How to determine date of ping putter

[uofmrocky]

I just bought an old Bronze Ping Anser 3 putter at a golf course the other day for 20 bucks. What can i do to determine the date of this particular putter? Any help would be great thanks!

[hoosiervolunteer]

It's all in the zip code in the cavity. You will not be able to get an exact year on a Ping putter with no serial number. Yours will NOT have one. I took this from ebay:

 

The Scottsdale AZ address with 85282 zip code was from 1961-1966.

 

The Phoenix AZ address with 85029 zip code from mid-1966 through 1967.

 

The Phoenix AZ address with 85020 zip code from 1968-1973.

 

The Phoenix AZ address with 85068 zip code from 1973 to 2000.

 

The Phoenix AZ address with 85029 zip code (again) from 2000 to present-day. (The 85029 zip code is the zip code for the physical street address of Ping Headquarters, which it has been at since mid-1966).

 

Hope it helps. The Anser 3 with some lead tape on it is my favorite putter of all time.

[uofmrocky]

Awsome thanks!

[Cooper]

so if you have zip code 85029, how do you know if its 1966-1967 or 2000s

[Rod Mcgarvey]

I have a Ping Anser bronze head.  Zip code is 85068.  So that's 1973- present.  I bought it used in roughly 1978.  Any value or info would be appreciated.

Spoiler

 

 

[KyleC305]

Mine clearly says zipcode 35029. I was told; back then it was hand stamped and errors occur. Anyone else seen this before? Paid $3 bux for it at a fleashop. Is it collectable?

 

[Socketeer]

On 7/6/2016 at 11:55 PM, hoosiervolunteer said:

It's all in the zip code in the cavity. You will not be able to get an exact year on a Ping putter with no serial number. Yours will NOT have one. I took this from ebay:

 

The Scottsdale AZ address with 85282 zip code was from 1961-1966.

 

The Phoenix AZ address with 85029 zip code from mid-1966 through 1967.

 

The Phoenix AZ address with 85020 zip code from 1968-1973.

 

The Phoenix AZ address with 85068 zip code from 1973 to 2000.

 

The Phoenix AZ address with 85029 zip code (again) from 2000 to present-day. (The 85029 zip code is the zip code for the physical street address of Ping Headquarters, which it has been at since mid-1966).

 

Hope it helps. The Anser 3 with some lead tape on it is my favorite putter of all time.

Do any of these number codes indicate whether they were made in BeCu or MnBr?

[Motoboss]

No. Take a magnet to it .

[Socketeer]

4 hours ago, Motoboss said:

No. Take a magnet to it .

How would that work?

 

Neither BeCu or MnBr are ferrous therefore neither have magnetic properties.

[Motoboss]

Great information in THIS thread
 

Properties of Beryllium Copper

Beryllium copper and its range of alloys exhibit a wide range of properties, including:

• High electrical and thermal conductivity
• Non-sparking and non-magnetic characteristics
• High ductility and excellent formability with regards to forming, machining, and metalworking processes
• Higher resistance to corrosion and oxidation than steel
• Higher durability than most copper alloys (resists wear and galling)
• Retention of properties in extremely low or extremely high temperatures
• Suitability for precipitation-hardening operations
• High fatigue strength—also known as endurance strength—making it suitable for heavy cyclic load applications

 

Physical Properties of Manganese Bronze

• 60 - 68 % Copper
• 25 % Zinc
• 3.0 - 7.5 % Aluminum
• 2.5 - 5.0 % Manganese 
• 2.0 - 4.0 % Iron
• ≤ 0.20 % Tin     

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 11, 2022 by Motoboss

[CrabTrapper]

Hello, I hope you can help with this. I have a putter here that I'm having a hard time matching to any online. 

 

Please see pic. I'm sure it's been re- shafted with new grip but club head looks untouched. (I'm no expert).

 

Ist line: US PAT. 4,527,799

2nd line: KARSTEN MFG. CORP.

3rd line: MADE IN USA.  PHOENIX, AZ 85029

 

The anomaly is this particular arrangement of text in the cavity. Assuming its genuine, any help with year of issue and production numbers would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

[Glenn lew]

I have a ping anser Kirsten mfg  Corp box9990 Phoenix 85968 what year would this be

[Motoboss]

8 hours ago, Glenn lew said:

I have a ping anser Kirsten mfg  Corp box9990 Phoenix 85968 what year would this be

Probably 1973-1995 model 

 

See the link in my previous post. Here is some information from that link.
 

 

 

 

"The zip code time frame below is actually only specific to the Anser for the most part beginning in 1967.

 

1959  The mold read PING by KARSTEN Redwood City, CALIF – Pat.Pend. Began shipping Jan 15 from family garage 

 

1961: Moved to Phoenix, Arizona • Began producing putters from family garage. Mold read Karsten Co. Box 1345 Scottsdale, Ariz. 85252 to differentiate from Bullseye putters in Phoenix.

