Where are the Powerbilt Collectors?

[mocokid]

yeah love that finish, all it needs is a light refinish to replace the yellowed old poly, and buff out a few scratches and dings on the sole plate. Though in the shape it is now, its def playable as is.

[tannyhoban]

Loved the H&B and Powerbilt woods. Had a Citation driver, blond 50's H&B 3 wood and a Citation 5 wood in the bag for a lot of the 80's. They made great irons too, Scotch blades just have that look.

[davidbandy]

I have a set of 4 HB Powerbilt Persimmons with matching serial numbers

Spoiler

 

 

[Foozle]

On 11/30/2019 at 11:31 PM, deejaid said:

As I’ve been collecting vintage clubs for the last few years I’ve have had plenty of Hogan, Macgregor, and Wilson’s in my collection. I’ve even been getting into Spalding lately. The one brand that I am really digging is Powerbilt but it seems to be one of the least talked about of the major club manufacturers of the 1940’s, 50’s, and 60’s. Were Powerbilt never as well received or as popular as the bigger name brands?

 

And who are the guys collecting old Powerbilt’s? I’ve got a few sets of woods and a single lonely set of irons but the old early 1950’s stuff seems to be so hard to come by. Is anyone here a Powerbilt guy?

Pleased this thread has had a bump and just catching up with it now. I agree with Deejaid as Power Bilt do seem to be largely overlooked, certainly that is the case here in the UK.

Having dipped my toe into Power Bilt I find this surprising as the quality is up there with the best.

The lack of interest / awareness is confirmed by the fact that I have yet to be opposed in any bid for Power Bilt clubs.

I am a convert and with 4 sets of irons and a couple of sets of woods I would now consider myself a collector.

Happy days as everything below stands me less than a decent set of Hogan irons! 

[Joe S]

2 hours ago, Foozle said:

Pleased this thread has had a bump and just catching up with it now. I agree with Deejaid as Power Bilt do seem to be largely overlooked, certainly that is the case here in the UK.

Having dipped my toe into Power Bilt I find this surprising as the quality is up there with the best.

The lack of interest / awareness is confirmed by the fact that I have yet to be opposed in any bid for Power Bilt clubs.

I am a convert and with 4 sets of irons and a couple of sets of woods I would now consider myself a collector.

Happy days as everything below stands me less than a decent set of Hogan irons! 

 

 

So I never considered myself a Powerbilt either until now.  If I found a nice set at a thrift store I would get them.  I had a set of Stainless Citations, a 9 to 3 set of Scotch Blades, a women's set of Levelume's and a few sets of TPS Cavity backs.  I also have a really cool old set of Channel Back Grand Slams with leather grips from the 40's or 50's.  The chrome is flaking off of them in a consistent way on each head creating an interesting aged look.  Unfortunately no picture at the moment.  But in the last few weeks I have come across some great finds.  I apologize for the crudeness of the pictures.  If I wait until they are all cleaned up and photographed in an artistic way I'll never take the pictures.  Here's what I've found recently.  I'm particularly impressed with the set of Scotch Blades with the straight muscle.  I've never seen that look from Powerbilt before. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Brewski_golfs]

This 1960 4 wood was one the first persimmon I restored.  Far from perfect but it works for me.  This club is so pure off the fairway, one of my favorites. Unfortunately I only have the 4 from this set,  but I do have a few other PB sets awaiting their turn on the restoration table. 

[Scully13]

Powerbilts were the best of the best in their day. Anyone showing up with a bright orange golf bag must have had some game.

 

I occasionally pull out my black gun metal TPS irons with the orange alignment dots and play a few nostalgic golf rounds with them.

[NRJyzr]

On 9/3/2021 at 5:29 AM, Foozle said:

Pleased this thread has had a bump and just catching up with it now. I agree with Deejaid as Power Bilt do seem to be largely overlooked, certainly that is the case here in the UK.

Having dipped my toe into Power Bilt I find this surprising as the quality is up there with the best.

The lack of interest / awareness is confirmed by the fact that I have yet to be opposed in any bid for Power Bilt clubs.

I am a convert and with 4 sets of irons and a couple of sets of woods I would now consider myself a collector.

Happy days as everything below stands me less than a decent set of Hogan irons! 

 

Love the 76-77 Scotch Blades you have in there!  I had a set, came with regular shafts that were also short, so I never did much with them.  Ironically, I could extend them now and be just fine.  Funny how that is.

 

I contacted Powerbilt for the standard lofts, they're a little odd.  20* 2 iron to a 32* 5 iron, then 35/38/41/44 for 6i-9i, and a 50* PW.  Ugh.  I think I'd have to tweak those shorter clubs a bit...

