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pods for primates: a catalogue of surfboards in australia since 1900

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shapers index : b

B. J. Surfboards
1974
Bob Waddell
Brad Mayes
Paul Guy noted by email, August 2009 (edited):
Bought my first BJ surfboard, shaped by Brad Mayes, in 1974.
I was 17 at the time and it was bought with the pay from 4 weeks of holiday work.
1976
Botany NSW
Bob Hanson, Richard Evans;
1977
Kevin McKell and Rob McLaggan;
1979
Richard Evans;
1982
Kris Puckerage
azza wrote, January 2004 (edited)... B.J surfboards they actually started in 1974, ... my dad still has his board in our garage that he got made in 1974.
Thanks to azza.

Balance Design (Surfboards)
1976
Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
Darrell 'Rooster' Dell

Banzai Surfboards
1964
Sydney Australia.
Image contributed with thanks by Eric Bayliss, October 2007.

Bare Nature Surfboards
1968
Byron Bay ?
Possibly started circa 1968 by Bob McTavish - Garry Keys - Chris Brock in Byron Bay NSW
Image right : Bare Nature Stringerless Tracker (?) approximately + 8 ft with round label and Theresa McTavish, 1968.
Similar models surfed by Keys and Brock in George Greenough 's
Innermost Limits of Pure Fun, 1970. Part 1.
Photograph : George Greenough
Moving Forward : A Greenough Scrapbook 1960 - 1970
Australian Surfer's Journal, Vol 2 Number 2, Autumn 1999, page 102.
Apparently short lived as all were involved with Wilderness Surfboards, Byron Bay by 1969.
1975
The brand next noticed circa 1975 using new decal designs
- an enhanced BARE NATURE text
- a black on clear graphic of Broken Head.
- two-tone text in a horizontal diamond (image below, left)

1976
Stinger - Hot Lips Designs by Mike Purpus of California
by Nigel Perow, c/o Bare Nature Surfboards, Byron Bay.
1979
15 Browning Street, Byron Bay. Phone : (068) 85 6720.
Shaper :Nigel Perrow.
Glasser : Mark Plegghorn
"Pintail and roundtail wingers. Single fins only." - Tracks magazine, December 1979, page 44.
Image right contributed with thanks by Eric Bayliss, October 2007.
1986 - 15 Browning Street, Byron Bay
Shapers : Nigel Perrow. (?) and Wayne Riordan
Bruce Palmer.
Circa 1990
Moved to Western Australia

Bare Nature decal circa 1980.
Image contributed with thanks
by Eric Bayliss, October 2007.

Baron Surfboards
1968
Taren Point Road, Taren Point NSW
Baron Sufboards were an off-shoot of Peter Clarke Surfboards, manufactued at the same location.
This may have been for business reasons or adoption of a more contemporary name in line with the industry practice of more colourful and decorative decals in the late 1960's.
The decal script was usually in a type of Old English, as previously used by Shane Surfboards, and the use of a Iron Cross graphic was common on many boards
Frank Latta, possible shaper, and any other Peter Clarke Surfboards' employee of the period.
See entry for Peter Clarke Surfboards
There was also Baron Kneeboards, which may/may not be conected to the original company.

Email contribution 4 Jan 2003:
At the end of the 60's and probably to '72 there was a Surfboard manufacturer on Taren Point Road,
Taren Point NSW 2229 called Baron Surfboards maybe Frank Latta was one of the shapers.
regards Leigh - Thanks to Leigh.

In July 2009, Dean at Erina NSW emailed (adjusted):
Hey rode some kids old single today at the beach with a Baron decal, same as on your site, on the deck. Super plain, no stringer or measurements, but was signed Bob Shot.

Left:
Baron Surfboards,
circa 1968 and 1969.
Images contributed with thanks
by Archie Ives, October 2007

Baron Surfboards, circa 1973.
Taren Point, NSW.
Photograph and catalogue notes at Sydney Surf Auction,
Harbord Diggers Club, 22nd September 2007.
Thanks to Mick Mock.

Barry Bennett Surfboards
See Bennett Surfboards, Below.

Barry Taylor Surfboards,
1969
Nowra NSW
Barry Taylor, Taylor Tubestick;
1973
Al Wilson, Terry Glass

Bay Side Surf Centre
1965
Melbourne 923774
Dora Surfboards Californian Style Model
There was probably no design or financial negotiatons with Mr.Dora.
See Contact Production Boards, 1960s.

Beacham Surfboards,
1975
Whale Beach NSW
Chris Beacham, Ian Bray, Damien Byers,

Bear Surfboards,
Byron Bay NSW
circa 1990
Paul Hutchinson, Ronnie Woodward,

Bennett Surfboards
Barry Bennett Surfboards.
Image right contributed with thanks by Archie Ives, October 2007.
Click the image to access the extended entry for Bennett Surfboards.

