No new acquistions...?

[ezgoer]

On 10/30/2023 at 10:46 AM, bcstones said:

Wow, with all the talk about wedges...I've got to go check the wedge bins in storage. I know I have a couple/few Clevelend & Volkey wedges in there, as well as Sandy Andy & Trusty Rusty wedges

  Vokey 200 series, oil can or raw finish, are still my favorite wedges to this day period. Hard for me to consider them vintage cuz think they are barely 20 years old. Had my eyes on a mint 54/58 set on EBay that went nuts the final day. Kick myself for not hitting the $95 shipped buy it now button when I first saw them. They ended up almost twice that price. 

  I’m told by quite a few the early Phil Rodger’s Trusty Rusty’s are as good as it gets. I’ve yet to try one. I only come across the modern looking ones that don’t have the PR signature. Even though I’m a sucker for rusty wedges the current trusty rusty doesn’t look right to me. 

Edited November 1, 2023 by ezgoer

[SnowbirdTom]

1 hour ago, bcstones said:

@SnowbirdTom congrats...are the shafts pyratoned/painted or chromed? Any chance you could show the shaft & the grip?
Also wonder what that triangle mark is supposed to be?

 

 

Regular chromed steel shafts.  From some reading of a previous WRX thread on these I found via google, the triangle is supposedly a shaft stiffness designator.  

 

The two solid persimmons should clean up nicely with some stripper, light sanding and fresh black stain/poly coating with some steady hands to do the lettering in white. A rewhip to finish the job.  

 

 

 

[BIG STU]

10 hours ago, SnowbirdTom said:

Fresh from the pickup, untouched.  Good and bad news.   It’s a complete set of Spalding registered RTJ clubs. 2-9 irons and 1/2/3 woods, a Spalding Cash-in putter and a 9 George McGregor putter.  All original grips, matching serial numbers in ferrules.

 

The bad?  The driver is destroyed.  Cracked three ways to hellenbach.  Epoxies would probably save it, but major repairs needed.

I don’t have my books handy, so WAG on vintage?  Rubber grips are original, probably late 30s/early 40s?

Pictures!

 

 

I actually had a partial set of those back in the late 80s early 90s. I had my own truck back then and did a lot of oversized loads that paid well. Most states you could not run OD on the weekends. we were laid over in central Indiana near Greenwood one weekend. My wife suggested I rent some cubs and play some golf. Someone told me where there was a golf course near by. Went up there and talked to the Pro. Now this was a little local owned muni type course. We got to talking and he made me a deal on the partial set in a little canvas bag. Had the Driver and 3 wood 3,5,7 and 9 irons. I ended up buying a 56* Wilson JP wedge and an Anser putter for him. He sold me the bag and Spaldings for like $25. I think I gave like $25 for the JP new and maybe $35 for the Anser. I carried that little set on the truck for like 5 more years and played quite a bit over the years all over the USA with them. Played all type of courses from resort types to goat ranch munis. Best $85 I ever spent on golf stuff. I still have the JP and Anser and saw the little canvas bag now rotted all to crap over in my storage facility the other day when I was digging my Spalding Elites out. I do not think I have the irons and woods anymore regretfully

[SnowbirdTom]

Cleaned 'em up over coffee this morning.  Basic soap and water did a great job as they weren't really bad.  Cleaned up the bag too and realized it's a MacGregor Jack Nicklaus bag with the plastic formed top with tubes to keep everything in it's place.  It's a little scuffed up, but totally useable! My set of JN Golden Bears are going in this bag.  lol

 

Registration numbers on the irons are #218029 A

 

Grips, faces and backs of the irons below.

 

 

And the persimmons to be rescued. Model number is 113, clear as day.  I don't think these have ever been reworked.  The crown stamps are sharp and clean.  The sole plate screws haven't been sanded either.

 

[SnowbirdTom]

A trip to Lowes and here we go.  🙂 

 

2 wood disassembled, whipping off to be replaced with new and varnish dissolving.  Fingers crossed, done by Sunday.

 

 

[Coletrain]

21 hours ago, SnowbirdTom said:

Regular chromed steel shafts.  From some reading of a previous WRX thread on these I found via google, the triangle is supposedly a shaft stiffness designator.  

 

The two solid persimmons should clean up nicely with some stripper, light sanding and fresh black stain/poly coating with some steady hands to do the lettering in white. A rewhip to finish the job.  

 

 

 

Actually the triangle is a head weight designator it just correlates a shaft selection. These appear to be 1950 irons also as that year stainless was stamped on the toe vs the hosel.

[BIG STU]

19 hours ago, SnowbirdTom said:

Cleaned 'em up over coffee this morning.  Basic soap and water did a great job as they weren't really bad.  Cleaned up the bag too and realized it's a MacGregor Jack Nicklaus bag with the plastic formed top with tubes to keep everything in it's place.  It's a little scuffed up, but totally useable! My set of JN Golden Bears are going in this bag.  lol

 

Registration numbers on the irons are #218029 A

 

Grips, faces and backs of the irons below.

