|
|
|
| Pre-1980 Vintage Gear (6027 Posts)
|
| Product |
Info |
|
old skates
|
|
On 10/22/2001
loneskater
wrote in from
(159.87.nnn.nnn)
Solid Skate of Shefield
first i was a kid. but as i recollect hobby shops (real hobby shops with models and yo-yo's and good kid stuff still carried skateboards) and surf shops had them too. if these were left over from the earlier boom i wouldn't know. but i still have my sisters board and the white clay wheels read Hobie Super Surfer with little diamonds. we moved from the beach to Atlanta for a few years and basically lived in a void. i used to watch the beach movies (Annette Funichello) and go skate the hills of brand new housing developements in Gwinnet County. right after i moved back to FL was when i saw the loose ball urethane. the wheel to have was the Roller Sports Stoker. I had all the road riders 2,4,6 and HH, never liked the orange oj's or sims, and then went to kryptos by 77 or 78.
|
|
|
|
|
Trackers w/ threaded axles
|
|
On 10/22/2001
Preston
wrote in from
(63.10.nnn.nnn)
Hey Duane, as far as I can remember, that very early model Tracker truck was from 74'-75' because during 74'just before looe ball wheels started to fade out Trackers were coming in, and since Road Riders were the first precision bearing wheels, they were'nt introduced until mid 75', which also ansewers the question what came first, Trackers, or Road Riders.
In the Skateboarder issue Vol.2 No.3, on page 18 there is an early Tracker Truck ad comparing Trackers to what looks like Xcalibers, and they both have threaded axles.
I hope helped with what I remembered. Stay safe.
|
|
|
|
|
Early trackers
|
|
On 10/22/2001 Herbn
wrote in from
(64.12.nnn.nnn)
There are some other changes,early on.The shape of the hanger casting to either side of the bushings had a more filled in rounder/stronger design on the later set,i have two sets of vintage trackers,nothing quite as old as loose ball compatible but there are some baseplate changes, i seem to remember one pair(older)just says "tracker" on one side of the base,the newer pair says "tracker" on one side,"trucks" on the other.Both have "studs" not bolts as kingpins.My personal favorite design because,it's tight,secure,stays tight,and with milling machine access i have no trouble replacing them.
|
|
|
|
|
vintage gullwing
|
|
On 10/22/2001
Dom
wrote in from
(195.5.nnn.nnn)
I am searching to get a set of golden HPG IV trucks
and a Sims taperkick (any model)
|
|
|
|
|
Gullwings / Trackers
|
|
On 10/21/2001
Duane
wrote in from
(128.8.nnn.nnn)
While making some withdrawals from the secret family skate vault, I found some stuff with some of my trucks that I've either forgotten or never knew... the Gullwings which I haven't ridden in 22 years, and never had support plates, do not have the little tip on the kingpins which engages the plates. I got the plates since I don't weight 120 lb. anymore, but apparently can't use them with these kingpins: so... did early HPG IV come with kingpins without the "tip" that goes through the supports? Maybe before the kingpin snapping problem was recognized ? These trucks are unmolested and were never ground, so I'm pretty sure they are as supplied, and the kingpins look perfect otherwise.
As for the Tracker, two sets of vintage fulls were in the vault, one as expected, and one strange. The strange set had "Tracker Trucks" as usual on the small pivot bases, but did not say "Made in the USA Guaranteed" on the bottom like the other set. But the strange part... the exposed portions of the axles are all-thread, as for loose ball wheels. Looks original to me. Did very early tracker fulls come with fully threaded axles as an option (the portion inside the hanger is not threaded as one axle is loose and I looked)??? I need some help from the folks who know.
