Vintage stringing machines
- Thread starter graycrait
- Start date
I never used an Oliver, only seen them a long long time ago. The old timer that sold me his Serrano in 1968 also had an Oliver. I never really paid that much attention to it. He also had an old machine and had had no tension mechanism, but had a large wooden dowel. He said when he was very young , he learned to wrap string around a wooden dowel, and pull tension by hand, and place an awl into the hole to maintain tension.I didn't doubt him. Said he could pull any tension asked for with accuracy, as that was all that was available when he was young. This was in 1968 and he was an old timer back then.He sold me that Serrano and taught me to string. I brought my racquet, a Tad Davis, and he told me I might as well use the string I hit with to string it, that was Victor Imperial Gut. I strung it up with him next to me, when done he said I should be able to string any string out there after that. He also taught me a knot to use, said no one he knew used that knot and it would distinguish my work from anyone else . That knot is now called the so called Parnell knot I was on my own after that time. No internet, videos, USRSA, or nice sites like this one. Just learned tips and tricks along the way.Hard to believe that was 52 years ago!
1HBHfanatic
Legend
-looks interesting, i always thought it was a dropweight ??!!
-looking at it now, its a crank-style, with a dropweight counter weight!!
-this almost seems like a predecessor of the prince-neos machines
-i wonder how the foot pedal works??!!
It is a drop weight. The large knob lever on tension gripper is what clamps the string.Oliver looks in ways very similar to the Serrano.
On the Serrano it was very similar as you push down on lever to clamp, and you get a feel as to how much you push on that lever to hold string without crushing string.Same for machine clamps, a lever you rotate down till desired amount of hold on string. You get a feel for it and after a while, you really don't even think of it.
If it is like the Serrano, looks very similar, you just step on peddle, that brings tension arm towards racquet, then clamp string on gripper, release peddle and tension arm goes back pulling string to tension set by weights on large bar on other end of peddle. Automatic drop weight as no bar to keep level, as weight pulls down as tension arm pulls back to desired tension. My Serrano was and still is very accurate. I never placed a calibration scale on it until a few years back, and it was right on target.One heavy machine.I rarely ever use it any more. Once in a great while when I get a wooden racquet to string I sometimes use it just for memories .
On the Serrano it was very similar as you push down on lever to clamp, and you get a feel as to how much you push on that lever to hold string without crushing string.Same for machine clamps, a lever you rotate down till desired amount of hold on string. You get a feel for it and after a while, you really don't even think of it.
If it is like the Serrano, looks very similar, you just step on peddle, that brings tension arm towards racquet, then clamp string on gripper, release peddle and tension arm goes back pulling string to tension set by weights on large bar on other end of peddle. Automatic drop weight as no bar to keep level, as weight pulls down as tension arm pulls back to desired tension. My Serrano was and still is very accurate. I never placed a calibration scale on it until a few years back, and it was right on target.One heavy machine.I rarely ever use it any more. Once in a great while when I get a wooden racquet to string I sometimes use it just for memories .
Last edited:
fritzhimself
Professional
Here one offers a similar machine for 50 €.
I'm already inclined to get the thing. But it's a bit difficult because of the virus.
www.willhaben.at
I'm already inclined to get the thing. But it's a bit difficult because of the virus.
Tennisschläger / Bälle - Tennis / Schlägersport | willhaben
Angebote in Tennisschläger / Bälle - Tennis / Schlägersport. Günstig kaufen und gratis inserieren auf willhaben - der größte Marktplatz Österreichs.
www.willhaben.at
Steve Huff
G.O.A.T.
I also have an old Serrano 550B. Actually, have 2, both with parts missing. Going to try to get 1 working again using some parts from the other eventually. The only Oliver machine I have ever seen had the weight bar about halfway up the machine body. The Serrano had it's weight bar just off the floor. The Serrano was tidier looking as the mechanics were basically inside the body. On the Oliver, you could see the lever that moved the tension head as the pedal was pushed down as it ran along the outside of the body.
marco forehand
Semi-Pro
should you have some coin burning a hole in your pocket check out item #264429283269 on the big auction site
be sure to read the description
I like the advice to call Tennis Machine if you want help (just send the seller your $$$)
be sure to read the description
I like the advice to call Tennis Machine if you want help (just send the seller your $$$)
I sent note to seller 3 times telling him all the parts missing, and no parts being available, and impossible to use, or string a racquet with what he has, and is misleading any potential buyer with the way he lists it. Evidently seller does not care. He never responded to my messages.
Why are you bothering with that? Sounds more like something Irvin would do than yourself (based on board postings).
I just did not want a new stringer that does not know any better to buy that item , then later realize it cannot be made to work. I don't like someone like this take advantage of an unsuspecting buyer.
I thought contact seller that his item is not complete, that he would then list is as that.
Evidently he does not care about the buyer, sad to see. I assumed most wouldn't try to sell something that was not complete if was notified as such, if he didn't know any better as seller may not have known.
Thanks for comparing me to @Irvin, nice.
I will remember that
Last edited:
I'm with you, Jim. I don't like to see this sort of thing either. I have sent messages to sellers, who inaccurately listed something, as well.
Last edited:
I jest, and of course i knew what you were doing. Doubt anyone on these boards would be buying such an item (or anyone that doesn't have a grasp on the situation, for that matter...).
Cheers and stay safe.
