What is this thing?
Makaha Commander, allegedly from 1960, but probably not. The construction looks to be fiberglass or epoxy of some sort, maybe bakelite? It’s not nothing super interesting except for… What the heck is that thing on the rear axle? Bigger view after the jump.
I’m guessing that’s a skate tool stuck on the nut that the seller is including in the auction
Riding with clay wheels must be like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Nock-off spinner? He he.
My dad bought me that same red Makaha model for Christmas 1965 or 1966 at macy’s in san jose, ca.. I was able to do all the tricks of that era: handstand, headstand, frog stand, front frogstand, 360’s, coffin, kick-outs,switch ends,rear wheelie, front nose wheelie,Paul Strauch stretch,bar jump,etc.. If i’m not mistaken, the original wheels were black and had the blue Makaha sticker at the rear.The board was a little heavy, you had to get used to the clay wheels. edges of the board got dinged up easily. Was made of a resin coating with a pressed particle board center. I loved that board….
I have one of these, bought it in the mid 60’s, still looks pretty good but i’m looking for a blue Makaha sticker, mine got rubbed off years ago. Still has the Makaha International clay wheels.
About the same time the Makaha model came out, Hobie had a tan plastic skateboard. It was made of the same type plastic material as school chairs. My friend and his brother had the Hobie board and one of them snapped in half. Much lighter than the Makaha. These boards are very rare now.
It’s definitely a makaha. I got one probably around 1965 it was the exact same color. My friend Calvin had a yellow one that was the same deck. I’m not sure why these don’t appear as one of the products on the makaha site but that site leaves much to be desired in my opinion..