WANTED-WOOD TENNIS RACKETS, Items wanted by Collectors

  • CLARK BENSEN

    GENERAL COLLECTION INTERESTS: Wood Rackets, Tennis, Squash, or Badminton. Especially those by BANCROFT, T.A.DAVIS. Also, WOOD COMPOSITES or rackets made by SKI MAKERS.
    We are quite busy with other projects right now so our interest level in acquiring rackets is limited. However, I'm always interested in seeing what you have and would be glad to help assist you. But...please send pictures with your questions.

    1. BANCROFT, Pawtucket, RI
      • Rackets. Especially interested in rackets produced before World War II. (These will generally have bare wood handles or leather grips with the butt strap over the grip.)
      • Catalogues, Brochures, Advertisements. Any information about racket production or company operation. Especially want material from before 1968.
      • Related Items. Some interest in other items marketed by Bancroft. This includes racket covers, tennis balls, golf clubs, baseball bats, etc.
    2. T.A.DAVIS (TAD), California
      • Rackets. Especially interested in rackets produced before 1960. (These will generally have bare wood handles or leather grips with the butt strap over the grip and a larger TAD decal.)
      • Catalogues, Brochures, Advertisements. Any information about racket production or company operation.
      • Related Items. Some interest in other items marketed by T.A.DAVIS.
    3. NEW ENGLAND WOODS. Rackets A special interest for makers in New England or those who used raw materials from New England forests, notably Vermont. These include (in order of preference)
      • BANCROFT, Pawtucket, RI (1882-1986)
      • N.J. MAGNAN, North Attleboro, MA (1920s-1950s)
      • DRAPER & MAYNARD, Plymouth, NH (1920s-1930s)
      • E. KENT or V. KENT, Pawtucket, RI (1877-1943)
      • HORACE PARTRIDGE, Boston, MA (1883-1931)
      • NARRAGANSETT MACHINE, Providence, RI (1900s-1930s)
      • BROADWAY TENNIS, Pawtucket, RI (1920s)
      • IVER JOHNSON, Boston, MA (1900-1925)
      • BRIDGEPORT GUN IMPLEMENT, or BGI, Bridgeport, CT (1900s-1910s)
      • MAINELINE RACQUETS, New Sharon, ME (1930s-1980s?)
      • WRIGHT & DITSON, Boston, MA (1871-1950s but before 1920s is wanted)
    4. WOOD COMPOSITES. Rackets. Rackets produced, generally from late 1960s until the 1980s which were still wood frames (conventional oval or transitional in shape) but combined with another material. These materials include fiberglass, graphite, boron, ceramic, etc. There must be some wood visible or mentioned as being part of the frame. Examples include:
      • HEAD Director Wood,
      • PRINCE Woodie,
      • ROSSIGNOL C12-Graphite,
      • ADIDAS Hurricane Graphite,
      • TOX Fibronex.
    5. RACKETS MADE BY SKI MAKERS. Interest in any rackets made by makers of Skis. Examples include:
      • HEAD, Austria and US
      • FISCHER, Austria
      • KNEISSL, Austria
      • ROSSIGNOL, France and US
      • VOLKL, Germany

      CONTACT INFO: Please send info on any of the above items which you want to sell.
    1. SEND TO: Clark Bensen. email: clark@woodtennisrackets.com
    2. INCLUDE: a description and an evaluation of condition, and your minimum price range.
    3. NOTE: Check out information on the publication, WOOD TENNIS RACKETS, A COLLECTOR'S GUIDE. www.woodtennisrackets.com/rackets

    COPYRIGHT © 1999-2004, Clark H. Bensen. All Rights Reserved.

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