MacGregor VIP Limited irons - all original

[McSquiggles]

Hey WRXers! First post here but I've lurked plenty, and I've previously been active on forums for other interests. Thought I'd introduce myself and show off these irons I recently picked up.

 

They are MacGregor VIP Limited irons with Split-Level Soles. The set is 2 thru 10 irons with Tourney Taper 1 Stiff shafts, all original Golf Pride grips, and all matching serial numbers. I've searched through all the threads I could find, and from this thread I've gleaned they're no older than 1971, but I'm not sure the exact age of this set. I'd also love any other info the experts here may have about them, as I'm new to collecting vintage clubs and these are much older than I am. I'm building a little Sunday bag of vintage clubs to start walking some 9s, and even though I have no business hitting blades, I thought these clubs looked too good to pass up. I know the split soles aren't for everyone, but I personally love the way they look hanging in the bag.

 

I took the even numbered irons out to the range today for some testing. Unfortunately the grips are pretty slick but still manageable for now. Best I can tell the clubs are standard length for their time; no idea on loft and lie specs, but they're definitely weaker lofts than my gamers. They also feel very heavy to someone that's used to cast GI clubs, but this actually has me thinking my gamers are a bit too light now. I thought the 10 iron would be my bread and butter, as is the case with my normal PW, but I actually found the 4 and 6 irons easiest to hit. I believe this is due to my heavier reliance on bounce with my normal PW, as every club in this set has zero bounce. I typically take pretty small divots so the digging tendency of the split soles doesn't feel too aggressive for me, though they definitely keep me honest in terms of depth control.  I hit a few with the 2 iron but that was mostly for S's and G's, they all came out terribly. At any rate, I look forward to getting out with the full vintage bag in a week or two.

[bcstones]

Checked the Maltby's - if I read it correctly, the VIP Limited by MacGregor was mentioned only once - 1974.
If you're just entering the vintage rabbit hole, the Maltby's IV edition 1950 - 1998 (last edition made), is a good start (there are 3 other editions, but their end dates on data are earlier each edition as you go back). 
Also, the Kaplan books on MacGregor, Wilson, & Hilerick & Bradbsy are excellent sources. 

Have fun 

[McSquiggles]

Thanks for that info! I've seen mentions of those books but I appreciate you being specific, and I might just pick up some new reading materials per your recommendation.

[bcstones]

13 minutes ago, McSquiggles said:

Thanks for that info! I've seen mentions of those books but I appreciate you being specific, and I might just pick up some new reading materials per your recommendation.

The Kaplan book of MacGregor catalogs most easily bought ends around 1970, there is a later edition however difficult to find. I found one last year, but the buyer was asking $100...waay too much when I can go to the Maltby guide, few pictures threre but good discriptions.

[Chiefmick]

Those grips don't appear to be in bad shape, so I would give them a good cleaning with warm water and a small amount of mild soap, then rub them down with Mink Oil.

Let that sit for a couple of hours and then wipe it clean 2-3 times to remove all excess.

The oil will penetrate the grips and make them nice and serviceable again.

Welcome to the party!

[McSquiggles]

16 minutes ago, Chiefmick said:

Those grips don't appear to be in bad shape, so I would give them a good cleaning with warm water and a small amount of mild soap, then rub them down with Mink Oil.

Let that sit for a couple of hours and then wipe it clean 2-3 times to remove all excess.

The oil will penetrate the grips and make them nice and serviceable again.

Welcome to the party!

Thank you for the tip, I will certainly give that a try! I know people commonly restore old leather grips but I hadn't given it much thought regarding rubber. A very gentle water-only cleaning helped a bit, so I look forward to seeing what Dawn and mink oil can do for them.

[EvanH]

Really nice set of irons @McSquiggles.

For a brief time I owned these (below) - a MacGregor Japan forging as rare as rocking horse poop.

When I first posted this pic below (Jan 2023) some of the more knowledgeable forumites said they were reminiscent of the VIP Limited irons. 

Probably should have kept them...

 

[McSquiggles]

Thank you @EvanH and those are some beautiful clubs you had as well! I definitely agree that the muscle back curvature is similar, and I gotta say they also look nice and clean with the square soles. I never knew MacGregor had anything come out of Japan so thanks for adding to my knowledge base.

[mocokid]

11 hours ago, Chiefmick said:

Those grips don't appear to be in bad shape, so I would give them a good cleaning with warm water and a small amount of mild soap, then rub them down with Mink Oil.

Let that sit for a couple of hours and then wipe it clean 2-3 times to remove all excess.

The oil will penetrate the grips and make them nice and serviceable again.

Welcome to the party!

I'd sand with 200 300 sand paper, above oil could be detrimental. 