 

 

And the persimmons to be rescued. Model number is 113, clear as day.  I don't think these have ever been reworked.  The crown stamps are sharp and clean.  The sole plate screws haven't been sanded either.

 

I think I saw where you posted those on one of the golf sites on Facebook

[weakputt]

6 hours ago, Coletrain said:

Actually the triangle is a head weight designator it just correlates a shaft selection. These appear to be 1950 irons also as that year stainless was stamped on the toe vs the hosel.

Looks like mine are 1950's with a Light Weight A or T shaft?

[SnowbirdTom]

1 hour ago, BIG STU said:

I think I saw where you posted those on one of the golf sites on Facebook

Ya got me!  Another good place (PGS) for soaking up knowledge and spending money on goodies while sipping coffee. They’re usually real quick with answers too.  Still trying to find out what is used to bed soleplates on these old workhorses I’m redoing.  Whipping thread has been ordered and should be here today.

[SnowbirdTom]

35 minutes ago, weakputt said:

Looks like mine are 1950's with a Light Weight A or T shaft?

Those look real nice.  How do they play and what would you compare them to?

[bcstones]

17 hours ago, SnowbirdTom said:

whipping off to be replaced with new and varnish dissolving.

okay, I see that the wood head is in a plastic bag (like a zip-lock freezer???)....but how are you getting the old varnish off?

[bcstones]

@SnowbirdTom @BIG STU  I'm thinking of trying again at that Persimmon Golf Society on the fb thingy....or should I try since it seems as if I've been regected once. {btw - what clubs DID Nicklaus use in his '86 victory?)

[SnowbirdTom]

9 minutes ago, bcstones said:

okay, I see that the wood head is in a plastic bag (like a zip-lock freezer???)....but how are you getting the old varnish off?

Saran wrap to keep the citri-stripper from drying out.  It works.  I take the old varnish off like that then sand paper to finish the job. I remove the sole plate, whipping and face insert, then lightly use the stripper.

Edited November 2, 2023 by SnowbirdTom

[bcstones]

4 minutes ago, SnowbirdTom said:

Saran wrap to keep the citri-stripper from drying out.  It works.  I take the old varnish off like that then sand paper to finish the job.

so all/any decals would be removed 🤔 then again, the signature on the crown is incised...do you, would you use any different method to just remove old varnish & while retaining the decals (I have a set of PowerBilt woods in great shape except for the varnish flaking off). You still have to restain, that is if you wish to.
 

Edited November 2, 2023 by bcstones

[SnowbirdTom]

Just now, bcstones said:

so all/any decals would be removed 🤔 then again, the signature on the crown is incised...do you, would you use any different method to just remove old varnish & while retaining the decals (I have a set of PowerBilt woods in great shape except for the varnish flaking off)

 Everything I’ve done so far has been logos engraved in the wood.  There are guys who sell the decals for the later persimmons, but I haven’t actually talked to one of them. 
 

If it’s just varnish removal, tape over the decal and sand the rest?  220 or finer grit very carefully over the decal maybe to

give the new varnish some bite.

[NRJyzr]

22 minutes ago, bcstones said:

btw - what clubs DID Nicklaus use in his '86 victory?

 

Not sure of the woods specifically, but his irons were a (MacGregor) Jack Nicklaus Limited Edition set, based on the Pro-81 forging.  They were released as the Muirfield 20th irons in 1987, as the update to the Muirfield set of 83-86.

 

Edited November 2, 2023 by NRJyzr

[bcstones]

8 minutes ago, SnowbirdTom said:

 Everything I’ve done so far has been logos engraved in the wood.  There are guys who sell the decals for the later persimmons, but I haven’t actually talked to one of them. 
 

If it’s just varnish removal, tape over the decal and sand the rest?  220 or finer grit very carefully over the decal maybe to

give the new varnish some bite.

I've also thought to use a stylus to impress the decal lettering into the wood...

btw - thanks for the posting, I've a similar set that's exactly the same (tho, I replaced the grips) & all the info that you received helped me to determine at least the decade. 

[bcstones]

2 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

 

Not sure of the woods specifically, but his irons were a (MacGregor) Jack Nicklaus Limited Edition set, based on the Pro-81 forging.  They were released as the Muirfield 20th irons in 1987, as the update to the Muirfield set of 83-86.

 

Thanks, it was a question I was asked when I attempted to join the fb group - Persimmon Golf Society...

.I guess my answer that 'I could care less what clubs Nicklaus used, but he used the Response putter' - that didn't go over well.🤣

[NRJyzr]

6 minutes ago, bcstones said:

Thanks, it was a question I was asked when I attempted to join the fb group - Persimmon Golf Society...

