Best items you found at thrift stores (Goodwill)?

[michael_1265]

Originally Posted by coachrick

Nice looking YY8500. Wood pallets and original strings, I believe. ca 1975 , give or take.

Can't help you on the Kingsports unit. I'm surprised how many open throat wood models I've come across in the past few years. I didn't see many in the '70s other than the 'brand' names. Too bad a solid mid-size wasn't made...might have kept the wood factories in business a couple more years.

Thanks for the info. I wanted a Yonex of this type for my collection. I think that it a great looking stick.

Up until two months ago, I didn't have a Yonex in my collection. Then, I found a Yoneyama aluminium, this one, and an R-7. Odd how hit and miss it can be at Goodwill.

[VGP]

Speaking of Yonex frames and thrift stores, I found two that I bought, a RQ-380 and an R-18. For $6 and $4 respectively.

Talk about hit or miss, I got a matching case for the RQ-380 on a later visit months later. It turned my $6 score into a $10 one, but seeing it was the first widebody model Seles went to.....

[michael_1265]

Originally Posted by VGP

Speaking of Yonex frames and thrift stores, I found two that I bought, a RQ-380 and an R-18. For $6 and $4 respectively.

Talk about hit or miss, I got a matching case for the RQ-380 on a later visit months later. It turned my $6 score into a $10 one, but seeing it was the first widebody model Seles went to.....

Those are nice finds. Honestly, I hate the cases, and have used them to mail racquets as extra padding on occasion. The only one I keep is for a mint, unstrung PK Dominator that I acquired last year.

[VGP]

Companies making nice padded matching cases is pretty much a thing of the past. Especially ones that are true to the exact model frame.

Now you'll see a Wilson "K-factor" case or a Babolat "Aero" series case....

....or moreover, they sell the frames without cases with the expectation that you're going to get a same-branded multi-racket bag and give them even more of your money.

Back in the day your $120 dollars got you a nice new solidly over-built frame with full-length matching padded cases with strap.

[SFrazeur]

Picked up decent quality HEAD XRC for $1.08 today.

-SF

[TCTEN]

Originally Posted by SFrazeur

Picked up decent quality HEAD XRC for $1.08 today.

-SF

Nice find, I've been hoping to run across one myself.

[lim]

Originally Posted by bcart1991

Picked up an Ultra FPK last weekend for a nice price at PIAS. They had a 4-5 n90 and K90s that someone unloaded, but the prices were no better than I've seen on the boards here (did want, could not has).

I saw an n90 and various blades (k and blx versions) at the local PIA today. All were marked down so they must have been sitting, but in the $65-$70 range a piece.

Any TT'ers have experience getting good deals at PIA when using cash + a trade-in to get something else? I think they call it "trading up." I know from selling other things in the past, if you try to sell out right they'll lowball you to death.

[slice bh compliment]

I got a Dunlop Rod Laver 'popular model' at a thrift shop for $5 once. It's not nearly as nice to play with as a Maxply, but it looks cool and everyone comments on it when they see it in my kid's door.

[ItalianStallion]

I always have zero luck at thrift stores - usually finding some cheap old department store type aluminum or wood racquet - but I have a friend that is an expert at finding old treasures and he has given a few of them to me in exchange for re-stringing his racquets or fixing his computers over the last few years. These are the "payments" I have gotten so far:

Head Radical Trisys 260 (Austrian)
Yonex SuperRD Tour 95
Yonex RD-7
Wilson HyperCarbon Hammer 6.3
Prince Precision OS
Head Tournament Director 720 (Austrian)
.
.
.
and a Yonex RDS-001 90 that I bought myself at a used sporting goods store - not as cheap as a thrift store but the frame was like 9.8 out of 10.0.

[jonestim]

Originally Posted by lim

I saw an n90 and various blades (k and blx versions) at the local PIA today. All were marked down so they must have been sitting, but in the $65-$70 range a piece.

