Dartboard evolution?

[conanthewarrior]

Hello people, I was wondering something and some of you may be able to help me.

I wish to know how dartboards come from what they were, the round wired beasts, to the newest, thinnest blades.

Say, for example, what is the difference between an original blade(Lets call it a blade 1) and a blade 4.
Throughout the series of 1-4 what have been deemed big enough improvements for them to bring out a new board?

This interests me, as I had a late 80's round wire, that honestly used to try to kill me with bounceouts. I now have a unicorn eclipse pro ( I know I'm asking about winmau boards, but I guess they use a similar blade system).

So, anyone who can help me with some history and the progression from the blade 1 to the blade 4, and the differences of each, would be a legend. I have tried to google this topic, but am either using the wrong search terms or its not commonly asked.

I would really appreciate it if someone could point out the differences to me, as I find it interesting how boards have evolved from a slab of a tree soaked overnight to a sisal board, the only real difference with boards now being the spiders ( I know the sisal can be better, but I digress).

[Getagrip]

I think some guy from Australia posted something on here about the guy who first made a blade style wire, I cant find the thread at the moment though.

[conanthewarrior]

That sounds pretty cool Getagrip, if you ever come across it could you send it my way? Would like to read it.

[Getagrip]

yeah I wish I could remember the guys name Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[jebrand]

Was it Jamie? I found this about the blade boards https://www.dartsnutz.net/archive/index....-7869.html

Edit: atrain! Was mentioned in that thread by you grip

[Getagrip]

Ah yeah I think it was atrain Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Good find, he knows the guy or did know him Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[conanthewarrior]

Ahh cool , thanks for that. Wondered what the differences were, I now know Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images..

[ElusiveDouble85]

Conan there is some more info on this website on dart boards - https://www.patrickchaplin.com/Dartboard.htm
There's loads of darts history throughout this website. Well worth a read if you're interested in that

[Humdinger]

yeah I wish I could remember the guys name Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Are you thinking of Barry Atkinson, Grip?

In his book it details that he designed and registered the bladed board in 1992, but due to production costs reduced it to blades on the doubles and trebles only, calling it the "Superwire".

Alana went on to produce the "Superblade", and Barry goes on to say... "if there is to be further development and improvement I am now at a loss".

[Getagrip]

yeah I wish I could remember the guys name Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Are you thinking of Barry Atkinson, Grip?

That's it! Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Humdinger]

yeah I wish I could remember the guys name Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Are you thinking of Barry Atkinson, Grip?

That's it! Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Just edited my previous post with a little more info.

[Getagrip]

Cheers! Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[ShotBuster]

yeah I wish I could remember the guys name Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Are you thinking of Barry Atkinson, Grip?

That's it! Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Just edited my previous post with a little more info.

Hi Humdinger - just came across this old post while doing a search for Barry Atkinson. In the mid 80's (84/85) he set up a darts manufacturing company in South Australia called Tri-Lex Darts I bought a set of 25 gram 90% tungsten straight barrel ringed grip darts (similar to the Unicorn T90 variety available at the time) - the type Kevin White used. To this day they are the only darts I have used that had too much grip. The ringed grip was sharpened to a knife edge. They were that grippy that they stuck in my hand. I on-sold them to someone who complained that there were no tungsten darts with enough grip for them they then complained to me that these were too grippy. I wonder if you have ever heard of these or if he made any mention of this in his book?

[Humdinger]

yeah I wish I could remember the guys name Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Are you thinking of Barry Atkinson, Grip?

That's it! Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Just edited my previous post with a little more info.

Hi Humdinger - just came across this old post while doing a search for Barry Atkinson. In the mid 80's (84/85) he set up a darts manufacturing company in South Australia called Tri-Lex Darts I bought a set of 25 gram 90% tungsten straight barrel ringed grip darts (similar to the Unicorn T90 variety available at the time) - the type Kevin White used. To this day they are the only darts I have used that had too much grip. The ringed grip was sharpened to a knife edge. They were that grippy that they stuck in my hand. I on-sold them to someone who complained that there were no tungsten darts with enough grip for them they then complained to me that these were too grippy. I wonder if you have ever heard of these or if he made any mention of this in his book?

G’day mate. It was a while ago since I read his book, but I don’t recall the darts being mentioned or the name Tri-Lex.

If you wanted to find out more the only person I could suggest is Trev who runs Swiftflyte with his daughter Andrea north of Adelaide. I might be wrong but I think Barry Atkinson founded this store. Trev has an extensive knowledge of vintage darts and quite a collection to go with it. If anyone recalls them he would. Who knows, he might even have a set.

Sounds like an interesting dart.

https://www.swiftflyte.com.au

[Snooks]

yeah I wish I could remember the guys name Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Are you thinking of Barry Atkinson, Grip?

That's it! Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

It certainly was Alana Sports based in Adelaide South Australia. Primarily run by Barrys Sons, Steven and Christopher with office work being aided by their adult daughters.

They provided an amazing service and run such a great business. The swiftflyte business mentioned in a post above bought products from Alana Sports Pty Ltd but that was the only connection. If anyone has an interest and wanted to know anything else just post and ask, I can probably assist with some things as I purchased from them and became very friendly over the 20 or so years that I did business with them. Cheers.