Spademan Binding Info? - Page 3

At the time Spademan was exporting bindings in the 1970s I worked at a leading ski shop chain in London called Alpine Sports. We sold Spademan, Hexcel and Hanson. It wasn't unusual for us to sell a set of all three of these products in one transaction - plenty of money around at that time - which we called a 'Royal Flush'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Goldsmith 

At the time Spademan was exporting bindings in the 1970s I worked at a leading ski shop chain in London called Alpine Sports. We sold Spademan, Hexcel and Hanson. It wasn't unusual for us to sell a set of all three of these products in one transaction - plenty of money around at that time - which we called a 'Royal Flush'.

Hanson and Spademan seems like an unlikely and troublesome combination to me.  The Hanson Citations I owned had a footprint with a cut out arch that wasn't conducive to the butterflies at all.

Hi Rossi, you are right, strapping in is what I need to do.  What fun on "retro".  Was looking for info on Rich Spademan when Epicski came up.  What great fun, had no idea guys like you were so into equipment from my era, 60's - 80's.  Now my wife can't get me away from the computer, up to page 30 looking at what catches my eye.  Later will go back and read everything.   Starting in the winter of 59-60 I taught skiing at Whiteface then worked for 25+ years for Yahama Ski Division, Sport Obermeyer, Spademan and Salomon. 

I'm blown away by the dedication of guys like you.  Shame we didn't save one of each model Spademan we had in the warehouse.

If I can help you with names of ski shops or owners from the "good old days" would be glad it give it a try.  I was also one of the founders and the first executive director of the New England Ski Reps.  Might be able to help you on who imported what from those days. 

The following spec are to be substituted in the SRS II diagram below for the Spademan SRS Super II bindings.

150 - 160 -

                                  - 170 - 180

190 - 200 -                  

                                  - 210 - 220

230 -  +  -

               [Gold Spring]

They were great in rental situations as they were safe and quickly adjustable.

The real downfall was that companies like Solomon were hot in the late 70's early 80's and they started

notching out the boots into a more fashionable step style.

They did this at least in part to eliminate companies like Spademan, Remember Salomon was big into bindings as

well and once they knotched out the middle of their boot it made the use of spademan bindings with their boots

impossible.  I'M CERTAIN THIS CROSSED THEIR MINDS AS THEY DEVELOPED THIS DESIGN.

A few years later most boots became flat on the bottom again.

Most Hansons were flat

At least 5 models, two early with the low side clamps.  The third, the SRS super II the next I beleive was the S7, a metal step-in with similar

characteristics to the SRS super II clamps, but appeared to be a shorter tail end and then my favorite the S9 composite, super lightweight (mostly composite plastic body)

Also, two plate designs (interchangeable) with four bolt holes and later 5 bolt holes with one slightly further back.

I'm guessing their were actually "9" models but I'm guessing that not all of them made it to production.

P.S.  Still have my S9's and occasionally ski on them.  I still ski on my Olin Ballets with spademans everytime I'm out.  They still get the job done.