Item PC01
This Item was Sold on 5 September
2021 for $225
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Historical Pricing information for this item and similar collectable boomerangs can be found on the Boomerang Pricing Guide
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Al Gerhards' most popular boomerang was the standard hook that was made out of strips of native hardwoods and with a single lead weight in each blade tip. The earlier boomerangs also had a half weight in the elbow. These hooks had a serial number stamped in the lead weight on the lift arm tip. The boomerangs were always signed after passing a rigorous flight test with tuning sometimes taking an entire year because of Al;s limited free time schedule. Most of the hooks were also dated and Al sometimes added the species of wood used in the construction. Al usually made his hooks out of a single species of hardwood. A few early models had a tapered strip of Walnut as decorative art. Most of the weight hooks had flight ranges exceeding 70 metres. A few of the heavier ones had flight ranges up to 100 metres. This hook is No. 429. It is signed and dated October 1980. It has a single weight in each blade tip. What is unusual about this hook is that it is made using two species of hardwoods: Ash and Hickory. This is the only hook I have seen that has more than one wood. It is also in mint condition and has probably been thrown only by Al as this boomerang was owned by a collector. A very rare example of this very popular sport boomerang.
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. |
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