6 Weights - No. 015 - Signed
Item AG51
This Item was Sold on 5 June 2013
for $500
Other collectable boomerangs for sale can be found on the
Collectable Boomerangs link.
Historical Pricing information for this item and similar collectable boomerangs can be found on the Boomerang Pricing Guide
|
This large offset laminated hook boomerang was made out of Slippery Elm by Al Gerhards in August 1979 for Long Distance competition. The offset laminated hooks were made by gluing two blanks together horizontally and then planing it down to standard thickness to make a stronger blank. Al set a world record in the 1970s with a flight of 125 yards using a large weighted hook very similar to this boomerang. There are three full lead weights in each tip. The number " 015 " is stamped in one of the lift arm weights. This boomerang is signed and dated Aug 1979. The words " Offset Laminated Slippery Elm" is neatly printed above the signature and date. This boomerang is in mint condition and it was part of Al's personal throwkit, so I expect this boomerang to be a top LD performer even though it was made more than 30 years ago. A rare and beautiful collectible.
Al Gerhards is one of America's most famous pioneers in the development of long distance boomerangs. Al was an active thrower, manufacturer and competitor in the 1970s and early 1980s. His most popular model is the Standard Weighted Hook which was made out of strip laminated hardwoods. The standard hook was occasionally made without weights, but the majority of these hook boomerangs had a single lead weight on each tip with a unique serial number stamped in the weight near the lift arm tip. The earliest examples (1970s) had an additional half weight inserted into the underside of the elbow. This was discontinued on hooks made in the early 1980s because the elbow weight was often the source for the initiation of strip delaminations. Al also made strip laminated large hooks, small hooks, omegas, traditionals and the awesome Big "U"s. The large hooks were sometimes called "White Lightning" hooks and Al used one of these to set a World Record in the long distance event with a documented throw of more than 125 yards in the late 1970s. Only 500 standard weighted hooks with numbers were made. The last one has a silver star inlayed in the dingle arm tip and this one is displayed in Al's living room in a specially made holder that also displays his world record "White Lightning" hook. I visited with Al Gerhards in early 2006 and asked him about the integrity of his boomerangs after 25-30 years. Al assured me that he used strong epoxy glues and that he still throws boomerangs that he made 30+ years ago without any problems. Al recommends that the owners of his boomerangs rub the surface with Tung oil or Gun oil prior to throwing if it has been in storage. The boomerang should be oiled at least once every 3 months if it is thrown regularly. However, I discourage the throwing of old collectable boomerangs unless it is thrown under very carefully controlled conditions. I would prefer that the owner make a copy of this boomerang for his own use and save the original as a fine collectable. |
How to Order | Back to: Boomerang Catalog | Collectable Boomerangs | Boomerang Pricing Guide | contact: Ted Bailey