|
|
|
|
|
dk51
|
|
On 10/21/2001
Dave G
wrote in from
(208.29.nnn.nnn)
Scabs,
Were your caddys DK51's? Mine were..and as always I couldn'yt leave wheel enough alone! Lathed 'em down in shop class! Wish I knew where they were, they rolled! uh I mean Rocked
Dave G
Knucklehead from 6th grade on
|
|
|
|
|
Clay and Urethane
|
|
On 10/19/2001
GBJ
wrote in from
(24.38.nnn.nnn)
My father and brother had been riding clay wheels and slalom courses for two years, when I first buttboarded at the age of 6, in the summer of '69. The next year we'd moved further out to the 'burbs, to wider streets, smoother pavement, no sidewalks (and thus no sidewalk cracks), and considerably less automobile traffic. In the summer of 1970, at the age of 7, I finally stood up and continued to ride clay wheels for the next several years. What I remember most about clay wheels was that the board couldn't take too much sideforce without sliding away. This meant that turning had to be accomplished while keeping bodyweight fairly directly over the board. This meant that much of the turning was accomplished by a side-stance, heel-to-toe ankle-ing action. By the time urethane came to skateboarding, my father and brother had long since stopped riding slalom. Compared to alpine ski slalom, skateboard slalom courses were just too boring given the restrictions of riding clay. I kept setting and riding our old, standard, Dixie-cup courses, the way my father'd done when I was younger. Personally, I was not immediately aware of the advent of urethane in skateboarding, and didn't get my first urethane wheeled board until one came as a Christmas gift, Christmas, 1975. It was the yellow Freeformer swallowtail, and the wheels were unmarked, plain clear urethane, open bearing, and relatively small. The potential of urethane over clay was immediately apparent... traction. Leaning! Reeeeally Leeeeaaaning... Racing. Slalom skateboarding would be completely transformed. The very first time weather permitted, I set a course. Too easy. Bigger turns, and higher speeds. Leaning... weighting and unweighting. The Freeformer wheels were soon replaced with a set of open bearing Roller Sport Stokers. Ohhhh!! What's this? Ahhhh... pumping. I loved those Stokers. Long after I'd moved to riding precision bearing wheels for most applications, including slalom, I continued to run those Stokers (with a shot of lithium grease at the top) on the standard, straight-shot downhill runs that were the standard of the day. I took those wheels up to 47 mph one time. Ultimately, I tried to re-interest my father and brother, but they never again took to racing skateboards; nor do they really appreciate that it was their temporary interest in skateboarding slalom, beginning when I was 4, that is at the root of my passion. That said, it was urethane that probably kept skateboards from passing out of my life as just another childhood toy. I can't imagine who I'd be without the skateboards and urethane wheels that have been such a big part of my life for so long.
|
|
|
|
|
OG red krypts
|
|
On 10/19/2001 Herbn
wrote in from
(64.12.nnn.nnn)
I remember droping in on borrowed board with a set of 70mm non core reds on, and being totally amazed at there woooooshhhh! factor, at first i didn't know what to do with the speed but figured it out pretty quick.
|
|
|
|
|
old `thane
|
|
On 10/19/2001
Scabs
wrote in from
(66.21.nnn.nnn)
My first urethane wheels came on a Bolt skateboard with ACS 430 trucks and Cadillac wheels. My buddy down the street shortly afterwords bought a Hooker skateboard and we both rode together at an empty manmade pond all day long. At this time we were only carving the 4` walls. Soon someone came riding a flat Sims with RR 4`s. My first oak board was a Sims kicktail with ACS 500 trucks and 65mm OJs but ultimate skateboard was bought around 75-76 and was a Fibreflex Bowlrider with split axle Gullwings and bottle green 70mm first gen Kryptonics. Talk about quiet and smooth??? It was like floating on glass. Slow on asphalt but Da Bomb on smooth concrete.
My new Turner gave me back that feeling again...AHHH!!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
Vintage wheel stories
|
|
On 10/18/2001 Glen
wrote in from
(216.102.nnn.nnn)
I had a Roller Derby Mustage 15 with clay wheels. I rode the thing constantly. Then I remember my neighboor across the street got this blue 24" board that flexed. His board turned and had a smooth ride. It was a first run Bahne ( the ones with the square tail) with Chicago trucks and the first Cadillac wheels. It was awesome. I saved all summer and bought a GT for $26.00 at Sav-On. Later I upgraded to a Bahne 27" lime green (2nd gen with the rounded tail) with Chicagos and the 2nd gen Cadillacs. This was cool for a while but then I saw either Kent Senetore or Tony Alteri skate by my house with these red wheels that were huge and didn't make a sound at all, the trucks were wide and the most heavy duty "unbreakable" things I ever saw. It was a Val Surf mahogany swallow tail deck with Bennett Trucks and Road Rider #4's. An incredible ride that I couldn't afford. My first precission bearing wheels were OJ's, plain old OJ's, before there were Slaloms or Super Juices or Hot Juices.
