Classic METAL Racquets Thread - ALUMINIUM to TENSILIUM

[MAXXply]

Originally Posted by jimbo333

Oh well, this is my last photo.

It is the Superb looking Dunlop XLT-15

Jimbo have you heard of the XLT-PLUS ? Same shovel-headshape in a black, Prince Pro-style black aluminium colour.

[MAXXply]

Did another variant succeed this HEAD Master 2 or was this the final version of HEAD's metal rackets at the time ?

[jimbo333]

Originally Posted by MAXXply

Jimbo have you heard of the XLT-PLUS ? Same shovel-headshape in a black, Prince Pro-style black aluminium colour.

No never heard of the XLT-PLUS, I tend to collect only the standard sized metals though

[gpt]

Originally Posted by max

In my book, the T-2000 really made people pay attention to metal.

I'm surprised no one's mentioned the Red Head, the Head Professional. Used by Bettina Bunge and Wojtek Fibak.

I thought the same thing.

I found an All Pro branded racquet in a junk shop that is pretty much an exact copy of the Head Pro right down to the throat insert.

[Kemitak]

Here's my new Head Vector (Thanks to coachrick for not outbidding me). When I get it strung, I'll let everyone know how it plays, if you're interested. To answer MAXXply's question, I'm guessing the Vector came after the Master 2. The tag on the Vector says 1980.

[Centered]

"Tensilium" eh?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bivalve_shell

The latest in clam tech!

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by Kemitak

Here's my new Head Vector (Thanks to coachrick for not outbidding me). When I get it strung, I'll let everyone know how it plays, if you're interested. To answer MAXXply's question, I'm guessing the Vector came after the Master 2. The tag on the Vector says 1980.

Glad you got it! I can't see a difference between the Master 2 and the original(is there a change in the throat insert?). I'll bet we didn't sell a half-dozen Masters after the Edge was introduced. For our shop, the Master faded well before the Vector hit the stores.

BTW, I missed THREE 'auctions' on that site by a total of one-dollar and fifty cents! THREE different listings by fifty cents EACH! Maybe somebody is trying to tell me something .

They're not all for me...I promise! I re-furb playable rackets to give to a local tennis center to be used in their after-school and community tennis programs. Gotta watch the budget since I don't charge for the rackets or the re-hab work. (Yeah, I'm KEEPING the Slaz Ti. )

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by jimbo333

Oh well, this is my last photo.

It is the Superb looking Dunlop XLT-15

Back in my Dunlop rep days, I filled in at a retail store in Atlanta to help out a friend. This was the first beautiful Saturday before the start of spring ALTA and the store was PACKED!!! We had closed out the XLT-15 and the retail sale price was $19.99 plus stringing. I sold and strung 21 rackets that day---FIFTEEN of them were the XLT-15!

The XLT 'egg-shape' came and went pretty quickly in Atlanta. Dunlop made too many models based on the unusual shape. Too bad it didn't have the cachet of the Kneissl sticks back then!

[jimbo333]

Originally Posted by Kemitak

Here's my new Head Vector (Thanks to coachrick for not outbidding me). When I get it strung, I'll let everyone know how it plays, if you're interested. To answer MAXXply's question, I'm guessing the Vector came after the Master 2. The tag on the Vector says 1980.

A great metal racquet

Similar to my metal Head - Final (String-Lock)!

[jimbo333]

More photos of the metal Head - Final (String-Lock)







Realise I've posted these before, but it's such a great racquet!

[jimbo333]

Originally Posted by coachrick

Back in my Dunlop rep days, I filled in at a retail store in Atlanta to help out a friend. This was the first beautiful Saturday before the start of spring ALTA and the store was PACKED!!! We had closed out the XLT-15 and the retail sale price was $19.99 plus stringing. I sold and strung 21 rackets that day---FIFTEEN of them were the XLT-15!

