Serrano UV-550-B

marosmith · 03-01-2013, 02:01 PM

I saw one of these on Craigslist for $50 and I simply couldn't resist.

I have had my father in law stringing my rackets and got rid of my old gamma table top stringer a couple years ago. Since then I haven't really strung.

This unit came with the original owners business book, instructions, and number of tools and clamps etc...

Even better it came with a couple packs of strings, and some leather grips!

I had no string on me and decided to break it in with my Prestige Mid.

I had a half set of VS Gut 16g and Ashaway 15l gut, both looked to be over 25 years old!

After trial and error I did VS mains and Ashaway crosses. Definitely glad I had a couple awls and some olive oil on the last two crosses!

This machine really is wonderful. Took over 3 hours to get it going and to string the racket. It needed some grease to get the clamps and bars to slide freely and switching the mains clamps to cross clamps was a little tricky.

This unit was built in 1976 and definitely has the upgraded mounts as it can easily do an OS sized frame.

I will tryi to post pics!

marosmith · 03-01-2013, 02:08 PM

Lakers4Life · 03-01-2013, 02:30 PM

Ingenious design for circa 1970. Those look like Prince glide bar clamps.

marosmith · 03-01-2013, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakers4Life

Ingenious design for circa 1970. Those look like Prince glide bar clamps.

I agree. Once I got it figured out I realized how darn fast this machine is with the foot operated weight and the gripper is pretty quick too.

All I know is if I can string a prestige mid with 25+ year old gut with it I can string anything!!

ATP100 · 03-01-2013, 06:46 PM

Weights look backwards, what does the owner's manual say?

marosmith · 03-01-2013, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATP100

Weights look backwards, what does the owner's manual say?

Yes I took the pic before I fixed them. That's how they were when I picked it up.

coachrick · 03-02-2013, 04:35 AM

Wow, here comes those eye-twitches I get when thinking of the hundreds of rackets I strung on that machine(middle '70s and early '80s). I don't remember a padded clamp handle, however.

Couple of thoughts. You'll likely make your own decision; but having the clamp handles facing the cross-strings already installed just gets them out of the way while you're stringing the next cross...also makes them easier to operate as you near the last few crosses on a top-down pattern.

That machine really brings back memories! Good find!

coachrick · 03-02-2013, 04:36 AM

Also, we bought hundreds of sets of string from Ashaway over the years; but I never knew of Ashaway Natural Gut. Since they were an American company, I wonder if it was re-branded American Eagle?

dak95_00 · 03-02-2013, 05:27 AM

Are these machines considered to be automatic drop weight like the Stringways? I've been wondering for some time.

coachrick · 03-02-2013, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dak95_00

Are these machines considered to be automatic drop weight like the Stringways? I've been wondering for some time.

You know, when we were using them back in the '70s, I don't think there was a great deal of concern about the lever angle...as long as the lever arm didn't bottom out. The degree range for the arm was not that great...you pretty much were between 2:00 and 3:00(more or less, I reckon

) when stringing a 'normal' string. No poly and not much Kevlar 'back then'...something like Blue Star would likely bottom out on the first pull, so a second might be necessary. A few others like Guttex might be stretchy enough to bottom out on the first pull.

marosmith · 03-02-2013, 08:00 AM

Yes I saved the Ashaway package and will try to post a pic.

In stringing the gut it never bottomed out. Doesn't seem like there is enough room for it to do that the way it's configured.

ATP100 · 03-02-2013, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dak95_00

Are these machines considered to be automatic drop weight like the Stringways? I've been wondering for some time.

I was taught to have the weight bar level when tensioning. (clamping)
Right or wrong, I did hundreds, if not thousands of racquets doing
this.

I still own and use this machine from time to time.

Lakers4Life · 03-02-2013, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATP100

I was taught to have the weight bar level when tensioning. (clamping)
Right or wrong, I did hundreds, if not thousands of racquets doing
this.

I still own and use this machine from time to time.

You are correct, but Serranos and Stringway/Laserfibre are automatic drop wieghts. The angle of the weight bar has no bearing as to tension being appied, once it's set.

tball · 03-04-2013, 09:38 AM

What lifts the weight after pulling?

marosmith · 03-04-2013, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tball

What lifts the weight after pulling?

