Backyard Beauty

AUSTRALIAN

Manufacturer: Unknown - Backyarder
Shaper: Unknown - Possibly Rod Ball?
Design: Swallow Tail
Year: 1970-73
Dimensions: 7'2"

I love backyard experimental boards and this is as good as they come.  Quite possibly shaped by Rod Ball with a great high aspect Greenough style fin.  However, the best feature is the 1" concave in the bottom over 90% of the length of the board - radical.

Board was purchased at Mick Mock's 2010 Sydney Surf Auction and was in all original condition.  It has since been restored by Jacksons (Cronulla).  This involved some repairs incl colour matching, the discovery of the swallow tail - it had been covered up with a period square tail (repair or just a change?) and finally a polish to make it shine.

I have since discovered who the previous owner was and been in contact with him back in Oz.  It's been great to do this and discuss some of the features with a very knowledgeable collector.

MP photos

Along with boards I also love the classic photography from the period and have a fair collection of limited edition prints from some of the most famous photographers of the time.

I also love to find pictures on the net and I plan to share some of the best with you.

For starters here are some shots of MP doing his thing, his own way and better than everyone else before him and most since...............

  

The start

So the time has come to try my hand at a blog............

The intention is to share details of my collection of vintage surfboards originating from Australia, the UK and Hawaii.

I've been collecting for around 14 years now and after much buying, selling and buying again have settled on both a specific period and style of boards that I love.

My time is effectively 1967/8 - Mid 1970's so that's transitional to short board revolution and then some twinnies for fun.

It will take some time to get everything up and I'm only planning the release of one 'board' at a time.  No reason behind the order they will appear - just how I feel on the day.

So first up:


Manufacturer: Morning Star

AUSTRALIAN

Shaper: Unknown
Design: Swallow Tail
Year: 1975
Dimensions: 6'10"

This board is in exceptional original condition. Comfortably a 9/10. Was purchased in mid 2000's in Sydney.

For more information on the board please see the link below:

http://www.surfresearch.com.au/00000208.html