PHOTOS of my JOHN MOTT's, the ROLLS ROYCE of Metal Racquets...literally...
- Thread starter jimbo333
- Start date
Autodidactic player
Professional
Beautiful! These are really hard to find in North America - especially with a cover. I'm jealous! 
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
Beautiful! These are really hard to find in North America - especially with a cover. I'm jealous!
I really like these, they are stunning looking metal racquets, and they are hard to find in the UK as well. Also, I've only ever seen 2 covers in 5 years of looking for these!
(Oh by the way I will email you next week, I havn't forgotten)
cluckcluck
Hall of Fame
Wonder how they play
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
I don't know as I havn't tried them. Few metal rackets were great to use in my experience. I like the designs though.
Overdrive
Legend
Have you had the racquets appraised for value yet?
coachrick
Hall of Fame
Looks like metal on metal...doesn't bode well for great play, especially over time.
Thanks for posting these...can't say I was aware of the marque or actual rackets.
The Silver Shadow was around in the late '60s, the Camarque in the mid-'70s...that's the time-frame I thought of when I saw the pics...mid-late-'70s.
Cool!
sundaypunch
Hall of Fame
Beautifully crafted racquets. They look to be billet aluminum?
Rock Strongo
Legend
They look wonderful. Did they supply these with the respective Rollers of the time as an optional extra or something?
Also, I have to say that older Rollers have some sort of majesticness that's lacking in newer cars. Having been driven around in a Corniche you get the feeling that you're better than everyone while enjoying probably the best ride comfort of any car ever.
Also, I have to say that older Rollers have some sort of majesticness that's lacking in newer cars. Having been driven around in a Corniche you get the feeling that you're better than everyone while enjoying probably the best ride comfort of any car ever.
Autodidactic player
Professional
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
I don't understand your question, as I'm not planning to sell them. These are rare tennis rackets, but are not very much in demand, so therefore don't have a very high value. I collect metal tennis rackets, amongst others, so I really like them. Other metal tennis racket collectors may pay a high price for them, but the demand is generally low, which is a good job, as these are hard to find.
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
I thought they were early 80's, but I'm certainly not sure. As you suggest, they might be late 70's. I'd really like to find out now!
Autodidactic player
Professional
I see a road trip in your future! According to Google Maps if you get on the M3 in Windsor you can be in Farnham, Surrey in 45 minutes. It looks like there are six local tennis clubs in that area. I'll bet with a little investigation you can find out all about the John Mott company and maybe even find a few more rackets. If you decide to try this, please let us know how it goes.
coachrick
Hall of Fame
My sincere apologies if I made it sound like I know something that I do NOT
. Indeed, they may be from the '80s; but the sort of 'hybrid' between a Spalding Smasher and Yonex 7500 shape and apparent size suggested earlier rather than later( to me, anyway). Could be Mr. Mott was channeling a 'classic' shape and size rather than giving in to the vagaries of the later boom years.Can you tell what material is in the handle? Foam? Wood(like the early YoneYama or Yonex?)...surely not plastic on a Rolls
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
They look to be the best made metal racquets I've ever seen. Definitely Aluminium, but i don't know which type.
retrowagen
Hall of Fame
I might start carrying a jar of Grey Poupon in my tennis bag, in case I ever play against someone with a John Mott racquet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itHhhYxqSSE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itHhhYxqSSE
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
Indeed, the throat piece actually looks like an engine/machine part or something similar, it is so well made. I also like the way the words are stamped into the metal (or however they do this), anyway gives it a quality look!
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
I don't think the racquets are actually directly connected to Rolls Royce, although again there might be a connection as there was a Rolls Royce factory in that part of the UK.
I've never actually been in a Roller, but that car comfort is what they're known for definitely.
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
Next time you get to England you'll definitely have to play here: Rolls Royce Tennis Club
Good find there!
Autodidactic player
Professional
I'm surprised that Jimbo didn't show a grip view of this racket. Like the rest of the racket, the grip and leather butt-cap is beautiful done. They are so precisely applied that they look like one piece - even after they are a bit worn! Here are a couple of pictures although they don't do it justice.
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
Good point, but I've realised I do sort of know the manager at the only tennis shop in Farnham, so will ask if he can find anything out about these!
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
My sincere apologies if I made it sound like I know something that I do NOT
Can you tell what material is in the handle? Foam? Wood(like the early YoneYama or Yonex?)...surely not plastic on a Rolls
Well having done some internet research, these seem to have been made in 1980!
As for the handle, I really can't tell, as I don't want to take the grip off.
Autodidactic player
Professional
I peeled the tape off mine and from what little I could see above the top of the grip the handle/pallet looks like a dense foam. The grip is nailed on at the top with a tiny brad/tack like we used to use on wooden rackets.
