eBay Watch: September 2011

So, welcome to eBayWatch, September 2011 edition. Sorry it’s so late everybody. I was in England for 2 weeks visiting family in mid October and I didn’t take a laptop, so no work got done during that period. Then I caught the flu from somebody on the plane, and then I had a ton of work to catch up on, so this wasn’t top of the priority list. I’m so behind that there will be no October Baywatch. I didn’t track any auctions at all in October, so that’s gone. It will probably start up again with November, but to tell the truth I haven’t decided yet. So watch this space I guess. There might be more, or this might be the last one. So enjoy.

For music this month, I’ve been listening to 3 albums a lot. First up is the Nick 13 solo album. If you don’t know him he’s the guitarist/singer/songwriter from Tiger Army. His solo album is pure honky-tonk country, so avoid if you don’t like that kind of stuff. And by that I mean 1930s sounding country, not the modern crap. There are some great songs on there, including two Tiger Army songs that get the full on steel-guitar treatment. Second we have the new album by post-punk art rockers Magazine. The album is called No Thyself, and it’s typical Howard Devoto weirdness with most of the original band behind him. Some of the songs are great, mid period sounding Magazine, but some sound like the last album, so aren’t that great. The final album is actually an EP by a new(ish) band called Biters. Yes that’s right, simply Biters. If you loved The Exploding Hearts then you will love this, because they sound just like them. It’s that same mix of high-octane punk rock and roll. They have great, catchy songs and an awesome sound. Very highly recommended.

60s, 70s, early 80s.

First up this month is this Z-Flex Jay Adams fiberglass classic. It sold for $800 on 15 bids.

Here we have a Dogtown Bigfoot complete from 1978. It is all original with no restoration or touch ups at all. It is a super clean deck, and comes complete with Energy Bowlrider trucks (plus original copers!) and mint Dogtown Rock and Roller wheels. This is one of the cleanest BigFoot completes I have ever seen. It sold for a large $2,505 on 27 bids

Here we have another 1978 Dogtown, this one being the Bob Biniak “Bullet” model. It comes complete with Trackers and what look like G&S Rollerballs that are still in very good shape. The deck has some wear, but the green bottom ply more than makes up for that. It sold for $560.

And here we have a Powell Peralta BriteLite deck from 1978. It is dirty and faded, but in overall very good condition, with no gouges or noticeable wear. It sold for $550.

Here is a G&S Fiberflex 44” Pintail, and this ridiculous looking thing comes complete with Indy 215s and mint Pool Rat wheels that are 3.5” wide! The wheels alone are very rare and can sell for hundreds. It sold for a large $550.

And here’s another G&S Fiberflex complete, this one being the Henry Hester slalom model. It comes complete with the original split axle Gullwing HPG IVs and Road Rider 4s. The board was raced in the 70s in Omaha, but has had very little sue since then and is in very good condition. It sold for $650 on 17 bids.

And sticking with G&S, we have this Fiberflex Dennis Martinez Flying Aces complete from 1979. It comes complete with Gullwing Pro trucks and Gyros. It’s in superior used condition, and it sold for $710 on 33 bids.

Now here is a Dogtown Jim Muir deck from 1978. It is in used condition and has had the trucks, plastics and stickers removed which has left some shadowing, but the beautiful thing here is the green airbrush fade around the edges of the deck. You don’t see that very much on Dogtowns of this vintage. It sold for $799 on a Buy It Now, and the auction only lasted 3 hours.

So we always have to have something wacky in the 70s section, and this month is no different. Here we have an Schlitz Beer dual logo fiberglass skateboard made by R.A.C.O. It looks circa 1975 to me, and apart from that I know nothing else about this skateboard. It sold for $120.

And going back to the 60s we have this Titan skateboard from the Fairfax Co of Sterling Illinois. It has steel wheels and super narrow trucks. I don’t know how you would step on this without tipping over actually. It is in very good condition and it sold for $405 on 14 bids. They also made a Saturn model that was very similar.

Mid 1980s

So first up in the 80s section this month we have this Santa Cruz Soren Aaby “Crest” from 1989. It’s mint in shrink, and in a rare green woodstain. You normally see this deck in silver dip or red stain. It’s one of those decks that were so common a few years ago that everybody overlooked it, but it’s growing in value. It sold for $200.

Here’s a great looking G&S Neil Blender “Coffee Guy” complete. It comes with red Trackers and G&S Yo-yo wheels. The plastics have done their job well here, and a special shout out to that immense tail guard! Yes it has scratches and drill holes etc., but the deck is still in solid shape, and it actually looks great as a complete. It sold for $330.