Bill Cylmer Surfboards
Bill Cylmer - one of the early Australian board and boat builders circa 1955.
See Snow McAlister : Sprint Walker, Solid Wood Boards and Victorian Surfing

Bill Wallace Surfboards
Wallace Surfboards
Click the image to access the extended entry for Wallace Surfboards.

Bing Surfboards (USA)
1968 – 70
Keith Paull The Foil

Black Cadillac Surfboards
1982
Gordon and Black

Blaxell Surfboards,
Scarborough Beach Road, Osbourne Park WA
circa 1971
Tom Blaxell
1973
Chris Young
1976
Rohan Aird;
Alex Korwin
1979
and Darryl Wilkes, Alan Bean and Darb Dirosso;

In November 2007, Gary McCormick noted (the entry subsequently adjusted):
"Tom Blaxel started manufacturing surfboards in the early 1970's in Scarborough Beach Road, Osborne Park.
Prior to 1973 Tom was doing most of the shaping and glassing himself.
He employed Chris Young (Nat's younger brother) in mid 1973 to shape many boards including one for myself for a surfing tour from WA to Qld in January 1974.
I have entered a decal shot including photos of Chris's signature and the board.
Board size was 7'4" x 18" with a single fin , complete with leg rope hole.
Regards
Gary McCormick
State Longboard Representative
Surfing WA Inc / Mullaloo Longboard Club
Perth"
Thanks to Garry for his contributions.

Blaxell decal, circa 1978.
Image by George S., June 2007.

Blue Pacific Surfboards
1960 -1964 ?
Queensland?

Bluebird Surfboards,
1975 – 1977
PO Box 47 Byron Bay NSW
Bob McTavish

Blue Spirit Surfboards,
1973
?
Decal image right, contributed by Eric Bayliss,
May 2008.

Bob Brown Surfboards,
1976
Foster NSW
Bob Brown;
1977
and Graham Gantley and Rod Rose;
1979
and Rico Rose and Nev Hines;
#90

Bombora by Nock and Kirby's
1962 - 1965
See Contact Production Boards, 1960s.

Bondi Underground (Surfboards)
1976
Bondi
Brad Mayes

Decal image contributed with thanks by Thomas, Maroubra, August 2009.

Brad Mayes Design (Surfboards)
1975
Bondi
Brad Mayes

Decal image contributed with thanks by Thomas, Maroubra, August 2009.

Brothers Neilson Surfboards,
Burleigh Heads Qld
1970
Paul Neilson
Rick Neilson
Mermaid Beach Qld
1975
Paul Neilson, Rick Neilson;
1976
Darryl Bulger and Richard Harvey;
1977
and Nev Hyman;
1979
Tony Etherington, Paul and Rick Neilson, Mark Loveridge and KKK;
1980
Gunther Rohn;
1982
Mark Loveridge
1986
Phil Grace

Bros. Neilsen decals, circa 1974 and 1976..
Images contributed with thanks by Archie Ives, October 2007, February 2008.

Burford Surfboards, .
Hayden Burford was one of Adelaide's first surfboard riders. - Walding , page 42.
Don Burford was one of Adelaide's first surfboard builders.

circa 1962 ?
Grange, South Australia.

circa 1965 ?
5 Oaklands Road
Sommerton Park, Adelaide, South Australia.

c 1969 Wayne Dale

Grange S.A. Triangle Decal contributed with thanks by Dick 'Olly' Olesinski
c/- South Port Surf Club. January 2006.

By the early 1970's he had relocated the factory to Queensland's Gold Coast.

1977
Currumbin Valley Qld
Neil Purchase and Richard Wood;

1979
Michael Peterson and Neil Purchase;

In the 1980's Burford began large scale blank production.

Images lower right:
Burford Surfboards decals circa 1972, 1975 and Challenger 1978.
Image contributed with thanks by Eric Bayliss, December 2007.

Don Burford Notes (Adjusted from an unrecorded source)
Don Burford Sufrboards were sold by longtime friend, Ron Moir's Challenger Surfshop in central Adelaide.
When Burford Surfboards were relocated to Currumbin Valley, Queensland, in the early 1970s, the Adelaide Challenger shop continued to retail their boards, including some Michael Peterson designs.
The Hang-gliding decal (above), produced for boards destined for the Challenger shop, was recognition of Ron Moir's role in the introduction of hang-gligding to South Australia.
The decal was later replaced by a simpler, and less obscure, Challenger Surfboards script.

Byrning Spears Surfboards,
1983
Allan Byrne;
1985
and Thorton Fallander

Byrne Surfboards,
1977
Wollongong NSW
Laurie Byrne Clinker (twin),
Phil Byrne,
Tom Carroll Model,
Dave Byrne, Chris Byrne;
1979
and Terry Cooper;
1979
Shaun Thomson, Instinct Twin Fin model shaped by Phil Byrne.