FISHING WITH H-I POWER GLASS

This late 1940s Horrocks-Ibbotson Co. film "Fishing with H-I Power Glass" promotes a new line of fiberglass fishing rods. "Old Hi", a veteran guide, instructs novice fishermen Bill and Phyllis in proper tackle assembly and fishing techniques. The film then shows the manufacturing process behind the revolutionary rods, which bend dramatically without breaking or losing their shape. Through demonstrations in both bass and trout fishing, the performance advantages of glass rods are shown. Note: H-I was one of America's largest production rod companies for many years, competing head to head with Montague and South Bend. It came to be known as the "World's Largest Manufacturer of Fishing Tackle". The H-I name still appears occasionally, but the original, iconic H-I company from Utica is long gone, a relic of a golden age in American tackle making. The film was produced by John Davies and filmed by Newhouse.



1:02 – The film opens by introducing "Old Hi", a quiet, world-renowned fishing guide .
1:27 – The story sets out to explain a modern adaptation of an ancient material—glass—and how it has transformed fishing through the development of glass fishing rods.
1:44 – At scenic Ago Lake in New York, famed from James Fenimore Cooper’s writings, Old Hi introduces beginners Bill and Phyllis to fishing with solid glass bait-casting rods.
2:08 – Old Hi emphasizes that successful fishing begins with proper tackle assembly, carefully demonstrating rod setup, guide alignment, ferrule fastening, and reel mounting.
2:48 – The film highlights how glass rods combine flexibility, strength, and power to maximize fishing enjoyment.
3:00 – The group heads to the eastern shore of Ago Lake, a prime smallmouth bass location in the northeastern United States.
3:29 – Under Old Hi’s guidance, Bill learns to cast and fight bass, illustrating how a good rod helps beginners learn faster and enjoy fishing more.
3:57 – A quality fishing rod is described as strong, light, stiff, and tip-responsive, with glass rods praised for unmatched sensitivity.
4:33 – Bill experiences early casting mistakes but soon hooks a smallmouth bass.
5:23 – With coaching, Bill successfully lands the fish,.
5:59 – The film shifts to the manufacturing process of solid glass rods, beginning with thousands of fine glass filaments bonded with resin for exceptional strength.
6:47 – Engineers refine molding, curing, and shaping techniques.
7:48 – Precision grinding and tapering are shown as the most critical steps.
8:55 – Final inspections test each rod’s ability to bend without breaking.
9:11 – Solid glass rods suit bait casting, while hollow Power Glass tubular rods are ideal for fly fishing due to their lightness and sensitivity.
9:38 – Old Hi takes the novices trout fishing on West Canada Creek in northern New York.
10:04 – Proper fly-rod assembly is demonstrated.
10:52 – Glass is praised as a revolutionary material capable of extreme bending without damage.
11:48 – Phyllis successfully lands a trout, while smaller fish are released to grow.
12:39 – Bill hooks and lands a large brown trout
13:15 – How Power Glass fly rods are made from specially woven glass cloth.
14:16 – The cloth is impregnated with advanced resins and nylon compounds.
14:55 – Metal patterns and mandrels shape the rod’s taper, controlling action and performance characteristics.
15:37 – Pressure rolling, cellophane wrapping, and oven curing transform the cloth into a rigid yet flexible tubular blank.
16:52 – Sanding, dipping, curing, and fine finishing follow, all performed with careful hand craftsmanship.
18:55 – Metal ferrules, reel seats, cork handles, and guides are hand-fitted and wrapped by skilled workers.
20:43 – Finished rods are varnished, dried, assembled, and given final inspection before packaging.
21:03 – Celebrating glass fishing rods as a successful fusion of old material, modern science, and an ancient sport—bringing anglers one step closer to perfect fishing.