Jack Kramer Autograph Millennium Limited Edition

Tennis Man

Hall of Fame
I came across this racquet by accident and loved the look of it. It looks almost like it's made of bampoo. I was surprised to find out that it's actually made of HyperCarbon and Graphite, with no Fibeglass like JK Staff.

I did some research and couldn't find much of the history on this limited edition issue. It looks like there were numbered batches of 2,000 produced in the US, Canada and Europe. Not sure about Asia and Australia but I heard there were even smaller batches like 300 (in Australia), 600 in Japan. Then I see some batches of 3,000 in the US (???). I thought since it's Y2K edition 2,000 would make more sense. Does anyone remember what year was that issue released? I hear years anywhere from 1995 to 2000.

Release summary, quantity:
USA 2,000
USA 3,000
Canada 2,000
Europe 2,000
Asia 600
Australia 300 (?)

I got one brand new #XX/2,000 from an earlier batch and a few barely used #XXX and XXXX/2,000 and will customize the latter to match a Pro Staff Classic 6.1 95 in playability (suggestions would be great).

So, here are the short history and specs. I will post more pictures shortly:

Wilson replicated the original wood Jack Kramer autograph tennis racket as a hypercarbon Limited Edition Jack Kramer Autograph tennis racket. The original wood Jack Kramer was first introduced in 1948 and had sales of 10 million units --the #1 selling Wilson racket of all time. These wood racket stopped selling in 1984. Each New Limited Edition racket is numbered and packaged in an exclusively designed box, which also includes a Certificate of Authenticity and a set of string.

The racket has similar cosmetics to the original wood model, and features Hyper Carbon technology. The Jack Kramer is ideal for players with a fast swing speed and long, loopy stroke style. It is designed with a 95" head size, traditional 27" length, 21 mm flat beam, and weighs 10 oz unstrung.

Specs: 95" , 27", 16 x 19,
Tension: 53-63 lbs
Balance: 1.0 pts. Head Light,
Weight (Strung/Unstrung): 10.6 oz./9.9,
Flex: Medium, Swing
Speed: Fast, Stroke Style: Long, loopy
SI: 6.5 prostaff hypercarbon
Cross Section: 21 mm flat beam
Construction: 10% Hyper Carbon/70% Graphite/20% Kevlar
Suggested Retail: $399.99

The case is truly amazing. It looks like leather but I'm sure it's just vynil but very high quality. The grip is Fairway, the butt cap is white and has a 3-letter code on the top of W and China on the bottom. I didn't get the string (was it supposed to be there?)but the matching string would look pretty cool.

NOTE: Pleasa, skip page 2 of this thread as it is a discussion of computer software issues that have nothing to do with the main topic discussion.
 
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Tennis Man

Hall of Fame
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DSC_0012.JPG
 
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Tennis Man

Hall of Fame
there is also Maxply Fifty that looks like real wood :) ... Anyone still has it? I personally don't like the look of MaxPly MacEnroe although I heard that it plays better than JK ME.

MaxplyFifty4.jpg
 

plasma

Banned
doubt it, jk me is an hps 95, far better imho than the stiff boring dunlops. as an artist I am overwhelmed with at these lovely pics. Proof that the companies can do much more with pj's than just the car paint robotech look. Has anyone ever seen a better pj than the Kramer MLE???
Just look at the structure of the hps compared to the frame of the dunlop, not to mention the materials are far superior
 

Dgpsx7

Professional
doubt it, jk me is an hps 95, far better imho than the stiff boring dunlops. as an artist I am overwhelmed with at these lovely pics. Proof that the companies can do much more with pj's than just the car paint robotech look. Has anyone ever seen a better pj than the Kramer MLE???
Just look at the structure of the hps compared to the frame of the dunlop, not to mention the materials are far superior

definitely one of the nicest pjs I have ever seen. It only weighs 10oz right? If it was a couple onces heavier I would be after one.
 

dirkgnuf

Rookie
It's essentially a paint-job of a Wilson Hyper PRoStaff 6.5 95, if I remember correctly, with a few differences(string Pattern)
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
I have the Dunlop Maxply 50 and Dunlop McEnroe (looks awful I reckon) racquets you are talking about, and I think they are identical racquets under the paint. I've played with the McEnroe and it is very stiff, didn't like it.

I also have a Fred Perry Wimbledon '36 in a similar retro style, it's green and wood coloured, looks great (so wish I could show a photo):(
 

Bud

Bionic Poster
I have the Dunlop Maxply 50 and Dunlop McEnroe (looks awful I reckon) racquets you are talking about, and I think they are identical racquets under the paint. I've played with the McEnroe and it is very stiff, didn't like it.

