base or carrier for the 63% unidirectional carbonfibres. Slimline stainless steel spigots are hand-mated to achieve snug but not binding fits. The finish is iridescent and appears gem-like. There is an electronically cured outer coat that can't crack or dry out. Custom appearance seems to becoming a more important selling point.

This series is the only new rod additions this year

Tight Lines 1981

Great changes afoot for ABU fishermen as it says above "Uncle ABU has a new Niece"

The Garcia Corporation acquisition by ABU this year, brought with it the Conolon Division, located in sunny California.

Here since its inception in the 1940's, the world's very first tubular glass fishing rods were made. CONOLON came from CON meaning WITH and NYLON. The secret nylon modified resin was used to bond the glass fibres together. This name Conolon would in a few short years, become world famous and generic for tubular fibreglass fishing rods. It hallmarks over 25 million rod blanks to this date. Forty years saw Conolon at the top of its game and # 1 worldwide. The majority of the world's rods are today made in the far east using much cheaper labour.

During this era , through the 50's and to the 80's, and always having a close sharing relationship with ABU, Conolon have increased their technological skills still further by developing superb automated equipment found in no other competing manufacturing plant in the worldwide. At his time there was the ABU rod building facility in Scotland OK as well as the Svangsta plant in Sweden.

In ABU's words

" New materials were produced such as "Conoguard" , a rod finish that has been copied but never duplicated. Extremely sophisticated rod-wrapping machines were designed and built, contributing significantly to reductions in one of the highest cost labour operations and at the same time enhancing the superb high quality tight-wrap finish. The design, conversion and utilization of the new high modulus modern woven and unidirectional fibres in glass, Graphite and Boron, plus the considerable advances in various resin systems required still more - the ability to harness these superb material properties in the best and most economic way, and to complement these tremendous technological developments with administrative skills in stringent materials control, planning and serial production. All in all, a Conolon system that delivers a high quality, high performance rod that even the most demanding angler takes pride in owning."

So now the secret is out and you know a little about our new niece!

You also know something of the know-how and expertise that you can now find built right into the ABU rod of the 80's.

There are 26 brand new models built and finished in UK on superb Conolon blanks. There are another 24 models in the fly fishing and single-handed spinning series that are made wholly by Conolon themselves in California, USA.

All were the result of 3 solid years of secret development working closely with Conolon technicians to produce the actions and the performance demanded by discerning British anglers, and the quality you associate with the name ABU. Above all, these fabulous new ranges, class -for-class, price-for-price, are simply unbeatable - anywhere.

Too many to list here, ( see them all on the pictorial catalog page ) I will make one series exception viz Conolon S 657, 652, 655 and 654 are beautiful new ABU surf style rods made along the Pacific coast, in the Santa Ana plant, California USA.

This seems to be an appropriate place to end this research, as PF /ABU-Garcia, by 1982 had finished the Scottish/Swedish and USA rod-building relationships and moved offshore to the East.