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One of my grandpa's war buddies was recently telling me stories about when he used to pole vault in high school and college using bamboo poles. He said that he still had his pole, until it burned in a house fire a couple years ago. He kept talking about how he wish he still had that old bamboo pole. I was wondering if anyone out there might still have an old vintage bamboo pole they would be willing to part with. His birthday is coming up in August and I'd love to surprise him with something like that.
Or if you can think of anyone who might, please let me know!

Vintage bamboo poles are hard to find.

Do what vaulters used to do. Find a suitable grove of staight bamboo poles. Look for about a 2 inch diameter at the base, 1 inch diameter anywhere from 12 to 16 feet from the base. Cut it down. Leave the branches on.

Season it for about 6 to 9 months laying it flat in a dry place with circulating air. Your garage rafters will do.

When the pole has naturally dried out, cut off the branches and tape it between the joints with athletic tape or old fashioned black friction tape.

Leave about an inch or so at the base before the joint. Some vaulters left it open and some inserted a piece of wood to protect the pole bottom. Some companies like Spalding and Rawlings developed their own pole tips. Pole tips were either spiked or similar to today's plugs.

Thanks botakatobi,
I'll keep that in mind. But that'll probably be a "last resort" option. Not many bamboo groves in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Just bumping this back up to the top. Curious if anyone has any vintage vaulting poles.