Every time I get a new board or trucks or wheels, I still get the same stoke I got 26 years ago.
|
|
|
|
|
Old gear
|
|
On 10/18/2001
BoBo
wrote in from
(151.196.nnn.nnn)
Since everyone is relating old urethane stories, I thought I'd relate one. I got my Black Knight in 72/73 or so. I liked the ride really. I had nothing to compare it to at all. Then, the black guys across the street got new boards. The were a bit older and had knowledge of where to get such things. I tried a slalom board of some kind with oJ's and thought I was in heaven! It was so smooth and quiet. I couldn't contain myself. I asked where they got the boards and they told me Ken Abbots sports in Dartmouth Mass [two towns away]. I begged Dad to get me a board. He relented due to my enthusiasm and good grades that semester. We went to Ken Abbotts Sports, and I was accosted with the smell of grip tape and urethane. Where di all this stuff come from? I was amazed. The store was big even by todays skateshop standards, and literally jammed with all the stuff a skater could want. Unfortunately I didn't know what was good. i asked for help and was taken on a trip I remember like it was yesterday. Well, I won't bore you with all the details, but I will say what I walked out with. Firsat thing I picked was a deck [you could buy one without wheels and trucks?]. I picked a G&S kicktail [blue]. Then trucks. I picked the craziest ones they had. Gullwings. Dad was a little pissed at the price [about 12.00 a piece I think]. Next were wheeles. I was asked what kind of skating I did [like I knew!]. I said "I ride on the street". He led me to a case that was full of Road Riders. I picked a set of #4's for myself. He asked "Do you know what kind of bearings". I said "Yeah, not those kind" [I pointed to a super surfer with loose balled wheels]. He said I couldn't use them anyway. The wheels I picked were precision wheels. He helped me pick out the rest and put it all together for me. Dad bought me a helmet and off we went.
As soon as we got home I put it on the ground and took the best ride I have ever had on a skateboard. Then or now.
I rode that board till it screamed for mercy. I gave it away years later to a local kid who wanted a skater. I was riding wide boards at that time and my old board just didn't get ridden at all.
Do I love old urethane?
Thanks Sherm and the guys at NHS.
Your efforts were worth it.
BoBo
|
|
|
|
|
Rollersports
|
|
On 10/18/2001 Herbn
wrote in from
(64.12.nnn.nnn)
I have an early cataloge from them,72,73 and they have clear urithane wheels and even a small obscure listing for sealed bearings, a few of the lower level of wheels were adaptable to either,they were probabely greased american standard bearings, 7/8 o.d. i think the quick spin and glide forever appearence of unloaded loose bearings had everybody fooled.
|
|
|
|
|
Prehistoric thane
|
|
On 10/18/2001 Duane
wrote in from
(65.201.nnn.nnn)
The red kryto compound is the only vintage wheel I own that has a decent rebound. The rebound measures the percentage of energy that is returned when a ball is bounced on the wheel. relates fairly directly with speed. My 60mm original red kryptos (actual 78A) still bounce 63% rebound, respectable versus today's wheels, in fact the same rebound as Cherry Bombs I have. All of the other vintage wheels I have are under 50% rebound (Road Rider, Sims snakes, many others) a huge gap. Best street riding hardness, barring a completely smooth surface, is normally found in the 70-85A hardness range, but it is the rebound that is the real predictor of speed.
|
|
|
|
|
Cadillac wheels
|
|
On 10/18/2001 Glen
wrote in from
(64.171.nnn.nnn)
Frank Nasworthy didn't invent urethane wheels. But he did find a new application for an existing product and marketed it to surf shops.
|
|
|
|
|
Urethane
|
|
On 10/18/2001 S.S. of S.
wrote in from
(217.204.nnn.nnn)
Glen... that's fascinating, you seem to be saying that the Cadillac guy didnt invent urethane wheels, only ripped the idea off rollerskates...Is this the case? (put crudely!)
|
|
|
|
|
Wilderness and Urethane
|
|
On 10/18/2001 Glen
wrote in from
(64.171.nnn.nnn)
Urethane wheels were around in the early 60's but with complete skateboards running in the $7.00 range, the manufacturers thought no one would pay the $12.00-$14.00 dollars that it would take the price up to. While Makaha ended production in '65 there were others like Nash and Roller Derby who were still making boards. I got my first Black Knight in '72 and a Roller Derby Mustange 15 later that same year.
Nasworthy saw the Urethane wheels that were made for roller skates by Roller Sports, I believe and came out with the first Cadillacs, that had the name pressed in like the Roller Sports MKIV. Later they came out with some that had the name in white lettering embeded in the wheel. Rollersport made the MKIV, the Racing Slick, and the Stoker.
They were good days.
|
|
|
|
|
Skateboards!
|
|
On 10/18/2001 Solid State of Sheffield
wrote in from
(217.204.nnn.nnn)
footnote from my last post... I understood that skateboards were pretty much in the wilderness and virtually unavailable in stores circa 1965-70. Anyone got a different take on this?
|
|
|
|
|
Early urethane
|
|
On 10/18/2001 Solid State of Sheffield
wrote in from
(217.204.nnn.nnn)
Thanks for your feedback, guys. A general point about wheels; do you agree on the whole that softer=faster?
