Thanks to Henry for supplying photos of part of his spoon collection - which must be the best in the UK. Most were bought over in Oz but a small number have been made or found over here. Finding a British spoon is like the needle in the haystack - or mabye even harder to find , as not many were made so few if any survive. Tiki made them, as did Tigger Newling for Tig label. Probably most of our surf factories tried putting out an experimental one or two in the late 60s/ early 70s, such was George Greenough's sphere of influence. Anyone out there got a British spoon ? Would be good to know who else made them ?
A brief history of the spoon....words by Henry
'George Greenough designed and made the first spoon, in early mid 1960’s, original one was balsa board with a scooped out deck, then later he started making the molded versions, huge amount of time went into making them. Most famous was Velo 1, a very flexable board, and his raked / high aspect fin designs, and by using multilayered laminated fibreglass (as opposed to wood / chopped strand etc) could foil the fins so they were very flexable (giving drive and quick response) . GG was carving in the powerful well formed QLD waves, sharp bottom turns and carves, getting deep tubes, real performance surfing. People took notice (McTavish, Farrelly ,Young)..... especially in his fin designs (as well as the size of the board) and what it was allowing him to do, which with vee bottoms in 1967 changed surfing, started into the transitional era into shortboard revolution.'
Quane (NZ):
Made in Denis Quane’s Redcliff factory by Dave Poyer and Denis.
Denis told me that it was probably made around 1966-68 just using a photo of Greenough’s Velo as a template, and they only made 3 or 4 of them.
Denis Quane is an undernoted shaper worldwide, but probably the best longboard shaper of the time in NZ (he had travelled in 1960’s to California, where he spent time with Bob Cooper and Reynold Yater), he is still shaping today, an amazing feat considering he started shaping boards in 1950’s.
Hayden (Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, QLD):
Terry McLardy shaped and glassed spoons at Hayden’s, and was taught to glass by Bob Cooper.
McLardy reckons he would have shaped a couple of hundred+
I believe they were made from a Greenough supplied template as he hung around with the Hayden crew. Probably made from 67 thru early 70’s, mine probably dates from 68-69 (very similar to one a guy I know has which is nearly identical, and McLardy dated his at 68-69).
Got popular for a time especially after the release of Greenough’s The Innermost Limits of Pure Fun as he used spoons and mats to film deep and long tube rides.
Jacko (Perth, WA):
Made by John Jakovich, he’s still around shaping boards.
I am guessing it is early 1970’s, would have made just a handful at the most.
Jackson semi-spoon (Sydney, NSW):
Moving away from the pure spoon which required “perfect” waves, got more floatation with foam all way down rails, post 1971.
By 1973 kneeboards were of the Peter Crawford “slab” shape, so no scouped / spoon area. These boards worked in all conditions.
Shane Shoe (Sydney, Brookvale, NSW):
Around 1970.
Much cheaper / easier to make than fully spooned boards.
Tiki semi-spoon:
I reckon 1970-72, but waiting on you to enlighten me with what you can find out Al..., :-;
1969 publicity shot for Tig surfboards, north Cornwall .Spoons on left and right.
A brief history of the spoon....words by Henry
'George Greenough designed and made the first spoon, in early mid 1960’s, original one was balsa board with a scooped out deck, then later he started making the molded versions, huge amount of time went into making them. Most famous was Velo 1, a very flexable board, and his raked / high aspect fin designs, and by using multilayered laminated fibreglass (as opposed to wood / chopped strand etc) could foil the fins so they were very flexable (giving drive and quick response) . GG was carving in the powerful well formed QLD waves, sharp bottom turns and carves, getting deep tubes, real performance surfing. People took notice (McTavish, Farrelly ,Young)..... especially in his fin designs (as well as the size of the board) and what it was allowing him to do, which with vee bottoms in 1967 changed surfing, started into the transitional era into shortboard revolution.'
Quane (NZ):
Made in Denis Quane’s Redcliff factory by Dave Poyer and Denis.
Denis told me that it was probably made around 1966-68 just using a photo of Greenough’s Velo as a template, and they only made 3 or 4 of them.
Denis Quane is an undernoted shaper worldwide, but probably the best longboard shaper of the time in NZ (he had travelled in 1960’s to California, where he spent time with Bob Cooper and Reynold Yater), he is still shaping today, an amazing feat considering he started shaping boards in 1950’s.
Hayden (Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, QLD):
Terry McLardy shaped and glassed spoons at Hayden’s, and was taught to glass by Bob Cooper.
McLardy reckons he would have shaped a couple of hundred+
I believe they were made from a Greenough supplied template as he hung around with the Hayden crew. Probably made from 67 thru early 70’s, mine probably dates from 68-69 (very similar to one a guy I know has which is nearly identical, and McLardy dated his at 68-69).
Got popular for a time especially after the release of Greenough’s The Innermost Limits of Pure Fun as he used spoons and mats to film deep and long tube rides.
Jacko (Perth, WA):
Made by John Jakovich, he’s still around shaping boards.
I am guessing it is early 1970’s, would have made just a handful at the most.
Jackson semi-spoon (Sydney, NSW):
Moving away from the pure spoon which required “perfect” waves, got more floatation with foam all way down rails, post 1971.
By 1973 kneeboards were of the Peter Crawford “slab” shape, so no scouped / spoon area. These boards worked in all conditions.
Shane Shoe (Sydney, Brookvale, NSW):
Around 1970.
Much cheaper / easier to make than fully spooned boards.
Tiki semi-spoon:
I reckon 1970-72, but waiting on you to enlighten me with what you can find out Al..., :-;
1969 publicity shot for Tig surfboards, north Cornwall .Spoons on left and right.
