Is this a chicago?

aimr75

aimr75

Hall of Fame
I have done searches on this topic, but would like some views as to whether this prostaff i purchased is a chicago or st vincent. Here are some of the characteristics:

  • The butt cap code is HWQ located on the bottom of the W
  • The "W" on the butt cap does not have the small "R" to the bottom right
  • Is bumperless
  • Has red primer
  • Throat grommets are raised
  • Sticker says 65-70 lbs
  • midsize on both sides of the neck

based on what ive read, it seems to be a chicago, but anyone that can chime in would be great. Here are some pics:

ps851nn2.jpg


ps852sp6.jpg


ps853jm0.jpg


ps854lf9.jpg

________
DAIHATSU
 
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i believe the ones with the buttcap code having Q's at the end are st.vincents if you just got that nice find and where did you get it? selling it anytime soon?;-)
 
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earlier st. vincents with a Q ending and stickered 65-70lbs. are generally lighter than the chicagos. try playing with a chicago its like a baseball bat.

great find!
 
St. Vincent Characteristics

My St. Vincent has the following:

01. Butt Cap Code: HTQ
02. Tension: 65-70 lbs.
03. Red primer: YES
04. Square grommet channels: YES
05. Head guard: YES
06. 'R' symbol on the buttcap below the red W: NO
07. 'MIDSIZE' on both sides of the throat: YES
08. Individual flat throat grommets: YES
09. Matte black finish: YES
10. St. Vincent W.I. sticker on butt cap: NO


Did I miss any important characteristics of the racquet, itself? Someone mentioned something about the design of the 'S' in the word PROSTAFF on the throat?

Apart from the racquet, I believe the SV/CHI racquet covers also have small squares in the material design.


*** Someone should create a thread where we can list the characteristics of our SV racquets (with pictures). Then, some studious forum member can crunch the data and reach some conclusion. ***
 
Hey slappano, thanks for the email today informing me about this thread.

aimr75, From the photos you posted, and the stickers inside the throat I would say it is a Chicago.

The Chicagos all had very raised throat grommets, and the sticker with the 65-70 lbs. They were all bumperless, and all had a buttcap with no (R) next to the W.

**Some** of the very earliest Vincents had some, or all of these features. However, it is more likely these frames were really produced in Chicago, and then finished in St. Vincent. Once they began production in St. Vincent, the frames began to have stickers with lower recommended tension ranges, then were produced with the bumper guards, and the throat grommets were significantly smaller than the Chicagos.

That is a really nice frame you have there. The Chicago was my favorite PS85 of the bunch. Although the Vincents are more sought after, the chicago is more elusive to find and much rarer.

happy hitting with it.
 
it sounds like a st vincent but be careful.... it could also be a chicago with a replaced buttcap

really no way to tell, maybe if you check to see if the buttcap was removed at anytime
 
It doesn't really matter unless he paid "collectible" SV price for it......or decides to sell it.

Either way, it looks like it could be a cross-over like drakulie describes.
 
VGP said:
It doesn't really matter unless he paid "collectible" SV price for it......or decides to sell it.

Either way, it looks like it could be a cross-over like drakulie describes.
Click to expand...

That's the key. did the OP pay SV premium prices? If the OP paid in excess of $200, then no its not worth that.
 
I wonder, if Pete and the lot didn't prefer the St. Vincent ProStaffs as they did, would everyone else have followed suit?
 
^^^^ Nope.

That's why now, SVs are "collectible." The lot being very good pro players over a span of several years.

Eventually, even Federer followed suit and played with the Chinese 6.0 85, as he called it, "the Sampras racket."

As I recall, Wilson was gonna discontinue the PS85 after around '91-'93 (made in Taiwan at the time) remember the Edberg PS 6.1 Classic pj'ed PS85s, but Sampras and Courier were still going strong with their SVs.

Since the pj's were the same (SV and Taiwanese), the racket still sold. Later, the Chinese PS85 got extended life due, in large part, to Federer.

Now, no "high profile" players (no disrespect Krickstein fans) uses the PS85 in any form.

Depending on how you see it, it's gone the way of the dinosaur OR it's become a collectible.
 
AlpineCadet said:
I wonder, if Pete and the lot didn't prefer the St. Vincent ProStaffs as they did, would everyone else have followed suit?
Click to expand...

I thought the same thing. I played a PS 85 in the early 90's, but not 100% sure it was a SV. I played a Wilson Ultra 2 soon after...liked them both. But once I joined this forum I found out about the SV mistique. I saw what the prices were for a SV based on Sampras, Courier and Edberg (Edberg played the older model, but heard he prefferred the older SV), anyway, I never thought there could be much of s difference. I ended up buying a SV from someone that had no idea it was a SV (neither did I until I did a little research). I still had no idea what the difference was between the SV and the newer China and the Taiwan. Over the past 2 years, I attained 3 SV, 1 TW and 2 China. I played them all and will say the SV does feel better. Its and odd "soft" feeling when you make contact. The TW and China don't have it. Are they worth 3 times or more for the same condition?? That is up to the buyer, but I will say they have a different feel. Never played the Chicago.

But I agree, Pete has a lot to do with the price of these racquets.:)
 
VGP said:
^^^^ Nope.

That's why now, SVs are "collectible." The lot being very good pro players over a span of several years.

Eventually, even Federer followed suit and played with the Chinese 6.0 85, as he called it, "the Sampras racket."

As I recall, Wilson was gonna discontinue the PS85 after around '91-'93 (made in Taiwan at the time) remember the Edberg PS 6.1 Classic pj'ed PS85s, but Sampras and Courier were still going strong with their SVs.

Since the pj's were the same (SV and Taiwanese), the racket still sold. Later, the Chinese PS85 got extended life due, in large part, to Federer.

Now, no "high profile" players (no disrespect Krickstein fans) uses the PS85 in any form.

Depending on how you see it, it's gone the way of the dinosaur OR it's become a collectible.
Click to expand...

That prototype Sampras has been playing may the the updated version of the PS 85..the 90. I can only hope. But if that is the case, that is probably why they stopped making them...for now.:)
 
VGP said:
^^^^ Nope.

That's why now, SVs are "collectible." The lot being very good pro players over a span of several years.

Eventually, even Federer followed suit and played with the Chinese 6.0 85, as he called it, "the Sampras racket."

As I recall, Wilson was gonna discontinue the PS85 after around '91-'93 (made in Taiwan at the time) remember the Edberg PS 6.1 Classic pj'ed PS85s, but Sampras and Courier were still going strong with their SVs.

Since the pj's were the same (SV and Taiwanese), the racket still sold. Later, the Chinese PS85 got extended life due, in large part, to Federer.

Now, no "high profile" players (no disrespect Krickstein fans) uses the PS85 in any form.

Depending on how you see it, it's gone the way of the dinosaur OR it's become a collectible.
Click to expand...

actually krick used the ultra 2
 
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