Item TB73
This Item was Sold on 28 November
2006 for $119
Other collectable boomerangs for sale can be found on the
Collectable , Hardwood
and Art Boomerang web links.
Historical Pricing information for this item and similar
collectable boomerangs can be found on the Boomerang
Pricing Guide
Al Gerhards is one of America's most famous pioneers in
the development of long distance boomerangs. Al was an
active thrower, designer 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 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 back 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 is
displayed in Al's living room in a specially made holder
that also displays his world record "White Lightning"
hook. This boomerang is the "Weighted Standard Hook". The
serial number stamped on the lift arm weight is #70. The
hook is not signed or dated. It is made out of Red Oak
strips. This boomerang is in very good condition. The
laminations are totally intact, but the previous owner had
problems with the lead weights popping out, so the elbow
half weight and the lift arm weight has a heavy application
of epoxy on the surface to hold the weights in place. This
was a common problem with the earliest hooks and this one
certainly should be classified as a very early 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 this fine collectable
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.