The auction said this Black Knight skateboard appeared in a 1976 Montgomery Ward catalog. I would have thought that was an error towards being too late, but the copy says there are no loose bearings, which would imply precision bearings, so 1976 sounds reasonable after all. I had always thought the Black Knight boards were from the late 60’s or early 70’s. Maybe someone suckered the buyer at Wards into taking a bunch of dead weight NOS. Then there’s the “molded fiber wheels.” Composite wheels and closed bearings? That’s a rare combination.
9 comments
Michael
Having just moved to Eagle Rock CA. From Puerto Rico in the summer of 1968 the following summer (1969) for my birthday I received my first skateboard, The Black Night, complete with the infomous clay wheels. I’m 65 years old, and yes I still have it hanging on my garage wall. Found memories including my first broken arm at the age of 9.
Mark
I got my Black Knight in 72 or 73. I still have it as well. I painted it at some point but I did such a crappy job you can still the orginal paint.
Harman
I got one as a gift when I was 8, which would have been late 1976. They were still around.
David Kreutzer
I have to agree with Mike Le here . I had a Black knight skateboard in the late 60’s , reddish clay wheels . Did monkey wards have them in 76 ? Probably
Mike Le
In 1968 i as given my first and only skateboard as a birthday present. It was the Black Night and it came with clay wheels
Brian
I was thinking 1975. It was my first skateboard. Bought it from Montgomery Ward at the store. Wheels were awful. Got my free former a few weeks later and away I went.
kurteye
my black knight skate board had clay wheels and loose bearings. it was around 1974 and i think it was like the first production skate board.
CS
The Black Knight came out earlier as I skated my first pool on one before ’76. I have the scars to prove it…
Kilwag
Before we accept it as evidence, we’ll have to carbon date those scars.