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KOREX VIBRA FREE CENTRE COURT MIDSIZE GRAPHITE 100 TENNIS RACQUET ULTRA RARE!!!
Estimated price for orientation: 30 $
Category: Rares
Class:
Description Brand: Korex Country/Region of Manufacture: Korea, Republic of MPN: Does Not Apply Model: Centre Court Grip Size: 4 5/8"
For your consideration: Up for auction we have a real "Unicorn/Mermaid" of a tennis tennis racquet. This is an ultra rare to find, vintage, Korex, Vibra Free Centre Court, midsize graphite tennis racquet The basic racquet measurements are as follows: Total Length: 27 inches Total Head Length: 12 inches Total Head Width: 9 inches Grip Size: 4 3/8 inches...please note>>>this is a "big" 4 3/8"...it is almost really a 4 1/2"...it kinda splits the middle on those two sizes.
Racquet Weight: 12.8 ouncesSo here is the interesting story...or part of it...about this very rare bird of a racquet.Back in the late 70's an American inventor named Bob Shomo developed a folding bicycle for a large Korean sporting goods manufacturer name Korex. They were big in the bicycle and golf equipment markets. They expressed interest to Mr. Shomo in getting into the booming tennis equipment market, and so Bob designed and patented this vibration free racquet for them, which they accepted and then made. The design trick of this racquet...Vibra Free...was that Mr. Shomo thinned/slimmed the racquet frame/handle area way down, then wrapped it with shock absorbing material, then put a hard plastic sheath over that material, then the normal leather grip. The racquet frame/handle was designed to absorb the impact shock. Korex made these racquets for a few years in the late 70's/early 80's and then discontinued production, and released the design and patent back to Mr. Shomo.Mr. Shomo then shopped the design to Wilson, and gave them the spec's, test data, and a few racquets to examine. Wilson liked what they saw and reached an agreement with Mr. Shomo to produce the design under the Wilson name. But just before production was to begin, Wilson had a management shakeup, and the new management in charge of the group handling Mr. Shomo's racquet design decided to challenge Mr. Shomo's patent, and produce the racquet under a new patent of their own, by making a slight change in the shock absorbing handle design. Wilson produced the racquet in the mid 2000's calling it the Aire Shell model. Mr. Shomo contested the patent infringment, but I do not know what became of that litigation.
So there you have it...what little I know about this interesting little "racquet from the shadows of time and place". It is a very simple and very elegant looking racquet, nothing fancy, but very nicely made and finished, with very very high quality materials. At 12.8 ounces, this racquet is medium/heavy by todays standards...this was on the light side in it's era..., and has a really nice, very balanced feel...AND...it does absorb impact shock very very well! It is a very smooth playing racquet, the kind of racquet that would respond really well to a very classic older school stroke style...think Arthur Ashe...or these days...Mr. Federer. If you belong to a club, and have a lot of racquet nerd friends there...this would be a heck of a racquet to take to play at "Vintage Racquet Night" at the club. I guarantee you will be the" only kid on your block" with one of these {;-).
This is a low key, and very elegant looking racquet as well! This racquet is used, but is in really excellent condition, showing just light signs of use or wear. Be sure to see the condition box up in the first part of this auction description, for a more in depth description of the condition.
If you love rare and little known racquets...this is a real gem!
The racquet comes with it's original full length lightly padded cover. Please be sure to check out all of the pictures! Please check out my other items...Thanks! I accept Paypal, and payment is to be received within 2 days of the auction ending. Email me with any questions. Bidders with zero or negative feedback, please contact me prior to bidding or your bids will be cancelled. Shipping for this item, in the continental United States, will be via USPS Priority Mail at a cost of $15.00, which includes USPS delivery confirmation. THIS ITEM IS FOR SALE TO THE CONTINENTAL USA...THE LOWER 48 STATES...AND TO ALASKA, HAWAII, AND PUERTO RICO. NO INTERNATIONAL SALES ARE ALLOWED FOR THIS ITEM.
Thank you for looking at my item, and best of luck to you! Very Best Regards, lilbarginbug
Description
| Brand: | Korex | Country/Region of Manufacture: | Korea, Republic of |
| MPN: | Does Not Apply | Model: | Centre Court |
| Grip Size: | 4 5/8" |
For your consideration: Up for auction we have a real "Unicorn/Mermaid" of a tennis tennis racquet. This is an ultra rare to find, vintage, Korex, Vibra Free Centre Court, midsize graphite tennis racquet The basic racquet measurements are as follows: Total Length: 27 inches Total Head Length: 12 inches Total Head Width: 9 inches Grip Size: 4 3/8 inches...please note>>>this is a "big" 4 3/8"...it is almost really a 4 1/2"...it kinda splits the middle on those two sizes.
Racquet Weight: 12.8 ouncesSo here is the interesting story...or part of it...about this very rare bird of a racquet.Back in the late 70's an American inventor named Bob Shomo developed a folding bicycle for a large Korean sporting goods manufacturer name Korex. They were big in the bicycle and golf equipment markets. They expressed interest to Mr. Shomo in getting into the booming tennis equipment market, and so Bob designed and patented this vibration free racquet for them, which they accepted and then made. The design trick of this racquet...Vibra Free...was that Mr. Shomo thinned/slimmed the racquet frame/handle area way down, then wrapped it with shock absorbing material, then put a hard plastic sheath over that material, then the normal leather grip. The racquet frame/handle was designed to absorb the impact shock. Korex made these racquets for a few years in the late 70's/early 80's and then discontinued production, and released the design and patent back to Mr. Shomo.Mr. Shomo then shopped the design to Wilson, and gave them the spec's, test data, and a few racquets to examine. Wilson liked what they saw and reached an agreement with Mr. Shomo to produce the design under the Wilson name. But just before production was to begin, Wilson had a management shakeup, and the new management in charge of the group handling Mr. Shomo's racquet design decided to challenge Mr. Shomo's patent, and produce the racquet under a new patent of their own, by making a slight change in the shock absorbing handle design. Wilson produced the racquet in the mid 2000's calling it the Aire Shell model. Mr. Shomo contested the patent infringment, but I do not know what became of that litigation.