 

1966: February 7, 1966 Anser model introduced. 

 

Property acquired at 21st Ave and Desert Cove in the fall of the year, molds changed to read Karsten Co. Phoenix, Ariz. 85029 Other Pat. Pend.

 

1967: The company incorporated on June 30 • The name became Karsten Manufacturing Incorporated. Putter molds were changed again. Karsten Mfg. Corp. Phoenix, Ariz. 85029 

 

1968: The molds were changed to reflect a new location of the post office. Box 8006 Phoenix, AZ 85020

 

1973: Mold changed again to read Karsten Mfg. Corp. Box 9990 Phoenix, AZ 85068

 

1995: Mold changed to just Karsten 85029 to reflect zip code

 

These zip code changes generally only apply to the Anser, Zing, Cushin, Anser 2. Other older models can have just about any of the zip codes we have used."

Here is what the Ping historian responded with:

 

"The zip code time frame below is actually only specific to the Anser for the most part beginning in 1967.

 

1959  The mold read PING by KARSTEN Redwood City, CALIF – Pat.Pend. Began shipping Jan 15 from family garage 

 

1961: Moved to Phoenix, Arizona • Began producing putters from family garage. Mold read Karsten Co. Box 1345 Scottsdale, Ariz. 85252 to differentiate from Bullseye putters in Phoenix.

 

1966: February 7, 1966 Anser model introduced. 

 

Property acquired at 21st Ave and Desert Cove in the fall of the year, molds changed to read Karsten Co. Phoenix, Ariz. 85029 Other Pat. Pend.

 

1967: The company incorporated on June 30 • The name became Karsten Manufacturing Incorporated. Putter molds were changed again. Karsten Mfg. Corp. Phoenix, Ariz. 85029 

 

1968: The molds were changed to reflect a new location of the post office. Box 8006 Phoenix, AZ 85020

 

1973: Mold changed again to read Karsten Mfg. Corp. Box 9990 Phoenix, AZ 85068

 

1995: Mold changed to just Karsten 85029 to reflect zip code

 

These zip code changes generally only apply to the Anser, Zing, Cushin, Anser 2. Other older models can have just about any of the zip codes we have used."

 

Edited June 2, 2022 by Motoboss

[Keanu]

Hello, I own a Ping Anser Karsten but it has a 85028 zip code. All I see is 85029, what is the deal? Why can’t I find my ping zip code anywhere?

[Motoboss]

13 hours ago, Keanu said:

Hello, I own a Ping Anser Karsten but it has a 85028 zip code. All I see is 85029, what is the deal? Why can’t I find my ping zip code anywhere?

 

[Colinj]

Hi, I've been trying to find some info on my putter. It's a becu Karsten 3, not an Anser. I've looked all over but there's not much mention of them, cheers.

[FirthofFore]

Can someone help me with these two please 

 

I’m pretty sure one is later and nothing special but the other could be… 

 

they are marked:

US Pat No D20/22

Karsten MFG. CORP

Phoenix. Ariz. 85029

Made in USA

 

Us pat 4,827,788

Karsten

Phoenix Ariz 85029

Made in USA 
 

I’m assuming the first one is very early? 
thanks

Rory 

[Motoboss]

On 1/12/2024 at 7:20 AM, FirthofFore said:

Can someone help me with these two please 

 

I’m pretty sure one is later and nothing special but the other could be… 

 

they are marked:

US Pat No D20/22

Karsten MFG. CORP

Phoenix. Ariz. 85029

Made in USA

 

Us pat 4,827,788

Karsten

Phoenix Ariz 85029

Made in USA 
 

I’m assuming the first one is very early? 
thanks

Rory 

 

From the zip code they could be from the ‘66-‘67 vintage.  The Patten # on the first one as it does not come up in a look up and does seem to be an early number but If it was an early ‘66 it would typically have Scottsdale” instead of Phoenix.

 

The latter one, pretty sure from ‘2000 to present era.

 

https://ping.com/en-us/legal/patents

 

 

 

 

Edited January 28 by Motoboss

[sheepdawg]

You can take everything that's been stated with a grain of salt. Zip Codes date the mold from which the putter was cast not the date of the putter. Some molds were used for years. Zips are far more accurate on Ansers. I putted with an 85029 My Day for years, My Days didn't come out till 1970.

 

Other things to look for are trademarks that have been registered designated by the little R in a circle on the back of the sole under PING or the model on the other side. These also started in 70 and I have a dalehead 85029 putter with the stamp so I know it"s 70 or later. Black shaft bands were used from about 67 to the late 70s replaced by a larger silver one. The really early and valuable Ansers, Scottsdales and Karsten Co. will have a big silver band that says BALLNAMIC on it. Grips require too much to type but if you know what grips were used when you can date them that way too.