Eustis William Edwards (July 27, 1857 – December 31, 1931) was best known as a premier bamboo fly rod maker and innovator.
He was the son of William Scott Edwards a civil engineer and mother, Susan Jane Parsons.
[1] He left Maine to follow Leonard to Central Valley, New York as an apprentice rod builder.
Thomas, E.F. Payne, Fred Devine, George Varney, Hiram Hawes and Loman Hawes—with whom Leonard developed his revolutionary beveling machine.
With Edwards' bamboo processing skills, Hawes' mechanical ingenuity, and Thomas' management experience, the firm quickly established themselves under the name 'Kosmic' for A.G. Spalding (sports equipment) & Bros.[3] They built some of the most desirable rods and began setting standards for the 'modern fly rod'.
'Kosmic' rods were displayed at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago and won a gold medal.
In 1894 in a climate of a growing economic depression, Spalding sold its interest in the 'Kosmic' partnership to U.S. Net & Twine.
Edwards left to explore Los Angeles and may have had relatives in that area—some think he apprenticed briefly with a professional photographer in either Chicago or L.A.--and returned to the New York and New England area after about a year.
[3] He developed a way to temper Tonkin Cane to increase its resiliency, quickening its recovery time (damping) and lessened its weight, with open flame.
It achieved the desired performance without the full working length of rod then standard in fly fishing.
After his five-year contract expired, Edwards left Winchester in 1924, though he continued to build rods at his home.
He worked out of the Filbert St house until early 1927, when he moved his business to a large building in Mt.
The company made rods for various suppliers: Abbey & Imbrie, Weber, Paul H. Young as well as others.
As a young adult, he started a small business selling fruit and confections, he was a bookkeeper and laborer before becoming an apprentice rodmaker.
In 1895, Edwards and family left for Los Angeles; an ill-fated journey as Jennie became sick and died en route.