Pistolpal:
Not to derail this fantastic thread, but you wouldn't happen to have any photos, would you?? I only have one Orvis bamboo rod, and it didn't belong to anyone famous, and I've been offered crazy money for it... I can't imagine what yours would be worth!! I love the exquisite workmanship on these little treasures. Really interesting that Clark Gable seems to have loved the same sorts of things that many of us love: RMs, classic cars, handmade bamboo fishing rods....
Maybe this is one of the ones you owned:
Sorry for any thread drift...
Best Regards, Les