I have a late 60’s/early 70’s (?) Hansen Master 8, and am having trouble figuring out details, and possible value. Due to the opaque red hot coat, it’s really hard to see the board number, but I altered with the contrast in the photo below and it looks like it says “#20540 8-0” which confuses me, because the number alone seems to indicate 1968/1969, but then heard that the Master 8 was only made during 1971. I’m confused. could anyone help me out? Mr. Thrailkill?
I suspect that the 1971 date is probably correct. I left Hansen in 1969, and board sizes were not commonly put on the boards, at that time. I do not recall anything called a ‘‘Master 8’’, though there was a ‘‘Master’’ model in common production during the years that I shaped there. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.
I’d never heard of the “Master 8” before this. But, the shape and length of that board tells me it isn’t as new as ‘71. By that point, you’d have been hard pressed to find a board that was 8’, and the outline looks very much like the early Masters that were over 9’. With no other info or indicators, if someone showed me that board my guess would be late 1968. 8’ was a pretty common length at that time.
The multi hole fin, (for adjustability, fore/aft) came into use after I left, sometime in 1970, or 1971. So, If original to the board, it places the board in the 1970/71 window.
My last custom longboard before the ‘revolution’ was a 9’8 Hansen Master shaped in 68’, ordered from and delivered to the Pedro Point Surf Shop in Pacifica, CA. Great all around ride, a very neutral do anything board. Pleases me to think you may have shaped it, Bill.
BTW, that board appears to be around 8’ long, so perhaps just an 8’ Master, hence the badging…by 71’ the short board revolution was in full swing, and some of the longboard builders had responded by merely shrinking their longboards, instead of going down to the 6’ - 7’ lengths most of us were riding by then…either way, clean looking ride…
These Masters was built during the transition era. Lcc is correct about the 8 being the length. I've seen them in 7'6 and 7' as well. Every one I've seen has been a pintail. I have a 7' and it is almost as flat as an Alaia. Perhaps mine was shaped from the middle of a longboard blank so not much rocker was possible.
Well, Bill T should know since he worked for Hansen. But, the fact it’s an eight footer surprises me. By 1970 people were so committed to shorter boards that anything over about 7-6 was considered obsolete. I’m surprised to learn that Hansen was still doing boards in that style by 70-71.
In 1971 it was not common to get orders for 8 foot boards, but it did happen. At Surf Systems, and Surfboards Hawaii, we got a few such orders. Two or three of the first 18 boards I did on contract for Lightning Bolt were 8 footers. Again, this was in 1971, and not very common. At the same time we were starting to get our first sub 6 foot board orders. Sizes were all over the place. Hansen had a far reaching dealer network, and some geographic areas lagged behind the popular wave of smaller board sizes. It was a time when things were changing on an almost weekly basis.
" It was a time when things were changing on an almost weekly basis."
literally…in the space of a year, my boards went from 7’6 to 6’6 to 5’10…all from longboards bought on the super cheap, no planer, working that sureform like an over caffeinated beaver…fun times
Don’t recall a T or not, Bill, but since the board worked so well, must have had one…
I will tell you the exact year of the Hansen Master 8 because I bought it brand new in the summer of 1968. It was my 1st board and baby blue. I still have it and only my kids and I have ever used it. It has been in the garage all these years. I have no idea what they are worth but would be curious. I absolutely dont intend to sell it for any amount of money, but am just curious. I was sweet sixteen and my burthday present from a shop in Houston called “Locked In” at Bunker Hill and Katy Freeway. It isnt there now though. It is 8 ft. long and shorter boards were just coming in that were 7ft. etc. I wanted the longer one because I wanted it to be easier to ride.