 

Edited September 8, 2021 by NRJyzr

[cold_war_era_golfer]

How did they gauge their shaft action?  For example, was a “b” shaft “regular”?

[Steele47]

Best driver I ever owned during the persimmon era was a Powerbilt Citation with the brass back weight,  black insert with real screws.

 

Also had a Powerbilt 5 wood laminated which I remember quite well.  Was on the cheaper end of their offerings at the time but I absolutely loved it.  The 'screws' on this particular cheaper model if I remember correctly were not screws at all but were sort of like rivets,  as if more for show than functionality.

[NRJyzr]

9 hours ago, cold_war_era_golfer said:

How did they gauge their shaft action?  For example, was a “b” shaft “regular”?

 

Yes, B was regular, C was stiff

 

[heyitsmike]

Has anyone tried taking some of the mid-70's Levelume blades and swapping to a modern shaft? Any issues removing the head from the original shafts? I've tried one iron so far and cannot seem to remove it no matter the amount of heat I apply or pressure I apply from the shaft puller I have. Anyone know if the hosels are threaded by chance? I don't see a pin in the hosel so I've ruled that out at least.

 

I've tried looking but have been unable to find a solid answer so far. Any help is super appreciated!

 

https://www.ironfinder.com/Individual-Irons/powerbilt/levelume_(model_nbr_in_description)-72.htm

Edited September 20, 2021 by heyitsmike
Edit to add a link to IronFinder for the specific model.

[oliver_t_s]

Anyone got a set of LH Citation irons they'd care to sell? 

[CCluett]

I am looking for a complete set of grand slam vback irons in LH. If any of you are looking to part with them please let me know. I'm trying to rebuild a sentimental set.

[CCluett]

I am looking for powerbilt LH irons. Specifically the ones made from 1981-1985. They have a v shaped back and say H&B and grand slam on them. I am trying to rebuild a sentimental sent of golf clubs. Does anyone have any they would be willing to sell?

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

On 9/8/2021 at 10:42 PM, NRJyzr said:

I contacted Powerbilt for the standard lofts, they're a little odd.  20* 2 iron to a 32* 5 iron, then 35/38/41/44 for 6i-9i, and a 50* PW.  Ugh.  I think I'd have to tweak those shorter clubs a bit...

 

 

That is some very strange loft gapping. I've seen closer gapping in the long irons, but not in the short irons like that. I'd go the same way as you and adjust those lofts, adding a bit more to the lower lofts.

[NRJyzr]

30 minutes ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

That is some very strange loft gapping. I've seen closer gapping in the long irons, but not in the short irons like that. I'd go the same way as you and adjust those lofts, adding a bit more to the lower lofts.

 

Being a time before lofts were moved stronger, it makes little sense.  <shrug>

 

Edited October 7, 2021 by NRJyzr

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

7 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

 

Being a time before lofts were moved stronger, it makes little sense.  <shrug>

 

 

Absolutely, especially as the lofts are pretty normal for the era in the long irons. 4 degree gapping in the long irons, 3 degree gapping in the mid and short irons until the 9i to PW....?

 

Can't fathom it. 

[Robert L.]

Just picked up a Powerbilt Citation 3-wood in excellent shape. I didn't have a 3 in my vintage bag so I went looking for one on eBay, and I found one. It looks great, but as usual it'll need a new grip, which is no big deal. So now my vintage set is complete. It should be here in a week or so. Can't wait to try it!

[Robert L.]

On 10/9/2021 at 5:22 PM, Robert L. said:

Just picked up a Powerbilt Citation 3-wood in excellent shape. I didn't have a 3 in my vintage bag so I went looking for one on eBay, and I found one. It looks great, but as usual it'll need a new grip, which is no big deal. So now my vintage set is complete. It should be here in a week or so. Can't wait to try it!

 

The 3-wood came in today. It's in excellent shape, but as I expected the grip needs to go. It an old Victory half-cord grip, and it's cracking. No biggie, it'll take just a few minutes to change it. Otherwise it's in great shape. The shaft is a B flex, which I understand makes it a regular flex, which is perfect for me. It's going in my bag as soon as it's regripped.

[Robert L.]

23 hours ago, Robert L. said:

 

The 3-wood came in today. It's in excellent shape, but as I expected the grip needs to go. It an old Victory half-cord grip, and it's cracking. No biggie, it'll take just a few minutes to change it. Otherwise it's in great shape. The shaft is a B flex, which I understand makes it a regular flex, which is perfect for me. It's going in my bag as soon as it's regripped.

