Need help dating an Anser

[Sergiogarwiia]

Hi guys and girls,

No, no, it's not like that, I am not trying to take a putter out for a drink, I just want to know the age 
I bought this Anser the other day and am a bit confused in trying to date it.
It's has the 85029 area code, but it has no patent number on it.
It also reads KARSTEN in the cavity and not Karsten MFG Corp.

From what I understand from the internet is that Karsten produced Ansers from the 85029 area in 1966 and 1967.
And also from 2000 till now because of the headquarters being situated there.
The patent didn't come through until 1967 I believe.
Since I doubt this putter is as young as from 2000 or younger, would this make this putter an early (non-dalehead) Anser?

Or can anyone confirm the story I heard that Ping Anser putters were also stamped with the 85029 area code later than 1967?
If so what could the year of this one be?

... if I know she's of legal age I may take her out for a drink anyway.

Thank you in advance for any info you have on my new baby.

Kind regards,
S.

[Jimbobuc21]

Click on the Ping page and click on this thread:

http://puttertalk.com/community/index.php?topic=17417.0

On the bottom of the very first post is a link to something called 'ping-book_small.pdf' or something like that. It is an attachment with a little paper clip next to it... click on that and enjoy something like 60 pages (complete with pictures) from one of the foremost Ping historians, our very own Lumpy.

Jimbo

[Jimbobuc21]

ps... the presence of a circled 'r' on both bumpers is a clue for you. This is the only hint I will give you... read through the book and the first time that a single 'r' appeared was around 1970. My old dad used to say that discovery was 90% of the learning, so go discover. Even if you find out that it isn't as old as you think it is, you will come away with a very good history lesson in Ping putters.

Jimbo

[FrankenScotty]

My understanding is that, this type of cavity wording was used when they went back to the 85029 zip,

Which was sometime in the earlier 1990's,

Whether the patent number was used from the start, and deleted later on, or added after a while, I do not know.

My guess is that your putter is around twenty five years old, at the most,

Does it have a shaftband? This, and the original grip, can help in determining age as well, cheers.