eBay Watch: March 2008

Well, March was maybe the best month I’ve seen since I’ve started doing this column. I feature 43 items, of which 13 went for over $1,000. That’s got to be a record, but I’m not going back and looking through all of the old columns to validate. And two decks went for over $3,000.

Just for Randy, this month’s Baywatch is fueled by Hornsby cider and the rocking punk rock sound of The Carbonas. Have you been missing the Briefs recently? Then give the Carbonas a try. They’ll fix you right up. Their new album is available on iTunes, if you are interested.

By the way, thanks to everybody who writes in with kind words about the column. I appreciate all of your kind words. The fact that we get so many hits and so much feedback from all over the world is amazing, and it’s what keeps me doing it month after month. So let’s get to the meat.

60s, 70s, early 80s.

Let’s start this off with a bang. Here’s a one of a kind Alva leopard skin deck. I know how can this be one of a kind when you’ve seen it a million times, and it’s even been reissued? Because this was the promo model they used when they shot the original ads for it. It’s undrilled, and has a “sticker bottom for better quality of pic for magazine ads”. So it’s a piece of history and it looks great too. I love the violet logo across the leopard print. Rad. $2,500.

Let’s keep with the high prices. Yes, at first glance this Sims Doug DeMontmorency pro model from 1978 isn’t too impressive looking. It’s a kind of generic Sims wooden pig, right? Well, not exactly. I guess the 10” wide version of the Montmorency must be super rare, because the seller says it’s his second rarest board, and somebody must agree because it sold for $1,500. Just look at the size of those front wheel wells! They must go through about 5 plys!

And here’s another Sims pro model, this one being from a little later and it’s a whole lot cleaner. It’s a Mike Folmer model, once mounted but never ridden. Holy crap is that a clean looking deck. And it’s almost 30 years old too. That is nice. The one they have on AOS is similar but has a definite stinger shape, while this has cleaner lines. The seller thinks it might have been screened on the wrong shape, so maybe he’s right. Whatever the case, it went for $609.

And here’s another entry into the over 1 grand club. It’s a Powell Peralta Jay Smith “britelite” model from 1980. This was the original version of this graphic, the later version having the cross logo behind the splash graphic instead of the triple P logo as is shown here. The shape is different too: this one is more elongated, while they later went to the wider pig shape. While the deck is obviously used, the graphic is super clean: the rails, tail and nose bone did a great job protecting this deck. If you want see the original color, look where the risers were. $1,400.

Let’s call this the month of Sims, because here’s another. It’s a Sims Bert LaMar, complete with Tracker magnesium’s and Kryptonics CX-66s. Actually, the deck was a factory blank, lovingly restored by the seller with “professional” stickers and blue paint. It looks really good, but I’d feel strange parting with big cash for something that isn’t the real deal. Still, it looks great, at least from a distance. $660.

This Makaha complete looks like it was made yesterday, but I have to assume that it really is almost 40 years old. Apparently it was tried twice and then put away, but even so, I don’t t know anything that has been in a closet for 40 years that looks this good! It has clay wheels, and is apparently made of compressed fiberboard, but it sure looks like plastic. Now I know that Makaha reissued some boards, but I think they were all wood, nothing like this. It went for $500, so if it is a reissue, somebody will be pissed. I’m not saying it is, I’m just saying.

And here’s a Dogtown Jim Muir, complete with Megatron trucks and Powerflex 7s. You can’t really see it in this picture, but it has a lime green fade on the outside of the deck. It is complete with a wood tail guard and wood rails. There’s not much else to say really. $600.

And here’s more Sims stuff. Here’s a set of Sims Pure Juice wheels and they are in beautiful condition. The seller claims that they are “PURE SKATE PORN” and maybe he’s right. Wow. $730.

This amazes me. As you all know it’s a Kryptonics Salba k-beam from 1979. It’s well age, but in a good way: no major dings or scrapes, just some wear. But overall it’s a pretty generic looking deck, nothing too special about it. So I was amazed when it went for $1,009. There must be lots more 70s collectors out there these days, or was it because it’s a Salba?

Yawn, yet another Sims! However, I love the photographer’s take on this one though; more of you should get creative like this! We see the entire complete but in a new way. It’s a Sims Taperkick 44” long board, and the seller thinks that it is the Ed Economy model. It has Energy trucks and Sims Pure Juice wheels. $561.

