No new acquistions...?

[cold_war_era_golfer]

I came across this set of 2-9(missing 7i)Tommy Armour 905 Silver Scots for $25.  I’m not a fan of sets missing clubs but what caught my attention was the pyratone shafted Iron Master.  It looks brand new!  It’s not the sought after IMG but I couldn’t pass it up!  According to the Kaplan Catalog the 905s come from 1949.  Not sure about the putter.  Any ideas?

[LeftyMac]

Latest addition - one I've been chasing for a few years.

 

[RobotDoctor]

I just picked up this set of never refinished 693s.  The driver had the neck numbers scratched out but the impressions are still visible.  The fairway woods (2-4) clearly show neck numbers.  The driver will end up going to my restoration guy sometime in the next couple months along with a 1953 945W driver I have.  Both the 693 and 945W fairway woods (both sets 2-4) will be sent at some later time, if at all.

 

[RobotDoctor]

As a bonus the person I got the set of 693s had a few woods down in his basement.  He sent me pics of this 1954-1955 M09 LFF that he had.  I told him what the LFFs had been going for lately and told him all I could do was a certain price.  He countered a little higher than what I said which I agreed to.  The price is less than half what he could get on eBay but he knows this will be taken care of well and he doesn't have to deal with percentages eBay will take and shipping (as he said).  This one will make it's way to my club restoration guy early next year and will make a great complement to my 1953 LFF.

 

[Woodridge]

I'm a member of a few classic clubs groups on Facebook and recently a couple people shared how they store/display their clubs. One that I really liked used peg board for the irons in their garage or basement. I'm trying to re-organize my office and garage so I am curious how everyone here might be storing/displaying their collections.

[RobotDoctor]

5 hours ago, Woodridge said:

I'm a member of a few classic clubs groups on Facebook and recently a couple people shared how they store/display their clubs. One that I really liked used peg board for the irons in their garage or basement. I'm trying to re-organize my office and garage so I am curious how everyone here might be storing/displaying their collections.

I do miss the Persimmon Group Society on FB.  I don't miss FB.

 

I've shown this many times but my collection is stored in an oversized PowerBilt store display staff bag.  The best thing about this bag is that it is very stable and doesn't topple over.  Plus it stores all my woods with adequate space, although space is becoming limited.  😯   Added are the set of 693s I just picked up.

 

Edited October 23, 2021 by RobotDoctor

[Forged Hack]

84’/86’ Staff bag irons complete. Picked up an apparently refinished at some time Staff Fluid Feel Sand Wedge. 

[Stephen8802]

Great set...I got the first set my pro could get just before they came out and still have them.

 

What makes you think they are refinished and not barely hit?

[Forged Hack]

4 hours ago, Stephen8802 said:

Great set...I got the first set my pro could get just before they came out and still have them.

 

What makes you think they are refinished and not barely hit?

Probably could be barely hit but, I’m having a hard time believing a wedge this old doesn’t have that much wear? I’m so accustomed to seeing faces worn and dark wear oval spots on the sole. Either way it’s getting used this time. Note: I realized it’s not a “line under” Staff model and I believe a slightly later version. 
First world problems!

[Stephen8802]

I don't have them in my hands, but I'm going with barely hit. Great sticks, get them out on the grass ASAP!

[Forged Hack]

On 10/25/2021 at 4:39 PM, Stephen8802 said:

I don't have them in my hands, but I'm going with barely hit. Great sticks, get them out on the grass ASAP!

Teeing off tomorrow now that the matching era woods arrived….. little red shaft bands near the neck (stiff) just like the irons, Golf Pride Full Cords too!  I’m liking the gold alignment line on the crown and the brass back weighting should be interesting as well. Yes laminated but, I’m playing Ping Eye 2 laminated woods and I can beat rock hard range balls with them without worrying. 
Cheers,

Bill

Edited October 27, 2021 by Forged Hack

[BIG STU]

On 10/23/2021 at 6:28 PM, RobotDoctor said:

I do miss the Persimmon Group Society on FB.  I don't miss FB.

 

I've shown this many times but my collection is stored in an oversized PowerBilt store display staff bag.  The best thing about this bag is that it is very stable and doesn't topple over.  Plus it stores all my woods with adequate space, although space is becoming limited.  😯   Added are the set of 693s I just picked up.

