I have this old Weber performer and I am trying to determine its manufacture date. The fin is a very nice replica but otherwise everything looks original including what I believe was called the Thunderbolt fin system. However, there is something unusual about the colors. It appears that the magenta tint on the bottom and rails was added after lamination. Does anyone know of any other Webbers where color tints we're added on top and not into the laminating resin?
Ohhhhkay, first off it's Wonder bolt, not Thunderbolt. They actually came in two sizes, the smaller ones are quite rare.
Next, while I have seen tinted hotcoats, I'm not 100% sure that's what it is. Looking at the photo and the tail, it's darker along the rail. The bottom is remarkably uniform, so either it isn't a hotcoat or the sander did an amazing job getting it precisely right.
Somebody could have added it later, the pinstripe isn't as precise as I'd expect on a Weber factory job.
hope that's of use
doc....
Doc is correct, it's called a wonderbolt. A Tom Morey invention that was used by Weber, Con, Morey Pope, and others.
Early Performers had glassed on fins. By 1966 they were using the wonderbolt. Waveset became the standard system on Webers by late 67 or so.
Hard to tell, but it looks like the board has a gloss coat. No way to determine if the tint is a second coat without seeing the board up close. I suspect it is not.
The original Perfomer label was black text on a red background, and just one word "Weberperformer". Second run boards had yellow and black text on a red background and two separate words "Weber Performer". So since this one has a wonderbolt box, but the later style label, it is a safe bet the board was made some time in 1967.
Original wonderbolt ad
wonderbolt2.jpg
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assorted
Thank you I replied don't know if I put it in the right place so please see above -or below!!
Original Performer label. This is one of two waterslide decals I've had since the 60s. I have a large and a small one.
weberCalLG.jpg
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assorted
thanks all, I Quoted the previous owner as to the name thunderbolt, As I thought the wonderbolt system was the bolt through the deck. I stand corrected. The yellow and black label info is consistent with the previous owners opinion that the board was purchased in 1967 as is. This also leads me to believe that for some reason the magenta was added after lamination, as you can see where it has chipped off or has been lightly sanded or rubbed off. Possibly in late 67 as long boards were getting harder to sell the color was added to make it more in time with the psychedelic era and more sellable-Who knows? New pics below show color chipping And I actually feel the edge of the magenta color. Notice in the picture of the nose where the magenta has rubbed back And also curious is the thin thin strip of background color showing through along the edge of the orange stringer color where it meets the wood- as if that orange stringer color was also added and there was a slight Mistake with the tape off
755C8BA1-05FB-4BC0-871F-D9AD0B637567.jpeg
895F188B-ECCD-4C9F-A3A4-555934D9591D.jpeg
These photos you added make it quite obvious that the color was added at some point. Why, when, and how? Who knows?
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assorted
Because I now know the person I acquired it from ( at no profit to him) got it from a good friend, who he knows bought it in 1967, as is, I'm going to trust that the color is "original " to that year. In the lamination-no. The "why" is the big question and one we can probably never know the answer to. That is why I originally asked if anyone knew of this happening to any comparable boards. I'm going to keep digging. Maybe I can find the name of the surf shop, likely in NY who sold it. Thanks for input
A friend of mine had a Natural Art board that was built in the late 70's early 80's that had a chip in the gloss coat and it appeared that the tint was in the gloss. You could see the lam coat as just the plain white of the foam. It struck me as odd at the time. Perhaps it's a long lost glassing secret.
Thanks, Had a conversation with a surf shop owner in Saint Augustine Florida who said he had knowledge of Weber and a couple different other brands in the late 60s doing an occasional tint in the hot coat. Looking at this Board and hearing about its history, I have to believe that was done here
Greg Loehr use to hang here. I believe that he owned Natural Art. Perhaps he will chime in.
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