Item S16
This Item was Sold on 7 June 2022
for $300
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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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This strip laminated hook was made in 1979 out of White Oak. This one is a very rare offset laminated hook. Al made these by gluing two blanks together and then planning the thickness down to the same thickness as the standard hook. The result is a much stiffer and stronger boomerang that can take more throwing abuse. This is one of the first offset laminated hooks made by Al. Only a few offset laminated hooks were made and they usually had a number stamped in the lift arm weight beginning with the letter "O". This one does not have the stamped identification number. It is signed, dated 1979 and the words " offset laminated Oak " was added above the signature. Both blades tips have a full lead weight and the elbow has a half weight. This hook was part of Al's personal collection. It is in excellent condition. I acquired it directly from Al in 1986. As a lefty, I am unable to throw this hook and achieve full performance, but Al did throw it several times and it was a very nice flyer with a flight range of 80-100 metres. It has been in my collection box since 1986. A choice and very rare 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. |
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