MacGregor Tommy Armour Silver Scot vintage blade putters

[Carnoustie Simpson]

Anybody know where to research the meanings of stamping on the bottom of the putter head, e.g., IMG, IMG 5, IGL, etc?  Especially interested in the choice of words MASTER and MASTER’S on some.  Research shows a multitude of designations and positioning of stamping.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Interesting questions.  I have cabin fever right now and had all my Iron Masters and Master's out yesterday.  IM and IMG models and was putting in the basement and I thought "why don't we have a thread about these at golfwrx?"  There is one for 8802s, Bullseyes, etc.

 

Someone could possibly add more as to I'm going off the top of my head right now.

 

Iron Master's were early models with pyratone shafts. 1930-40s?

  

IMG 5 and IMG 6 were added later when they started putting the sizes into the abbreviation.  "35 and "36 from the standard "34.

IMG with an L usually stood for ladies.

 

I've got about 6 of these putters now and probably had about a dozen last summer.  The later 60s models I didn't like as much they had more of a pencil lead finish and smaller/lighter heads.  

 

For me the stand outs are the IMG Master's with the green shafts from the 30s-40s.

My absolute favorite is the The IMG Master with the A sight line, leather wrapped with white lining grip/ball maker cap.  They seem to be the heaviest heads which I find more controllable.  These grips line up with the mid to late 50s Colokrom grips so I'm assuming they are from that time period.

 

I promise pictures tonight when I get home from work!

 

 

  

[raggal62]

IMG - Iron Master Gooseneck (offset).

[Stephen8802]

IMGN - Extreme Reverse Gooseneck. Its a really cool Iron Master and one of my favorite putters.

 

(Although I agree with CWG, a pyratone Iron Master is a Mount Rushmore putter. I flipped out when I saw mine in a thrift store and ran to my car like I stole something after laying out $2 for it).

Edited January 7, 2022 by Stephen8802

[Stephen8802]

IMGT - Iron Master with a fiberglass shaft. I don't have one yet, but I've heard the shaft makes the putter smooth as butter.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

This is my favorite feeling Iron Master. I have two of them and they both feel pretty much identical.  You can get them for the fraction of the cost of a vintage 8802.   And they are more stylish!!

[cold_war_era_golfer]

My second favorite IMG is the Iron Master’s.  I have two with the green shafts one Master’s the other regular Master. 

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Here’s a special one.  I prefer IMGs but this IM belonged to MacGregor staff pro Lionel Hebert.  Lionel used to play FC4000s and I have to say bringing this putter to a course with a bag of FC4000s just feels right.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Last one for the night.   Not as attractive as the ball marker cap models this one feels very similar and is guess item pretty close as far as age goes. It has a off centered A sight line.  But I probably had this one in the bag most last year.  

[deejaid]

5 hours ago, Stephen8802 said:

IMGT - Iron Master with a fiberglass shaft. I don't have one yet, but I've heard the shaft makes the putter smooth as butter.

Do you have a Golfcraft in your arsenal Stephen?   I break mine out once and awhile and with the fiberglass shaft it does feel fantastic, very light though.

 

Then again, Otey Crisman’s with a hickory shaft feel incredible too.   

[Carnoustie Simpson]

Here are my two favorites and the reason for my first post.  Notice the 5450 custom has no Maker mark, not PGA or MacGregor.  No shaft wrap either.  By the condition, I’m sure it’s a PGA.   Both have green shafts, but the Tour Forged is “Composite Formula Construction “ and is labeled Classic Green Shaft.  Seems to be graphite or boron.  I’m guessing the IMG-TF is forged and tempered, maybe oil hardened.  It feels great!

After searching on line photos, I think most, if not all, Armours and others were hand stamped.  That caused the variety of positioning of the names, numbers, etc., and my 5450 with name missing!  I have seen IRON MASTER, IRONMASTER, AND Iron Master’s in cursive!  One of these is on EBay for $4200 and belonged to Babe Zaharias. I think the companies had very loose production standards and inspectors!  Thanks for all the interest.