I also have a Fred Perry Wimbledon '36 in a similar retro style, it's green and wood coloured, looks great (so wish I could show a photo):(

Are you going to make me send you a camera, too!? :lol:
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
Are you going to make me send you a camera, too!? :lol:

Cheers:):)

No, like I said it's my computer, whenever I try to upload a photo to a photohosting site, my computer freezes ("internet explorer not responding"). It happens about 95% of the time, so posting photos on here is just a nightmare:(
 

Princegod

Rookie
I had a JK Millennium a few years ago. I was crazy enough to string it up and actually play with it. The frame was a bit too powerful and a little too light. Was a handsome frame with a nice case and box. Mine was an Australian version. I only played with it two times and there wasn't a scratch on it, but sold it cheap.

Edit: found an old photo:
JKME.jpg
 
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Princegod

Rookie
If they would have based the JKM off this frame, I would have probably bought and kept several of them. This is the PS 7.1 which is based on the same mold as JKM but with different layup. This is the old Graf frame (well at least paint wise). Has 30% fiberglass, is heavier and far more playable IMO. Stick a leather on it and it's good to go.
PS71a.jpg
 

LttlElvis

Professional
I have a JK Millenium 617/2000. I would like to string it up and play with it, but it's a piece of art. I'm thinking of putting it in a display frame in my game room someday.

BTW, mine didn't come with a set of strings.

That's pretty cool that you have Jack Kramer's autograph on the handle. How did you get it?
 

Tennis Man

Hall of Fame
That's pretty cool that you have Jack Kramer's autograph on the handle. How did you get it?

I don't. This is a picture from 80s-tennis.com. Mine is brand new and that makes it too boring to look at. :)

The other two I will lead up and take for a test drive soon.
 

LttlElvis

Professional
Off topic:

I have a patient who is pretty active in the local tennis community. He was a tournament referee for a tennis tournament in our city for years and got to know a bunch of the up and coming pros at the time (Borg, McEnroe, Connors, even Federer) before they became big.

I was asking about his tennis history, and he said " I was taught by an old pro you probably haven't heard of...... Don Budge." I laughed and was so impressed. He went on to tell me he used to play with Laver and Kramer too when they were young.

I asked if he had happened to get Jack Kramer to ever sign one of his racquets, and he said he wished he had thought of it at the time, but never did.

I think having an autograph of Jack Kramer on a mint wood racquet would be sweet.
 

joe sch

Legend
Off topic:

I have a patient who is pretty active in the local tennis community. He was a tournament referee for a tennis tournament in our city for years and got to know a bunch of the up and coming pros at the time (Borg, McEnroe, Connors, even Federer) before they became big.

I was asking about his tennis history, and he said " I was taught by an old pro you probably haven't heard of...... Don Budge." I laughed and was so impressed. He went on to tell me he used to play with Laver and Kramer too when they were young.

I asked if he had happened to get Jack Kramer to ever sign one of his racquets, and he said he wished he had thought of it at the time, but never did.

I think having an autograph of Jack Kramer on a mint wood racquet would be sweet.

I met a lady recently who had a similar story ... Her father was a tennis pro and played with some of the best players back then. I asked her is she remember any of the names, and she said I probably would not know any of them and then remembered a guy named Bill Tilden. I said you gotta be kidding and told her how Bill maybe the GOAT.

Also, that JKME racket was actually signed by Jack Kramer on the handle. Jack signed quite a few of them but those are still special and obviously worth more as collector items

Also noticed you have 0000 which is pretty interesting since from your story above, which was not clear to me, it looks like Jack Kramer returned the 1st production model, that he probably received complementary from Wilson as the endorser of these models. I bet Jack probably got 0000 .. 0025, ie 25 models from Wilson, to give to friends, etc ...


Cheers,
Joe
 
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Bud

Bionic Poster
Cheers:):)

No, like I said it's my computer, whenever I try to upload a photo to a photohosting site, my computer freezes ("internet explorer not responding"). It happens about 95% of the time, so posting photos on here is just a nightmare:(

Download Firefox :wink:
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
Download Firefox :wink:

I don't understand computers at all, and I don't know what a Firefox is:shock:

I've been too lazy to sort the computer out, because I can still use it for emails/message boards etc. An expert did look at it and said I need new software, but that's as far as I got.
 

joe sch

Legend
I don't understand computers at all, and I don't know what a Firefox is:shock:

I've been too lazy to sort the computer out, because I can still use it for emails/message boards etc. An expert did look at it and said I need new software, but that's as far as I got.

Jimbo, If you mail me some pictures, I can post them on my Connors or Wilson pages. I understand using all these new tools is not easy for people who are not computer savy.

Joe
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
Jimbo, If you mail me some pictures, I can post them on my Connors or Wilson pages. I understand using all these new tools is not easy for people who are not computer savy.

