Tennis Man
Hall of Fame
Hi all:
I just came across a minty bumperless frame with a clean Fairway grip, missing tension sticker and ... NO butt cap code.
I've seen sellers before saying that their racquets had no butt cap code but usually I could identify it upon close inspection. This one has not a single mark.
Could anyone shed some light on this? Was there a period when PS85 came without butt cap codes?
Here's what I have so far as for the evolution of PS85:
Pro Staff 85 (Chicago):
- Made in 1983-1984 at River Grove, IL factory near Chicago
- white butt cap with NO registered mark symbol
- 3-letter code ending with "I" (GUI, GVI, etc) under "W"
- bumperless construction, so the grommet set was unique (no code)
- three separate raised throat grommets
- brown Fairway leather grip
- red primer can be seen under matte black paint
- "MIDSIZE" on both sides of throat
3 stickers inside the throat on one side:
- grip size with recommended tension "String at 65-70 lbs."
- "Weight/Oz. 11.6-12.3 Unstrung",
- "Balanced 1.0-1.5 in. headlight"
Pro Staff 85 (St. Vincent ):
1. The first St Vincent production was the same as Chicago PS 85 ( The only change was that the butt code ended with a "Q"
- white butt cap with NO registered mark symbol
- 3-letter code ending with "Q" (HTQ, etc) under "W"
- bumperless construction, so the grommet set was unique (no code)
- three separate raised throat grommets
- brown Fairway leather grip
- red primer can be seen under matte black paint
- "MIDSIZE" on both sides of throat
3 stickers inside the throat on one side:
- grip size with recommended tension "String at 65-70 lbs."
- "Weight/Oz. 11.6-12.3 Unstrung",
- "Balanced 1.0-1.5 in. headlight"
2. The next version had tension on the stickers was lowered to 55-65lb (maybe to reflect the emergence of stiffer synthetic strings?). The (R)egistered mark appeared next to red "W"
3. The next step was the emergence of a bumper guard on the models with stickers wit 55-65lb tension. The grommet set was changed to 22D 1615 (used all way up to Taiwan version).
4. The tension on the stickers was lowered again to 50-60 lb. That was the last version to come with the stickers. At some point "St. Vincent W.I" sticker was added to the butt cap above "W".
5. Soon the stickers were replaced in throat to decals that describe Wilson PWS on one side, recommended tension on the other (50-60 lbs.) and higher/lower tension recommendation for control/power. From here forward the paint finish wasn't very consistent. I've as many frames with matte finish as with a bit more polished/glossier finish. "MIDSIZE" was written on both sides of throat.
6. Later a black rectangular grip size sticker placed at the outside of the throat above the handle and a WIlson holgram was place on the opposite side.
7. The latest variation of St Vincent had "MIDSIZE" written just on one side while "80% braided graphite/20% kevlar" decal was on another side. "Wilson Quality" hologram sticker had become standard.
The butt cap code on some ended with "A" (QRA, QPA, etc).
I just came across a minty bumperless frame with a clean Fairway grip, missing tension sticker and ... NO butt cap code.
I've seen sellers before saying that their racquets had no butt cap code but usually I could identify it upon close inspection. This one has not a single mark.
Could anyone shed some light on this? Was there a period when PS85 came without butt cap codes?
Here's what I have so far as for the evolution of PS85:
Pro Staff 85 (Chicago):
- Made in 1983-1984 at River Grove, IL factory near Chicago
- white butt cap with NO registered mark symbol
- 3-letter code ending with "I" (GUI, GVI, etc) under "W"
- bumperless construction, so the grommet set was unique (no code)
- three separate raised throat grommets
- brown Fairway leather grip
- red primer can be seen under matte black paint
- "MIDSIZE" on both sides of throat
3 stickers inside the throat on one side:
- grip size with recommended tension "String at 65-70 lbs."
- "Weight/Oz. 11.6-12.3 Unstrung",
- "Balanced 1.0-1.5 in. headlight"
Pro Staff 85 (St. Vincent ):
1. The first St Vincent production was the same as Chicago PS 85 ( The only change was that the butt code ended with a "Q"
- white butt cap with NO registered mark symbol
- 3-letter code ending with "Q" (HTQ, etc) under "W"
- bumperless construction, so the grommet set was unique (no code)
- three separate raised throat grommets
- brown Fairway leather grip
- red primer can be seen under matte black paint
- "MIDSIZE" on both sides of throat
3 stickers inside the throat on one side:
- grip size with recommended tension "String at 65-70 lbs."
- "Weight/Oz. 11.6-12.3 Unstrung",
- "Balanced 1.0-1.5 in. headlight"
2. The next version had tension on the stickers was lowered to 55-65lb (maybe to reflect the emergence of stiffer synthetic strings?). The (R)egistered mark appeared next to red "W"
3. The next step was the emergence of a bumper guard on the models with stickers wit 55-65lb tension. The grommet set was changed to 22D 1615 (used all way up to Taiwan version).
4. The tension on the stickers was lowered again to 50-60 lb. That was the last version to come with the stickers. At some point "St. Vincent W.I" sticker was added to the butt cap above "W".
5. Soon the stickers were replaced in throat to decals that describe Wilson PWS on one side, recommended tension on the other (50-60 lbs.) and higher/lower tension recommendation for control/power. From here forward the paint finish wasn't very consistent. I've as many frames with matte finish as with a bit more polished/glossier finish. "MIDSIZE" was written on both sides of throat.
6. Later a black rectangular grip size sticker placed at the outside of the throat above the handle and a WIlson holgram was place on the opposite side.
7. The latest variation of St Vincent had "MIDSIZE" written just on one side while "80% braided graphite/20% kevlar" decal was on another side. "Wilson Quality" hologram sticker had become standard.
The butt cap code on some ended with "A" (QRA, QPA, etc).
