No new acquistions...?

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

@deejaid

 

Duuuuuuuudddeeeeee! That's a fantastic pickup. They look great...but so soon after those Powerbilts with the lovely brass inserts? 

 

I know what you mean about the attractiveness of small club makers. In Japan, there are a lot of such makers even now, and they are called "ji-kurabbu", "ji" meaning "local" and "kurabbu" being "club". I have one or two "ji-kurabbu" from the persimmon era, and they are beautifully made. Because they lack brand power, they can sometimes be had for next to nothing (in fact, I was given three by a veteran teaching pro at a driving range I sometimes go to). However, if the seller is the original owner, he usually remembers the price he paid back in the day, and puts up quite a price, because these handmade woods must have commanded a lot of money back in the day.

[deejaid]

4 hours ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

@deejaid

 

Duuuuuuuudddeeeeee! That's a fantastic pickup. They look great...but so soon after those Powerbilts with the lovely brass inserts? 

 

I know what you mean about the attractiveness of small club makers. In Japan, there are a lot of such makers even now, and they are called "ji-kurabbu", "ji" meaning "local" and "kurabbu" being "club". I have one or two "ji-kurabbu" from the persimmon era, and they are beautifully made. Because they lack brand power, they can sometimes be had for next to nothing (in fact, I was given three by a veteran teaching pro at a driving range I sometimes go to). However, if the seller is the original owner, he usually remembers the price he paid back in the day, and puts up quite a price, because these handmade woods must have commanded a lot of money back in the day.

Haha, yeah, I know right?  My wife is eyeballing me and all the clubs that are coming in.  Now I have two iron sets arriving this week ?.

 

I think it was just some retail therapy that was long overdue.   Between being laid off in March, homeschooling my three daughters, my wife having to quarantine away from the family due to her mother contracting COVID, wildfires that had us evacuating for the second time in 3 years, not to mention everything else going on on the world, 2020 has been rough.
 

I recently was called back to work and things have been looking up a bit so I picked up a few classics.   I haven’t been able to play or even hit the range much as the air quality has been so poor, so my wife understands that my non-playing golf outlet is my vintage club hobby.

 

 

 

Very cool about the local club makers in your part of the world.   Like you said, it’s neat that you are buying a custom made set that the original owner really cherished, although their sentimentality might give them ideas that their clubs are worth more than they are.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

31 minutes ago, deejaid said:

Haha, yeah, I know right?  My wife is eyeballing me and all the clubs that are coming in.  Now I have two iron sets arriving this week ?.

 

I think it was just some retail therapy that was long overdue.   Between being laid off in March, homeschooling my three daughters, my wife having to quarantine away from the family due to her mother contracting COVID, wildfires that had us evacuating for the second time in 3 years, not to mention everything else going on on the world, 2020 has been rough.
 

I recently was called back to work and things have been looking up a bit so I picked up a few classics.   I haven’t been able to play or even hit the range much as the air quality has been so poor, so my wife understands that my non-playing golf outlet is my vintage club hobby.

 

 

 

Very cool about the local club makers in your part of the world.   Like you said, it’s neat that you are buying a custom made set that the original owner really cherished, although their sentimentality might give them ideas that their clubs are worth more than they are.

 

Glad to hear that the work has come back. When the pandemic kicked in, I looked at a lot of my clubs in my collection and thought "well, you're not going to be much use to me now..." Rather more bizarrely is that I was able to look at a lot of my clubs while the pandemic was raging and think "well, I'm hanging on to you no matter what."

 

I've been reading about the wildfires in the US, and they sound terrible. I hope you're safe where you are, and remember, save yourselves first... BUT KEEP ALL THOSE LOVELY PERSIMMONS SAFE!!! 

