I just picked up this vintage Hansen a few days ago and was hoping someone here would be able to tell me a bit more about the board. Unfortunately there does not appear to be a serial number on the tailblock or stringer, or if there was one it is so faded now I cannot read it.
For me, ‘‘the tailblock tells the tale’’, on this board. In or around late may of 1965, we stopped using a Balsa strip between the GLASS TAILBLOCK, and the foam where it mounts to the board. The fin in it’s present form, appears to be a reshape of the original ‘‘standard’’ D fin. This was commonly done to existing boards, as higher aspect ratio fins came into vogue. So, my conclusion is, that your board dates from sometime in 1964, to early/mid 1965. I’m sure there is a number on the board, but every so often, one of the shapers would forget to put the number on the board. Me among them. I hope that is helpful.
My first board was a second hand Hansen. It had no tailblock but it did have a fin that was the reverse colors of this one. Black core and white sides. I also modified the fin similar to what is seen here. It had a typical D fin and I reshaped it by hand with a hacksaw and sandpaper. Lots of work when you have no power tools.