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

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references : books t

1962
Thomas, E.J.:
The Drowning Don't Die -
Fifty Years of Vigilance and Service by the Deewhy Surf Life-Saving Club 1912-1962
Published by the DeeWhySurf Life Saving Club
Printed by the Manly Daily Pty Ltd
Hard cover, 54 pages, 33 two-tone photographs, Executive officers 1912-62.
*Commissioned Surf life saving club history with sections on surfboards, pages 29 - 31 and the surfski, page31. Impressive aerial photogaph on front flyleaf.
Extracts : The Surfboard and The Surfski

1960 - 1970?
Thompson (ed) :
Manly - South Pacific Playground
Douglas Thompson Pty Ltd
17 Connell Street, Sydney
Artwork by Francis L. Broadhust
Photography by Ernest Mc Quillan, and others.
Hard cover, 40 pages, black and white photographs, black/white/blue illustrations, black and white illustrations (reproductions).

2000
Thoms, Albie:
Surfmovies
The Blue Group
PO Box 321 Noosa Heads Queensland 4567
Hard cover, extensive black and white and colour photographs, posters, flyers, record sleeves, documents;
Filmography, 192 pages.
This is an outstanding book, exhibiting extensive personal knowledge, rigorous research and a committed love of the subject. Even if the core of the book (the actual film references) was omitted, the additional notes on surfing history, surfboard design, music, magazines, fashion and culture (both surf culture and general observations) themselves, would be a significant achievement. An essential text.
High Light (for a 15 year old male in 1967):
Lindy Hobbs, Surfing World, photo by Rennie Ellis, page 160.

1998
Thornley, Mark and Dante, Veda :the
Surfing Australia
.Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd 1998
Softcover, 327 pages, extensive colour photographs and maps, Appendix, Index.
*Well presented surf guide with some spelling mistakes and minor errors, for example "Rabbit...a member of the famous Bronzed Aussies" page 322.
Notable features...
Brief surfing history by Rabbit Bartholomew, pages 25 to 30.
Includes rare photograph of Isobel Letham and board circa 1917, page 28.
Australian surf films by Albert Falzon and Dick Hoole, pages 36 to 39, - has several printing errors.
Surfboard art by Mark Thornley, pages to 226 to 229.

1981 :
Toghill, Jeff and Flett, John :
Building Small Boats, Surfcraft and Canoes in Fibreglass
A.H. and A.W. Reed Pty. Ltd.
53 Myoora Road, Terry Hills, Sydney
Soft cover, 103 pages, 56 b/w photographs, 36 b/w illustrations, 10 tables Glossary, Index.
*Emphasis is on molded craft, surfboards and sailboards are detailed in Chapter 5.
Materials (Chapter 1) and Tools and Equipment (Chapter 2) may also be of interest.

1998 :
Toghill, Jeff
Surfing – the fundamentals
New Holland Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
14 Aquatic Drive Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Australia
Soft cover, pages?, 47 b/w photographs, 3 b/w illustrations, 5 b/w maps, index.
*Basic beginners book that breaks no new ground. Photographs tend to be poor quality or poor reproduction or both and the design section features the current, but atypical, McCoy ‘Nugget’. Major proof-reader gaffe: “Most short boards today have two fins.” – page 16.(in 1998?).

2002
Towery, Chris and Pruett, Matt :
Wavescape - Portraits of the Planet's Best Surf Spots.
Barron's Educational Series, Inc.
250 Wireless Boulevade, Hauppauge, NY 11788 2002.
Hard cover, 160 pages, extensive colour photographs, Glossary, Index.
*This book is a disappointment - I was at least expecting a series of classic line-up photographs. These are probably in the minority.
Unfortuately, the format varies widely and, of course, wave selection is subjective. The failure to include Malibu (the wave so good, they named a board after it) is noted.
There is potential here for a detailed work that would include a classic line-up photograph, early/first riders, early/first photograph, local heroes, a map - starting with Waikiki.

