Over in The Latest Model thread Rich posted a thought which brought back a conversation I had with Bill at an event somewhere in the ancient past.

"HLs could include the flexible rod to install or not install (collector's choice like the flag on the ELL)."

I had purchased an older HL which had the hole for a rod, but was missing the rod itself. I asked Bill if they had any rods left in the warehouse and he told me to go home and clip a bristle from my hairbrush and stick it in the hole. It worked like a charm, was flexible and could be trimmed to length. Looks like the real thing too.