PHOTOS of my LACOSTE tennis racket collection

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
^^^^^Honestly, you havn't read the thread have you:)

I live in a small flat(apartment), so most of my rackets are in storage, until I eventually open the tennis racket museum discussed in the thread you havn't read yet lol:)
 

MarrratSafin

Hall of Fame
I'm amazed to see more Lacoste from your 'small' apartment, honestly, you have the probably the most extensive Max 200G collection ever and now Lacoste, what is next?:)
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
I'm amazed to see more Lacoste from your 'small' apartment, honestly, you have the probably the most extensive Max 200G collection ever and now Lacoste, what is next?:)

Like I said I do live in a small flat(apartment), actually about 600sqfoot, so most of my rackets are in my storage unit, 10 miles away. So can be quite a lot of effort to do the photos!

Anyway, some oldies to come next, going back further even than Coach will remember:)
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
Wow, why do you need so many Equijet 255s? I have just one and it's looking for partner. Want to trade one of yours? ;)

Am guessing it's because he likes using them, same way you need a few PS85's, anyway please keep all the trading talk to PM's, it being the rules and all that:)
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
I think this one is interesting, a mid-size version of the steel Lacoste (same racket as bottom right in second photo), it had a dampner as well at some point, but that broke off many years ago!

2dbnhba.jpg


5x6fbt.jpg


By the way the steel Lacostes along the bottom row are all different rackets, it is quite difficult to see in the photo.

Left to Right:-

Original Lacoste Steel
Later version with metal clipped grip pallets
Matt Black painted version, with bright yellow grip pallets
Version with black grip pallets
Mid-size version
 
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yonexRx32

Professional
Like I said I do live in a small flat(apartment), actually about 600sqfoot, so most of my rackets are in my storage unit, 10 miles away. So can be quite a lot of effort to do the photos!

Anyway, some oldies to come next, going back further even than Coach will remember:)

You have way too many rackets for your square footage. I have a basement where they would feel way more at ease. Just advocating a more humane treatment for rackets..
 

retrowagen

Hall of Fame
When we see racquets like these, it makes me wonder how anyone can get excited about some cheap quality, Chinese-made, harsh-playing, eyeball-jarring, overpriced piece of dung frame that's basically a marketing exercise designed to be superceded within a few months by another cheap quality, Chinese-made, harsh-playing, eyeball-jarring, overpriced piece of dung frame that itself is designed to be superceded within a few months by...
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
You have way too many rackets for your square footage. I have a basement where they would feel way more at ease. Just advocating a more humane treatment for rackets..

Haha, yes I can only display a few in my small flat on the walls, that's why I'd like to display them in a racket museum in London for everyone to see:)

(I don't think too many people are going to see them in your basement, and the storage unit I use is Air Conditioned by the way, I like to ensure my rackets are comfortable in their surroundings)
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
When we see racquets like these, it makes me wonder how anyone can get excited about some cheap quality, Chinese-made, harsh-playing, eyeball-jarring, overpriced piece of dung frame that's basically a marketing exercise designed to be superceded within a few months by another cheap quality, Chinese-made, harsh-playing, eyeball-jarring, overpriced piece of dung frame that itself is designed to be superceded within a few months by...

Exactly, hitting the nail on the head as ever Retro:)
 

Sanglier

Professional
When we see racquets like these, it makes me wonder how anyone can get excited about some cheap quality, Chinese-made, harsh-playing, eyeball-jarring, overpriced piece of dung frame that's basically a marketing exercise designed to be superceded within a few months by another cheap quality, Chinese-made, harsh-playing, eyeball-jarring, overpriced piece of dung frame that itself is designed to be superceded within a few months by...

But that's progress in a profit-driven world, isn't it?

For those who were raised on woodies in a different era, our molded plastic "classics" probably looked like cheap modern abominations that took much of the "sport" out of their beloved game.