 

I am still on PGS and the Mac Collectors Society---- I do not do what I term as General FB with all the BS--- I am on several car racing groups and have my old racing buddies on there---- I also have several Church contacts from my years running sound boards for different Churches in the area---

[dcopp7]

15 hours ago, Forged Hack said:

Teeing off tomorrow now that the matching era woods arrived….. little red shaft bands near the neck (stiff) just like the irons, Golf Pride Full Cords too!  I’m liking the gold alignment line on the crown and the brass back weighting should be interesting as well. Yes laminated but, I’m playing Ping Eye 2 laminated woods and I can beat rock hard range balls with them without worrying. 
Cheers,

Bill

Those Laminates hit really well.  I use the 3 & 5 with my vintage set.  I use a Staff Persimmon driver though

[mocokid]

Wilson laminated were the best.  I'm sure a number of majors were won with them.  Irwin, Payne.  Would be a good thread topic, I think?

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Does anyone know why Wilson focused on laminated woods? I have seen persimmon Wilsons, but the majority I've seen here are laminated, including the pro-shop lines when quality is more of a selling point than cost.

 

I'm not saying the laminates were poor quality*, I'm just curious why Wilson didn't also produce more persimmons.

 

*The best golfer at the club I joined as a junior had a Wilson laminated 3w, and 5w as well I think. He won lots of local and district titles with that in the bag, so if they were good enough for him, they are certainly good enough for me.

 

 

 

[raggal62]

13 minutes ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

Does anyone know why Wilson focused on laminated woods? I have seen persimmon Wilsons, but the majority I've seen here are laminated, including the pro-shop lines when quality is more of a selling point than cost.

 

I'm not saying the laminates were poor quality*, I'm just curious why Wilson didn't also produce more persimmons.

 

*The best golfer at the club I joined as a junior had a Wilson laminated 3w, and 5w as well I think. He won lots of local and district titles with that in the bag, so if they were good enough for him, they are certainly good enough for me.

 

 

 

Can't say for certain but perhaps Wilson was concerned with durability issues pertaining to solid blocks during that era. MacGregor was "oil hardening" persimmon heads for purposes of making them less prone to moisture damage. "Densitizing" the wood was the buzz word in the late forties into the fifties. Wilson with the introduction of "Strata Bloc" construction was likely their spin on the concept.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

23 minutes ago, raggal62 said:

Can't say for certain but perhaps Wilson was concerned with durability issues pertaining to solid blocks during that era. MacGregor was "oil hardening" persimmon heads for purposes of making them less prone to moisture damage. "Densitizing" the wood was the buzz word in the late forties into the fifties. Wilson with the introduction of "Strata Bloc" construction was likely their spin on the concept.

 

I hadn't thought of that angle. I was wondering if it was a problem of finding good quality persimmon, or a way of differentiating themselves from the other big manufacturers, but that was purely speculation on my part. 

 

It's just something I've found curious, especially since getting back into persimmon golf a few years ago.

Edited October 28, 2021 by No_Catchy_Nickname

[RobotDoctor]

I have also heard that by the early 60s old growth persimmon ideal for making persimmon woods was becoming harder to find.  While younger persimmon trees were still harvested into the 90s the best wood were trees 80 years old or older.  Laminated maple provided a hard material so I suppose this is why they became more prevalent from the mid/late 50s through the 90s.  
 

I always found laminated woods to be too hard to consistently work a golf ball. Even with a balata ball.  I also felt the feel was lost a bit more with laminated woods.  I suppose it was just a feel thing for me.  

[raggal62]

4 hours ago, RobotDoctor said:

I have also heard that by the early 60s old growth persimmon ideal for making persimmon woods was becoming harder to find.  While younger persimmon trees were still harvested into the 90s the best wood were trees 80 years old or older.  Laminated maple provided a hard material so I suppose this is why they became more prevalent from the mid/late 50s through the 90s.  
 

I always found laminated woods to be too hard to consistently work a golf ball. Even with a balata ball.  I also felt the feel was lost a bit more with laminated woods.  I suppose it was just a feel thing for me.  

Not only feel.

Sound.

Crazy right?

Something about the ball coming off a solid block of wood vs. glued layers. A detectable audible difference.

Then again it might just be perception.

[RobotDoctor]

41 minutes ago, raggal62 said:

Not only feel.

Sound.

Crazy right?

Something about the ball coming off a solid block of wood vs. glued layers. A detectable audible difference.

Then again it might just be perception.