 

 

[Stephen8802]

Following Deejaid’s lead, I’ll keep it rolling with some other non-Macs. I’m also interested in playing some other maker’s clubs and lately I’ve been focusing on a few new brands, new to me at least. First it was Cleveland Classics and I absolutely loved the way my RC69 played. Then PowerBilt, where my wonderful ’66 deep faced driver looks and plays like a million bucks. Recently, I decided to dip my toes into Louisville Golf, for no better reason than I’m curious and want to see how they play. I’m including my Palmer here based on a previous thread on this forum stating that the Peerless clubs were made by Louisville. Looking at the two side by side, it sure looks like a similar design to me, so I'm going with it until I have better info.

 

The first one, an Authentic 50’s driver, came to me as part of a Craig’s list lot I picked up for the two M75 5 screw fairway woods included. Those two alone were worth the $25 I spent, so I considered this driver, a classic 50’s 3 wood, an Ironmaster putter, and an old hickory putter as free throw ins. It wasn’t what I was after, but heck, I’m not complaining. I like it but don't love it, the head is a tad too small for my tastes.

 

The second is what I was after, also a bargain at $11, and looks wonderful. I’m a sucker for brass inserts because they look so cool and I can’t wait to see what the brass feels like when I hit it. This shaft measures out as X stiff on the deflection board, if not XX stiff, so I’ll need to re-shaft it before it sees the course. I may take the stiff shaft from the Authentic 50’s above and use it here since I don’t need two in play at once. It really is a beautiful driver with a very distinctive flair on a traditional design.

 

The last was the find of the lot at $2, $3.50 including a new mint grip. It looks like someone stepped on the top with metal spikes, but it is only in the poly so I’ll be able to fix it with some sanding and dipping. Palmer clubs have always intrigued me and I was really excited to get this on the course and take some swings. I absolutely crushed it, very long and very straight. This is just a wonderful club and a pleasure to hit, and considering the scratches on the top, I felt comfortable letting the FF without concern.

 

What a joy to be able to hit clubs like this, we are a lucky bunch.

 

Edited September 28, 2020 by Stephen8802

[dcopp7]

picked up some Nicklaus Muirfield irons 3,4,5,7,8.  I need a 6,9,pw if anyone has em.  Not the 20th version. 

[dcopp7]

Nabbed these this afternoon 

[Stephen8802]

Another set of '56/'57 staffs...thrift picking is completely random and unpredictable.

 

I Played a round with clients yesterday morning in a part of down I haven't been to in a while. Hit the thrifts over there on the way home and was having a pretty good day. First I grabbed a few '80s M85 irons in nice shape, then picked up single Turf Rider and '66 staff irons. Also picked up some Pittsburgh Persimmon for nostalgia, a 12 degree like I had in high school and a 10 1/2 degree that looks like fun to hit. So far a good day, nothing to yell and scream about, but plenty to bring to the range for a day of sampling different flavors.

 

I was running late to get home but hit up one last stop because I've had good luck there and Saturdays are half off.  I found some 1/3/4 Wilson Turf Rider woods, which I wouldn't usually be all that interested in, but I like green band rocket shafts and thought those would be nice in my BT2W set. I hit the iron barrel before I left and found what came with the Turf Riders, a set of '56/'57 Staffs. The good news is I love (really love) this set and the heads are in good shape. The better news is that this set has original reminder grips on the green band rockets and a pitching wedge that is in better shape than the wedge I have. The bad news is no 7 or 9 iron and the wedge shaft looks dented under the leather. So now I'm on the hunt for the 7 and 9 and any wedge from the late 50s with a green band rocket shaft that can donate for the cause. That might take a while.

 

Its just so odd to find 1 7/9 (minus a shaft) of the one set I was really looking for in 3 stores located in 2 states over 9 months. The wedge cost me a buck or two, the first set $15.50, and these irons were $7 (plus $3 for the woods I'm stripping for parts). So I'm flush in '56/'57 Staffs for about what shipping would be for one set. Its a good kind of odd, but it is just so odd.

 

 

 

 

[cold_war_era_golfer]

I grabbed these last week and cleaned them up over the weekend.  Hope to get out and hit them before winter hits here in Chicago.