Now this, this is something. It’s a Turner Summer Ski deck with Stroker trucks. Strokers are so rare that very few decks were drilled for them (the rear 2 holes are wider that the front ones), but apparently this one was, so that’s why the seller is selling it as a complete instead of selling the pieces separately. The Strokers are super clean, maybe the mintiest I’ve ever seen. Now I can’t talk to the rarity of this, but I do know that both alone are rare, so together it’s no surprise that this went for $1,535. Just dig those funky-ass trucks.

Mid 1980s

I was amazed when I watched this one go unsold for weeks. Yes it’s a Powell Peralta Lance Mountain “future primitive”, but this one is the super rare first version of the graphic. The main icon in the graphic is doing a layback air, and for some reason this was deemed as not acceptable or something. Actually it’s technically the 1.5 version of the first graphic. The true first one has a skater doing a finger flip air by the rear trucks, but it was replaced on this version by the skater doing the handplant. I’m not sure why? Anyway, this is still very rare, and like I say, I was amazed when it went unsold week after week. It ended up selling for $900, which seems like a real bargain to this reporter.

How much do well-worn rare decks go for? Well, funny you should ask. This weathered and beaten G&S Neil Blender sold for $350. If you look really carefully you can see yellow rails on this beast, but they really blend in with the background. It has no top graphic left, the graphic being covered up by a Venture sticker. Maybe the buyer had this colorway as a kid?

I don’t think I’ve ever featured a Powell Peralta Caballero “ban this” deck before, but I’ll swear they weren’t going for big $ before. Personally I think this graphic is horrendous: it looks like a rip-off of a Nash deck or something. And what’s with the shit-eating grin on the dragon? And the colorway sucks. Anyway, it went for a large $508.

One of these months I’m not going to feature any Grossos or Jessees, but I guess it won’t be this month. Yes, this is a Santa Cruz Jeff Grosso “toybox”. Yes this is a very popular graphic. Yes it’s a sweet colorway and it’s in great condition. Yes it’s mint. Still it doesn’t do much for me, but that screen-printing is pretty impressive. There’s some intricate stuff on there, no doubt. $1,594.

And here’s another entry to the “one grand and over” club and boy is it sweet. It’s a Powell Peralta Tommy Guerrero V8, his first graphic deck. The head honchos over there weren’t sold on this graphic however, and it was replaced in shortly order by the flaming dagger. Consequently the V8 is very rare, especially in this condition. The colorway is great too. You gotta love those boxed wheel wells. $1,300 seems about right.

And while skaters of my generation look up to Tommy Guerrero as a pioneer of street skating, the generation that followed looked up to Powell Peralta pro Frankie Hill as a street legend too. This is his first graphic, and is highly sought after. Obviously it’s not in the same league as the deck above, it still fetched a respectable $450. It’s a nice deck too; I really like the purple stain. It’s a mini and has been drilled for rails, but still looks great.

Santa Cruz Jeff Kendalls just keep going up and up. This is the “atom man” graphic, and it looks awesome in the red dip. This is a great example of this deck. Super clean. $810.

Who even knew that Town and Country had a pro team? Not I, I thought they just put out 70s looking generic geometric graphics, but I guess they did, because here’s a Ken Park deck. Isn’t eBay great? Let’s face it, back in the day, this would have been the deck that stayed on the wall for a year until the owner put it on sale for $25, and then the neighborhood ripper bought it because he needs something cheap for jump-ramp fodder. So let’s do the math, crap graphic + questionable company + mediocre pro = $455? Say what? Yup, $455. Well, I guess it is rare. How many have you ever seen?

Now this, this is something. Steve Saiz recently sold some of his old decks on eBay, and this is one of them. A Lance Mountain Future Primitive in a VERY unusual colorway. I’m not even sure if this was available to the public. I’ve never seen this colorway on a Powell Peralta before. $1,756.

Now how rare is this? It’s a Schmitt Stix Joe Lopes first graphic, autographed by Joe. It looks to be in great condition, and in a great colorway. I love how the yellow and orange graphic pop off of the white deck. This thing is awesome. $893.

