Unread postby KirkB » Wed Aug 05, 2009 1:32 am
I like the Thermo-Flex ads, but I have some comments ... and complaints!
First of all, I want my money back! My first pole was a Thermo-Flex ... bought in 1966. It broke into 3 pieces in 1967, so I'd like my money back. The ad sez there's a 2-year warranty on these beauties. I sure don't remember any "warranty instructions" on the label. If I'd only known back then ...
Second, that's a left handed vaulter, and his left hand is above his right one. That's still legal. It's only if you move your bottom hand ABOVE your top hand (i.e. climbing the pole) that it's illegal.
Third, I like how they rant about the "uniform diameter end-to-end in a TRUE ARC -- not like a fish pole". I guess times have changed!
And finally, Pogo, as you say, the bottom hand slid up to the top hand was NOT the conventional technique in 1968. 1963 was the break-thru year, when all elite vaulters converted to fiberglass, and the 1964 Olympics had ONLY fiberglass pole vaulters that qualified. Back then, the wide grip was already commonplace, so 4 years later, the narrow grip shown is totally incorrect. Thermo-Flex should be embarassed to even have let this photo get published. I have no idea why the vaulter's grip is like that. My only guess is that maybe this is a 1962 pic of John Uelses, who was the first to clear 16 feet?
Pole climbing (moving bottom hand higher than top hand on the pole) was banned over 100 years ago.
No, that's not me on the stamp ... I retired 4 years earlier. It's not Bruce Simpson or Ken Wenman either (Canada's 1976 participants), so I'm thinking that it's not anybody in particular. My apologies if it's Bruce - it sure doesn't look like him.
Kirk
Run. Plant. Jump. Stretch. Whip. Extend. Fly. Clear. There is no tuck! THERE IS NO DELAY!
? I know this was after your prime time, but the stamp was issued 1975 and probably designed even before. Do you recognize other athletes?
