Someone asked me a question about some putters they have labeled R.A.C.O. Supposedly an American clubmaker or company-- Ever heard of them?

Thank You

Hugh Walthall

Dear Hugh,

I've never heard of a clubmaker named R.A.C.O. or seen a putter marked this way. However, putters are frequently personalized for corporations as a corporate outing promotional item, and perhaps this is a generic putter that was part of a R.A.C.O. outing. Here are some suggestive leads:

A RACO Industries is located just outside O'hare airport, Chicago, that deals in used metal working machinery, including CNC machinery. They've been around for a long time and it would be very easy for them to stamp their name into a putter or to make a putter or have one made. I've sent an inquiry to them to see if they know anything. http://www.raco.com/

There is a RACO Industry in Cincinnati at the Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky Airport that makes Global Positioning System navigational devices, and this company has a line of golf-related products. I've also sent them a query. http://www.trackmyvehicle.com/contact.htm or http://www.golfersweb.com/golfcinc/

In Emeryville CA, a RACO Manufacturing company makes remote monitoring and alarm systems. They've been around for about 50 years, but somehow I doubt they are the ones. http://www.racoman.com/ or http://www.expo21xx.com/popup/7540.htm

Probably the most widely known company is RACO, a division of Hubbell that makes electrical boxes for contractors and electricians. RACO is sort of the "Coca-Cola" brand for this industry and is present in every electrical supply vendor in the country and probably the around the world. They used to be independent, but were acquired fairly recently by Hubbell Electrical products, a large conglomerate. I don't really know any more about them, except their HQ is in South Bend, IN. http://www.hubbell-raco.com/

It would be helpful if you could give me more details about the putter -- such as whether the mark is "R.A.C.O." or "RACO" or "RACo" or some variant; whether the putter is fairly new or about how old it is; what part of the country was it found in; how was it acquired; what sort of design does it have; are there any other marks on it. Perhaps the person who asked you can contact me directly and I can pursue the matter deeper.

In the meantime, you might try contacting Chuck Furjanic thru his website Golf for All Ages, http://www.golfforallages.com/index.html. Chuck's email is furjanic@directlink.net. Chuck is located outside Dallas and deals in all manner of old golf clubs. he seems to answer question like yours as a matter of helpfulness, so give him a try.

I'll wait for more info or please let me know if you get any help from Chuck. If I get a reply from either company above, I'll send it right along.

Cheers!

Geoff Mangum
The PuttingZone
http://puttingzone.com
Advanced instruction from the world's most comprehensive resource.

I have checked out the companies you mentioned and I didn't see any references to sporting goods, so that's why I posted my question. Here are more details on the three R.A.C.O. putters that I have found over the past two years.

All have "Made in U.S.A." on the bottom face. The first one is a bullseye style head but in grey metal. It is labeled as a "Pro Touch 300". The second one is a "Pro Touch 1100" and is a mallet style head that has a hollowed out section across the back of the head. The third one is a small mallet head in a chromed finish. It just has "51" on the bottom.

All have a common logo. It is a tall, thin triangle with two semi-circles cut into the bottom of the triangle. In the center is a circle with the letter "R" inside it. The mark is on the bottom face of all the putters and one also has it on the butt cap of the grip.

I appreciate your interest and help on this inquiry. I have been collecting putters for the past five years and have been learning as I go. I have a lot of the books on club collecting and that has been of some help for some of the other putters I have, but these have been a little more illusive.

By the way, I have over 120 putters so far. Most of them I have found in garage sales or second hand stores. It's neat to even see some of them show up in the books I have bought.

I too have found a putter that is called MONTE CARLO, Made in the U S A, By R.A.C.O. With the Trademark of a triangle with a circle in the center. I would like to find out more information as well.

Cont'd, The putter I have also had a pretty old Ping Grip. I initially thought it was a ping putter. Let me know if anyone comes up with information. Thanks.

I also have found a putter stamped MUSTANG by R.A.C.O. with the narrow triangle in Las Vegas and would like more information about it. Thanks.

This places them in business 25 years ago.

Robert Williams, Director of Golfgear International Inc.

Mr. Williams has been involved in virtually every aspect of the golf business for the past 25 years. He began his career with Raco Putters where he designed putters for Spalding, Wilson Sporting Goods, Ben Hogan Company, and MacGregor/Jack Nicklaus Company. From the time frame of 1978 through 1992 he also held positions at Western States Sales representing Northwestern Golf Company, Vice President of sales for National Brass Works and President of Palm Springs Golf Company. He was also the owner Vista Sports a Golf Design and Sales Company located in Palm Desert, California. In 1992, he became the owner of National Golf Warehouse which was a full line golf retail store located in Palm Desert, California. In 1994 he purchased Confidence Golf Company, a golf club manufacturer, which he later sold in 2000. He currently works as a golf equipment designer for the golf industry.

Donald A. Anderson, Director, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Golfgear International Inc.

Mr. Anderson has been in the golf business for his entire adult life. He taught golf at his home course at 19, and played as golf professional in local events. In 1973, Mr. Anderson became director of sales and marketing of R.A.C.O. Manufacturing, a foundry in Whittier, California, which produced putters for nearly every major golf club maker in the industry, including the Ben Hogan Company, Spalding, Wilson Sporting Goods, MacGregor, H and B, Northwestern Golf and Pinseeker. In 1980, Mr. Anderson moved to Chicago to become director of sales for the Northwestern Golf Club Company, which at the time was the world's largest exclusive manufacturer of golf clubs. While at Northwestern, Mr. Anderson pioneered the development and introduction of the original metal wood, and worked to engage several touring professionals to the staff. Mr. Anderson signed Nancy Lopez, Tom Weiskopf, Jim Thorpe, Judy Rankin, Marlene Hagge, Tom Shaw, Bob Murphy, J. C. Snead, George Low and Hubert Green. In 1986, Mr. Anderson became a consultant for Slotline Golf Company. In 1987, Mr. Anderson became vice president of the Stan Thompson Golf Club Company, a 50-year-old manufacturer of golf clubs. After completing a three-year contract at Stan Thompson, Mr. Anderson founded the Company in December 1989.