I was pleasantly surprised with how they cleaned up.  1967-1968 Dynapower.

 

[cold_war_era_golfer]

I grabbed these last week as well off FB Market Place.  1960-1961.  Ferrules are all in ok shape which is pretty rare for these grips are original!  But I discovered the 6I and 2I have some nasty tarnish to the shafts.  Someday I will find a set of the 60-61s in decent shape!

 

 

[Stephen8802]

I think those faces look great and I would play them without hesitation. A little tarnish on the shafts is fine, it just gives them some character; they are 60 years old after all.

 

I love that set and have had two. The first was a re-issue from the '80s that I sold to fund my club habit. The second was a beat set I picked up in a good will that was in awful shape, so I moved on. Getting a set in good shape is on my list. It is such a nicely designed club, I think you will enjoy playing with them.

[deejaid]

31 minutes ago, oldpinggolfer said:

I grabbed these last week as well off FB Market Place.  1960-1961.  Ferrules are all in ok shape which is pretty rare for these grips are original!  But I discovered the 6I and 2I have some nasty tarnish to the shafts.  Someday I will find a set of the 60-61s in decent shape!

 

 

 

That’s not tarnish but chrome pitting or chrome loss.   If you want to make them a little more presentable, take a piece of aluminum foil, crumble it up and dip it in vinegar.  Then, take the vinegar soaked foil and rub it over the pitted area.   It will lighten it up a bit and won’t have such a drastic contrast.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

3 minutes ago, Stephen8802 said:

I think those faces look great and I would play them without hesitation. A little tarnish on the shafts is fine, it just gives them some character; they are 60 years old after all.

 

I love that set and have had two. The first was a re-issue from the '80s that I sold to fund my club habit. The second was a beat set I picked up in a good will that was in awful shape, so I moved on. Getting a set in good shape is on my list. It is such a nicely designed club, I think you will enjoy playing with them.

 

I had another set earlier in the summer.  Same year, but the ferrules were all cracked off and the grips had some hard as rock maybe 1970s replacements.  I took them out not expecting much at my local par 3 and hit better than I normally do off the tees with the 9, 7, and 3.  

I might just take your advice and try to ignore the tarnish shafts.  

[cold_war_era_golfer]

2 minutes ago, deejaid said:

 

That’s not tarnish but chrome pitting or chrome loss.   If you want to make them a little more presentable, take a piece of aluminum foil, crumble it up and dip it in vinegar.  Then, take the vinegar soaked foil and rub it over the pitted area.   It will lighten it up a bit and won’t have such a drastic contrast.

 

That is actually post albumin foil and water.  I didn't want to take too much off the shafts but maybe I should try once more with vinegar. 

[deejaid]

11 minutes ago, oldpinggolfer said:

 

That is actually post albumin foil and water.  I didn't want to take too much off the shafts but maybe I should try once more with vinegar. 

Yes, with the vinegar it should make the dark pitted areas a little more of a greyish/silver.  It obviously won’t look like new chrome but will probably be a little more presentable.

[scomac2002]

On 9/23/2020 at 8:37 AM, dcopp7 said:

my my, look at those yardages...yikes.  220 driver, 90yd 9 iron???

 

Now be nice.  Some of us old fharts can't hit the new stuff any further than that.  In fact, 220 with the driver is a once a season occurrence for me and that was downhill with a tail wind!

 

The iron yardages sound just about right.  The only catch is that I'm using strong lofted distance irons with ultra-light graphite shafts. 😱

[NRJyzr]

I've mentioned I'm transitioning to graphite shafts, due to the love my elbows and wrists are showing me.  A few years ago, I'd built a set of TW276 Golden Rams (3-pw) with NV105 shafts with a fair bit of success (playing them now).

