Arnold Palmer Registered Irons

[DoughBack18]

Walking around at a flea market today I stumbled across a set of older irons, and I’m hoping one of the knowledgable folks on here can give me some insights into them…

 

They are Arnold Palmer Registered 81182T’s. For what i’m assuming is an decently aged set they appear to be in very nice shape. I’m a lefty so I can’t play them unfortunately, but just was curious on their history and if they would be worth picking up if I can get a deal. Thanks gents!

 

Edited August 26, 2023 by DoughBack18

[raggal62]

Those appear to be irons from the late sixties to early seventies and marketed by Sears & Roebuck.

[bcstones]

8 hours ago, raggal62 said:

Those appear to be irons from the late sixties to early seventies and marketed by Sears & Roebuck.

 

On 8/26/2023 at 3:47 PM, DoughBack18 said:

Walking around at a flea market today I stumbled across a set of older irons, and I’m hoping one of the knowledgable folks on here can give me some insights into them…

 

They are Arnold Palmer Registered 81182T’s. For what i’m assuming is an decently aged set they appear to be in very nice shape. I’m a lefty so I can’t play them unfortunately, but just was curious on their history and if they would be worth picking up if I can get a deal. Thanks gents!

 

first set of the infamous Sears Palmer clubs I've seen....thanks

[DoughBack18]

4 hours ago, bcstones said:

 

first set of the infamous Sears Palmer clubs I've seen....thanks

Is that tongue in cheek as in there were a million sets of these floating around? Or are they actually a little bit of a odd find?
 

I wasn’t able to find any information on them and my knowledge if clubs prior to the late 90’s is practically non existent… Thanks!

[bcstones]

22 minutes ago, DoughBack18 said:

Is that tongue in cheek as in there were a million sets of these floating around? Or are they actually a little bit of a odd find?
 

I wasn’t able to find any information on them and my knowledge if clubs prior to the late 90’s is practically non existent… Thanks!

no tongue in cheek meant....tho there are probably alot of these sets out there. In the late '60s, Palmer made a deal w/Sears for his name only to be put on clubs they sold. It created a huge uproar in the pro world - "how dare a pro make a deal w/a retail outfit!". Some Pro shops refused to sell his professional line "Tru-Matic" clubs, Palmer was castigated in the Professional media world and all that kind of stuff. If you have a Maltby's guide, they have an excellent history of First Flight, Palmer, Pro-Group.
Decades prior to that Johnny Bulla not only made a deal w/some ball maker that undercut the major ball manufactures significantly...he had the audacity to actually play the balls...the PGA even attempted to bar him from play & he was also castigated....still played a great game & competed...see that "Ryder Cup 1941" video, he's in there.

I've always wondered who actually made the Sears clubs...I have a 2 iron somewhere w/J.C. Higgens on the sole, which would have preceded the Palmer brewhaha by almost a decade. I've just never seen a Sears/Palmer club before...they would be fun to play.

Edited August 28, 2023 by bcstones

[raggal62]

Some speculation that Golfcraft manufactured the Sears clubs. Not sure if that was ever substantiated.

[bcstones]

5 hours ago, raggal62 said:

Some speculation that Golfcraft manufactured the Sears clubs. Not sure if that was ever substantiated.

I think that Golfcraft was HQ'd in the Chicago, as well as Northwestern.
I've never understood the furor at Palmer....If it was ok for Wilson, MacGregor, H&B to make clubs for the retail store w/professional's names on them, then why not a Professional to sell & promote his own name?