Yesterday I picked up an n90 in 6.5-7/10 at our local version of a PIA for $12.50. It was originally $50, but it was unstrung and sat there for months. I waited for the markdowns to happen because realistically it is too demanding a stick for me. I'll probably end up trading it for something a little easier to play. I also grabbed a Prince Graphite Pro OS that in about an 8/10 but needing a new grip for $10.

[dak95_00]

Originally Posted by ItalianStallion

I always have zero luck at thrift stores - usually finding some cheap old department store type aluminum or wood racquet - but I have a friend that is an expert at finding old treasures and he has given a few of them to me in exchange for re-stringing his racquets or fixing his computers over the last few years. These are the "payments" I have gotten so far:

Head Radical Trisys 260 (Austrian)
Yonex SuperRD Tour 95
Yonex RD-7
Wilson HyperCarbon Hammer 6.3
Prince Precision OS
Head Tournament Director 720 (Austrian)
.
.
.
and a Yonex RDS-001 90 that I bought myself at a used sporting goods store - not as cheap as a thrift store but the frame was like 9.8 out of 10.0.

I have a friend who does the same. He has given me many racquets. Nothing as good as those except for the Snauwaert Vitas Geralitus that was in near mint condition and really cool. I sold it for him on here.

I have my luck though. Today I picked up a very usable Wilson Pro Staff Tour 90 w/ Hyper Carbon for $15. I just strung it up and will give it a hit.

[michael_1265]

Not a classic, but I got a Wilson Triad 3 in 8.5-9 condition for $4.25 today. I'll probably sell it, but I will try it out tonight. The spec sticker says 8.6 oz. That's just crazy, seeing as I rarely hit anything under 12 oz.

[michael_1265]

I found this at Goodwill today. I hadn't seen one like it and I had no Rossis in my collection, so I bought it. I think it's a good looking stick, and it's nearly in unplayed condition.

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by michael_1265

I found this at Goodwill today. I hadn't seen one like it and I had no Rossis in my collection, so I bought it. I think it's a good looking stick, and it's nearly in unplayed condition.

That's a new one on me. Surprised the all graphite lam hasn't de-lam-ed by now. Great find.

[michael_1265]

Originally Posted by coachrick

That's a new one on me. Surprised the all graphite lam hasn't de-lam-ed by now. Great find.

It looks like Rossi's answer to the Vilas model.

[Hannah19]

Originally Posted by michael_1265

It looks like Rossi's answer to the Vilas model.

More their answer to the PK Blue Ace.....
Many Mfg's started to use the black/blue/silver livery following Pro Kennex.
In Holland it was Rucanor that made a stunning wood/graphite laminated version called the "PRO" with this paintjob.

[retrowagen]

It looks identical (under the paint) to the Slazenger Vilas Pro (not V24), apart from the laminate "collar" just above the grip. Those Vilas Pros were made in Taiwan... most probably by Kunnan... so it seems like we are going full circle with the Pro Kennex reference!

[Hannah19]

Originally Posted by retrowagen

It looks identical (under the paint) to the Slazenger Vilas Pro (not V24), apart from the laminate "collar" just above the grip. Those Vilas Pros were made in Taiwan... most probably by Kunnan... so it seems like we are going full circle with the Pro Kennex reference!

Well. actually you may be dead on.....Rucanor had all their frames made by Kunnan. They even co-launched several micro system rackets in Holland in 1987.

[TCTEN]

Found a beautiful Tad Davis CL500 at Goodwill today and for $3.99 I had to take it home. I know that Davis racquets aren't held in high regard for the most part on this forum but I couldn't resist this one. It is unique in that it has a split throat and a midsize head. If anybody out there can share some info regarding this frame I'd love to hear from you.

[Hannah19]

Here is what I found:
CL 500: 1982/84.
Davis had previously made open throat models like the Topspin: 1979 and Imperial: 1981 (Yamaha YWG 77 look a like)