A quick addendum to this. The Victory half-cord grip it came with was a nightmare to remove! It was so dry and brittle that it felt like it was fused to the shaft! Constant scraping and pulling off was the only way to remove it. It was all off after about ten minutes of struggle! Interestingly enough there was only a little amount of double-face tape holding the grip on. It must have been how they did it at the factory, assuming that it was installed there. Anyways, once the old grip was off it was just a matter of cleaning the shaft with acetone, and installing a brand new Golf Pride Tour Velvet grip (my favorite grip). It's now drying and it'll be ready for play very soon!

[Foozle]

56 minutes ago, Robert L. said:

A quick addendum to this. The Victory half-cord grip it came with was a nightmare to remove! It was so dry and brittle that it felt like it was fused to the shaft! Constant scraping and pulling off was the only way to remove it. It was all off after about ten minutes of struggle! Interestingly enough there was only a little amount of double-face tape holding the grip on. It must have been how they did it at the factory, assuming that it was installed there. Anyways, once the old grip was off it was just a matter of cleaning the shaft with acetone, and installing a brand new Golf Pride Tour Velvet grip (my favorite grip). It's now drying and it'll be ready for play very soon!

I did wonder when you said "no biggie"! 😁 Perished Victory grips are a nightmare! I regripped a set of FG17's last year and experienced the same as you, only x10! 

[Robert L.]

2 hours ago, Foozle said:

I did wonder when you said "no biggie"! 😁 Perished Victory grips are a nightmare! I regripped a set of FG17's last year and experienced the same as you, only x10! 

I said that because I didn't realize it was that involved. Now I know!

[Stephen8802]

5 hours ago, Robert L. said:

...The Victory half-cord grip it came with was a nightmare to remove! It was so dry and brittle that it felt like it was fused to the shaft! ...

Use a heat gun. Heat it up until you can smell the rubber. Make sure you heat all around it. What was dry and brittle will be a lot more pliable and come off, mostly. You will still need to scrap a bit, but dramatically less. I use a wallpaper scrapper with a long handle for the scraping.

 

 

[Robert L.]

I now have my eye on a Powerbilt driver on eBay. It looks to be in excellent shape, with a Dynamic Gold S-flex steel shaft. Unfortunately I don't have the money at the present time so it'll have to wait until November if I decide to buy it.

[The Boman]

After my dad, a club pro, passed, I discovered in his club collection a set of never hit PowerBilt Citation solid persimmon woods that are numbered 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2, and 4 1/2. I can find no reference to them online. Were they one-offs, perhaps? Does anyone out there know the story on them and how much they are worth?

[The Boman]

After my dad, a club pro, passed, i discovered a set of PowerBilt Citation solid persimmon woods in his collection that are numbered 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2, and 4 1/2. They have never been hit and are in pristine condition. I can find no reference to half-woods online. Does anyone out there know the story on these? Were they a one-off, perhaps? Worth? Thanks for any information y'all can give me. The Boman, New Bern, NC

[Brewski_golfs]

21 minutes ago, The Boman said:

After my dad, a club pro, passed, i discovered a set of PowerBilt Citation solid persimmon woods in his collection that are numbered 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2, and 4 1/2. They have never been hit and are in pristine condition. I can find no reference to half-woods online. Does anyone out there know the story on these? Were they a one-off, perhaps? Worth? Thanks for any information y'all can give me. The Boman, New Bern, NC

pictures would be helpful

[Swingingk]

8 hours ago, The Boman said:

After my dad, a club pro, passed, i discovered a set of PowerBilt Citation solid persimmon woods in his collection that are numbered 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2, and 4 1/2. They have never been hit and are in pristine condition. I can find no reference to half-woods online. Does anyone out there know the story on these? Were they a one-off, perhaps? Worth? Thanks for any information y'all can give me. The Boman, New Bern, NC

I didn't realize Power-Bilt did the 1/2 club thing.  I've only ever noticed that with Spalding woods.  

The 1/2 wood has been discussed here before but I don't recall the specifics.  I think... a 2-1/2 wood is a 2 wood with a 1 wood shaft?  Or maybe it's a 2 wood with a 3 wood shaft?  It's something like that.  Perhaps someone else will chime in on this one.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

I've seen a 3 1/2 Powerbilt before. I suspect they were a custom order or pro order.

 

In other news, my beloved Powerbilt 5w cracked today. Think it's unreparable. Crack runs all along the middle of the crown from toe to heel, and from the soleplate to the heel on the bottom of the club.

 

Showed it to a veteran pro to see if it was reparable, but he thought it was beyond hope.