No, I agree with you.  👍

[Woodridge]

One of the teachers I like uses Callaway Bobby Jones S2H2 irons. I never saw them when they first came out. I'm assuming they are cast, but could be wrong. Anyone have a set or played them? I picked up an 8 iron for the range.

[dcopp7]

Cast, yes ^

[scomac2002]

I always thought that the S2H2 were a cavity back iron fairly similar in design to many of the cast CB's of that era.  Your 8 iron is a whole different breed of blade iron that loosely resembles the wedges that came with a full S2H2 CB iron set. 😎

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

1 hour ago, scomac2002 said:

I always thought that the S2H2 were a cavity back iron fairly similar in design to many of the cast CB's of that era.  Your 8 iron is a whole different breed of blade iron that loosely resembles the wedges that came with a full S2H2 CB iron set. 😎

 

I think there was a CB and a scotch blade version. I've seen the latter come up on auction sites here from time to time.

[TheDeanAbides]

On 10/28/2021 at 1:32 PM, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

Does anyone know why Wilson focused on laminated woods? I have seen persimmon Wilsons, but the majority I've seen here are laminated, including the pro-shop lines when quality is more of a selling point than cost.

 

I'm not saying the laminates were poor quality*, I'm just curious why Wilson didn't also produce more persimmons.

 

*The best golfer at the club I joined as a junior had a Wilson laminated 3w, and 5w as well I think. He won lots of local and district titles with that in the bag, so if they were good enough for him, they are certainly good enough for me.

 

 

 

I love a persimmon, but if laminates were good enough for Hogan they're good enough for me. In fact some of my favourite looking drivers are laminated. 

 

I have no answer to the original question, however. 

[Forged Hack]

18 hours ago, RobotDoctor said:

No, I agree with you.  👍

Agreed as well. Fifth hole front nine at my course has a tight Par 4, 415 yard dogleg left that has an elevated tee box. Surrounded by thick hedges and tall trees, It’s the perfect soundboard off the tee for acoustics using either woods. My Cleveland TC15 and Titleist  Blonde Persimmon 3 woods have a more refined “click” to them vs my Ping and Wilson laminates which are louder, but have more of a “cracking type” sound. I prefer the click. 

[cold_war_era_golfer]

14 hours ago, TheDeanAbides said:

I love a persimmon, but if laminates were good enough for Hogan they're good enough for me. In fact some of my favourite looking drivers are laminated. 

 

I have no answer to the original question, however. 

I agree.  Hogan and Casper played well with laminates as did Palmer on occasion.   I’ll never hit an oversized modern driver as well as they did with laminates.   
 

Persimmons are beautiful and I have a many in the collection. But there’s no true data to prove a persimmon plays better.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

I've been meaning to post these for a week or two: Mizuno MP5s. What? MP5s can't be considered classic because they came out in 2015? Not these ones....

 

I think they were a North American release, because the TP (Tour Pro, later Tour Proven)  branding was being used in Europe when I think these came out, and Japan was still using the MS (Mizuno Staff) stamping.

Also, the shafts are S300, and the PW is 35.5", which is the same as my MS-7s, which I know were a US release. 35" seems to be more common for the PW lengths on releases for the Japanese market. I'm just not sure why these are "MP" whereas my MS-7s are "MS". 

 

Anyway, they appear to be as good as identical to the MS-701s and TP-5s, and the 701s were a 1986 release (one year only, as well, from the looks of it), so I'm dating these to around then as well.

 

Strangely, although the PW is 35.5", the 9i is 35.7" and the 8i 36". I'm thinking of getting the 9i extended to 36", and going in 0.5" increments from there, or maybe just 3/8" between the 5, 4, and 3.

 

Keepers for sure.

 

[elwhippy]

Those MP5s could be as old as late 1980s. Absolutely stunning clubs. 

[BIG STU]

On 10/28/2021 at 10:15 AM, RobotDoctor said:

I have also heard that by the early 60s old growth persimmon ideal for making persimmon woods was becoming harder to find.  While younger persimmon trees were still harvested into the 90s the best wood were trees 80 years old or older.  Laminated maple provided a hard material so I suppose this is why they became more prevalent from the mid/late 50s through the 90s.  
 

I always found laminated woods to be too hard to consistently work a golf ball. Even with a balata ball.  I also felt the feel was lost a bit more with laminated woods.  I suppose it was just a feel thing for me.  

Also laminate was cheaper and faster to mass produce. Also for the weekend warrior they were more maintence free.

I also agree with you on the feel part too