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
Haha
What is this advert all about? Weird:shock:(I must say I do like strong mustard though, especially on a ham sandwich)
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
Thanks for checking this.
rodracquet
Rookie
I ALSO LOVE THE JOHN MOTT RACQUETS AND AFTER FALLING IN LOVE WITH MY STUNNING EBONY MODEL.... DECIDED TO SELL THE SILVER SHADOW.....TO A GOOD MATE IN THE USA http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...4580413533.179215.195175473533&type=1&theater
DECIDED TO SELL THE SILVER SHADOW.....TO A GOOD MATE IN THE USA http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...4580413533.179215.195175473533&type=1&theater
rodracquet
Rookie
Not Much Is Known About This Company. I was contacted once by the son the man who started with the company. He had worked in the factory part time as a young lad. I gather the designer did his best to make a go of it but I assume the product was expensive and new materials were coming in. In the end he sold the technology on and left the business quite disgruntled.....anyway one day hope he contacts me again.
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jimbo333
Hall of Fame
I ALSO LOVE THE JOHN MOTT RACQUETS AND AFTER FALLING IN LOVE WITH MY STUNNING EBONY MODEL....
Hi Rod, I apologise for not being in touch recently. Great to see you have the black/ebony version, those are the very rare versions
retrowagen
Hall of Fame
Haha
(I must say I do like strong mustard though, especially on a ham sandwich)
Ha ha, yes, it's a classic advert from the States - everyone remembers it - meant to imply that this particular brand of mustard is very posh, I suppose.
Since then, cheeky Americans, when they pull up next to a Roller in traffic, are honor-bound to ask for the Grey Poupon! I can only imagine the humor is quickly lost on the Rolls-Royce occupants.
coachrick
Hall of Fame
For Auto-player,
When I was in Greensboro in the mid-'80s, one of the radio stations gave away a vintage Rolls as part of a promotion(may have been to introduce 'canned' radio since it was relatively new at the time). Good news was the promo was a grand success. Bad news was the effect the 'call-in' portion of the contest had on the telephone service in the whole Triad area. It was cooked for hours! Of course, it was 98% land lines back then!
Ah, the good old days.
When I was in Greensboro in the mid-'80s, one of the radio stations gave away a vintage Rolls as part of a promotion(may have been to introduce 'canned' radio since it was relatively new at the time). Good news was the promo was a grand success. Bad news was the effect the 'call-in' portion of the contest had on the telephone service in the whole Triad area. It was cooked for hours! Of course, it was 98% land lines back then!
Ah, the good old days
.
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
Great info Rod, I still havn't found out anything more myself, but if I do, i promise to post the info. here. For any metal racket fans out there, these really do look superb!
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
Also probably lost on anyone outside the US as well though, as I've certainly never seen the advert. And what a weird name for mustard, certainly no Coleman's!
rodracquet
Rookie
Hi Jon, enjoying your knowledge also. I have no information on why the EBONY would be very rare compared to others. Just a lucky find on UKBAY since no-one really looks for them.
rodracquet
Rookie
Here is a UK manufacturing promotion website link which shows the MOTT range. Just need to find a red one!!!! Never seen.
http://www.vads.ac.uk/x-large.php?uid=111196&sos=0
http://www.vads.ac.uk/x-large.php?uid=111196&sos=0
rodracquet
Rookie
Good to see this POST pass 1000 view. John Mott racquets need to have greater awareness amongst the collecting community.
Here is EBONY... with the Silver Shadow.
I actually rang Rolls Royce 5 years ago to see if they made these to show off their "hand made" skills. I guess John Mott got into a bit of bother over using their models and so maybe Ebony was born.
Here is EBONY... with the Silver Shadow.
I actually rang Rolls Royce 5 years ago to see if they made these to show off their "hand made" skills. I guess John Mott got into a bit of bother over using their models and so maybe Ebony was born.
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
I think they are all very rare except maybe the Silver Shadow, which is just rare!
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
Thanks for finding this Rod, very interesting!
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jimbo333
Hall of Fame
Good to see this POST pass 1000 view. John Mott racquets need to have greater awareness amongst the collecting community.
Here is EBONY... with the Silver Shadow.
I actually rang Rolls Royce 5 years ago to see if they made these to show off their "hand made" skills. I guess John Mott got into a bit of bother over using their models and so maybe Ebony was born.
What a superb photo
And how cool is that black cover!
rodracquet
Rookie
Jon, I have never found out how much was worth???? Do you have access to any UK trade / consumer mags which might contain an ad?
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
I've never seen any ad's for John Mott rackets, but if I do see an ad or find out original prices etc I will definitely post all the info here!
rodracquet
Rookie
Recently received a 1982 AD from the UK with JOHN MOTT RACQUETS being located in the Old Bakery, Northchapel, Petworth Sussex. The models we have show hand made in FARNHAM SURREY. The online company search advises the business was set up in 1979. Maybe Surrey was the second place of business.
