"New" Wilson woodie for my collection..Wilson "Kramer Cup" ...can anyone help with background info,dates etc please ?

[Backspin to the Future]

"New" Wilson woodie for my collection..Wilson "Kramer Cup" ...can anyone help with background info,dates etc please ?

I`ve just picked it up on E**y U.K to add to my JKA and "Chris Evert Autograph" however I can find little on the web about it.
It has a family resemblance style wise though obviously different graphics and colour scheme.
I shares the Speed Flex,Fibre Face markings as the other two rackets but has the addition of "Strata Bow" at the top of the hoop

.https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yxzeLuBuc28vXibDemTKPOp4UOyfwf-u/view?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bHMxfDc6qh8Eya1W4yEe3N6VcL3R7gwm/view?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gv3Jsq55RoZzjOPQL0ovJdHta4ucjwgc/view?usp=drive_link

I`m guessing it dates from the late `60`s through to the mid `70`s ?
It`s the first time I`ve come across this racket in the U.K so I was wondering if it was just marketed in the U.S ?

The racket doesn`t seem as evenly balanced as the the other two and is more head heavy.
It looks nicely constructed though but maybe sits in a lower tier in Wilson`s line up of models at the time ?
Strata Bow presumabley relates to the laminated hoop construction.
Thanks in advance for any info anyone can provide.

 

[kevin qmto]

Has to be at least 70 or newer as it has the modern Wilson logo font. Where was the frame made? Does it say Belgium on the lower throat hoop?

 

[Backspin to the Future]

Has to be at least 70 or newer as it has the modern Wilson logo font. Where was the frame made? Does it say Belgium on the lower throat hoop?

Hi,
Thanks for the info on the logo.
No signs of country of manufacture that I can see.
There are the remains of a very small sticker on the side of the shaft -but most likely just the grip size.

 

[Grafil Injection]

As mentioned on another thread, Made in Belgium is indicated on mine. The hoop is a touch larger than most Standards too. Around 70sqi. Very easy to hit with due to the size and the hoop shape is slightly Yonex-style too.

 

[Backspin to the Future]

Hi @Grafil,
Your post prompted me to have another look for a mark on mine.
I haven`t found one but I noticed that we have slightly different versions ..the cup decal on yours is shorter and wider-mine is slimmer and taller.
I`ve yet to have a hit with mine but I have tried my Kramer Autograph and liked it, my Chris Evert Auto has dead strings but I will keep it original as it looks great .
I`ve also been able to get my hands on a Chris Evert Pro Staff woodie and a J.K Pro Staff ..both look magnificent but I don`t know if I`ll give them a hit or not.
Wlison can up with some great designs in that era.
I`ve just noticed your racket has the same strings as mine -I thought mine had been re-strung but maybe they`re the originals .

 

[Grafil Injection]

Hi @Grafil,
Your post prompted me to have another look for a mark on mine.
I haven`t found one but I noticed that we have slightly different versions ..the cup decal on yours is shorter and wider-mine is slimmer and taller.
I`ve yet to have a hit with mine but I have tried my Kramer Autograph and liked it, my Chris Evert Auto has dead strings but I will keep it original as it looks great .
I`ve also been able to get my hands on a Chris Evert Pro Staff woodie and a J.K Pro Staff ..both look magnificent but I don`t know if I`ll give them a hit or not.
Wlison can up with some great designs in that era.
I`ve just noticed your racket has the same strings as mine -I thought mine had been re-strung but maybe they`re the originals .

Yeah, it's nicely finished with those strings and treblings. Perhaps yours was made in US then. I do think it was a 'premium mid-range' stick, as mine is also a solid weight at around 400g and still dead straight. Mine has a slightly different graphic for the fake handle flake to yours too. Just wish Wilson rolled the (very sharp) edges on their sticks for more comfortable handling.

 

[Backspin to the Future]

I missed the different faux flake.
Having non-rolled edges obviously saved money -but also helps out racket nerds in deciding rackets heirachy

 

[Grafil Injection]

I missed the different faux flake.
Having non-rolled edges obviously saved money -but also helps out racket nerds in deciding rackets heirachy

Was that a finishing touch they added to the JKPS and CEPS?

 

[Backspin to the Future]

On my versions the CEPS has a much longer flake than the JKPS- but both are rounded off edges around the flakes. They still have sharper edges at the the throat just below the head though.
Maybe it was just a styling thing that Wilson thought made the rackets look more modern or diffferent from their previous models .
It`s all a bit academic now really
I may have a hit with them on Wednesday .
From memory Mac used the JKPS before switching to the Maxply Fort,not sure if Chris Evert used the CEPS before or after her Autograph model.

 

[Grafil Injection]

On my versions the CEPS has a much longer flake than the JKPS- but both are rounded off edges around the flakes. They still have sharper edges at the the throat just below the head though.
Maybe it was just a styling thing that Wilson thought made the rackets look more modern or diffferent from their previous models .
It`s all a bit academic now really
I may have a hit with them on Wednesday .
From memory Mac used the JKPS before switching to the Maxply Fort,not sure if Chris Evert used the CEPS before or after her Autograph model.

Yeah, I guess it didn't matter so much for Chrissie with the 2HBH, but you'd think Mac would have noticed a big difference when moving to the Maxply. I would've got the sand-paper out if I had to play with them.