Perhaps twenty years from now, when the current twenty-somethings are in their mid-forties and are picking up tennis again after a burnout-imposed hiatus, they will wax nostalgic about these harsh-playing and eyeball-jarring Chinese frames of their youth, and spend an unhealthy amount of time and resource collecting surviving examples of these rare frames (and rare they will be, because models are turned over annually, while many frames would have perished by then through entropy). They will also complain bitterly about a market dominated by "free" Burkina Faso-made shape-shifting racquets that are programmed to match one's exact physiology/skill level/mood in real time, which map directly to one's cerebellum and basal ganglia through an ultra-expensive skull cap, and which would only hold its shape in 30 minute increments after one authorizes a credit card charge, unless one buys a minimum two year subscription with a monthly installment plan; overages and color-shifting extra ...
 

MarrratSafin

Hall of Fame
Couldn't resist having another look at the superb photos of your Equijet 258 Ceramique:)

Missed out on another Equijet I have not seen before few weeks ago.:(

Do you know anything about a steel Lacoste that has the same Equijet system at 3 and 9? Quite sure I saw a picture on some Italian or French website years ago, still having nightmares about it.:)
 

ericsson

Hall of Fame
Missed out on another Equijet I have not seen before few weeks ago.:(

Do you know anything about a steel Lacoste that has the same Equijet system at 3 and 9? Quite sure I saw a picture on some Italian or French website years ago, still having nightmares about it.:)

Hi MS, are you talking about this one?
AFAIK this is a promotional racket, not a retail racket.
Great to have though! ;-)

2hf5dli.jpg
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
Missed out on another Equijet I have not seen before few weeks ago.:(

Do you know anything about a steel Lacoste that has the same Equijet system at 3 and 9? Quite sure I saw a picture on some Italian or French website years ago, still having nightmares about it.:)

Good to see you are still looking out for more Equijets, new different ones are so hard to find!

OMG I've just seen that photo below from ericsson:shock:
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
Hi MS, are you talking about this one?
AFAIK this is a promotional racket, not a retail racket.
Great to have though! ;-)

2hf5dli.jpg

WOW!!!:shock::shock:

Now that is my new ultimate racket, a combination of Lacoste and made of metal as well, something new for me to look for, very cool indeed.
 

MarrratSafin

Hall of Fame
Hi MS, are you talking about this one?
AFAIK this is a promotional racket, not a retail racket.
Great to have though! ;-)

2hf5dli.jpg

Brilliant that's it! Don't tell me this is yours too, ericsson?:)

And what Equijet model is that under the steel Equijet? Thanks.

Off topic- managed to obtain an original Soft Control, together with an epic case. Will post photo soon in the other thread.:)
 
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MarrratSafin

Hall of Fame
Good to see you are still looking out for more Equijets, new different ones are so hard to find!

OMG I've just seen that photo below from ericsson:shock:

Have no idea how many different models are there out there. I'd particularly like to own the oversize LT303 that I've seen on the forum posted by either ericsson or username-Equijet.:)
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
Yes, the LT303 is the one I'd really like as well, it is Equijet that has one of these, and it's clearly very rare indeed!

Photos below from Equijet:)

img1896y.jpg


img1897o.jpg
 
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ericsson

Hall of Fame
Brilliant that's it! Don't tell me this is yours too, ericsson?:)

And what Equijet model is that under the steel Equijet? Thanks.

Off topic- managed to obtain an original Soft Control, together with an epic case. Will post photo soon in the other thread.:)

Take it easy MS, it's not mine :)
no idea what mold is under...

ps: feel free to post early Babolat stuff, you're a great asset!
btw: i finally have an original Soft Drive, the very first one and Moya's original stick :)
 

MarrratSafin

Hall of Fame
Take it easy MS, it's not mine :)
no idea what mold is under...

ps: feel free to post early Babolat stuff, you're a great asset!
btw: i finally have an original Soft Drive, the very first one and Moya's original stick :)

Well you are never short of amazing finds.:) Oh I meant what model is the other frame in the photo under the steel Equijet, it does not look like a 301 either..

