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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: ow9654 on March 10, 2012, 01:49:06 PM

Title: Antique John Letters golf club help!
Post by: ow9654 on March 10, 2012, 01:49:06 PM
Hello
Could you please help me attribute an age and value to this golf club?
I`ve had it for 2 years I bought it from a charity sale.
I know since it`s not in a set it will decrease the value, I have been trying to research but can`t find much about it the internet lacks the info it seems.
I also looked up the history of grooves (and various other wordings) and it doesn`t come up with much info.
The grip is leather and the shaft metal with wood effect
http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r575/ow9654/Antiquegolfclub012.jpg
http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r575/ow9654/Antiquegolfclub011.jpg
http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r575/ow9654/Antiquegolfclub004.jpg
http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r575/ow9654/Antiquegolfclub002.jpg
http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r575/ow9654/Antiquegolfclub001.jpg

Thanks
Title: Re: Antique John Letters golf club help!
Post by: mart on March 10, 2012, 04:54:32 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Letters  You need to know what club you have in order to find a value or an age !!  I found a lot about him and his golf equipment by googling "John Letters Golf Clubs" !! The John letters name wasn`t used till 2005 I think it said !!
Title: Re: Antique John Letters golf club help!
Post by: ow9654 on March 10, 2012, 05:00:00 PM
But would you really hand forge a golf club after 2005  ???
The club shows plenty of wear, rust, old style grooves and a leather grip.
It could be a re-production but it shows too much wear to be one.
Thanks for your help hopefully other will contribute too.
Title: Re: Antique John Letters golf club help!
Post by: sapphire on March 10, 2012, 05:42:03 PM
'John Letters' was put into use in 1923.  Beyond that I haven't found anything detailing the clubs manufactured. There are a few listed that are for sale......but appear to be more 50's vintage.

http://www.johnletters.com/history/
Title: Re: Antique John Letters golf club help!
Post by: sapphire on March 10, 2012, 05:51:25 PM
Don't know if this site would be of any help.........

http://www.golfforallages.com/values.htm
Title: Re: Antique John Letters golf club help!
Post by: mart on March 10, 2012, 06:46:38 PM
Just shows you can`t believe all you read !! What I found said that before the company went bankrupt it was Letters and Logan then Letters alone in 2005 after the belly up !!  I can`t see all the pics,, dial up you know,, it should have a number or style somewhere on the club !!
Title: Re: Antique John Letters golf club help!
Post by: KC on March 11, 2012, 01:19:27 AM
http://www.johnletters.com/latest_news/ (http://www.johnletters.com/latest_news/)
Title: Re: Antique John Letters golf club help!
Post by: ow9654 on March 11, 2012, 04:08:53 AM
Thanks for the replies
Would anyone be able to find a site for the different styles of grooves, you can see mine are circles not the modern lines.
I remember seeing a picture frame in a golf style restaurant it gave the ages for groove styles so there must be some info on the internet.
Thanks
Title: Re: Antique John Letters golf club help!
Post by: mart on March 11, 2012, 05:24:33 AM
Have you asked that question on google ?? Should not be too hard to find !! I just asked "how to tell age of antique golf clubs" and got pages full of different sites with everything from  how to restore them, which are worth restoring, value guides ect,,ect !!
Title: Re: Antique John Letters golf club help!
Post by: ow9654 on March 11, 2012, 08:57:27 AM
Ok mart I researched a bit more a restoring site gave mesome info on how to tell the age.
Steel shaft is post 1930, but it has a smooth face which would say prior to 1905 and it is rusty which would indicate prior to 1920  ???
Well since john letters was founded in 1918 then used the name John letters in 1923 could this be 1930`s?
I have a person whos going to look at it in a fortnight and possibly buy it.
So thanks all for your help.
 
Title: Re: Antique John Letters golf club help!
Post by: mart on March 11, 2012, 09:50:36 AM
Since I can`t see the club I could only guess !! And with dial up I couldn`t check some sites I found !! I would clean the club with soap and water if needed and get a magnifying glass and see if there is anything written on it !! I think most should be marked with at least the size !! I mean a beginner would need to know the difference between a 6 iron and a putter or driver !! Letters had names for many of his most popular clubs (Golden Goose was one) you would think the company would have the style on it !!
Title: Re: Antique John Letters golf club help!
Post by: ow9654 on March 11, 2012, 10:04:01 AM
Its a five iron, special Matchld set and is hand forged and rustless
I thought this was all in the links?
Yes its the fourth link down