I never tried a faster or softer wheel than Red Krypto's... Then again there were a lot of wheels I never did try!Was it a magic compound or was it just the 78A durometer that did it? Any much harder wheels that gave them a run for their money? Also, Loneskater... I understood skateboards were as good as unavailable in 1968. How come you were into it then and stayed with it all that time on clay wheels?!!?
|
|
|
|
|
loose ball wheels and other ancient subjects
|
|
On 10/17/2001
Johnoshei
wrote in from
(205.188.nnn.nnn)
Frank Nasworthy of Cadilac wheels was credited with inventing the urithane skateboard wheel. The wheels were called the Cadilac "Da Kine", Hawiaian for the king. The wheels looked great and had an ultra cool print sunk into the clear amber wheel. They were hard and got slick when worn. Another loose ball wheel made at the time that I thought was a better wheel was the Roller Sport Stoker. These were converted roller skate wheels and had nice soft urithane that were fast with good traction. The first wheels I ever skated with sealed bearings were the Road Rider 4s made by Sherman and Novak at NHS. One of my early boards was a 36' Sims Ash deck with clear grip and a large red drawing of Tom sims in bare feet. The deck had no kicktail and I mounted it with Chicago trucks and some Stokers. A pretty bad gun for a twelve year old. As soon as I got my first set of Trackers and some Sims Pure Juice Comps, one of the all time great wheels, I mounted them onto an old brownish red Super Surfer 32' that I had bought at goodwill. I used to ride old wood shapes left over from the 60's like Hobie's, Super Surfer's, and Makaha's that I would find in garage sales. I liked the rocker and the feel of a wide tail wooden wedge. That was the time of the origonal Carlsbad park, the first real skatepark, riding ditches with Bostick, Katen, Black Dog, and the future N-Men. I once saw Greg Weaver walk a longboard at La Costa for what seemed like a half mile, nose to tail, turns, spins, real footwork. This was also the time when I started skating pools, the fun years. So long and stay loose all you rollerboarding Hodads. I'm off to dreamland...
|
|
|
|
|
urethane
|
|
On 10/17/2001
loneskater
wrote in from
(159.87.nnn.nnn)
urethane. got my first board a Hobie S/S Christmas 1968. rode clay up until 1973/4. i never rode steel. the very first time i saw a urethane wheel was a kid skating around Plantation Middle school (Ft. Lauderdale, Fl) the wheels were quiet! there was no noise and i couldn't understand it. so i went up to the guy and aske him what they were. he told me he got them from a surf shop and to f*^* off. it wasn't long before i got a ride to the shop and got a set. the initial ride was unbelievable. sidewalk cracks were not a problem. the would not slide unless really forced. the speeds went up and our imitation surfstyle riding was alot easier to copy. Greg Weaver, Rory Russel, Reno Abelera (sic i think) the influences of the surf magazines were our guide until Skateboarder mag came out and changed everything. then came road riders. that was my evolution. with urethane the "tic tac" was possible and you could propell yourself with out pushing. after that you had to learn a 360. i spent hours in my room on the carpet learning.
|
|
|
|
|
turners
|
|
On 10/17/2001
Paul K
wrote in from
(195.110.nnn.nnn)
Kirt,
check out
www.turnerdownhill.com
Paul
|
|
|
|
|
NEW Turners
|
|
On 10/17/2001
Kirt
wrote in from
(168.103.nnn.nnn)
Does Turner have a new slalom deck out? Iv'e read posts stating that they do. Please, any info would be appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
Cadillac/ early urethane wheels
|
|
On 10/17/2001
Solid State of Sheffield
wrote in from
(217.204.nnn.nnn)
Just wondered if anyone had those Cadillac wheels that were the first urethene compound wheels in 1972. Not to buy, just curious as to how they stood up to later models in terms of speed, grip etc.
And how did they impact on your own skating, esp. if you were a veteran of 60's clay or steel wheels?
Any good wheel stories? Come on u old guys!
|
|
|
|
|
VINTAGE & LONGBOARD SKATEBOARD DAY @ Vans Skatepark 11/17/01
|
|
On 10/12/2001
David Riordon
wrote in from
(209.244.nnn.nnn)
Check out the Vintage Skateboard Day & Longboard Day at the Vans Skatepark near Washington DC on Sat. Nov. 17th. 2001 sponsored by the Capitol Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.
For more info. go to the "Contest Calendar" on ncdsa.com or
http://www.geocities.com/hocsr/skate_contest.html
|
|
|
|
|
Huge Collection on ebay
|
|
On 10/9/2001
Jack
wrote in from
(216.207.nnn.nnn)
I just put up a huge collection of old stuff on ebay, check it out!
Whole Lotta Stuff
|
|
|
|
|
