American Pultruded Products Corp.. not as sexy sounding as AMPUL. These guys always ran 2 page ads with lots of product pictures, and two rectangular areas on the bottom to make dropping in new text easy and cheap. This particular 2 page spread has extra white space above and below because it appeared in a UK publication with a different paper size from the US mags. The ads made it seem like a huge operation, but according to California business records, they were only in business for less than 3 years between 1975 and 1978. (Editor’s note: If I find Ampul ads after 1978, I’ll revise this.)
Check out page two for an early skateboard/scooter combo and an explanation of the pultrusion process.
Now you know who made all those fiberglass skateboards with motorcycles, American flags, and surfers images.
The Rawlings helmet looks like hockey gear, but check out the fancy fiberglass helmets. They look like they were made for motorcycles.
AMPUL SKATEBOARDS
As one of the leading manufacturers of skateboards in America. AMPUL is beginning to find that their products now fulfill the needs of the international community. People all over the world are asking for AMPUL boards and we thought we would take this opportunity to give you some insight into AMPUL and their hot pultruded skateboards.
Though AMPUL carries a complete line of wood and aluminum decks.their specialty is pultruded fiberglass decks. The pultrusion process works like this. Continuous reinforced fibers are pulled through a liquid resin impregnation tank and then through the die to produce the particular shape desired. The reinforced plastic composite is heated and cured continuously under pressure as it passes through the die. It is pulled by means of a caterpillar type puller, located far enough down stream from the curing die to allow for cooling of the product.
Not only does this process provide the skateboarder with an incredibly strong deck. but it allows AMPUL to design boards that meet the demands of hot riders.
Whether you are a “Sunday skater” or a hot bowl rider. you will find a board in the AMPUL line that suits your needs both in performance and price. Check with one of our dealers and ride the board that millions of American kids ride. AMPUL, ask for it by name.
GET AMPUL OUALITY AT A BARGAIN FROM THESE SOURCES.
Slick Willie’s American Store – London, England
Pfandre Sport – Hamburg. W. Germany
Sport Realities – Arcachon. France
Ruko On Canada – Streetsville, Ontario. Canada
Bristol Skateboard Centre – Bristol, England
W.J. Brown Toys – Leicester, England
Coala Sports – Koog Aan De Zaan, Holland
Skateboard Spezialist – Lennestadt, W. Germany
Freedom Surf Supplies – Channel Islands, England
P.H. Et J.O. Meilichzon – St. Cloud, France
Berto Sports – Innsbruck, Austria
Pantomime – London, England
Alpine Sports – London, England
Comtronic Msb – München, Germany
Hans Battig – Zurich, Switzerland
Corbett Sports Ltd – Oakville, Ontario Canada
Socreco Limited – London, England
S.C. Fallows Ltd – Rainham, Essex, England
Shields Of Toronto – Downsview. Ontario, Canada
Chattanooga – Paris, France
Pauli Surfboards – Trostrerg, W. Germany
Gtr Imports – Calgary, Alberta, Canada
International Trade Agency – Paris, France
Alois Scheicher – Hallein, Austria
Great Athletic Feet – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Pacific Imports – Tegernseer, W. Geriaany
Est-Loisirs – Husseren-Wesserling, France
Tra-On Canada Ltd. – Montreal Quebec, Canada
We have many more dealers around the world, too numerous to mention here. Drop us a post card for an AMPUL source nearest to you.
American Pultruded Products Corporation. 100 West Alameda Ave, Burbank, California 91502 213/841-0300 AMPUL
7 comments
chris watts
I bought some stuff from this outfit. Found them in Skateboarder mag. Their decks had no printing at when I first went there- they were basically Bahne clones, and they had wheels that were Road Rider clones. Later, they made wheels that looked more like Kryptonics. They came in various durometer ratings and they were actually ok. I think they sold some trucks too- better than Chicagos but not as good as Trackers.
The ‘store’ was basically a counter like you see at Grainger or McMaster Carr. You took a number and waited. I got the impression that the skateboard thing was a sideline, I remember seeing other fiberglass stuff on display.
A lot of people were using AMPUL gear (mostly wheels), but no one really talked about it. After a few days the RR clones looked close enough to the real thing but now and then I’d see someone with Ampul wheels.
Tut
God I wanted one of those aluminum boards so badly, and motocross cycle one, and the surfer one. I must have ordered something from them, because I just found an entry in my parents’ checkbook register from 1978. It wasn’t one of these cool boards, because I built my own from plywood, then ordered Gull Wings and Bones from one of the other mail order companies. Maybe it was the glue & grit system that I covered the top with.
boglung
I bought a yellow double kick aluminum board from Skateboarder. I wanted the camber slalom board but settled on the double kick. It did lots of tricks, but I didn’t ride it very long. Sharp thin edges. It scratched, dented and destroyed everything. It literally chipped cement, slashed flesh, dented, scratched and punched holes in garage doors, and tore huynks out of wood ramps. Early parks banned metal boards.
After I got badly cut in the ankle I took the trucks off and never road it again. Probably a big reason why they stopped making skateboards so quickly.
Ben
interesting that there is a double kick advertised in that ad. obviously it didn’t catch on until the ’80s but still interesting to see that the idea was already there.
Kilwag
Totally! I missed that when I posted this or I defiantly would have mentioned the early double kick!
Sudsy
I remember these ads. I’m looking for some from 1976, they sold shirts that matched the board graphics. One of surfers and the other one had photos of skateboarders, they were buttoned photo shirts.
Kilwag
I’ve got one from Skateboarder v2 #6, 1976. I’ll get that added after I get all the mag I’m working on now posted.