You are saying a Soft Drive with 'double line'? Moya's personal? Outstanding, like to see a photo please :)
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
35bv1fm.jpg


I like this photo as it displays 7 different Lacoste racket covers, although some are very similar:)
 
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Tennis Man

Hall of Fame
Hi MS, are you talking about this one?
AFAIK this is a promotional racket, not a retail racket.
Great to have though! ;-)

2hf5dli.jpg

Holy cow !!! This would be the only racquet that I would frame and put on my family room wall. :)

I will top whatever jumbo offers for it. :)

Seriously, ericsson, what do you know about this racquet. When was the promo and how many of these did they make in your opinion? Is it playable at all?
 
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jimbo333

Hall of Fame
Holy cow !!! This would be the only racquet that I would frame and put on my family room wall.

I will top whatever jumbo offers for it.

Seriously, ericsson, what do you know about this racquet. When was the promo and how many of these did they make in your opinion? Is it playable at all?

Hey, it's Jimbo, honestly:neutral:

Like I said there is probably nobody in the world that would like one of these more than me, due to my love of Lacoste Equijets and also metal rackets, and this is a combination of both:shock:

I'm guessing this photo comes from a Lacoste shop somewhere in Europe:wink:
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
But that's progress in a profit-driven world, isn't it?

For those who were raised on woodies in a different era, our molded plastic "classics" probably looked like cheap modern abominations that took much of the "sport" out of their beloved game.

Perhaps twenty years from now, when the current twenty-somethings are in their mid-forties and are picking up tennis again after a burnout-imposed hiatus, they will wax nostalgic about these harsh-playing and eyeball-jarring Chinese frames of their youth, and spend an unhealthy amount of time and resource collecting surviving examples of these rare frames (and rare they will be, because models are turned over annually, while many frames would have perished by then through entropy). They will also complain bitterly about a market dominated by "free" Burkina Faso-made shape-shifting racquets that are programmed to match one's exact physiology/skill level/mood in real time, which map directly to one's cerebellum and basal ganglia through an ultra-expensive skull cap, and which would only hold its shape in 30 minute increments after one authorizes a credit card charge, unless one buys a minimum two year subscription with a monthly installment plan; overages and color-shifting extra ...

Great post, I missed this somehow. I'm looking forward to the shape-shifting rackets in particular:)
 

uk_skippy

Hall of Fame
But, the fact is, if someone offered me the right premises at the right price in London, I would open the best tennis racket museum in London. It wouldn't have much competition, with the exception of Wimbledon of course, who actually only display a small percentage of the rackets they have in their collection anyway!

I've actually seen the full collection, to which is hidden in a storage room deep in the depths of Wimbledon; and only seen by a few people. The curator of the museum rarely shows them off, but luckily I did some work for the Wimbledon education dept, and so was shown around. And some of my handywork is currently on display in the public museum.

It's an impressive collection ranging from the beginning of Wimbledon to modern day; and also includes a Lacoste ball machine! They didn't show me it working but I did see a video of Rene Lacoste using it. Very innovative.

Regards

Paul
 

ericsson

Hall of Fame
Holy cow !!! This would be the only racquet that I would frame and put on my family room wall. :)

I will top whatever jumbo offers for it. :)

Seriously, ericsson, what do you know about this racquet. When was the promo and how many of these did they make in your opinion? Is it playable at all?

The chances that this racket will be on your wall is close to zero IMO, i never saw any on the retail market.
This photo was taken from a Lacoste expo in 2008 (musée du tennis de Roland Garros).

Sorry to spoil your dream ;-)
 

Sanglier

Professional
Given that my chances of owning that shiny equijet are not just 'close' to zero but are in fact exactly zero, I had the idea of creating a poor man's mockup of this wonder beast by sacrificing a Goodwill Tensor. In fact, I intended to go a step further and make a clover-shaped head, then string it diagonally, so that the final product would be a cross between an equiject, a Spalding Power Tech, and a Powerangle. If the theories behind those three designs are correct, then mashing them all together should allow me to transform a Tensor Turd into a Tensor Terror. The dense string pattern, the even spacing of the holes, and the absence of plastic bits on the Tensor seem perfectly suited for this kind of experiment.