And here we have another G&S Neil Blender complete, but this is the earlier “Snake and Lattice” model. You have to love the poseurs here because the seller states that he bought it in 85 after seeing Back to the Future, but found skating too hard so he just kept the board around. That’s why it’s in such great shape! The top looks like it’s never been stepped on, and the only problem is from the crappy sticker residue! It comes complete with Trackers and G&S Yo-Yos again. A little clean up and this would be a totally killer complete. The yellow stain is amazing. It sold for $425.

And let’s keep the G&S Neil Blender love going with this NOS “Picasso” from 1987. The green woodstain is beautiful, and this one really does look like a work of art instead of a skateboard deck. This one sold for $481 on 17 bids.

Here we have a Powell Peralta Steve Caballero “Full Dragon” from 1986. It’s in an amazingly vivid pink dip that is still so bright it hurts your eyes 25 years on! This one was one of the decks used as a clock in a store display: check the big drill hole right through the middle of the deck. Still, that doesn’t really detract from the mazing qualities of this deck. It sold for $440 and is looking awesome wherever it is right now.

This Santa Cruz Corey O’ Brien “Reaper” complete sold for $264. It has Indys and Bullet 66s. It’s in decent used condition, and the red sip is a nice touch. Remove the yellow tailbone and you have a real bargain here.

So here’s a Santa Cruz Claus Grabke “Melting Clocks” from 1988. It’s in decent used shape, with no obvious dins etc., although it has been drilled for rails. The natural colorway isn’t the best, but it’s a desirable deck and it sold for $455 on 16 bids.

And here’s another “melting Clocks”, although this is a complete in a better colorway. The teal stain is great, and the teal Gullwings almost match. It also has black Powell Mini Rats. It’s in great condition, and doesn’t appear to have ever been ridden much at all. It sold for $750.

So the Santa Cruz Jeff Grosso “Alice” model was the big seller last month, and this month is no different. It’s NOS, never been mounted or gripped. It does have some wear marks, and the colorway isn’t great, but it still sold for $2,599.

Here’s one that doesn’t come up to often! It’s a Powell Peralta Tommy Guerrero “V8”, his first pro model. It comes complete with Indy Stage Vs and 85A Ratbones. It’s in pretty rough shape up top and the tail has a lot of wear, but from this angle the graphic looks good. Basically it looks like it has been out in the elements for 2 decades: I don’t know how much of the wear is from skating. It’s a very rare deck, and this sold for $499 despite its rough shape.

Here is another PP Tommy Guerrero, this one being the model after the one above, the much better known “flaming dagger”. I t is mint but not in shrink, and is the early round nose version, not the later pointy nose one. The white dip is great, and it sold for $1,155. It is boneite though…

So here’s a Santa Cruz Jeff Kendall “atom man” from 1988. It comes complete with Indys and SC Bullets, and after setting it up the original owner put it in a closet, so it’s never been ridden! The orange dip is stunning, and works amazingly well with the pale blue of the main graphic. It’s a fantastic looking deck and it sold for $580.

Here’s a Powell Peralta Lance Mountain “Future Primitive” from 1987/88. It’s NOS and in a black dip with gold and red main graphic. This is the boneite version of the deck, which might explain why it’s never been set up! It’s a great looking colorway and it sold for $1,000.

Now here’s a real beauty! It’s a Dogtown Micke Alba “Street Demon” from 1988 in a magnificent metallic silver dip. It is NOS, never been setup or gripped, but it does have stress marks and some sticker residue. Malba signed it on the tail, and the seller even has the pictures to prove it! It’s a remarkable deck, and it sold for $500.

Now this deck is something special, and is probably one of my favorite graphics ever. It’s a Planet Earth Chris Miller “Sleeping Cat” from 1990. It is NOS and basically mint although not in shrink. It has a couple o scuffs but is probably as clean as you will ever find. The red stain is amazing, and the graphic is a beauty. It sold for $1,200.

And here is a Santa Cruz Natas Kaupas “Panther 5” from 1988. The graphics are by Jim Phillips, and although it says Santa Monica Airlines, SC was making the decks at this point. It’s in NOS condition, never gripped or mounted. Although the colorway is a little dark for me, the woodstain is a beauty. It sold for $1,458. A note to the seller: you might want to brush up on your natural history my friend. That is definitely not a lion!

Holy shit we have a Sims Pharaoh from 1987! It comes complete with white Gullwings and red Sims wheels. The board is in really nice condition, with very little wear at all! It even has a nose guard, which unfortunately might leave some ugly holes, but on this graphic it might not be that bad. The colorway is brighter than some I’ve seen, and overall it is awesome. It sold for $500 with a Buy It Now.

Here we have a Sims Jeff Phillips “Breakout” from 1985. It’s the second version of the graphic, this one having the name in 3D type and the Sims on a block. It’s in a white dip with bright blue, green and yellow graphic. It comes complete with white Gullwings and green Kryptonics. It’s in good used shape. Remove the tail guard, nose and rails and you will have a great looking complete here. It sold for $450.

