Multiple Origins PS 85?

[backhand]

Hello all – Appreciate your help, actually NOT interested in ****ing this, just curious. Yes, I’ve searched all the old threads and pics. But my old PS85 seems to have at least two origins.

1) Purchased new from very reputable shop right around 1984. (Played with it lightly for 15 years, never been out of my sight except to be restrung. Original grommets and bumper.)

2) Buttcap has never been removed, code below “W” says JUO/JUQ (hard to make out bottom of U or serif on last letter.)

3) Has black bumper guard; paint used to be mildly glossysatin.

4) Side of throat has red/yellow strip, followed by “MIDSIZE.” Facing throat says “PROSTAFF.”

4) Has black stickers rather than decals. They state: “4 5/8 (L5) String at 65-70 lbs,” and “Weight/Oz 116-12.3 Unstrung Balanced 1.0-1.5 in Headlight”

So this all is a perfect fit to middle/late run St. Vincent, right? I've seen pictures here of St. Vincents that look exactly like this. Except:

On two places where the outer paint has chipped, appears to be black, not red primer.

So I’m thinking that means Illinois, right? Any ideas? Did they ever use black primer at St. Vincents? Or do all the other details at Illinois? Or is this a prototype Taiwan version?

 

[rockbox]

Do you mean 1994 instead 1984?

 

[VGP]

SV.......if you bought it yourself in '84 I'm pretty sure that's where it was made. Also, judging by the recommended tension, that's consistent too. The buttcap code below the "W" with a Q is consistent with SVs as the lower right quadrant of the Q didn't always transfer. A Chicago would have an I.

If you look carefully at the grommet holes, you might see some red primer.

If it was '94 then you're looking at a possible Taiwanese, but the late SVs had decals, not stickers.

 

[yourserve]

not trying to hi-jack your thread. anyone know about a ps 85 with a bumperless head? are these desirable? i know it was bought back in the early part of the 1980's. i have played with it, and nothing else compares!

 

[backhand]

Nope, Rockbox, I bought it in 84. Yourserve, as I understand it, the bumperless versions were all made in Illinois, which was the initial manufacturing site. Around 82-83, I think.

VGP, agree that everything fits except the primer. Conceivable that what I'm viewing as primer is actually underside of the outer paint job. (Was it applied in two stages?) Since racquet only restrung a few times, and played with off and on, not a lot of wear and tear there, no obvious nicks or chips at edges. I'll try to look at them under a scope. (Guess I could do a test gouge but that seems silly).

 

[VGP]

yourserve - bumperless PS85s were made in Chicago and were first made in SV. Soon after the bumperguard plastic parts were introduced.

But, a bumperless one could have had its plasic parts replaced with a bumperguard and vice versa....but less likely in the latter case as the plastic parts are harder to find.

backhand - if your racket has seen very little use, the primer might not be apparent as it's seen in small chips or wear spots. I suggested checking the grommet holes on the inner face of the head.....you might see some peeking through.

 

[Azzurri]

As VGP said, check more closely around the string holes. Maybe even try to make a small nick, but if it was bought in 1984 and has a bumper, then it CANNOT be a Chicago...all other indicators point to SV. But I am sure you are somehow missing the red primer (visually). But if not, then you have a very special racquet.

 

[yourserve]

thanks for the response. your opinions are the same as the small amount of research i had done a couple years ago.
hard to believe i own a playable racquet that was made in the U.S.A.!

 

[jorel]

def st vincent