STX Lacrosse - The 1980's
The STX "Ulman" Model: US Patent # 4,460,178 was granted on July 17, 1984 and recognized James W. Ulman for the improvement in lacrosse equipment that reduces scooping friction with the ground and wear on the lower strung portion at the hook of a lacrosse stick by means of "U"-shaped tubular protectors on respective strings, each with the apex of the "U" acting as a fairlead through the frame, and, with the protector stabilized by abutment of the respective arms of the "U" against the forward knots of netting at the throw strings, and by broadening of the protector at the "U"-shaped bend, jamming it in the holes and causing the lower runs to extend resiliently down from the holes as respective skids easing wear on the transverse portion of the lacrosse stick and the thongs at the playing surface when scooping up a lacrosse ball.
Old School LAX Freak
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The STX "Laser Hi-Wall": The Laser Hi-Wall was revolutionary when it was first produced in the early 1980's. The head was designed by 4 individual inventors: Feilding H. Lewis Jr., Jackie L. Davis, Richard B.C. Tucker, and Robert E. Griebe and assigned to Wm. T. Burnett & Co. Inc of Baltimore, Maryland - better known as STX Lacrosse Company. The design for this initial pinched head was submitted with the US Patent Office on April 30, 1982 and approved on April 24, 1984. Like most other designs, STX began to produce the head while it waited for the patent approval. The head was revolutionary at the time in that it was the first head to have a 2 inch side-wall. Other dimensions include a pocket that was 6 1/2 inches at its widest inside measurement and about 9 3/8 from the inside of the scoop to the top of the throat. All the sticks that I have come across have the 8 sided aluminum handle version. This stick has remained so popular over the past 20+ years that STX continues to make it for recreational play - not competetive play.
Continuing to build upon the momentum that STX experienced in the 1970's, during the 1980's, STX continued to bring several signficant technological enhancements to the sport of lacrosse. Three of the most signficant improvements that remain critical to today's game are the "pinched" sidewall design, improved scoop, and the open sidewall head. Unlike many lacrosse heads that come and go, many of the original heads that STX introduced during the 1980's remain on the market today - just with 2nd or 3rd generation improvements.
US Design Patent No.273,601 was granted to members affiliated with STX Lacrosse company on April 24, 1984. The "pinched head" was a critical development that allowed improved ball control - particularly for those attackmen and midfielders who would play agressively around the crease.
An essential improvement to the lacrosse head that signficantly reduced the number of times that a player would have to re-string his/her head.
The STX "Golden Hi-Wall" Model: We recently purchased this stick from Scott B. So we thought that rather than just post the pictures that we would provide a little bit of history behind the stick itself. "I got it Spring of 1990. I switched over to Lacrosse after wrapping up my college baseball career. The stick was part of a team order that our coach had made...most likely through a local sporting goods store (Sportland) that had a relationship with the University, but I can't confirm that's who he
used. I played for the College Club Team at NDSU as an Attack. Our coach was a doctor at Meritcare Hospital in Fargo and a former Johns Hopkins player (I know longer can remember his name). Outside of our team, I had never seen another one like it. I always thought it was pretty cool and it definitely represents the time period with the neon colors.
The Golden Hi-Wall is very recognizable with the single letter "G" at the middle of the throat. We believe this stick was introduced by STX in either 1988 or 1989 but as you can see, Scott purchased his in the Spring of 1990. Anyone with more information - please email us.
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