.I guess my answer that 'I could care less what clubs Nicklaus used, but he used the Response putter' - that didn't go over well.🤣

 

Went down the rabbit hole, found a post from fellow classic folder contributor HoganApexBlades (aka HAB), that stated the following:

 

"Jack used a '54 Mac Tommy Armour 945 EOM driver and a early '50s Mac TA 693 3 wood."

 

Caveat:  that particular thread was talking about his clubs from the start of his career.  I'm under the impression he kept using that EOM until he switched to metal, but admit I don't *know* for sure.

 

 

[SnowbirdTom]

It’s a one word answer. 😉

[bcstones]

Just picked up this set of 1987(?) Tommy Armour 845s Silver Scot, 3 thru P, and a Titleist Dead Center/Top-Sighter TS-235 putter (there was an old Taylor Made Tour (something or other) small head steel driver (which immediately went into the thrift store bundle).  Shafts are the TA Tour Step & the grips are TA Golf Pride Victory green (not all that fond of the GP Victory grips, a few have beginning cracks, so perhaps I'll jusr regrip soon).

All the TA 845's are marked "pat pend"....so does that mean they are '87 era?
Paid $45 for all..not sure if that was over pay or under?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 2, 2023 by bcstones

[Orchardist]

Overpaid.   Nastiest putter award has already been presented.  

[Maine Golfer]

I skip picking them up because you can't get them 2 degree up pre bent, but I wonder if 845 are any better then Ping Eye 2's?

[NRJyzr]

3 minutes ago, Maine Golfer said:

I skip picking them up because you can't get them 2 degree up pre bent, but I wonder if 845 are any better then Ping Eye 2's?

 

Upright sets are out there, but not easy to find.  It's one reason I never got a set.

 

Going on memory, I think the 845s are a bit smaller clubhead.  They also have a slightly lower CG, and probably don't have the negative bounce in the long irons that bugs me about the Eye2.  Only marginally less forgiving than the Eye2.

 

and probably just as indestructible, being 17-4 stainless  🙂

 

[Maine Golfer]

30 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

 

Upright sets are out there, but not easy to find.  It's one reason I never got a set.

 

Going on memory, I think the 845s are a bit smaller clubhead.  They also have a slightly lower CG, and probably don't have the negative bounce in the long irons that bugs me about the Eye2.  Only marginally less forgiving than the Eye2.

 

and probably just as indestructible, being 17-4 stainless  🙂

 

Do you know if the Zing (1s) long irons have negative bounce? Whatever they are I love them, I love hitting them off the ground.  

[bcstones]

1 hour ago, Orchardist said:

Overpaid.   Nastiest putter award has already been presented.  

 I didn't buy them for the putter (or that early TM steel driver)...however, the putter's design is interesting. I forgot to do a pic of looking down...however, it was designed so that when the upper crosshairs align exactly w/the lower markings, the putter is level...Still, tho it'll go in the $10 bin - unless anyone is interested.

 

35 minutes ago, Maine Golfer said:

I skip picking them up because you can't get them 2 degree up pre bent, but I wonder if 845 are any better then Ping Eye 2's?

 

30 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

 

Upright sets are out there, but not easy to find.  It's one reason I never got a set.

 

Going on memory, I think the 845s are a bit smaller clubhead.  They also have a slightly lower CG, and probably don't have the negative bounce in the long irons that bugs me about the Eye2.  Only marginally less forgiving than the Eye2.

 

 

There is an interesting article, not going to mention the site, "The Story of an Icon: The Tommy Armour 845s"....very interesting & a good read. Also, somewhere on this site, a respondent to a 845s post said that the 3 marks on the hosel indicated lie - "The 845s came in 3 versions- 2 Upright, Standard, and 2 Flat. Hosels indicated the Lie angle"...unsure how to read the marks, is the "flat" mark toward the club head or is it toward the golfer?

In the article, it said that the 845s came in response to the Ping Eye2 & that Hogan came out w/the Hogan Edge Forged in response to the 845s. Also mentioned the same man, responsible for the design of the 845s (sweet spot in the exact same place on every iron), designed the DCI...

[NRJyzr]

2 hours ago, bcstones said:

The 845s came in 3 versions- 2 Upright, Standard, and 2 Flat. Hosels indicated the Lie angle"...unsure how to read the marks, is the "flat" mark toward the club head or is it toward the golfer?

 

The mark being towards the heel indicates flat.

 

[NRJyzr]

3 hours ago, Maine Golfer said:

Do you know if the Zing (1s) long irons have negative bounce? Whatever they are I love them, I love hitting them off the ground.  

 

The Zing specs don't seem to have the same lasting power as Eye2 specs.  Haven't seen them saved anywhere.

 

[bcstones]

47 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

 

The mark being towards the heel indicates flat.

 

so this set would be 2*flat....what exactly does that mean, if you don't mind?

[bcstones]

oh, yeah...forgot to ask. Since the irons say pat pending, could that mean they were from the very first batch in 1987 prior their "first offerings" in '88?