Dunlop blades

Was going through the pile of junk and old clubs in the garage and came across a set of those clubs which neighbours/friends/relatives give you when they find out you play golf.  Buried in a batch from my neighbour are a set (3I to SW) of Dunlop Maxflite blades, probably 70's from the age of the donor.  I know that Dunlop now make clubs at the 'budget' end of the market but are/were these any good?

First thing I noticed was how small the face is and the difference in face angles.  The seven iron is almost the same as my current 8... 

Are those the ones with what looks like a line of Dots along the edge.

Dunlop "Maxfli" Irons were the Top of the Range Model and "Blue Flash" at the other end.

They're actually called Maxflite (big lettering on the back), have tried searching but everything comes up with Maxfli in conjunction with Dunlop.

Stumped so far. 

Tim,

I've got the full set of Golf Mags from the 70's. I'll take a look.

At the beginning of the 70's all Clubmakers had Names tied to them, Dunlop had Tony Jacklin and Peter Thomson. They dropped the "Names" about 1975 about the same time they became International Sports along with Slazenger and later John Letters.

Still at School in the 70's. I take it that was night school David!

Tim,

I've had a quick look and in 1977 "London Golf Centre" were advertising them at £135 against a Normal price of £198. That was for 4woods & 9irons.

 I was playing at that time and Dunlop were regarded as a decent club. I won the annual medal with a set I borrowed from Steve Snazel at Gotts Park circa 1976 (my clubs were v down market Max Faulkner.

What brand were they with the Max Faulkner signature, Patrick, as in the mid sixties he was signed up to a little known company which manufactured excellent blades from a factory in Newington Butts. South London. The company was called the "Castle Equipment Company" and I owned a set of theirs with the Max Faulkner  signature. Excellent clubs they were too.

"I've got the full set of Golf Mags from the 70's. I'll take a look."

!!! 

Golf Illustrated - Golf International - Golf World - Golf Monthly & Par Golf. All the Golf Mags of that time Andy.

Ah David, you were talking about golf mags!!!  

Russ

 John, all I know was they had the great man's name on them. I knew v. little about clubs and bought them second hand. I was off about 16 and blades I think were the only type of club about then. They were probably too good for my ability but the price must've been right. Shortly after, the 'weighted' clubs came in (Ryder clubs have been recently mentioned) and then the Lynx explosion happened followed by Ping. I went for the Titleist pro 100's which I thought were the bees knees.

David - just had a look on the on-line inflation calculator and £135 equates to £969 today, full price of £198 is £1421!  I know that the rise of the far eastern manufacturers has slashed prices, but that seems an awful lot for a set of clubs back then.  Got any other prices for sets for comparison?

Tim,

From "London Golf Centre" in the same Edition of Golf Illustrated.

MacGregor MT's        200.00  for  150.00         MacGregor VIP       354.00  for  254.00

Ram Accubar            325.00  for  199.00         Ryder MK II          243.00  for  179.00

To give other items

DUNLOP 65 Golf Balls were 60p each

4-Bed House in Old Hunstanton could be got for £30,000

Golf, Room with Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner at Gatton Manor was on offer at £15.50 per day

The Golf Illustrated itself cost 20p and the top wage at a Golf Club was £3,000pa.

Those prices seem to tie up, £215k for a house and £105 for a golf and b&b package.  The clubs certainly not top of the range then - mind you with a Dunlop 65 at £4.50 a shot no wonder it was seen as an elitist game.  Couldn't have afforded it on my apprentice wage at the time, £13 a week!

 Tim, golf gear was relatively a lot more expensive then. You may remember Peter Allis saying in his day you went out to find a ball and then you played. Golf balls did cost a fortune compared with today.

Never heard of Brown & Son, Keith but that does not mean that they didn't exist as a club manufacturer. My Max Faulkners were made by the Castle Equipment Company, London and I purchased them new in 1960.

Since this discussion started I have come across a number of Dunlop Clubs in Media form. They had 'BLUE FLASH - MAXPOWER - MAXFLITE & MAXFLI Australian Blade. Dunlop used to give clubs to young up and coming amateurs at the time, get picked for your Country or Great Britain & Ireland and you had the choice of which. Most went for the Maxfli Australian Blade.

TheLyth

Lyth you are now worrying me, I had all the copies of Playboy and Penthouse through the 70's and I couldn't reach the top shelf then !!