 

Have a set of RIP Tour 115 shafts lying around, have been going back and forth on installing them.  The shafts are largely gone but there are odd singles here and there, decided to grab a couple of them for a test.  Wanted an iron I'm familiar with, thought about MP37s or MS11/MP11s, then took a look at Golden Rams.  Have a 4i and 8i Vibration Matched Golden Rams on the way for these test clubs.

 

All of that was really preamble.  Man, I'm long winded.

 

In surfing "Golden Ram irons" on eBay, I came across a listing with two 1 irons.  Was curious, but not all that interested, since I've got several.  Turns out, one of them is a TW276 1 iron. 

 

Score! 

 

Been looking for the 1i and 2i in this set for quite a while with no success, just randomly finding one is quite lovely.  Not sure how I'll shaft it up, since the NV105 shafts are long gone, but I'll figure something out.  LOL 

 

Edited October 10, 2020 by NRJyzr

[Stephen8802]

Well, I had a day. I've been having so much fun with my Peerless P31, I decided I wanted to get a Pete and hit it a few times. I found this one for $10 and arraigned to pick it up at 8:00 AM this morning.

 

Then, surfing the web, I found a bag full of Lady Macgregors for free, but looking closer, I saw at least a few '67 Staffs in the bag. Since it was only a mile away from the Pete, I set that one up also. It wasn't a few, it was 2-w, and there was a little surprise hiding under a warm up headcover... a wedge I always wanted to hit but have never seen. The Staffs are the first vintage set I have the same length as my '84 staffs, and the regular staffs came out spot on S300s on my deflection board. The bag also had some '70s balls...a couple of sleeves of Pinnacles, some Dots, and one sleeve of Titleists. I'm not a vintage ball guy, but I'll move them along to someone who is.

 

Then to make it even better, hit a thrift store on the way home and picked up a Grind 9 iron, a Red Line 6 iron, an an M75 Colokrom 6 iron. I now have the 6-7-8-9 Grind, although the 7 is currently unshafted, so I'll need another Apex 4 shaft before they see the grass.  Not a bad day at all.

 

Edited October 10, 2020 by Stephen8802

[BIG STU]

9 hours ago, NRJyzr said:

I've mentioned I'm transitioning to graphite shafts, due to the love my elbows and wrists are showing me.  A few years ago, I'd built a set of TW276 Golden Rams (3-pw) with NV105 shafts with a fair bit of success (playing them now).

 

Have a set of RIP Tour 115 shafts lying around, have been going back and forth on installing them.  The shafts are largely gone but there are odd singles here and there, decided to grab a couple of them for a test.  Wanted an iron I'm familiar with, thought about MP37s or MS11/MP11s, then took a look at Golden Rams.  Have a 4i and 8i Vibration Matched Golden Rams on the way for these test clubs.

 

All of that was really preamble.  Man, I'm long winded.

 

In surfing "Golden Ram irons" on eBay, I came across a listing with two 1 irons.  Was curious, but not all that interested, since I've got several.  Turns out, one of them is a TW276 1 iron. 

 

Score! 

 

Been looking for the 1i and 2i in this set for quite a while with no success, just randomly finding one is quite lovely.  Not sure how I'll shaft it up, since the NV105 shafts are long gone, but I'll figure something out.  LOL 

 

Kinda going your route now due to my injuries--- Now I did go through some of my paper work and found out I had a set of the Custom component Infiniti TS-10 Forged CBs from my days with Championship Golf. The last spec I messed with was equipped with the FST 90 steel shafts. I went across the street and found them in my old Infiniti Staff bag. Sure enough FST 90. Took them to the shop cleaned them up since they had been sitting some 5 years now. Regripped and weighed and sure enough they were lighter than the graphite shafted KZGs I had been swinging. Played them in the dog Fight today hit them decent. But when my back fully recovers I will again play the Machogans

[cold_war_era_golfer]

3 hours ago, Stephen8802 said:

Well, I had a day. I've been having so much fun with my Peerless P31, I decided I wanted to get a Pete and hit it a few times. I found this one for $10 and arraigned to pick it up at 8:00 AM this morning.