I’m digging this too. It’s a 1988 Dogtown Mike Alba “temple” model. Again, the graphic screams off of the white dip. Never set up, gripped or ridden, but does have some minor storage marks. $610.

Did G&S even have an artist (Besides Blender) do their crappy graphics from the early days? I don’t think so judging by this. “Let’s just throw a bunch of loud colors and some shapes on there, the kids love that stuff!” So that’s why we have a baby blue deck with diagonal lines, and some odd 3-D shapes with writing on. Yes it’s a Chris Miller deck from 1983, and yes it kind of looks like a footprint, but kind of not. 4 toes? What’s up with that? Whatever it is, let’s face it, it’s hideous. $355.

Hold on to your hats. It’s a NOS Powell Peralta Rodney Mullen first graphic. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this white colorway before, and as the seller says, it’s very rare to see one in unridden condition. It has some storage scuffs, but basically as good as you will find. Of course not everybody collects freestyle decks, and this graphic is pretty naff, but there you go. $3,050.

And here’s another deck from Steve Saiz. It’s a Powell Peralta ratbones, and in another very rare color. I’ve never seen this deck in baby blue before. Again, I assume that the Powell team riders were given decks that weren’t available to the unwashed masses. It’s in great shape, and I wish it were on my wall. $1,315.

Here’s a Santa Cruz Salba voodoo complete. This is an example of a very rare deck being pulled down by lots of unnecessary crap. The seller claims that it’s the cleanest pink voodoo he’s ever seen, but we can’t see that BECAUSE OF ALL THE DAYGLO GREEN CRAP!!!! Seriously, talk about detracting from one of the greatest graphics in skate history. You can’t see the deck for all of the plastic crap. If the complete was taken apart and all of the plastic taken from it, this is a $1200 deck, easily. As it is the complete went for $765. I’d look for this to make an appearance on eBay again next month, stripped and clean.

This is an SMA Jim Thiebaud, “original joker” graphic from 1989. It’s the first version that was pulled after SMA were give a cease and desist from the batman folks because the joker was a little too close to the real deal when the 1st movie came out. It was subbed for a generic villain on a later run. It’s not my cup of tea, but a nice version of this deck. $610.

And here’s another Powell “ratbones”, this time in the much more common royal blue. I had this deck! It’s in similar shape to the one above, but this one went for $750, which just shows what a rare colorway can do! Ok, so this one has been drilled for rails and tail bone, but you get my drift. .

And how about this Zorlac “shrunken head” team model from 1989. I like how the seller described it “great shape, great concave and a graphic that will scare grandmothers and children alike”. Actually, to me this graphic looks unfinished. The top of the head has been cut off to fit between the truck holes for some reason. It always ruined this graphic for me. Actually I never liked it at all. I hate it in fact, but I digress. It is also signed by Pushead, which is a bonus for some. $456.

90s-today

Here we have a World Industries Randy Colvin “New Kids on the Block” deck. Yes, those New Kids on the Block. NOS with storage marks and very rare, although I’d love to hear the collector explaining to his girlfriend why he has a homage to a crappy, cheesy pop band from the 80s on his wall. Better yet, I’d love to hear him explain why he paid $2,500 for the privilege. Yes, that’s right. $2,500.

It probably went something like this:

“Look honey, I just won this rare skateboard on eBay. I am so stoked!”

“That’s nice dear. Let me see. Not that one surely! You didn’t bid on that did you?

What’s the matter with you?”

“But honey, it’s very rare!”

“I don’t care how goddamned rare it is, you’re not putting a picture of New Kids on the fucking Block on our wall! How much was it anyway? If you paid more than $50 there’s no sex for a month!”

“Uh darling, we need to talk. And where’s the Jergen’s again?”

Here we have a SMA Jeff Hartsel deck from the early 90s. Actually I think it’s from 89, put AOS says 1991, so I’ll go with them. Apparently it wasn’t gripped or ridden, but you can see evidence of riser pads, and there are some marks on the bottom. Still, it’s in fine condition, and you don’t see it very often. $520.

Here’s a World Industries Jeremy Klein everslick deck from 1991. For some reason I really dig this graphic. The 1920s era black-eyed kid reminds me of the Just William books that I loved as a kid. This graphic has been ripped off and put on popsicle decks masquerading as the real thing, but this is the real deal. Nice. $908.

