“Original wooden form for the Prototype Independent baseplate, circa 1977.” I wonder how they got the raised text on the baseplate looking so clean. [Source: independenttrucks on Instagram]

Some people find the retro fetish tipping the scale more towards “annoy” than “skate,” but I’m all for it, just as I like the new plastic banana boards. I’m not sure if boards like this ever actually existed though, that shape looks like a direct copy of 60’s era Nash boards, and while they did have that style trucks with composite wheels, I would had guessed urethane wheels would have first appeared on a little bit of a bigger or wider board. Someone (slightly) older than me should clear this up. In any case, these are really nice looking decks, even though I can’t really get behind a name like Shakastics. However, urethane is for wussies. Part of the reason I like these so much is because I am prototyping a steel wheeled version in my garage right now. And you think I’m joking… – Thanks to Seth Levy for the tip.

No, it’s not an ad for safety equipment. It’s Don Draper’s worst nightmare, Stayfree Maxi-pads tackles the skateboard set. What a break for this young stuntwoman. The skateboard says 70’s but the fashions are looking a little early 80’s. The seller of this item probably could have gotten a lot more for if they had instead listed the Farah Fawcett Shampoo advert that was on the back. Since Farrah’s Faberge shampoo was launched in 1978, this advert couldn’t have been much later than that.

This weird looking plastic skateboard comes from Italy, and it’s model or brand name is Ringo. I (obviously) like collecting weird little plastic skateboards, and this one is certainly worthy at an opening bid of US $6.47, but it’s the $40 in shipping that is making me pass. From the bottom it almost looks like a Makaha. Dai un’occhiata a questo articolo. – Thanks to Matthijs for the tip.

If you’re going to bootleg someone’s graphics, why not rip off two companies at the same time? In this case, a later era Rob Roskopp and Sims Screamer second generation, which looks like it was taken from the band the Screamers in the first place. Actually, I think the second generation Sims Screamer was totally different. This might just be an appropriation of the band’s graphic. Where do you get one of these? A French version of Craig’s List? Try Leboncoin.fr. – Thanks again to Jerome, (the French Matthijs)

Element Case (no relation) is releasing a handful of new iPhone cases with skate graphics on them. It’s basically one of three different cases with what are essentially removable hard plastic (lexan) stickers on the outside. Base prices range from $40 to $150 (!!!) depending on how high tech you want it. The more expensive ones actually look better (tip to tail, not truck to truck) but who has $100-$150 to blow on a case for a phone? Not me, dear readers. They do look nice though, and who would have guessed Pineapple Designs would have been one of the offerings? I’m still patiently waiting for the call from the lucky manufacturer who wants to license Skate and Annoy designs. How about a nice iPad case with a giant GVK face on the back? I wonder if Staab is sharing Tony hawk’s business manger. Seems like he’s got more product out now then he ever did in his heyday. Wait, maybe this is his heyday. Speaking of heyday… Holy Frank! It’s Billy Ruff in the product video? I haven’t heard anything about him in ages. (Wait.. I’m still watching.) An appearance by Brad Bowman and Steve Caballero too, plus manufacturing…

I wouldn’t wish these Rector knee pads on my worst enemy, but it’s kind of tempting to have a brand new sweat-free pair on the wall. I remember being so stoked on these the day I replaced my soft padded volleyball-style kneepads for a fresh pair of Rectors. They came in a nice plastic bag with a hard handle that had locking tabs. $15 bucks is about what these are actually worth, with historical/nostalgia value making up the greater part of their worth. Get some at Marcs Board Shop.

Ping has boxes of negatives from various sessions during the golden age of big pipe skating in various desert areas of the U.S. He’s slowly scanning and cleaning them up. You can check out the tip of the iceberg at Desert Pipes Galleries.

There’s more than one paleolithic skatepark out there waiting to be re-sessioned. This one near St. Jean de Luz, France might require a mountain board with some 100mm 55a wheels to get rolling. The asphalt looks very pitted. Pretty mild terrain for a skatepark, even by 70’s standard. Maybe the bigger stuff is under the dirt. Check it out on, errrr… FatBMX.

The Sidewalk Shop is an excellent place if you’ve got a fetish for pre-urethane wheeled skateboards and/or crows. I only wish they’d credit the source of the old photos and let you enlarge the images of the old boards. Definitely worth spending your time there.