[Stephen8802]

3 hours ago, deejaid said:

Do you have a Golfcraft in your arsenal Stephen?   I break mine out once and awhile and with the fiberglass shaft it does feel fantastic, very light though.

 

Then again, Otey Crisman’s with a hickory shaft feel incredible too.   

I don’t, but perhaps I’ll start looking.

[Foozle]

8 hours ago, cold_war_era_golfer said:

This is my favorite feeling Iron Master. I have two of them and they both feel pretty much identical.  You can get them for the fraction of the cost of a vintage 8802.   And they are more stylish!!

Just loving these grips! 😍 Best examples if ball marker end caps I have seen; most are broken. Are they the original markers too?

[cold_war_era_golfer]

11 hours ago, Carnoustie Simpson said:

Here are my two favorites and the reason for my first post.  Notice the 5450 custom has no Maker mark, not PGA or MacGregor.  No shaft wrap either.  By the condition, I’m sure it’s a PGA.   Both have green shafts, but the Tour Forged is “Composite Formula Construction “ and is labeled Classic Green Shaft.  Seems to be graphite or boron.  I’m guessing the IMG-TF is forged and tempered, maybe oil hardened.  It feels great!

After searching on line photos, I think most, if not all, Armours and others were hand stamped.  That caused the variety of positioning of the names, numbers, etc., and my 5450 with name missing!  I have seen IRON MASTER, IRONMASTER, AND Iron Master’s in cursive!  One of these is on EBay for $4200 and belonged to Babe Zaharias. I think the companies had very loose production standards and inspectors!  Thanks for all the interest.

Very nice.  Not sure what time frame.  But those would be “newer” remakes. 

[cold_war_era_golfer]

5 hours ago, Foozle said:

Just loving these grips! 😍 Best examples if ball marker end caps I have seen; most are broken. Are they the original markers too?

Yeah they are original markers. Tough the get out of their little holders these days.  
We have a maker space at my local library I thought about going over there and trying to replicate these.

[BIG STU]

21 hours ago, cold_war_era_golfer said:

Interesting questions.  I have cabin fever right now and had all my Iron Masters and Master's out yesterday.  IM and IMG models and was putting in the basement and I thought "why don't we have a thread about these at golfwrx?"  There is one for 8802s, Bullseyes, etc.

 

Someone could possibly add more as to I'm going off the top of my head right now.

 

Iron Master's were early models with pyratone shafts. 1930-40s?

  

IMG 5 and IMG 6 were added later when they started putting the sizes into the abbreviation.  "35 and "36 from the standard "34.

IMG with an L usually stood for ladies.

 

I've got about 6 of these putters now and probably had about a dozen last summer.  The later 60s models I didn't like as much they had more of a pencil lead finish and smaller/lighter heads.  

 

For me the stand outs are the IMG Master's with the green shafts from the 30s-40s.

My absolute favorite is the The IMG Master with the A sight line, leather wrapped with white lining grip/ball maker cap.  They seem to be the heaviest heads which I find more controllable.  These grips line up with the mid to late 50s Colokrom grips so I'm assuming they are from that time period.

 

I promise pictures tonight when I get home from work!

 

 

  

The Ironmasters with the green Pyratone shafts are the Holy Grail IMHO and out of all the Ironmasters I own I do not have one. They are one smooth putter

[BIG STU]

19 hours ago, Stephen8802 said:

IMGT - Iron Master with a fiberglass shaft. I don't have one yet, but I've heard the shaft makes the putter smooth as butter.

It does I have one original leather grip and all--- Believe it or not I found it in one of the Scrap bins at work 3 years ago-- I was sorta weird because when I first spotted it the head was sorta rusted and I saw a flash of green-- I thought I have found a Holy Grail a pyratone shafted IM. Pulled it out and it was sorta weird--- The head had surface rust the ferrule was cracked but the grip was pristine. No effort to clean the head just coke and white vinegar soaked it and it looks brand new except part of the ferrule is missing. Yep it putts fantastic but for me not quite as smooth as an original pyratone one---- On the smoothness level I rank it up there with a more modern Yonex ADX with a graphite shaft

[Buzzkill]

Modern version!

