Wilson Dynapowers, made in Scotland.

[stixman]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I came across a set of 1966 Wilson Staff Dynapowers on Ebay UK last week which follows a theme of the way American manufacturers got around import duties during that continuing period of post war austerity in the UK.

Note, I am following up and trying to get photos and perhaps further details of information and if anyone can chime in please feel free.

 

The story so far is that there was a Wilson Club Manufacturing Centre in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. Irvine, for those who are not regular visitors to The Open is located a few miles north of Troon. Prestwick is nearby and Donald the Trump's Turnberry is a little to the south.

 

I thought club heads were shipped in from across the pond, but not so. They were stamped out in Dickie's Stamp Works in Ayr. They were then drilled and milled, weight ground and name stamped before going to a company in Ardrossan for chroming, then returned to Irvine for paint infill and assembly.

 

Did the Scottish variants play differently, was the steel the same?.

I do know that in the same year I acquired my first set of Dynas + a set of Stratoblocs (and fell in love with the marque) from a PanAm airline pilot who had a little side venture in operation.

[Ironmaster Oddities]

I recently saw an 8813 putter that was purportedly make in Scotland. stampings were slightly different and there was a spot on the top of the putter head, which as usual, was not at the sweet spot.
But it looked to be original. I thought the chap wanted too much, for it so I passed. Truth be told, I was a little leery of it because he said it was made in Scotland an dI had not been aware of that operation.
Perhaps, I passed on a rarity. Definitely not the first time and probably not the last.
Bob

[birly-shirly]

Fascinating information you've dug up there Stixman. That was my neck of the woods growing up, and I was well aware of the Wilson factory but didn't know the rest of the detail.

No question that at the time there were a lot more Wilson clubs in circulation than Macs, Hogans or Spaldings.

It would be a wee bit surprising if the steel used was materially different - my understanding is that forging is a fairly primitive process and a lot of the innuendo about secret Japanese (or hoganese) alloys is just noise. If there were a difference between U.S. and U.K. production quality, I'd guess it would lie in quality control in the Wilson factory and the hand-grinding and assembly operations. Who knows which way the balance would tilt? Would we bet our houses on the quality of British mass manufacturing in the '60s and '70s? I'm not sure I'd want to drive a car from that era! Then again, I'd confidently guess that the Wilson workforce in Ayrshire will have had a proportion of actual golfers, and good golfers, that would rival any volume manufacturer anywhere, and you'd like to think that would be help rather than a hindrance.

The funny thing is, I don't remember much in the way of UK specific models from Wilson. I doubt there was much in the way of design input on this side of the ocean. At the cheaper end, models were very explicitly U.S. branded - Sam Sneads, Patty Bergs, Augustas. The exception is maybe the FG49 blade, which I gather is hard to find in the U.S.

[jmvargas]

i had the US version of these and these look crude in comparison based solely on the picture...specifically the lettering as i can't see the face.

[BIG STU]

I learn something on here every time I fire up this machine. I had no Idea that Wilson made any clubs overseas. Amazing you are never too old to learn

[jmvargas]

[quote name='BIG STU' timestamp='1401450778' post='9395075']
I learn something on here every time I fire up this machine. I had no Idea that Wilson made any clubs overseas. Amazing you are never too old to learn
[/quote]

....and today they're ALL made overseas!!

[BIG STU]

[quote name='jmvargas' timestamp='1401450870' post='9395083']
[quote name='BIG STU' timestamp='1401450778' post='9395075']
I learn something on here every time I fire up this machine. I had no Idea that Wilson made any clubs overseas. Amazing you are never too old to learn
[/quote]

....and today they're ALL made overseas!!
[/quote]Oh yes my friend you are so right but heck i was lost in the 60s for a few minutes anyhow

[rich13]

Found this article on Wilson Scotland, hope link works as not used to my wife's iPad!! Note year, 1993.........

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/golf-club-plant-to-cut-45-jobs-1.762979

[oldschoolrocker]

Thanks for the post guys. I just picked up a set of X31s at local thrift Friday for a dollar a club. 2-pw. All orginal '73-74 editions, leather grips in good condition, all end caps and shaft bands intact. One of my sons noticed, with his younger set of eyes, that end caps say "made in Scotland." Pics under X31 thread.

[stixman]

[quote name='oldschoolrocker' timestamp='1401633845' post='9406865']
Thanks for the post guys. I just picked up a set of X31s at local thrift Friday for a dollar a club. 2-pw. All orginal '73-74 editions, leather grips in good condition, all end caps and shaft bands intact. One of my sons noticed, with his younger set of eyes, that end caps say "made in Scotland." Pics under X31 thread.
[/quote]

It has been suggested here that the product which came out of bonnie Scotland was 'crude'. As the sole owner of Scottish Made gear, do you have a view you would be prepared to share?
Come on, now, we're pretty thick skinned....is this allegation substance or slur?

[oldschoolrocker]

Stix,
So far, just from looking at them side by side with a set of 74 Dynapowers they stack up well. The condition for their age is remarkable. End caps, shaft bands all intact. The grips cleaned up nicely and will be playable. Some swinging in the backyard shows them to be well balanced and should be able to take them out later today or tomorrow. Will give you a full account after that. I have been bagging the Dynapowers recently and really striking them well, so I'll know right away how they will play.
The quality of workmanship seems inline. Nothing stands out as shoddy, or 2nd rate. Look top shelf to me.

[Duper]

Just pulled these out of some Buttonbacks, were even in the woods.

[Duper]

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

Good spot.

 

I hadn't realised that in 1993 Wilson were buying in raw heads from the far east and finishing them at a newer facility before assembly at Irvine. This could explain the shocking Swing weight variances in my FG17s.

My set of FG 17s has the Big Stu lead tape treatment and they now work fine.