Man, Mike Vallely has had some great graphics and some real stinkers. This is of the latter variety. This is horrible. It’s from his short stint as the co-owner of Television Skateboards, which Ed Templeton was involved with too. TV, get it? Anyway, this is from 1992 with artwork by Ed Templeton. I don’t know what or why. I do know that it sucks ass. Rare but nasty. $467.

But this, I dig this. It’s a Planet Earth Chris Miller from 1991. It still has a shape to it, and the Planet Earth graphics were always good. This one features a girl sleeping in the forest, while a cat, goat and bird look on. Chris did the graphics. This is really nice. $395.

Look, we’ve covered this one numerous times, so no more explanations for this one. It’s the 101 Natas “satan” model. Never set up, never skated. Not mint, but close. 24 bidders, $3,455, plus shipping from Australia.

In the early 90s Santa Cruz released a series of team models, dubbed the “Oops” series. They all featured intricate but very different graphics. This is the 2nd of the series, also called “mucus”. The oops decks are getting very collectible actually, probably because getting the set is very hard. This one went for $600.

As a tribute to the Garbage Pail Kids cards of the late 80s, cards featuring kids doing gross stuff, Blind released a series of decks called “Fucked up Blind Kids”, each deck featuring a different pro doing something disgusting or vaguely criminal. This is the Jordan Richter, “jerkin’ Jordan” deck. Yes he does have hand cream and Vaseline on the shelf behind him. $600.

Here’s a SMA Julian Stranger “low-rider” deck from 1990. This is the real SMA, not the Rocco SMA that was going at the same time. A super sweet purple stain makes this deck a real head turner. Julian Stranger was a really underrated street skater who appeared around the same time as Natas. Natas and the Gonz got all of the pub, but Julian was right up there with them. $608.

I know nothing about this deck at all, so I’ll quote the auction:“Margaret Kilgallen deck made in a limited run for Untitled 2001 – an exhibition in Tokyo which featured a number of young US artists. . . . Board is in good condition.” Apparently there were 12 decks in the art show, and the top graphic on each deck was a piece from Keith Haring. Untitled appears to be a real company, but I have no idea who Saro is. This went for a large $824. Wow.

And talking of decks with artwork by famous artists, here’s a collection of decks with artwork by Jeff Koons. It’s a set of 3 “monkey train” decks put out by Supreme. Apparently a Koons recently sold at auction for over $23 million, so the $1,700 that this set of 3 decks fetched seems reasonable. But still. Wow. I think I’d rather have the New Kids deck.

Assorted Crap

Here we have the Jeff Kendal “pumpkin” reissue from a few years back. This was part of the Santa Cruz “30 fuckin’ years” reissue series, and was one of the early ones. I believe that these early SC reissues were screened and on the original shapes. Then they got lazy and started putting out crappier and crappier reissues until they came out with the black and white ashes to ashes and the grayscale dust to dust series. It does seem like they have seen the light however. The recent Corey O’Brien reissue was color, and the Salba Bevel is supposedly excellent. Anyway, this went for $360.

And now we go literally from the sublime to the ridiculous. I don’t understand how bands with no discernible talent, creativity or originality get to be huge in the USA. Take Sublime for example. Yes, they suck. Big time. But that doesn’t stop millions of dolts from buying their “alternative” brand of crap. They even saw fit to release a limited edition skateboard deck. Apparently it’s a “thing of beauty” according to the seller, “hella rare”. “It sells itself!” Dude, hella crap you mean. I wouldn’t start a fire with this piece of shite. But of course, 27 people bid on it and it ended at $600. Well done. You now have a crappy deck to stare at while you listen to that crappy music.

And we end this month with a first: a sticker collection! It’s an “incredible 1980’s skateboard album filled with over 470 stickers”. Pretty cool actually. All of the big names are in there. In the photo I can see 2 different Natas stickers and a Julian Stranger “syringe”. The image quality is so shit because the seller removed the images from photobucket the second the auction ended, ensuring that the only image is the preview image on the main eBay page, and as you know, that is tiny. I thought this was too good to not mention though. $530.

See ya next month. .

-Neil