Vintage Spalding Persimmon.

Spalding irons get coverage on these pages, maybe not as much as Wilson or MacGregor, but there is stil a lot of knowledge and respect to be found.

You don't see hardly anything about Spalding woods. Is that an omission or did they not get much love?

They do exist, and they get a lot of love from me (that's my great-grandfather's) but I'm not sure why they are ignored. Perhaps it's because this board tilts towards Macgregor? Perhaps because they made so many that they were rather run-of-the mill and not particularly flashy? Perhaps it's because Jack Nicklaus didn't use them? I really don't know.

> @stixman said:

> Spalding irons get coverage on these pages, maybe not as much as Wilson or MacGregor, but there is stil a lot of knowledge and respect to be found.

> You don't see hardly anything about Spalding woods. Is that an omission or did they not get much love?

In anser to your question. Dunno. Surmise that Spalding persimmons would have been used by those playing their irons. Spalding was one of the major implement purveyors of its time. Certainly in the 30's and 40's, during the Bobby Jones era. Then again, I'm not much of a golf historian.

FWIW. Have a set of Spalding Model 18 persimmons that were thrifted some time ago. Pretty good nic (love that colloquialism) for being from the 50's something. Don't remember exactly without looking it up again. I've never hit a golf ball with one. Although Big Stu remarked, when I posted them before, he use to play them in his formative years. He liked the 3.5 wood in particular IIRC. Which is a good enough endorsement as to their playability for me. Started buffing up a couple of sole plates and faces prior to a recoat. Then never got around to finishing them up. I think they're lookers, liking the black heads and multi-colored vertical inserts. Sweet leather grips as well.

Just remembered this one in the downstairs stash. Spalding Robt T Jones Jr. 3 wood of unknown vintage. No insert, brown pyratone shaft and excellent long leather grip. Kind of a 693 head shape going on with it (a predecessor?). Needs a refinish, but the wood is in great shape. Rounding out a set of these would be a noble pursuit.

Sorry for all the pics, but kind of show and tell time. Yeah, I'm thinking Spalding made some rather nice persimmon woods.

Yep Spalding made some great clubs back in the day---- I do not believe that they made a many clubs as perhaps Macgregor or Wilson---- A lot of it in the good old USA was the area from which you were from. In my area Spalding and Wilson were more prominent than even Macgregor and certainly Hogan. I think my old man got Macgregor sales up in our area. Now if you shifted more towards the Triad area of NC Macgregor was more prominent and in Eastern NC Hogan was king. I was actually a Spalding man before I was a Macgregor man.

Those Spalding Model 18 woods are beautiful. Do they have Rocket Shafts? Are you interested in selling?

I'll jump in here with an addition to the mix. A old friend of mine recently "donated" these to my collection. The pictures aren't great...can't remember what model they are and have no idea from what year they came. But they are all in great shape. The driver has a bit of toe wear but still very solid. All 4 clubs have been refinished and look real nice. Anxious to go hit them but haven't had a chance yet.

Pic # 2 is a great example why insert screws should never be cut thru.

But that is the way they came from the Spalding factory

I’ve recently been getting into Spalding woods and have picked up a few sets. They are very nice clubs.

Now, does anyone know if a Reg. # ending in A means a senior flex shaft?

I have a Spalding persimmon 3 wood that was my go-to club for years. I didn't even bother to carry a driver in those days because I could just kill that thing. It's one of those clubs that I'll never get rid of.

James, That club has been worked on by someone who did very poor workmanship.

that face and the screws have also been heavily sanded.

Regardless of the skill of the worker down the line, the fact remains that Spalding did score through the grooves at least for a period of time in the 50's.

I've observed this as well. Seems as though they were a little hit and miss.

I’ve picked up a few sets of Spalding persimmon woods lately. They are quite nice.

Does anyone know anything about the 'Model 15' persimmon woods, the ones with the scalloped top? They look like game improvement clubs with all the weight in the sole. Were they playable or just a novelty?

Tom Wishon lists a 'Model 14' for 1962/63 but nothing for a '15'. I also noted that the numbered models do not run in a sequence, which is slightly odd.

I don't know a thing about this driver, but I sure like the way it looks at address. I wasn't looking for Spauldings when it found its way to me, but it looks like it a beautiful club. If anyone can fill me in year and any other details, I'd appreciate the info.

Wow is that ever a deep face. Very cool.

Any idea what year these blades are?

I have a set, need a shine. They look nearly identical to the sleeker Hogan directors. Hope to get back out on the course soon.

Found the answer right here

See you’ve posted it on eBay already. It’s a Spalding, not Spaulding as you have it listed here and in eBay. Nice deep face though.

I posted this on ebay and a couple of other clubs from a lot of 20 I bought. I'd like to keep them all, but it is hard to justify keeping everything in a random assortment of clubs, especially when I have to explain all my purchases to my wife. I already have more clubs than I need or can hit in any given year, so I'm hoping to move them on to someone who will appreciate them and get them out to play.

From this lot, I'm keeping the M75s and Toney Penna Specials, harvesting the shafts out of a set of PGA Armours, and flipping a set of Staff persimmons, a staff laminated driver, a Penna model 65, and the Spalding. If it works out, I can make back enough money to justify the cost of the lot, but I won't make a profit.

I really like this club and was a little sad when someone bid on it. But I'd rather put it in the hands of someone who can use it then keep it in my office and look at it once a week. I have an irrational and overly emotional relationship to golf clubs, and have since I bought my first Macgregor Byron Nelson 4 wood in 1982, so selling clubs is very hard for me. The only thing that makes it easier that 100% of the money I make from selling clubs is used to fund clubs I have already bought or are planning to buy. I'm like the drug dealer who only sells enough to get high...this is definitely not a money maker for me.

Please let me know if you do decide to sell the Spalding driver.

Thank you.

Paul