Interesting Persimmons Golf Clubs

[Zicameau]

So, I just bought some golf clubs today at a garage sale. I tried searching online for any information on them and came up dry. Could anyone here give me some information on these clubs?

[mvmac]

From Tom Wishon

Quote:

Sure, I have some history on them.  When Northwestern was in its heyday in the 70s and 80s, they were the largest golf club company in units made in the entire world golf industry.  Yes, most all of it was low end, low cost clubs which would sell through the mass merchants like KMart and so forth.  But at times they made some VERY fine golf clubs - their 1980s Thunderbird model irons were as good as there was and do stand on most really knowledgeable club collectors' lists as a classic.

Northwestern was a family owned and run business.  When brothers Nat and LeRoy Rosasco ran the company and got along, it hummed.  Nat ran the company overall, LeRoy ran the manufacturing side.  Nat was a CHARACTER indeed.  His office was decorated elaborately with Louis XVI type furnishings and he dressed to the nines.   When he used to arrive at the PGA Merchandise Show each day, it was in his own chauffeur driven limo.  It was almost like royalty arriving when Nat pulled up to the front doors of the show!

For some reason, the two brothers became at odds with each other over some issues and LeRoy left the company I think in the late 80s or very early 90s.   But it was really when Nat's son took over the business, that, well, it didn't hum and that spelled the beginning of the end for the company.

TOM

[Zicameau]

I saw that quote while looking around on the web, but I would like information on the model clubs that I have, thanks for the help though!

[Shorty]

I saw that quote while looking around on the web, but I would like information on the model clubs that I have, thanks for the help though!

Well I think you can see that you have Northwestern 1, 3 and 5 woods.

And they are not Persimmon.

They are laminated maple.

In other words, plywood, not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Zicameau]

Well I think you can see that you have Northwestern 1, 3 and 5 woods.

And they are not Persimmon.

They are laminated maple.

In other words, plywood, not that there's anything wrong with that.

Oh okay, that makes more sense. Are these worth anything though? I tried looking them up online and I couldn't really find much about them.

[mvmac]

Oh okay, that makes more sense. Are these worth anything though?

They're worth how much you can sell them for, which probably isn't much.

[flopster]

They're worth how much you can sell them for, which probably isn't much.

Hopefully more at your garage sale.

[dbuck]

I think a lot of their laminated heads were basically the same, with just a different color stain. As the bit from Tom Wishon said, they did make some higher end clubs, but most were department store or discount store type stuff. Is there a name/label/decal on the top of the club? That might give some indication. Unless a wood is fairly significant, most don't have much cash value in general, like $5 to $25, depending on condition, and $25 would be high end. I bought a 1-3-4 set Macgregor VIP persimmon recently for $15 for the set, pretty rough and needing regripping. I paid $25 for a very nicely refinished Tony Penna Driver, including a new grip. I paid $5 for a Hogan Speedslot that needs rewhipping and a grip. The ones you have would be about $3.99 or $4.99 each at Goodwill. You see people ASK more for them especially in antique shops, and I am sure some people pay more as a decoration rather than a golf club.