how do I tell if a woodgrain shifter ball is original or repro?
I found this one for sale locally.

They're usually more worm if they're original but that's not to say this one isn't.

The originals are a different color brown but the biggest "tell" is the shift pattern. The originals were molded without it then a hot branding iron like tool melted the pattern in which caused molten plastic to form a small ridge around the edges of the pattern that you can feel. Adding the dark colored dye highlighting the grain and shift pattern was the last step, it was wiped on and them wiped off leaving dye in the low areas only. Also, the number font style is different.

Reproductions are molded in one process molding the pattern in and leaving no molten plastic ridge.


.02

Here's an NOS one. The reproductions look nicer, but if 100% original is your goal "better" = different, and that is a negative in the O.E. scene.

Not my pics. I think I scraped them off a ebay sale a couple years back.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-NEW-HURST-MO...0-/351958296637

You can a bunch of reproductions for what a real one costs too. I was watching this but it went way past what I wanted to spend...

Was the wooden knob used on a 66 Sport Fury 4speed?
There is a wood knob in the parts that came with
the Sport Fury that I just brought home.

'66 Fury would've had an Inland shifter with black knob

Where is the best place to buy a repop ?

Here is what Vans Auto is selling on Ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/172167633281

I bought mine from Brewers.Very nice repro.

Are Both Brewers and Vans the same item or do they vary in any way?
THANKS

YEAH, i was very surprised to see what this NOS ball went for.....as the NOS supply goes down....the price goes UP...

Temped to list mine??