The XLT 'egg-shape' came and went pretty quickly in Atlanta. Dunlop made too many models based on the unusual shape. Too bad it didn't have the cachet of the Kneissl sticks back then!

Dunlop always seemed to have a "cheap" reputation, and not in a good way. But I've always liked their racquets

By the way Coachrick, do you know anything about that "Wilson III" racquet I posted earlier?

I've never seen this until recently, which surprised me as I thought I knew all the Wilson metal T-series!

[Kemitak]

I wonder if the Vector and the Final differ apart from the colour of the throat piece? They look like they were separated at birth. Would the string lock work on the Vector too?

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by jimbo333

Dunlop always seemed to have a "cheap" reputation, and not in a good way. But I've always liked their racquets

By the way Coachrick, do you know anything about that "Wilson III" racquet I posted earlier?

I've never seen this until recently, which surprised me as I thought I knew all the Wilson metal T-series!

Interesting that you say 'cheap'...when I was contemplating a rep position with Dunlop, I asked myself if I would be 'excited' to be a part of the Dunlop family. Would I want to be on their teaching staff? Would I consider their rackets to be 'quality'? Would I 'show off' my racket with a stencil if I were to play with one?

Until J-Mac switched to the 200G, the most exciting thing about the line was the A-Player ball. The US Headquarters and main warehouse/tennis ball factory were located in my territory so there was a bit of a 'home grown' image with Dunlop in the southeast US. We didn't trade on the 'snob appeal' of the Slazenger name nor did the tennis division take advantage of the high standing of the golf image at that time. I sold the heck out of tennis balls...rackets were so-so.

I agree that the my Jimmy Connors C-1 is likely a re-badged T3000 as is the Wilson III, most likely. Mayhaps they were Special Make Up units for a large retailer.

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by Kemitak

I wonder if the Vector and the Final differ apart from the colour of the throat piece? They look like they were separated at birth. Would the string lock work on the Vector too?

They look the same to me. I'll bet the String-Lok gizmos would fit either since the US String Lok barrels also fit the Red Head and metal Edge along with the US Vector.

[jimbo333]

Originally Posted by coachrick

Interesting that you say 'cheap'...when I was contemplating a rep position with Dunlop, I asked myself if I would be 'excited' to be a part of the Dunlop family. Would I want to be on their teaching staff? Would I consider their rackets to be 'quality'? Would I 'show off' my racket with a stencil if I were to play with one?

Until J-Mac switched to the 200G, the most exciting thing about the line was the A-Player ball. The US Headquarters and main warehouse/tennis ball factory were located in my territory so there was a bit of a 'home grown' image with Dunlop in the southeast US. We didn't trade on the 'snob appeal' of the Slazenger name nor did the tennis division take advantage of the high standing of the golf image at that time. I sold the heck out of tennis balls...rackets were so-so.

I agree that the my Jimmy Connors C-1 is likely a re-badged T3000 as is the Wilson III, most likely. Mayhaps they were Special Make Up units for a large retailer.

Yes it's interesting about Dunlop. I've always liked their racquets like I said, but many people don't!

You are no doubt right about the "Wilson III", it's just that I've never seen another, whereas the C1- Jimmy Connors can be found if you look hard for them

[jimbo333]

Originally Posted by coachrick

They look the same to me. I'll bet the String-Lok gizmos would fit either since the US String Lok barrels also fit the Red Head and metal Edge along with the US Vector.

Yes they are the same I think!

I also have a String-Lock Vector somethere, but can't find it easily at the moment

[jimbo333]

Originally Posted by Centered

"Tensilium" eh?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bivalve_shell

The latest in clam tech!

Lost me there

[Centered]

Originally Posted by jimbo333

Lost me there

Open the article and search tensilium in your browser.

[Don T.]

Probably not a classic but still a well crafted racquet for the times....solid Aluminum I suppose...Pro/Am 4-5/8

[jimbo333]

Nice photos

Looks great, but truly awful to play with!