A couple of Spalding Kro-Flite questions

[bcstones]

I was wondering when Spalding switched from Kro-Flite to Top-Flite? Also wondering how to date the various "Kro birds"? The Golfworks manual doesn't go back far enough.
I have a couple of Robert T Jones Jr pyratone shafted sets which say Kro-Flite & one True Temper Rocket steel shafted set that say "Syncro-Stroke" (no "crow" logo)

 

Thanks 

[Joe S]

I looked in the Maltby Club Identification Guide III.  It says "Through the 1950's Spalding was able to further increase their reputation through the introduction of the Top-Flite line of woods and irons."  The 1950 iron is called the Tournament Model, but it has Top-Flite stamped above the name.  In 1953 to 1955 the model name was Syncro-Dyned with Top-Flite stamped above the name.  In 1956 the model name was officially Top-Flite.  This book only gives examples back to 1950.  So Top-Flite could have been stamped on them before then.  By 1950 Kro-Flite seems to be gone.

Edited June 30, 2022 by Joe S

[bcstones]

1 hour ago, Joe S said:

I looked in the Maltby Club Identification Guide III.  It says "Through the 1950's Spalding was able to further increase their reputation through the introduction of the Top-Flite line of woods and irons."  The 1950 iron is called the Tournament Model, but it has Top-Flite stamped above the name.  In 1953 to 1955 the model name was Syncro-Dyned with Top-Flite stamped above the name.  In 1956 the model name was officially Top-Flite.  This book only gives examples back to 1950.  So Top-Flite could have been stamped on them before then.  By 1950 Kro-Flite seems to be gone.

Someday I’ll learn to read the intro’s…& Kaplan didn’t do Spalding, wonder why?

Tho, I’m also wondering if Spalding didn’t keep the Kro-Flite for their R.T.Jones clubs….the two pyratone sets have that one piece grip that was used back in the ‘30s but the chromed shaft set had wound leather grips & the club heads are all pretty much the same, tho the crow logo is a bit different…the Maltby guide doesn’t show any Jones clubs at all.

[Hickory4ever]

The Kroflite name remained on store brand clubs into the 1970’s and possibly longer. In the fifties, it seems the Topflite became their pro line club which were considered their best equipment.

 

I am speculating but believe that Spalding needed to have a pro line model to compete with the likes of MacGregor and Wilson plus others. The Kroflite brand served its purpose in the late hickory era and early steel era and a new name was needed.

[bcstones]

4 hours ago, Hickory4ever said:

The Kroflite name remained on store brand clubs into the 1970’s and possibly longer. In the fifties, it seems the Topflite became their pro line club which were considered their best equipment.

 

I am speculating but believe that Spalding needed to have a pro line model to compete with the likes of MacGregor and Wilson plus others. The Kroflite brand served its purpose in the late hickory era and early steel era and a new name was needed.

Makes sense...thank you. I guess what I meant was that post 1950, the RT Jones clubs became the "retail/general/store" line. 
My Dad's older brother (& my GodFather) gifted my Dad his set of Spalding Jones clubs, pyratone shafted (beautiful, actually looked wooden)...the thing is my Uncle would NEVER have bought retail clubs. I know he played the Tam O'Shanter just outside of Chicago, when it was stil an 18 hole championship course. 

Anyway, that's another reason why I wonder if it's possible that someone might have a line on the differences between the "bird" logos thu the years.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

These are on Marketplace in the UK. I already have the wedge which is a pretty neat club. They are all stainless which is an expensive way of doing things. I estimate mid '50s clubs.

[weakputt]

I too have questions about Spalding Robert Trent Jones Jr Pro-Flight's. In particular these persimmons.

Percussion Weighted Reg. #1312. I am assuming these are from the late 1940's. Steel True Temper Step Down shafts.

Any info would be appreciated. 

[weakputt]

Kro-Flight, not Pro-Flight.

[Jiggered]

What's the full wording on the shaft bands?

[weakputt]

On 12/22/2023 at 5:24 AM, Jiggered said:

What's the full wording on the shaft bands?

Shaft labels are very thin and just say, True Temper Step Down.

[bcstones]

3 hours ago, weakputt said:

Shaft labels are very thin and just say, True Temper Step Down.

I agree with you that these are from late '40s. I have a RTJjr left hand 7 iron w/that same shaft & label, the grip is a single leather sheath over a cork lining (I think). In the Maltby guide, since it starts 1950...it mentions that '50 was the first year Spalding used Dynamic shafts. Which might indicate that the "Step Down" was earlier, but post-pyratone/enamled shaft era.
 

I've heard here that the Kro-Flite line lasted into at least the '60s...I'm not so sure about that - perhaps the RTJjr line continued, but I do wonder if the Kro-Flite didn't end when Top-Flite began in 1950. Spalding sold their clubs (like Wilson & H&B) both retail and pro shop, the question seems to be - how to differentiate between the two, especially to compete w/the growing MacGregor lines. My Dad's, as mentioned above, were RTJjr Kro-Flite Tournament Model w/registration number. The lefty 7 iron merely has the RTJjr signature over "Kro-Flite" on the back (no crow logo) & Spalding on the sole. Perhaps that is the difference. Also the Spalding logo for the Kro-Flite is the "crow", after 1950 the logo seems to be "S" in a wreath.
 

@The Aspidistra in the Hall has an interesting set - they have the wreathed "S" and Kro-Flite but not "Robert T Jones jr"...beautiful set btw.

[Hickory4ever]

There were retail beginner sets of KroFlite being sold in the early 70’s. My brother bought a set in 1973 at Canadian Tire (a well known hardware, housewares chain in Canada).

 

 

[bcstones]

49 minutes ago, Hickory4ever said:

There were retail beginner sets of KroFlite being sold in the early 70’s.

Interesting....I wonder what the logo was on the clubs? 

[Hickory4ever]

1 minute ago, bcstones said:

Interesting....I wonder what the logo was on the clubs? 

I can’t remember what the exact logo was unfortunately. I was learning golf at that time (1973) and the Kroflite was a cheap starter brand, the woods were not even made of wood. Spalding was perceived as cheap by this time, even their pro models as I recall.

 

It is interesting as I look back at it now as a historical golf guy. In the late hickory era, the Kroflite brand was big, also into the early steel era. They still made some good clubs after that but probably stood on their laurels for to long. The Kroflite name was perceived as dated and other brands perception (Wilson, MacGregor and Powerbilt as an example) had more momentum.

[Bella Woods]

Here is info on your clubs from the 1953 Spalding Catalog.....

It looks like 1953 was the only year for model 1312.