balata golf ball

[bcstones]

Yesterday, I picked up a set of 1956 H&B PowerBilt woods & irons (I'll post pics elsewhere) & a well used leather & canvas bag. In the bag I found these golf balls. I know practically nothing about golf balls, except I need them so I have an excuse to use my clubs.
So, not really sure if any of these are blata (I'm guessing not) but thought it might be okay to post here & ask for any info...

 

 

the Spalding 75 uni core (what is that?), Spalding Dot 90 compression, the Top-Flite XL (I found a crushed sleeve in the bottom of the bag)

 

 

Wilson Middlecoff Personal sleeve (sans top)...what does 'vulcanized' mean?

 

 

The Ultra 90 has 2 balls in it, while the other two Ultra 100 are unopened.

 

 

Edited October 22, 2023 by bcstones

[chip75]

12 hours ago, BIG STU said:

Funny someone mentioned the liquid core on the Balata balls. Those PGA brand balls have all kinds of warnings printed on the inside flap of the sleeves and inside the box about not cutting them open and the core being liquid under extreme pressure.

Rick Sheils cut open a batata a few years back, it ended in a bit of a spurt and dribble.

[SnowbirdTom]

Did it a few times as a kid. Cut the cover off, unwound the rubber bands and cut the soft rubber core open to let the liquid out.   
 

@bcstones None of those are balata.  Mostly rubber covers and two piece cores.

[BIG STU]

41 minutes ago, chip75 said:

Rick Sheils cut open a batata a few years back, it ended in a bit of a spurt and dribble.

I never did cut one open per say because my old man told me he cut one open one time and the stuff sprayed out and got into his eye. He had to go to the Doc and was blind in that eye for several days. When I was in High School we played a course where the power lines ran over the fairway. I hit one of those power lines with a balata Titleist and darn near cut the ball in two. Now it was a local rule to play the shot over with no penalty. When we got to my original it was oozing blue goop still and it had been there a few minutes though. I know we used to find ones that were cut and would for kicks and giggles hit them into the woods. Now they made some good sounds as the rubber bands broke and had some funky flight to them.

[bcstones]

1 hour ago, SnowbirdTom said:

 None of those are balata.  Mostly rubber covers and two piece cores.

Thanks, kinda what I figured....but are they playable?

[SnowbirdTom]

3 hours ago, bcstones said:

Thanks, kinda what I figured....but are they playable?

I’d try the Wilson Ultras for sure.  Honestly, playing vintage balls is a crapshoot for playability.  I’ve had balatas go seriously and visibly out of round on one swing and others dead for distance out of the box.

[BIG STU]

9 hours ago, SnowbirdTom said:

Did it a few times as a kid. Cut the cover off, unwound the rubber bands and cut the soft rubber core open to let the liquid out.   
 

@bcstones None of those are balata.  Mostly rubber covers and two piece cores.

I believe the Spalding Dot is wound and balata. At least the ones I have are. I have a couple in the regular size and 2 of the smaller UK version

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

9 hours ago, bcstones said:

Thanks, kinda what I figured....but are they playable?

A lot of our Dunlop 65s are OK, mostly used as betting currency back in the day and then surplus balls were stored away in cool drawers.

Edited October 23, 2023 by The Aspidistra in the Hall

[BIG STU]

30 minutes ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

A lot of our Dunlop 65s are OK, mostly used as betting currency back in the day and then surplus balls were stored away in cool drawers.

I still have 2 Dunlop British sized still in the wrapper. Back in the day my old man had a source in the UK and could get the small balls in all brands. He would sell them to the hustlers at a tidy profit. Those little balls would go like stink on those dried out baked clay Carolina fairways. I still have a bunch of used Penfolds in all the card suites and numbers. LOL I was looking the other day when this subject came up and some are now egg shaped and one had busted out of it's cover.

[SnowbirdTom]

3 hours ago, BIG STU said:

I believe the Spalding Dot is wound and balata. At least the ones I have are. I have a couple in the regular size and 2 of the smaller UK version

I remember the Dot logo, but don’t think they carried a balata one.

[twidener]

I also think the Dot is a balata. They were Spalding's premium ball for a few years in the mid-late '60s. Whenever I found one I would play it. They were pretty good. Then Spalding came out with the TopFlite. They were like rocks. I didn't play them but lots of people did because you couldn't cut the cover if you hit one thin.

 

[bcstones]

came across this (looking for info on Art Colver Golf Co) in some old issue of Golfdom:
 

WANTED FOR CASH
Old golf balls retrieved from ponds or out of

bounds on or around golf courses.

Cuts and Bumps - $.72/doz
Off brands & synthetic - $1.80/doz
Round & perfect $1.00 brands for refinishing - $3.00/doz
Note — No golf driving range cull throw-out balls wanted at above figures.
Send for shipping tags and instructions DRIVING RANGE MEN — REBUILDING
Get your cores in early while we have the new type paintless cover material available for you.

Tested and proven to be the best process in re-building for driving: range use.
Circular and information on request.

NORTHERN GOLF BALL CO.
3441 N. Claremont Ave. Chicago 18, 111.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

10 hours ago, BIG STU said:

I still have 2 Dunlop British sized still in the wrapper. Back in the day my old man had a source in the UK and could get the small balls in all brands. He would sell them to the hustlers at a tidy profit. Those little balls would go like stink on those dried out baked clay Carolina fairways. I still have a bunch of used Penfolds in all the card suites and numbers. LOL I was looking the other day when this subject came up and some are now egg shaped and one had busted out of it's cover.

I think I've got a couple. PM your address and I'll send.