Bing has records of his boards, and is very cool about sharing it.
I asked about my '67 pintail lightweight and had a birth certificate within 24 hours. Mike Eaton shape.
Otherwise, you’ll get close which is close enough for most of us. Board models evolved but with overlaps and customs adding to the confusion of exact dates.
Don’t know your budget, but you should be able to get a very good rider for much less than a new shape, though the closer you get to pristine the more your liklihood of paying more than a new board. I picked up very clean '67 Ekstrom for 600 last year, maybe an 8+, and a cleanish Bing Pintail LW for 400, needing a bit of ding repair work. Check Craigslist, of course, or ask on the Jamboards forum where a lot of East Coasters have collections and know of used boards. Or go to the Cheaterfive site if you want very, very clean but full price options!
I’m not sure what year Challenger East Surfboards came to NJ, my guess would be 1964 or 1965. They had a big impact on East Coast Surfboard building. I would say that in that time they were making the best boards on the east coast. very well crafted and thoughtful shapes. Carl Tinker West, was orginaly from southren Calif worked with Bill Bahn and Bill McCleary both outstanding craftsmen at Challenger Surfboards in San Diego. Not sure of the whole story But Tinker opened a Branch of Challenger in NJ to save the shipping cost of boards made in Califorina going to the east coast. At some point Jim Phillips started working for Tinker, Jim is now known as one of the Masters of hand shaped Boards. There has been a very Nice Challenger East for sale on NJ Craigs List for sometime now. Tinker Is still in NJ He might be able to give some insight as to what year it was built. As well as advise on the repairs needed.
A Hannon would be an excellent choice being of Long Island origin. Their numbering system was second to none and the late 60’s boards are excellent vintage riders. Example shaped in 67 board number 275 of that year 10’ long
"66 was the year Tinker recruited me to come try out as a shaper, was I in for boot camp, Tinker was an R. Lee Ermy drill instructor when it came to being taught to shape. He made me toss the bad habits, i:e doing most of the work with a Surform, showed me how to find twists, bumps etc.
But 2 years later I was getting to the point of being close to wearing his shoes, leap forwad to 2015, I now had the master in MY shaping room and turned him loose on foam for the first time in 41 years. Tinker was a bit rusty for the first few moments, but started picking up the pace. I baby sat the shapes through the Bing glass shop, got them packed /shipped / safely to his shop in Highlands.
I’m hoping he can get loose to come out again for another run of his master pieces.
…vey good; I can add that many shapers earn a big % of success to the glass shops…
in HPSB niche to the marketing and to have couple of great surfers.
If that not happening, you can sit there with all your great shapes without to many sells