 

 

[BIG STU]

14 hours ago, cold_war_era_golfer said:

Here’s a special one.  I prefer IMGs but this IM belonged to MacGregor staff pro Lionel Hebert.  Lionel used to play FC4000s and I have to say bringing this putter to a course with a bag of FC4000s just feels right.

You are darn skippy there---- What is funny is that all the Ironmasters I own my favorite one to putt with is not a Macgregor but a reproduction PGA brand Tommy Armour from the 70s. Actually I love messing with all of them and used to give all of them a "Turn" playing vintage

[BIG STU]

3 minutes ago, Buzzkill said:

Modern version!

 

 

WOW Buzzy who is making those now with the weights?

[Buzzkill]

17 minutes ago, BIG STU said:

WOW Buzzy who is making those now with the weights?

I’ve wanted this for a long time, just can’t get passed the $600 price, maybe someday though!

 

https://www.tourspecgolf.com/macgregor-japan-tourney-classic-iron-master-im-g5-putter.html

[BIG STU]

13 minutes ago, Buzzkill said:

I’ve wanted this for a long time, just can’t get passed the $600 price, maybe someday though!

 

https://www.tourspecgolf.com/macgregor-japan-tourney-classic-iron-master-im-g5-putter.html

WOW Tour Stage Japan issue yep $$$$$ and like you can not justify the price but man it is nice--- Thanks for enlightning me

[Buzzkill]

13 minutes ago, Buzzkill said:

I’ve wanted this for a long time, just can’t get passed the $600 price, maybe someday though!

 

https://www.tourspecgolf.com/macgregor-japan-tourney-classic-iron-master-im-g5-putter.html

I’d have to change the stock shaft too, don’t like the the idea of a heavy putter, went through that phase years ago.

[Carnoustie Simpson]

The Hebert brothers played out of Greentree CC here in Indianapolis back in the 60’s, but they didn’t live here as I understand it.  Never saw them or their putters!  I did caddy in a group with Ted Kroll and his MacGregor bag and he was using a Tommy.

[xgolfx]

HERE’s a couple of mine

 

CHARLEY PENNA

[Jiggered]

I don't own an Iron Master, and I know I'm going off topic slightly here but some of these Iron Masters put me in mind of a brass headed John Letters putter I have, probably 1950s in date and a very nice putter,

I can guess why the Iron Masters are so respected.

 

 

 

 

[BIG STU]

6 hours ago, Buzzkill said:

I’d have to change the stock shaft too, don’t like the the idea of a heavy putter, went through that phase years ago.

Yep I can see that because I do not like them either--- I prefer a fluted Bullseye type shaft or believe it or not a DG Sensicore with the insert removed

[cold_war_era_golfer]

8 hours ago, BIG STU said:

You are darn skippy there---- What is funny is that all the Ironmasters I own my favorite one to putt with is not a Macgregor but a reproduction PGA brand Tommy Armour from the 70s. Actually I love messing with all of them and used to give all of them a "Turn" playing vintage

Lol. I guess I am “skippy”. 

[Carnoustie Simpson]

4 hours ago, xgolfx said:

HERE’s a couple of mine

 

CHARLEY PENNA

I would guess Charley is a relative of Toney?  I used a Toney persimmon driver and his “Original “ putter for years.

[NRJyzr]

2 hours ago, Carnoustie Simpson said:

I would guess Charley is a relative of Toney?  I used a Toney persimmon driver and his “Original “ putter for years.

 

Yes.  Charley Penna is the nephew of Toney Penna (if my brain cells are properly functioning right now).  And, that was Mr Charley Penna posting those pics (xgolfx is his ID here on WRX).   🙂

 

Edited January 9, 2022 by NRJyzr