So there you have it...what little I know about this interesting little "racquet from the shadows of time and place". It is a very simple and very elegant looking racquet, nothing fancy, but very nicely made and finished, with very very high quality materials. At 12.8 ounces, this racquet is medium/heavy by todays standards...this was on the light side in it's era..., and has a really nice, very balanced feel...AND...it does absorb impact shock very very well! It is a very smooth playing racquet, the kind of racquet that would respond really well to a very classic older school stroke style...think Arthur Ashe...or these days...Mr. Federer. If you belong to a club, and have a lot of racquet nerd friends there...this would be a heck of a racquet to take to play at "Vintage Racquet Night" at the club. I guarantee you will be the" only kid on your block" with one of these {;-).
This is a low key, and very elegant looking racquet as well! This racquet is used, but is in really excellent condition, showing just light signs of use or wear. Be sure to see the condition box up in the first part of this auction description, for a more in depth description of the condition.
If you love rare and little known racquets...this is a real gem!
The racquet comes with it's original full length lightly padded cover. Please be sure to check out all of the pictures! Please check out my other items...Thanks! I accept Paypal, and payment is to be received within 2 days of the auction ending. Email me with any questions. Bidders with zero or negative feedback, please contact me prior to bidding or your bids will be cancelled. Shipping for this item, in the continental United States, will be via USPS Priority Mail at a cost of $15.00, which includes USPS delivery confirmation. THIS ITEM IS FOR SALE TO THE CONTINENTAL USA...THE LOWER 48 STATES...AND TO ALASKA, HAWAII, AND PUERTO RICO. NO INTERNATIONAL SALES ARE ALLOWED FOR THIS ITEM.
Thank you for looking at my item, and best of luck to you! Very Best Regards, lilbarginbug
Racquet Weight: 12.8 ouncesSo here is the interesting story...or part of it...about this very rare bird of a racquet.Back in the late 70's an American inventor named Bob Shomo developed a folding bicycle for a large Korean sporting goods manufacturer name Korex. They were big in the bicycle and golf equipment markets. They expressed interest to Mr. Shomo in getting into the booming tennis equipment market, and so Bob designed and patented this vibration free racquet for them, which they accepted and then made. The design trick of this racquet...Vibra Free...was that Mr. Shomo thinned/slimmed the racquet frame/handle area way down, then wrapped it with shock absorbing material, then put a hard plastic sheath over that material, then the normal leather grip. The racquet frame/handle was designed to absorb the impact shock. Korex made these racquets for a few years in the late 70's/early 80's and then discontinued production, and released the design and patent back to Mr. Shomo.Mr. Shomo then shopped the design to Wilson, and gave them the spec's, test data, and a few racquets to examine. Wilson liked what they saw and reached an agreement with Mr. Shomo to produce the design under the Wilson name. But just before production was to begin, Wilson had a management shakeup, and the new management in charge of the group handling Mr. Shomo's racquet design decided to challenge Mr. Shomo's patent, and produce the racquet under a new patent of their own, by making a slight change in the shock absorbing handle design. Wilson produced the racquet in the mid 2000's calling it the Aire Shell model. Mr. Shomo contested the patent infringment, but I do not know what became of that litigation.
So there you have it...what little I know about this interesting little "racquet from the shadows of time and place". It is a very simple and very elegant looking racquet, nothing fancy, but very nicely made and finished, with very very high quality materials. At 12.8 ounces, this racquet is medium/heavy by todays standards...this was on the light side in it's era..., and has a really nice, very balanced feel...AND...it does absorb impact shock very very well! It is a very smooth playing racquet, the kind of racquet that would respond really well to a very classic older school stroke style...think Arthur Ashe...or these days...Mr. Federer. If you belong to a club, and have a lot of racquet nerd friends there...this would be a heck of a racquet to take to play at "Vintage Racquet Night" at the club. I guarantee you will be the" only kid on your block" with one of these {;-).
This is a low key, and very elegant looking racquet as well! This racquet is used, but is in really excellent condition, showing just light signs of use or wear. Be sure to see the condition box up in the first part of this auction description, for a more in depth description of the condition.
If you love rare and little known racquets...this is a real gem!
The racquet comes with it's original full length lightly padded cover. Please be sure to check out all of the pictures! Please check out my other items...Thanks! I accept Paypal, and payment is to be received within 2 days of the auction ending. Email me with any questions. Bidders with zero or negative feedback, please contact me prior to bidding or your bids will be cancelled. Shipping for this item, in the continental United States, will be via USPS Priority Mail at a cost of $15.00, which includes USPS delivery confirmation. THIS ITEM IS FOR SALE TO THE CONTINENTAL USA...THE LOWER 48 STATES...AND TO ALASKA, HAWAII, AND PUERTO RICO. NO INTERNATIONAL SALES ARE ALLOWED FOR THIS ITEM.
Thank you for looking at my item, and best of luck to you! Very Best Regards, lilbarginbug