What is the early history of pro racket ‘paint jobs’?

[Slapper]

I’m curious to know when this practice started and who were the players / companies involved.

So far, I can trace it back at least to the late 90s, when Dunlop released the Revelation 200g (1997) and the Muscle Weave 200g (1999). Dunlop sponsored players Cedric Pioline, Mark Philippoussis, Wayne Ferreira, Tommy Hass and Sjeng Schalken all used paint jobs to make their rackets look like the Dunlop models mentioned above. Marat Safin followed suit when he signed to Dunlop around the start of 2002.

Can anyone point to earlier cases?

 

[max_brat]

Ilie Nastase used a Maxply painted as his Adidas racquet in the 70s, and I believe Bill Scanlon used a Wilson painted as a Fila in the same time period. Before that, Rod Laver used a Maxply painted gold and labeled Chemold in like 1971 or 72.

 

[Slapper]

Wow. I had no idea the practice has been going on for that long.

 

[BorgCash]

Ilie Nastase used a Maxply painted as his Adidas racquet in the 70s, and I believe Bill Scanlon used a Wilson painted as a Fila in the same time period. Before that, Rod Laver used a Maxply painted gold and labeled Chemold in like 1971 or 72.

Yeah, that's true. After that I know Martina played with blackout Dunlop 200G with Yonex string stenil - 1987.

 

[Rabbit]

In his autobiography, Nadtade said the Adidas frames were painted JK’s I think. I’ll double check.

Vitas Getulaitis and Brian Gottfried both had custom wood frames made for them by Snawaeurt.

Borg’s Donnys were custom made and while he endorsed Bancroft in the US, they were painted Donnay frames.

 

[ollinger]

Borg’s Donnys were custom made and while he endorsed Bancroft in the US, they were painted Donnay frames.

As I recall at one time Borg had two simultaneous racquet contracts and used whichever racquet depending on what part of the world he played in. It was also said that because he had his wood frames strung at something like 80 pounds, Borgs frames were custom made with extra wood layers to keep them from breaking on the stringer.
And as noted above, the most audacious paintjob ever was Laver's wood racquet painted to "resemble" a metal frame.

 

[Rabbit]

@ollinger yes, he had a contract with Bancroft in the USA. Regardless of where he played only the paint changed underneath was a Donnay.

 

[tarheel-sc]

@ollinger yes, he had a contract with Bancroft in the USA. Regardless of where he played only the paint changed underneath was a Donnay.

I usually read the forums and never post but I wanted to add that I have an unstrung Bancroft Borg pro stock racquet in my collection. I was good friends with a retired Bancroft rep who confirmed that the racquet was a non production frame made for Borg and actually told where I could find it. I am not aware of and he never stated that the Bancroft Borg pro stock racquet was made by Donnay. While it is definitely different than the production Bancroft Borg, it does not resemble a Donnay to me.

 

[Rabbit]

I usually read the forums and never post but I wanted to add that I have an unstrung Bancroft Borg pro stock racquet in my collection. I was good friends with a retired Bancroft rep who confirmed that the racquet was a non production frame made for Borg and actually told where I could find it. I am not aware of and he never stated that the Bancroft Borg pro stock racquet was made by Donnay. While it is definitely different than the production Bancroft Borg, it does not resemble a Donnay to me.

It should also be noted that Borg's Donnay was a one-off and other than the paint did not resemble the production model.