Alas, it was not to be. As the chrome plating on the frame would not survive any kind of heat treatment, I tried to bend it cold; which resulted in this catastrophic failure in short order:

DeadTensor_zpsd22ff8bb.jpg


There goes my $3.99, and any chance of finding out what a 403 g chrome-plated equi-power-tech-angle would play like.

Oh well...:???:
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
I've actually seen the full collection, to which is hidden in a storage room deep in the depths of Wimbledon; and only seen by a few people. The curator of the museum rarely shows them off, but luckily I did some work for the Wimbledon education dept, and so was shown around. And some of my handywork is currently on display in the public museum.

It's an impressive collection ranging from the beginning of Wimbledon to modern day; and also includes a Lacoste ball machine! They didn't show me it working but I did see a video of Rene Lacoste using it. Very innovative.

Regards

Paul

The Wimbledon collection is remarkable, and the museum is great, but I think it is a pity that they can't basically have a bigger museum. They have so much superb tennis related history that has never, and will probably never go on public show. I think they particularly could display more 1970's, 80's and 90's rackets etc, as there is so much interest amongst many tennis fans at the moment in this era.
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
Given that my chances of owning that shiny equijet are not just 'close' to zero but are in fact exactly zero, I had the idea of creating a poor man's mockup of this wonder beast by sacrificing a Goodwill Tensor. In fact, I intended to go a step further and make a clover-shaped head, then string it diagonally, so that the final product would be a cross between an equiject, a Spalding Power Tech, and a Powerangle. If the theories behind those three designs are correct, then mashing them all together should allow me to transform a Tensor Turd into a Tensor Terror. The dense string pattern, the even spacing of the holes, and the absence of plastic bits on the Tensor seem perfectly suited for this kind of experiment.

Alas, it was not to be. As the chrome plating on the frame would not survive any kind of heat treatment, I tried to bend it cold; which resulted in this catastrophic failure in short order:

DeadTensor_zpsd22ff8bb.jpg


There goes my $3.99, and any chance of finding out what a 403 g chrome-plated equi-power-tech-angle would play like.

Oh well...:???:

Good effort:)
 

MarrratSafin

Hall of Fame
All of them! :)

Uh.... these are antique racquets so.... contact someone who specializes in racquets? There has to be someone who is a tennis racquet aficionado. :)

Thanks, will certainly look into it.:)

Actually, I might just get jimbo to do the job, speaking of tennis racquet aficionados..:D
 

MarrratSafin

Hall of Fame
The Wimbledon collection is remarkable, and the museum is great, but I think it is a pity that they can't basically have a bigger museum. They have so much superb tennis related history that has never, and will probably never go on public show. I think they particularly could display more 1970's, 80's and 90's rackets etc, as there is so much interest amongst many tennis fans at the moment in this era.

When I finally make the trip to Wimbledon, I will pay good money just to have a look at the entire Lacoste collection in the concealed storage room mentioned.. if only they will take my money!
 

struggle

Legend
Perhaps the Majors should be like the Daytona 500.

The winning car is held by the facility in the museum for all to see.

Woulda been cool years ago at least, you'd mostly see chick stick babs and prostaff whatevers for the last several years.
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
Thanks, will certainly look into it.:)

Actually, I might just get jimbo to do the job, speaking of tennis racquet aficionados..:D

Well if I could get a job valuing old tennis rackets I'd jump at the chance. In fact if anyone wants to offer me a job in anything to do with tennis, please let me know. As am currently looking for a new job!
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
When I finally make the trip to Wimbledon, I will pay good money just to have a look at the entire Lacoste collection in the concealed storage room mentioned.. if only they will take my money!

You won't believe what they have in storage there, it is amazing:shock:
 
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