Opinions, please: Prince P-200...

[ArvinC]

...is it still relevent after all these years?

Reason I ask is that I first learned to string on this machine and have found one for sale locally. I have yet to see it, so I don't know what kind of shape it's in, but the current owner says it works and the pneumatic system "seems" just fine. Don't know what he's gonna' ask for, either. But I'm setting my price limit at no more than $700 if it's in decent shape.

I know it uses glidebars still, but this is going to be a personal-use machine only...and personally, I don't mind the bars one bit. My only reservation is that it seems the only place to get service for P-200's is at Tennis Machines . com out in Missouri.

So, what do you "pros" think...the Prince P-200...still a good alternative to the electronic, constant-pull machines out there? Or just a quirky, old machine that's better left back in the 80's?


If this P-200 doesn't work out, my current plan is to buy a "cheap" Eagnas or used Ektelon H/Neos with glide bars and slapping a Wise onto the back.

Thanks for nay info or advice!

Arvin C

 

[theace21]

...is it still relevent after all these years?

Reason I ask is that I first learned to string on this machine and have found one for sale locally. I have yet to see it, so I don't know what kind of shape it's in, but the current owner says it works and the pneumatic system "seems" just fine. Don't know what he's gonna' ask for, either. But I'm setting my price limit at no more than $700 if it's in decent shape.

I know it uses glidebars still, but this is going to be a personal-use machine only...and personally, I don't mind the bars one bit. My only reservation is that it seems the only place to get service for P-200's is at Tennis Machines . com out in Missouri.

So, what do you "pros" think...the Prince P-200...still a good alternative to the electronic, constant-pull machines out there? Or just a quirky, old machine that's better left back in the 80's?


If this P-200 doesn't work out, my current plan is to buy a "cheap" Eagnas or used Ektelon H/Neos with glide bars and slapping a Wise onto the back.

Thanks for nay info or advice!

Arvin C

Read DavisI below, he has one working...

 

[DavisI]

I bought a P200 two years ago for $200. It came with all clamps and parts and a demonstration so I could see that it worked ok, but no manual so I sent away for one. It works great and it's fast, I string 3 -4 racquets a month with no problems. If you've used one before, you'll know that the only trick to learn is to turn the dial up slowly to sneak up to the right tension from low to high and then activate the mechanism a few times to be sure the tension is where you want it. If you overshoot you have to go back way below your target and turn it slowly back up. I use the Freqmess program to check tensions after stringing and I am always spot on, so it seems pretty reliably accurate to me.


Anyway, the deal worked out very well for me, but ymmv. I don't think I would have spent much more than $200 though. Good luck.

 

[coachrick]

I would vote against spending anywhere near $700 for that machine given the alternatives for similar dollars...that said, you do have experience with the machine and if a clunky two point mounting system that makes noise like a gas station is your cup of tea, offer a couple hundred bucks and see if the seller bites. Good luck.

 

[PBODY99]

I use one at a local youth center. I would not spend more than 200 to 300 for the machine personally, given its age ect.

 

[ArvinC]

Update...

...got a chance to check the P-200 in question out. It was used briefly in a private tennis club. The club got it as part of a "deal" with Prince, however the pros and stringer at that club used two Ektelons and never really bothered to use the P-200...too slow for them? Anyway, this guy was a member and decided to buy it since it just sat in the proshop collecting dust.

It's really clean and original. He had the cover, manuals and all of the adapters. The clamps looked great and bars were straight and true. The compressor worked fine, tension adjuster was good as well...seemed not to "fluctuate" during intial setting and first pull as I remembered. A sign of not much use I wonder? Anyway, it calibrated to within a pound and the action was smooth. Nice machine!

Bad part: He's asking $500 for it. Not bad considering it's a really clean and low milage personal-use machine. But, what I think the deal breaker for me will be that I've been inquiring about servicing these things and it really doesn't look good. I'm sure I'm gonna' use this machine way more than this owner has and I've got to know I can get it fixed locally and for reasonable cost. For this reason, I think I'm gonna' pass.

Anyway, thanks for all your comments and suggestions. I'm gonna' go the crank-action/Wise 2086 conversion route! :grin:

Arvin C

 

[johnkidd]

I've been using mine for 11 years. I just ordered some new parts from Tennis Machines two weeks ago and was talking to them about replacing it. They feel the machince is still viable after all these years and is as accurate as any machine ever produced. They said the compressor is easily replaced with a compressor from any hardware store. They also still have parts for the arm. The only thing they do not have is the hard plastic mounting parts because they would have to do too big of order to cast them.

If the machine can be bought for $500.00 and has all the parts, and you have the room, I think you would be hard pressed to find a machine that is as accurate for the price.

 

[Steve Huff]

The few professional stringers I've known over the years that had them eventually got rid of them. All said that while they were working, they did fine, but that they broke down a lot. I asked them how an air compressor could break down. They say it wasn't the air compressor itself, mostly minor things. They got tired of trying to fix things in the middle of a stringjob etc.

 

[johnkidd]

The only problem I've had with mine was the pressure release value was sticking and it wouldn't re-compress back to the tension. I cleaned the part and I haven't had a problem since. That was about six years ago. I think like any striging machine you need to do some regular maintenace cleaning and make sure everything is working properly.