Here we have a Powell Peralta Ray “Bones” Rodrigues “Skull and Sword” from 1982. It’s the original snub nose version with the big old wheel wells. It comes complete with Trackers and PP Mini Cubics. The green stain is nice, but that red Bones sticker has to go! It has some wear, especially on the tail. To the outsider it might look plain, but to those in the know this is a true classic. It sold for $675.

And here we have a Skull Skates Red Hot Chili Peppers deck form 1988. The seller claims that there was only 50 made, but I’m calling bullshit on that because I’ve seen a lot of them and in fact I think Kilwag used to ride one. It is in great used condition, with just a little tail wear. The black dip colorway is probably the best version of this deck, but it also came in natural and green. Maybe more. The deck sold for $710.

And here we have a Kryptonics Ripstik team deck from 1985. Kryptonics were always in the second tier of deck companies: they had few pros and their graphics were always super cheesy. They were one step above Nash and Variflex, but a step below the “real” companies. Of course, the cheesy graphics are now sought after, and this ridiculous Ripstik sold for $425. It’s a totally typical slice of 80s cheese.

And here we have a deck on the complete opposite side of the scale! It’s the Circle A Bob Schmelzer ‘Couch Guy” from 1989. The graphic is understated and moving towards the early 90s style. It’s an awesome deck, and one that is starting to find its market. This NOS one sold for $280. Nice.

And here we have a Skull Skates Life’s a Beach team deck from 1986. It’s used but in very good condition. This all over skull and bones graphic was taken by BBC for a line of clothing and also used on Vans at the time too. It was everywhere for a couple of years! This deck is actually very rare in any condition, so it’s no surprise that this sold for $543.

Now this Powell Peralta Steve Steadham “Spade” deck has been reissued so often that the graphic has lost much of its effect, but this one is an original sidecut from 1984. It is NOS, never mounted or gripped, and in an awesome red and purple colorway. It has the large front wheelwells, and is just a beauty. It sold for $1,877 on 31 bids, which shows that there is still a large market for a classic original deck, despite the market being flooded with reissues.

And here we have a Town & Country “Quad” team deck from 1985. Yes it’s a surf company with surfboard inspired graphics, straight from Hawaii, and the T&C decks are becoming very collectible these days. This Quad is NOS, never mounted or gripped, and the colorway is really nice on this one. It sold for $474 on 16 bids.

And here we have a couple of Powell Peralta “Rat Bones” team decks from 1980-1984. It was a very popular graphic, so was made for years. The top one is a faded red dip with pink rails. It’s been drilled for nose and tailbone, but has been cleaned up and is in very nice used condition. It sold for $390.

And this one is a red dip again, but the color is truer and brighter here. This one is complete with red Gullwings and blue Vision Shredders. The overall condition looks similar to the one above, but the brighter colors helped I guess because it sold for $406.

And finally from the 80s this month we have this Powell Peralta Per Welinder street model. It’s mint, still in shrink! It is the third street model: earlier ones had the background rune graphic, but only this model has the spoon nose and no runes, which puts it in the 1988 time period. The graphic actually looks a little lost without the runes, almost an afterthought really. However, the fact that it is mint in shrink really pushes it over the top, and this sold for $880 on 18 bids.

Here we have a Zorlac Abrook ‘Specter” from 1991. It’s in good used condition, and the light blues and greens work really well on this natural deck. It’s a beauty actually. It sold for $510.

This is a Powell Peralta Steve Caballero “Guitar Dragon” from 1991. It’s never been gripped, but does appear to have some paint touchups around the truck holes, which is weird. The bright orange is nice, but I’m guessing the touch ups hurt this one, because it only sold for $307, and that’s low for a rare deck from one of the best skaters ever.

Here’s a Plan B Mike Carroll “Christmas” deck from 1992. It’s NOS, never gripped or mounted and has been autographed on the topside so as to not interfere with the graphic. Nice move! It sold for $899.

Now here’s a really cool set of nine decks from Chocolate. It’s the Day of the Dead “Mariachi” series, and these decks look fantastic as a complete set like this. One of the coolest I’ve seen, and perfect for Halloween! The set sold for $900.

Here is an Assault Skateboard Mike Chu “Matches” deck from 1991. I love the vertical split stain colors on this deck: it reminds me of Planet Earth decks from the same time period. That adds a little extra to the deck; it’s not just about the graphic anymore. It sold for $133.

Here is a World Industries Randy Colvin “Velvet Safari” from 1991. The board is covered in fuzzy black material, although it’s not really velvet. It’s basically mint but not in shrink, and does look to be in awesome condition. It sold for $995.