After you clamp you push the foot lever and it lifts the weight.

jim e · 03-05-2013, 04:07 AM

Back in the 60's and early 70's I strung a lot of racquets on the Serrano. Nice that yours has the upgrade to hold the larger racquets. The upgrade has been long discontinued. I still have my old machine (no upgrade) , and will use it ocassionally when I get a wooden racquet.
Good luck.

marosmith · 03-09-2013, 06:00 PM

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Some loctite and steel wool and the rust is gone! Now I just need to calibrate and clean the gripper.

coachrick · 03-09-2013, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marosmith

[IMG]

[/IMG]

Some loctite and steel wool and the rust is gone! Now I just need to calibrate and clean the gripper.

Wow...that's impressive. Speaking of the gripper, I recall more than one machine using a folded business card between the gripper and the string. Once the gripper started on the path of string destruction, it was hard to fix(at least for the folks I worked with).

Steve Huff · 03-09-2013, 08:01 PM

I, too, still have my old Serrano. It doesn't have the upgrade either. How does your leg feel after stringing one. Can you imaging those old stringers doing 20 a day on one of these? Well, they did. They probably had massive quads.

coachrick · 03-09-2013, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Huff

I, too, still have my old Serrano. It doesn't have the upgrade either. How does your leg feel after stringing one. Can you imaging those old stringers doing 20 a day on one of these? Well, they did. They probably had massive quads.

Hey, I resemble that remark!!! In the mid-seventies, we had a Serrano is decent shape and its clone, the Oliver. The Oliver's tension brake was busted, so we had to e-a-s-e the weight down with our leg. A SERIOUS one-legged workout! Did a good dozen rackets in a normal day...close to 20 on some days.

03-01-2013, 02:01 PM	#1
marosmith Professional Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lafayette, Or Posts: 981	Serrano UV-550-B I saw one of these on Craigslist for $50 and I simply couldn't resist. I have had my father in law stringing my rackets and got rid of my old gamma table top stringer a couple years ago. Since then I haven't really strung. This unit came with the original owners business book, instructions, and number of tools and clamps etc... Even better it came with a couple packs of strings, and some leather grips! I had no string on me and decided to break it in with my Prestige Mid. I had a half set of VS Gut 16g and Ashaway 15l gut, both looked to be over 25 years old! After trial and error I did VS mains and Ashaway crosses. Definitely glad I had a couple awls and some olive oil on the last two crosses! This machine really is wonderful. Took over 3 hours to get it going and to string the racket. It needed some grease to get the clamps and bars to slide freely and switching the mains clamps to cross clamps was a little tricky. This unit was built in 1976 and definitely has the upgraded mounts as it can easily do an OS sized frame. I will tryi to post pics! __________________ 3 Head PT57a 12.4 oz. 9 pts HL. 1HBH. Pair of PT167a for the wife.

03-01-2013, 02:08 PM	#2
marosmith Professional Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lafayette, Or Posts: 981	__________________ 3 Head PT57a 12.4 oz. 9 pts HL. 1HBH. Pair of PT167a for the wife. Last edited by marosmith : 03-01-2013 at 02:11 PM.

03-01-2013, 02:30 PM	#3
Lakers4Life Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Laker Land Posts: 3,638	Ingenious design for circa 1970. Those look like Prince glide bar clamps. __________________ Machines: Gamma 6004 2-point w/ Wise 2086 & Babolat Sensor Dual

03-02-2013, 05:27 AM	#9
dak95_00 Semi-Pro Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 738	Are these machines considered to be automatic drop weight like the Stringways? I've been wondering for some time. __________________ Back to using POGs. Why did I ever leave you dear friend?

03-02-2013, 08:00 AM	#11
marosmith Professional Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lafayette, Or Posts: 981	Yes I saved the Ashaway package and will try to post a pic. In stringing the gut it never bottomed out. Doesn't seem like there is enough room for it to do that the way it's configured. __________________ 3 Head PT57a 12.4 oz. 9 pts HL. 1HBH. Pair of PT167a for the wife.