Joe

Thanks Joe, will email you during the week:)

I find computers incredibly annoying. If you say buy a guitar amp or Hi-fi system you can soon learn exactly how to use it and what it can do, with a computer it is a nightmare, things happen for seemingly no reason:confused:
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
Firefox is a browser, like the Internet Explorer that's freezing your computer :(

WHERE'S THE PICS OF YOUR CONNORS COLLECTION?!!??!

I don't really have many photos of my racquets. I'm going to take a few photos and try to email them to Joe. I'm sure he will then show them here:)

This is not a great long term solution for me though, I will stop being lazy and get someone to definitely fix my rubbish computer!
 

joe sch

Legend
I don't really have many photos of my racquets. I'm going to take a few photos and try to email them to Joe. I'm sure he will then show them here:)

This is not a great long term solution for me though, I will stop being lazy and get someone to definitely fix my rubbish computer!

Jimbo, Mac's make everything pretty easy to do. They may cost more but they are more reliable and the included software more than makes up for the extra cost. I use both Mac's and Linux machines.
 

Tennis Man

Hall of Fame
NOTE: Please, skip page 2 of this thread as it is a discussion of computer software issues that have nothing to do with the main topic discussion. :(
 

max

Legend
I remember when this came out, and like most, admired the paint job. But why make a JK so awful light? It just seems like a racquet destined for the wall.
 

coachrick

Hall of Fame
Hi guys, found a JACK KRAMER LIMITED MILLEMIUM EDITION labelled as cosmetic sample 000-300 unsigned no case etc....

Surely, they wouldn't produce pre release sales models and then come out with the actual racquets????

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152463622067319&set=pcb.10152463625642319&type=1&theater

Some discussions a while back re: the JK ME. Seems different countries had different 'limited' numbering and many, many demos and retail 'sample' frames were sent out...in essence, not all that 'limited' after all. Still a beautiful racket.
 

Don't Let It Bounce

Hall of Fame
This frame is a 6.1 mould correct? If so, it's the most gorgeous 6.1 PJ ever made
Gino, the Millennium Edition is a paint job of the Hyper Pro Staff 6.5, a decent-enough frame that needed a better paint job desperately: it was a sort of green-tinged black trimmed in burnt orange. That gave the ME a little thinner beam than the 6.1 mold (21 mm vs 22 mm), but looking at face of the racket (instead of the profile, I mean; we need a name for that metric) it was a little thicker.

Upthread someone claimed to have seen a 110 ME. I can confirm that there was one. When I was part of a group of coaches sponsored by Wilson, the Wilson rep brought a ME for us to drool over (we couldn't get them for ourselves, of course) and told us it was coming out only in the 95 head size, and until 2012 that's all I ever saw. However, Wilson international offices were (maybe still are) separate companies that pay a fee to Wilson, so they were/are allowed to have their own line of frames, to appeal to the clientele in their country. In 2012 I was teaching a clinic to some kids in Jakarta, and one young man had a Millennium Edition 110. I marveled at it, told him how rare it was, and advised him to stop playing with it! (I'm pretty sure he wasn't going to stop. He said didn't want a different racket; he liked that one. Gotta respect that, but I bet that ME 110 is all scuffed up by now!)
 

gino

Legend
Gino, the Millennium Edition is a paint job of the Hyper Pro Staff 6.5, a decent-enough frame that needed a better paint job desperately: it was a sort of green-tinged black trimmed in burnt orange. That gave the ME a little thinner beam than the 6.1 mold (21 mm vs 22 mm), but looking at face of the racket (instead of the profile, I mean; we need a name for that metric) it was a little thicker.

Upthread someone claimed to have seen a 110 ME. I can confirm that there was one. When I was part of a group of coaches sponsored by Wilson, the Wilson rep brought a ME for us to drool over (we couldn't get them for ourselves, of course) and told us it was coming out only in the 95 head size, and until 2012 that's all I ever saw. However, Wilson international offices were (maybe still are) separate companies that pay a fee to Wilson, so they were/are allowed to have their own line of frames, to appeal to the clientele in their country. In 2012 I was teaching a clinic to some kids in Jakarta, and one young man had a Millennium Edition 110. I marveled at it, told him how rare it was, and advised him to stop playing with it! (I'm pretty sure he wasn't going to stop. He said didn't want a different racket; he liked that one. Gotta respect that, but I bet that ME 110 is all scuffed up by now!)

Wow.... great information here @Don't Let It Bounce thanks for that. I am really trying to find a way to get my hands on one, although I hear they are hard to find for under $500 nowadays. Have you ever hit with the 95ME? Does it feel pretty comparable to the hyper 6.1?
 
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