Were Lepro tips ever black?

[cuesblues]

Sorry, but it wouldn't save your day. Those Chandivert tips are not the same as the original Champion and Crown tips back in the day. Better to have the real thing.

All the best,
WW

At least they are Champion tips.
The vintage of Champion tips will not be an issue if I ever decide to sell that cue, and I may leave the Onyx tips on.
Original 70's pre South West cues from the Kersenbrock Cue Company with original shafts + LOA from Laurie are the rarest of the rare, for cues people actually want to buy.
I've only seen a few and like mine they weren't for sale.

 

[WildWing]

At least they are Champion tips.

Sorry, but they are not. Whatever company started Chandivert, after the original Champion and Crown, they bear no resemblance to the original, as they're absolute crap. If you're hunting, here's what you need to look out for:

All the best,
WW

 

[cuesblues]

Sorry, but they are not. Whatever company started Chandivert, after the original Champion and Crown, they bear no resemblance to the original, as they're absolute crap. If you're hunting, here's what you need to look out for:

All the best,
WW

Old crap compared to older crap, nothing I would ever play with.
The guy I bought my Kersenbrock from had not played pool in over 25 years so they the cue needed new tips.
Someone recently said Champion, nothing specific other than Champion, a friend had some and sent them to me for free.
These Champions look decent, I like the pad, and if some Crowns are available I will probably buy them.
Dr. Doug my tip guy doesn't want to put them on.
I wouldn't mind trying them on a cue just to see how they hit.

 

[WildWing]

I guess it's time for empirical evidence, rather than opinion. Below are two pictures, 1970s LePro on the left, and current LePro on the right. As you can see, there is a considerable difference in the way they were made. The earlier ones had an irregularity about them, and the current ones are more smooth, symmetrical. The second picture has the bottoms sanded off. The earlier LePro is recognizably darker, though not black, as some have suggested, but darker.

There are some sensitive types here who like to rant about fake, conspiracy, fraud, or what have you. It's what they do. Those are not valid here, as you can see the earlier LePro is darker than the current, and constructed a bit different. It has nothing to do with age, as I've got older tips that are the same color as they started. This doesn't mean all 70s LePros are darker, as there could be some variation in leather or tanning technique.

Those of you who thought the earlier LePros were darker, you were probably correct. Those of you who thought there is no difference, I would hope your mind is opened a bit. And unfortunately, some will think conspiracy, as that's how their minds work.

Hope this helps.
All the best,
WW

 

[jrctherake]

I remember having a few that was extremely dark. I remember thinking "this tip is black". So, yes.

 

[WildWing]

I remember having a few that was extremely dark. I remember thinking "this tip is black". So, yes.

Correct. I had a a few even much darker than the photos.

All the best,
WW

 

[asbani]

Lepro is still the best tip in the market, I actually always install lepro on my shafts, never seen a black, however always dark brown, some people might perceive this as black, depending on vision status

 

[cueman]

Yes in late 80s LePro Tips could be bought in black or brown.
They were not just a darker brown batch. They were black coated.
Just a sales gimmick at the time to create new interest I guess.
I read the link saying they were probably counterfeit, but I am pretty sure
they were from Tweeten. Also they were only coated black. They were still brown inside.

 

[The Renfro]

Yes in late 80s LePro Tips could be bought in black or brown.
They were not just a darker brown batch. They were black coated.
Just a sales gimmick at the time to create new interest I guess.
I read the link saying they were probably counterfeit, but I am pretty sure
they were from Tweeten. Also they were only coated black. They were still brown inside.

1987 I graduated High School and moved to Oak Ridge where I immediately got a job at the local pool room... One of the jobs was tipping the house cues and I would drive into Knoxvile to McDonalds Billiard supply to buy boxes of tips... Being new to tip repair I thought it was pretty cool that the elk masters seemed to be coated in chalk and the Le Pro seemed to be coated in graphite as the ones I picked up were indeed black and you could write on a piece of paper with them like they were pencil....

Granted that was just an assumption but I actually showed a cpl of people and asked if they knew if it was graphite or not and of course they just looked at me like I was nuts for even wondering....

It wasn't very long before the tips I was picking up were the color of the Le Pro now but the first ones I bought were indeed black in unopened boxes but maybe counterfeting goes that far back... We all are now aware there are several fake elks masters being made along with some fake triangles.. Would only make sense that Le Pros would be knocked off as well.. Just no way to know how far back it started.......

 

[WildWing]

Ask around. Build your network. Some of us have them. But such things are usually held close. Like KU bumpers and Westinghouse micarta and Cortland linen.

Very true. Also, acrylic plastic.

As the gentleman said to Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate, "I just want to say one word to you, just one word...... Plastics..."

All the best,
WW

 

[Johnny Rosato]

I'm 64 and been playing for 50 years. After reading some of these comments I've certainly learned a lot.

 

[WildWing]

I'm 64 and been playing for 50 years. After reading some of these comments I've certainly learned a lot.

That's a good age. Keep paying attention. There's more to be shown.

All the best,
WW

 

[WildWing]

Yes in late 80s LePro Tips could be bought in black or brown.
They were not just a darker brown batch. They were black coated.
Just a sales gimmick at the time to create new interest I guess.
I read the link saying they were probably counterfeit, but I am pretty sure
they were from Tweeten. Also they were only coated black. They were still brown inside.

Good call, but you're actually talking about the coating, not the tip itself.

The 70s LePros were darker on the inside, as well the outside, compared to today's. A different procedure, no doubt, as pictures show.

If I get around to it, I'll even show how even the Chandivert Rocky had two different stages, different colors. Stay tuned.

All the best,
WW

 

[Chopdoc]

Yes in late 80s LePro Tips could be bought in black or brown.
They were not just a darker brown batch. They were black coated.
Just a sales gimmick at the time to create new interest I guess.
I read the link saying they were probably counterfeit, but I am pretty sure
they were from Tweeten. Also they were only coated black. They were still brown inside.

Ok. But Tweeten currently denies it.

Do you have any marketing materials or packaging that shows that?

Again, I don't know. I just want to know.