Here is a H-Street Matt Hensley “Rays of Light” complete from 1991. It is well used with Gullwings and Think wheels, and the graphic has a lot of scratches and is dirty overall. However, it is a testament to what Matt Hensley meant to street skaters in the early 90s, and the power of this graphic that it still sold for $355 on 12 bids, despite the problems.

Here we have a Blind Jason Lee “Grinch” from 1991, complete with Ventures and Powell Peralta G Bones wheels. It’s in used condition, but almost the entire graphic is there. Remove the hideous pink rails and you’d have a very presentable Lee “Grinch”. You should also maybe remove the trucks and wheels. Especially the wheels. They don’t really belong on a 90s deck! It sold for $850 on 14 bids.

But look at this! Staying with Jason Lee we have this Blind Lee ‘Bowie” from 1992. It is NOS, never been mounted or gripped, but it does have some storage marks etc. I don’t like the colorway on this one so well, but it still sold for a large $1,250.

Assorted Crap

Now this is history! It’s an original ink drawing by Wes Humpston from 1977. It’s on 8.5” x 11” paper and is signed. It’s a classic piece of Dogtown artwork, and even though I don’t believe that it was ever used on a deck, it is still a beautiful piece. It sold for $510 on 16 bids.

And here we have a set of original Gullwing HPG split axle trucks from 1977. Actually they appear to be a very early variation, because the hanger is slightly different than the better-known gold version. Maybe they are an early prototype? They sold for $395.

And here’s a set of mint Park Rider 4 wheels, complete with the original bearings. They sold for $338 on 25 bids.

And here we have one of those multi print Powell Peralta team t-shirts that seem to be so popular with PP nuts. This one is a size XL (nice!) and has 6 different PP logos on it, some clearly from 1989/1990. The Ripper on the side is nice because it looks like it’s actually peeping around the edge, but the rest of it is pretty lame. But it still sold for $451 on 16 bids.

Bargains

Let’s start off the Bargains section this month with this Madrid Bryce Kanights “Graffiti” deck from 1986. It’s obviously been well ridden through the years but the graphic is all there, and it’s actually a pretty rare one. You seldom see this Kanights. It sold for $100.

Now here’s one of those that I think is a total bargain, but some of you folks out there will think I’m insane. It’s a G&S Neil Blender “Coffee Break” from 1987. The deck is wildly collectible, but more than that, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this crazy metallic silver dip before. Yes it’s used, but the graphic is almost all there, and that silver dip is just insane. It comes complete with Indys and G&S Bam Bams. NOS this would sell for over $1500, so for this to sell for $300, well I think that is a total bargain.

Here we have a Powell Peralta “Bug” complete with G&S Chromolly trucks and Slime Balls. The deck is in great condition, and the mismatched Chromollys are a nice touch too. It sold for $92.

And here is a Zorlac Devil Fish from 1987. It comes complete with well ground Gullwings and Alva Speedskins wheels. It’s been well used, but the deck graphic is still there in all of its dubious glory. The pale blue dip is nice too. It sold for $125.

Here we have a Kingdom Skateboards Chris Gentry “Skate Car” from 1996. It’s mint, still in shrink. Gentry started with decks on Vision and moved around a lot in the 90s, but for a mint deck of his to sell for $26? Well that’s a bargain.

Here’s an Alva Jef Hartsel “Streetfire 2” from 1988. The deck has been gripped and has been ridden, but the deck is in great shape overall. The red stain is nice and the graphic is classic 1980s Alva. It sold for $159 on 19 bids.

Here’s a Dogtown Micke Alba “Temple” from 1988. It’s in good used condition. I’ve always thought that this one looked like a prototype with the graphic looking more like a place sticker than a true deck graphic. But this is the real thing. The natural wood stain doesn’t work well with this light graphic at all, but it sold for $115.

Now here’s one you don’t see that often. It’s a Zorlac Donny Myhre “Viking” from 1991. It comes complete with black Deadbolt trucks and Pig wheels. The photo doesn’t do it much justice, and unfortunately he should have put rails on this bad boy because the railslides have destroyed the graphic. It sold for $123.

And this one is a real beauty. It’s an Alva Bill Danforth “Nomad” mini from 1986. This one comes up reasonably often, but you seldom see it in the classic Alva fade like this one. It’s been gripped and lightly ridden, but is in great shape overall. Bill has signed the tail. I love the colorway of this deck. The black to green fade is great, and the pale blue in the lettering is an inspired choice. Love it, especially for $98. could be wrong. It’s tough to tell on this one. It sold for $118.

And finally this month we have this Vision Lee Ralph “Contortionist” from 1988. It has been gripped and ridden but is in great shape overall. It has Venture trucks on it but no wheels, which is odd. I love the colorway here: the grey and blue work very well together. Is it a reissue? I don’t think so, but I guess I could be wrong. It’s tough to tell on this one. It sold for $118.

See ya.

-Neil