tabletennisJunkie.com - table tennis and ping pong forum for equipment junkies!

[729 fx]

I notice that Butterfly blades bought from Japan have serial number printed on the blade surface (this applys to blade not more than 3 years old) whilst the same Butterfly blades bought from Europe does not have the serial number. The question I wanted to ask is, are there any quality differences? Or it depends on where the blade is manufactured, like Made in China vs Made in Japan.

[ejunkie]

I don't know about difference in quality, but there is a difference in playing characteristics. A Korbel from European feel harder and is lighter than those from Japan. I prefer the old stock, 1st generation Butterfly.

[varghese]

I think the equipments in Japan need some kind of approval from the JTTAA unlike other countries. That may be one reason it has some additional info on the blade. As you may know, the serial number is for after sales service. That is one way to keep track of where the blades are sold.

The blades that come out of Asian market may be different from the Europe market as ejunkie has said. More than the characteristics of the blades, the manufactures look at the cost effectiveness. They may not like making the blades manufactured in China exported to Europe to sell there while some companies in Europe can make the same blade cheaper.

[ejunkie]

I want to add, since the topic isn't actually being discussed, that serial numbers are only used recently by Butterfly, perhaps to prevent copies coming out of China. The first generation of Butterfly has only the metal logo. The oldest has the word Butterfly in nice calligraphy (black letter?) or no writting on the playing surface at all. Then block letter(?) Butterfly, no fancy writtings, being the more recent. Then the serial numbers next. Then the silver logo and serial numbers. I have serveral old Butterfly I am very proud of and they still play great.
Now if we talk about Butterfly before the late 70s they don't even have the metal logo, I think. It should say something like Tamasu co only. That's my guess from seeing a few of the older ones.

[729 fx]

I do have one Butterfly from the 60s(or was it 70s) that only have a sticker withe the word "Tamasu Co". This blade is kept in my house storeroom.
ejunkie is right on the first generation of Butterfly which has only the metal logo. Then followed by "Butterfly" block letter and then the serial numbers come next.

[ejunkie]

Look something like this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Tamasu-Butt ... 58821949fa

[729 fx]

Oh, Vintage Tamasu.

No, mine is a J-pen one with a square face, not a shake-hand blade.