[mocokid]

Split sole vip irons, in same category as SS tourney irons, not very coveted.  67 vip by Nicklaus are the sweet irons.

[mocokid]

SO, OS, sb a special order.

[McSquiggles]

@mocokid thanks for the replies, I'm gonna do a bit more research before making any hasty decisions on the grips. I assumed they weren't particularly sought after, I'm more into affordable and playable clubs that I personally find interesting. For instance I've picked up some Wilson Fat Shaft clubs, a driver and 2 putters, if you consider those "vintage" yet. Better they get use in my Sunday bag than rotting in someone's garage. Not really looking to collect any grails, I have student loans to pay off 😅

[bcstones]

2 hours ago, mocokid said:

above oil could be detrimental. 

totally agree, mink oil is a water repellant cream & tends to close off any leather breathability - I'd just dry rub saddle soap into it, it'll clean without making slick.

[mocokid]

4 hours ago, bcstones said:

totally agree, mink oil is a water repellant cream & tends to close off any leather breathability - I'd just dry rub saddle soap into it, it'll clean without making slick.

Those are original rubber MacGregor grips, sand and clean. Not leather, no oil.

[mocokid]

6 minutes ago, mocokid said:

Those are original rubber MacGregor grips, sand and clean. Not leather, no oil.

Given they are 55 years old, grips may be toast. 

[bcstones]

1 hour ago, mocokid said:

Those are original rubber MacGregor grips, sand and clean. Not leather, no oil.

Thanks I forgot to double check....gotta ask - why sand?
 

I have a set of H&B PowerBilt circa '56 w/that vulcanized rubber grips. I just used liquid hand soap & a nylon brush & they came out fine, Did the same thing on a set of '74 Hogan Sabers with original grips & got the same result.,

Edited July 22 by bcstones

[mocokid]

Sand to remove layer of hardened dirty rubber 

[McSquiggles]

Valuable conversation in this thread, seems like sanding is the way to go. I know ~300 grit sandpaper is the usual recommendation, but would finer paper work? I have some automotive wet/dry sandpaper lying around in the 1000-2000 grit range. Figured that would also make it harder to take off too much material, unless it'd be too fine to get the job done. Also, would wet sanding work better, or leave it dry to feel when it gets tacky?

[mocokid]

Use the sandpaper Dry, 200, 300. If you wet it, it will slide and not get any friction. You may need to replace those old grips. Leather can last decades, but old rubber grips get hardened and dessicated. 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

16 hours ago, McSquiggles said:

Thank you @EvanH and those are some beautiful clubs you had as well! I definitely agree that the muscle back curvature is similar, and I gotta say they also look nice and clean with the square soles. I never knew MacGregor had anything come out of Japan so thanks for adding to my knowledge base.

 

MacGregor made quite a few sets for the Japanese market, including the MT Tourney R55, R58, and R65 irons from either the late Eighties or early Nineties. I had a set of the R58s, which are said to be Miura-forged, and they were pretty nice to hit, but the shafts were too short for me so I ended up selling them after playing them a few times.

 

There were a few other sets made for the Japanese market, sometimes using the same blanks as the US market clubs and just restamping them, sometimes putting a new grind on them.

 

For example, there was a Nicklaus Player of the Century limited edition irons (think there were woods as well), which you can goggle at over in this thread.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Think these Mac International Edition irons were for the Japanese market, but they look identical to the Muirfields to me.

 

And these are the R58s I had.

Edited July 23 by No_Catchy_Nickname

[bcstones]

10 hours ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

there was a Nicklaus Player of the Century limited edition irons

I have a 6 iron of this club....it's a good looking club. 

[SnowbirdTom]

The OP's set is from 1973. I have the matching set with the persimmon woods in my collection per my reference book.  They've not been played by me...yet!  I may just haul them to the course early tomorrow morning to try them out.  Next week's league play needs some longer playing woods.  😀 Love the relatively deep face on the driver.  Stay tuned.  

 

Heh, just looked at your serial number.  Mine are OS6245R with the #1 stiff shafts and factory grips that were absolutely grungy.  Just cleaned them up with some dawn dishsoap and a well used green scotchbrite pad. The soap ran black for a good while.

 

 

Edited July 23 by SnowbirdTom

[McSquiggles]

Thanks for the response @SnowbirdTom, cool to see another set so close to mine! They look great with the woods too. 

 

I got out for a quick 9 yesterday afternoon, and the irons performed much better on course than on the (90% mud) driving range. I shocked myself with a full dollar bill divot out of very thick rough with an aggressive 10 iron swing. Took up the full intact roots and I had to walk like 15 feet to pick it up 😂 I don't even have much club speed, that was a 95 yard shot onto the front of the green. These clubs are sweet guys, don't sleep on the split soles.