 

Then, surfing the web, I found a bag full of Lady Macgregors for free, but looking closer, I saw at least a few '67 Staffs in the bag. Since it was only a mile away from the Pete, I set that one up also. It wasn't a few, it was 2-w, and there was a little surprise hiding under a warm up headcover... a wedge I always wanted to hit but have never seen. The Staffs are the first vintage set I have the same length as my '84 staffs, and the regular staffs came out spot on S300s on my deflection board. The bag also had some '70s balls...a couple of sleeves of Pinnacles, some Dots, and one sleeve of Titleists. I'm not a vintage ball guy, but I'll move them along to someone who is.

 

Then to make it even better, hit a thrift store on the way home and picked up a Grind 9 iron, a Red Line 6 iron, an an M75 Colokrom 6 iron. I now have the 6-7-8-9 Grind, although the 7 is currently unshafted, so I'll need another Apex 4 shaft before they see the grass.  Not a bad day at all.

 

Love those 67 staffs!!!

[NRJyzr]

Pics of my TW276 1 iron, which arrived yesterday (surprise!)

 

 

 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

3 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

Pics of my TW276 1 iron, which arrived yesterday (surprise!)

 

 

 

 

Oh, yeah!

[dcopp7]

Looks like a putter!!! ^^^

[dcopp7]

[cold_war_era_golfer]

On the Wilson Collectors FB group I picked up 1958 2-9i and '59 PW and Triple Duty.

I currently have/had what I'm now calling a "beater" set of '59s 2-9i.  They aren't new acquisitions but I thought they made the last pictures look nicer.

 

 

[RobotDoctor]

I just picked up this MacGregor M43T driver.  This one is in a bit rough shape but should restore nicely.  The driver sits a bit closed so I would have the toe flared out a bit to sit square.  Bulge and Roll is about 8 so redoing it to 9x9 would be relatively easy.  The insert cavity would have to be altered a but to accommodate the flared toe.  This would most likely remove all the beat up wood on the toe part of the face.  I am contemplating whether I am going to have this done or move it. 

[Fellaheen51]

Giving this thread a bump this morning.  Rarely do I expect to find decent persimmons on the local marketplaces. To my surprise, these showed up yesterday a scant 5 miles from home. Cleveland Classic TC-15 driver, DG43 3w & 5w. The D has been played some, the others were listed as "never been played". Thought they were a worthy acquisition for $35. To bad they were not model matched, and came with S400 shafts (why do they seemingly always have TTDG S400's).  But still pleased with the find. Was on my way to the local course for 9, so took the D out for a swat. Has a more solid feel and sound than other persimmons I've hit. These may be destined for regriping with the brown Neumann's I've been saving for the right clubs.

[NRJyzr]

That's an awesome find, Fella    🙂

 

I'd probably have paid $35 just for either the driver or 3 wood individually.  

Edited November 10, 2020 by NRJyzr

[scomac2002]

8 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

That's an awesome find, Fella    🙂

 

I'd probably have paid $35 just for either the driver or 3 wood individually.  

 

No kidding!  I foresee some serious profit potential in flipping those pristine fairways should that be part of the plan.

[Fellaheen51]

11 minutes ago, scomac2002 said:

 

No kidding!  I foresee some serious profit potential in flipping those pristine fairways should that be part of the plan.

 

Thanks guys.  IDK what I'm going to do with the fairways.  Not one to keep "wall hangers" around.  Not a collector per se, more of a gatherer.  And the condition is to nice to take them afield and muck'em up.  Why I have my beaters.  A dilemma.  Guess I look at them for awhile before deciding.  

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

@Fellaheen51

That's an amazing find. Cleveland persimmons are priced quite high around here (though whether they sell or not for those prices is a different matter...). I am pretty sure that the driver alone would be pounced on at double the price you paid for the three of them.