1973
Tracks Magazine (compilations of previously published articles) :
The Best of Tracks (Vol. I)
Editors : Falzon, Albert; Stewart, John; Grissim, John. :
Tracks Publishing Co Pty Ltd. P.O. Box 178 Avalon, NSW.
Soft cover, 148 pages (includes cover), b/w photographs and illustrations.
*In depth resource of Australian surf scene 1970 – 1972 with excellent photographs and features including Interviews (George Greenough, Dick Brewer, Peter Townend, Paul Neilson, Robert Conneely, Dick van Straalen, Midget Farrelly, Donald Paarman (South Africa), Michael Peterson), Travel, Weather, Movies, Design, Humour, Ecology and Lifestyle. Two, of many, highlights…
1. Bob McTavish’s personal history of surfboard design – ‘Pods
for Primates’ Part 1 and Part 2 (pages 120 – 124).
2. Denny Aaberg’s short story ‘No Pants Mance’ (pages 68 – 69) – this was used as a basis for the film script for John Millius’ “Big Wednesday”, 1978.
Unfortunately the design feature does not include previously published articles on Twin fins circa 1970.

1974/5
Tracks Magazine (compilations of previously published articles)
Editor : Phil Jarratt
The Best of Tracks Vol. II
Soundtracts Publishing Pty. Ltd.
P.O. Box 746 Darlinghurst, NSW 2010.
Soft cover, 96 pages, b/w photographs and illustrations.
*Features include Interviews (Wayne Lynch), News, Eating It, Alternatives, Design. Design articles include UFO kneeboards, bottoms, rails, fins and Michael Peterson’s triple flyer pintail (Pa Bendall contest 1976). Tracks staff have questioned the existence of this volume (Number xxx, xxx 1998).

1979
Tracks Magazine (compilations of previously published articles)
Editor : Paul Holmes :
The Best of Tracks Vol. III
Soundtracts Publishing Pty. Ltd.
P.O. Box 746 Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Soft cover, 115 pages, b/w photographs and illustrations.
*Interviews (Rabbit Batholomew, Ian Cairns, Bruce Raymond, George Greenough, Peter Drouyn, Mark Warren, Pam Burridge), Travel, Contests, Humour, News and Lifestyle. Unfortunately no Design feature.

1980
Tracks Magazine (compilations of previously published articles)
Editor : Kirk Wilcox :
Best of Tracks Vol. IV
Mason Stewart Publishing Pty. Ltd
P.O. Box 746, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
Soft cover, 114 pages, b/w photographs and illustrations.
*Waves, Travel, History 1970 – 1979, Environment, Contests, Lifestyle and Design. Design includes single and MR twin fins, Geoff McCoy interview, Peter Crawford on Tri-fin kneeboards, and Dougall Walker on the Tri-fin (pages 86 – 94). Also note Simon Anderson interview post Bell’s and Surfabout wins 1981 with his new Thruster design (pages 80 – 81).

1982
Tracks Magazine (compilations of previously published articles)
Editor : Kirk Wilcox :
How To Surf
Mason Stewart Publishing Pty. Ltd
P.O. Box 746, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
Soft cover, 114 pages, b/w photographs and illustrations.
*Waves, Travel, History 1970 – 1979, Environment, Contests, Lifestyle and Design. Design includes single and MR twin fins, Geoff McCoy interview, Peter Crawford on Tri-fin kneeboards, and Dougall Walker on the Tri-fin (pages 86 – 94). Also note Simon Anderson interview post Bell’s and Surfabout wins 1981 with his new Thruster design (pages 80 – 81).

Note
This is not a complete list of surfing books, only books read and reviewed for this site are listed.
For more comprehensive lists go to...
The Surfing Bibliography - Surfing Books
- Steven Whelan's (England) comprehensive list of books, film, video and magazines, listed alphabetically.
and/or
The Water Log Surfing Bibliography
- excellent listing of books and journals by Daved Marsh (USA), listed by category.