Condition 9
10: New
9: Mint
8: Excellent
7: Good
6: Fair
5: Average
4: Below Average
3: Poor | Rarity 9
10: Impossibly rare
9: Extremely rare
8: Hard to find
7: Fairly rare
6: Uncommon
5: Common
<4: Big Seller
9: Mint
8: Excellent
7: Good
6: Fair
5: Average
4: Below Average
3: Poor
9: Extremely rare
8: Hard to find
7: Fairly rare
6: Uncommon
5: Common
<4: Big Seller
– – – – – – – – – – –
About This Racket
In 1947 Jack Kramer began working with Wilson as Advisory Staff. But don’t get too excited they offered him $75 per week. Kramer had some ideas but he didn’t really like the Wilson Don Budge. So he filed down the butt of his Don Budge Autograph racket. He directed the factory to remove a few layers of laminated wood which he said would improve the “feel”. The “feel” of wood, was the big seller before 1980. That experience led to a change in the eventual best-selling Jack Kramer Autograph, although even Kramer says it was originally too stiff.
Together they released the Wilson Jack Kramer Autograph in 1948/1949 and made it up until 1984. Various imprints were released and this may have been a copy from a Taiwan factory from around 1970. The overall color scheme was a classic combination of cream, wood, gold, brown, black,and it achieved astronomical sales of perhaps up to 10 million units claimed to be the #1 selling Wilson racket of all time. In 1968 they also made the Jack Kramer Pro Staff which became the first of a long series of successful Pro Staffs. However in the late 70s a number of manufacturers most notably Prince (Classic / Woodie) and later Dunlop found the secret to better tennis especially at the beginner level: a larger head size. It had always been difficult to make a wooden racket hoop large due to risk of distortion which would at least double at 85″ vs 65″. The trick was to use better additives in the lamination such as glass fibre, graphite and carbon. It is a shame that these Mid series were never taken too seriously when they were in fact a big advance. In the early 80s Dunlop would discover this with the McEnroe Mid series
Historic Gallery
Specifications (đź‘‹ not yet accurate….check back soon)
Measurements | Value | Performance | Score |
---|---|---|---|
Weight | 394g | Power | 33/100 |
Head Size & Length | 68sq in | 27inch | Control | 28/100 |
Balance | 8pt head light (220) | Spin | 26/100 |
Grip | Perforated leather | Handling | 30/100 |
Strings | 18 x 20 | gut | Comfort | 49/100 |
Flexibility | RA 49 | Consistency | 33/100 |
Gallery
About Wilson
Wilson Sporting Goods Company traces its origins to the “Schwarzschild & Sulzberger” meatpacking company, which later became “Sulzberger & Son’s”. Founded in 1913 to utilize animal by-products, the company initially manufactured tennis racket strings, violin strings, and surgical sutures. By 1914, it expanded into producing baseball shoes and tennis racquets. Thomas E. Wilson, a former meatpacking president, was appointed in 1915, renaming the company “Thomas E. Wilson Company”. He steered the company into producing a variety of sporting goods, including footballs and basketballs.Wilson’s entry into the sporting goods industry was marked by innovation and strategic partnerships. In the 1920s, the company introduced the Ray Schalk catcher’s mitt and collaborated with Knute Rockne on football equipment. In 1931, it was renamed “Wilson Sporting Goods Company”. The company developed the Wilson Duke football, which became the official NFL ball in 1941, a partnership that continues to this day.Wilson’s influence in tennis began in earnest in the 1950s with the partnership with Jack Kramer, resulting in the Jack Kramer Autograph racquet. This racquet became one of the best-selling models of its time, used by numerous champions including Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King. The 1960s saw further innovation with the introduction of the first steel racquet, the Wilson T2000, endorsed by Jimmy Connors.Wilson continued to innovate with the release of the Chris Evert Autograph racquet in 1975 and the introduction of wide body racquets in the 1980s. The company’s tennis balls became the official balls for the US Open in 1979 and the Australian Open in 2006. In 2021, Wilson returned as the official game ball supplier for the NBA and WNBA.
YEAR | EVENT |
---|---|
1868 | Thomas E. Wilson born in Ontario, Canada. |
1914 | Wilson Sporting Goods founded; first racquet crafted. |
1915 | Thomas E. Wilson appointed president; company renamed “Thomas E. Wilson Company”. |
1917 | Wilson’s catalogue included 28 racquet models. |
1922 | Introduced Ray Schalk catcher’s mitt, became the standard. |
1925 | Renamed “Wilson-Western Sporting Goods” after distribution agreement. |
1931 | Renamed “Wilson Sporting Goods Company”. |
1935 | Released original leather tennis handle wrap, Mahogany Leather Grip. |
1941 | Wilson Duke football becomes official ball of NFL. |
1946 | Becomes official game ball supplier for BAA (NBA predecessor). |
1950s | Officially partnered with Jack Kramer; created Jack Kramer Autograph racquet. |
1958 | Thomas E. Wilson passed away. |
1967 | Introduced first steel racquet, Wilson T2000. |
1969 | Released Billie Jean King Autograph racquet with Strata-Bow technology. |
1975 | Introduced Chris Evert Autograph racquet. |
1979 | Wilson tennis balls first used at the U.S. Open. |
1987 | Introduced Profile racquet, first wide body racquet. |
1990 | Introduced Hammer technology for recreational players. |
2006 | Wilson tennis balls began use at the Australian Open. |
2021 | Became official game ball supplier for NBA and WNBA. |