Bring your auction to collectors worldwide!
Get listed nowBy subscribing, you are agreeing to the privacy policy. Unsubscribe anytime.
Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Sports & Leisure / Tennis - Spalding: Executive / 205 Flite Series - Tennis racket set
Iconic wooden-era tennis racket pair in excellent condition. The set includes: - Spalding Executive - Spalding 205 Flite Series Rackets in condition as per photos for the frame, grip, and strings. ••• SPALDING mod. EXECUTIVE Straight and intact frame. Strings intact. Grip preserved. Elegant and understated graphics, a rare Spalding model. The Spalding Executive is a classic and elegant vintage wooden tennis racket produced by the historic American brand Spalding (founded by Albert Goodwill Spalding), dating roughly from the late 1970s to early 1980s. Unlike the ultra-technical models pushed at the time for intense competition (such as the famous Panatta WIP line or Spalding’s Pancho Gonzales line), the Executive model – as the name itself suggests – was aimed at enthusiasts and club members (the so-called executives or managers) seeking a solid tool, aesthetically flawless, focused on playing comfort and the prestige of the brand. Premium construction and materials • Ash and Hardwoods composition: The frame is handcrafted with a multilaminar ash wood structure with high flexibility and inserts of hardwoods to ensure structural rigidity and prevent oval deformation under tension. • Fiber-Reinforced core: A distinctive feature of the Executive is the presence of vulcanized fiber reinforcement layers (Vulcan-Fiber) at the throat (the V-shaped heart) and on the stringpass of the oval. This technology was used to absorb shock on impact and extend the frame’s longevity. • Classic and sober look: Aesthetically, it features very clean, institutional graphics, with tones that highlight the natural wood, joined by linear decals (often in blue, black, or dark red) with the Spalding logo prominently on the shaft. • Traditional weight: Weight falls within vintage standards, typically between 370 and 390 grams strung. The Spalding Executive is not a racket designed for modern tennis, but today it is an excellent collectible piece and sporting retroware. Because of its elegant design and evocative name, it is frequently sought as a retro office or study decoration piece, or in homes of fans of the classic “country club” style. ••• SPALDING mod. 205 FLITE SERIES The Spalding Pro-Flite 205 (or 205 Flite Series) is a classic racket dating from the late 1970s to early 1980s, a transitional period before the definitive advent of graphite. Technical and structural features • Wood/Compound construction: Unlike the fully wooden models of the 1960s with a natural wood finish, the 205 features a multilayer wooden frame coated with a lacquered and reinforced finish (blue and red), designed to increase frame rigidity and reduce flex. • Oval and string pattern: It remains in the traditional wooden-era format (narrow head, Standard Size of about 68 square inches). It features a standard open string pattern (usually 18x20), ideal for a flat and clean impact. • Throat/Heart design: Compared with earlier models, the throat section is more tapered and elegant, finished with red graphics and the inscription "205 LITE" or "FLITE SERIES" printed above the heart. • Handle and grip: Handle wrapped with a synthetic grip or dark blue/black leather (as clearly visible in the right photo), with the model designation integrated into the rubber or tape graphic. • Stencil logo: The large logo with the Spalding “S” painted at the center of the stringbed was a distinctive aesthetic feature of commercial models of that era.
Estimate:$2.23
Sold for:-
View all items fromCatawikiorSports & Leisure
Hammer price:
-
Estimate:
$2.23
OCT 27 | 4:00 PM
OCT 23 | 8:00 AM
Bring your auction to collectors worldwide!
Get listed nowEst: $55
$2.24
OCT 17 | 10:00 PM
