Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12

1930s KookBox Hollow Wood Antique Surfboard

About the Item

Late-1930s KookBox hollow wood surfboard. Purchased initially by a WWII veteran stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii who was later killed in action during the war. Upon his death, the soldier's belongings, along with this surfboard was mailed from Oahu, Hawaii to his family in Northern California. This antique wooden surfboard features a hollow ribbed construction, inspired by designs used to construct the wings of airplanes. The invention of this method of surfboard construction was patented by renowned inventor and water man, Tom Blake. His invention ushered in wide scale adoption of the sport of surfing for the first time. The design reduced the weight of surfboards from around 100 pounds to well under 50 pounds. This is a truly special example of a historical wooden surfboard, previously owned by one of America's fallen heroes.
  • Similar to:
    Tom Blake (Designer)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 145 in (368.3 cm)Width: 25 in (63.5 cm)Depth: 4 in (10.16 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1937-1939
  • Condition:
    Repaired: Various minor wooden repairs made, most notable on the deck (lighter pieces of wood). Images are good representation of condition. Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Haleiwa, HI
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU5290224882782

More From This Seller

View All
1930s Vintage Hollow Wood “Kookbox” Early Surfboard
By Tom Blake
Located in Haleiwa, HI
Mid-late 1930s “Kookbox” hollow wood surfboard. Features wood panels joined by metal fasteners and cork water-plug. Patented interior ‘Skin and Frame’ construction method, inspired by the design of airplane wings. This breakthrough surfboard building method was invented in the early 1930s by the legendary Tom Blake...
Category

Vintage 1930s American Sports Equipment and Memorabilia

Materials

Metal

1930s Replica Tom Blake hollow wooden surfboard
By Tom Blake
Located in Haleiwa, HI
1930s Replica Tom Blake hollow wooden surfboard. Wooden panels joined by metallic fasteners with daffodil yellow outline. Patented by the late Tom Blake (1902-1994) in 1931. The inte...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Sports Equipment and Memorabilia

Materials

Metal

Early-1900s Waikiki Hawaiian Wood Plank Surfboard
Located in Haleiwa, HI
1920s original plank-style surfboard made for the waves at Waikiki Beach, Hawaii. Before Hawaiian surfing patriarch Duke Kahanamoku, early surfboards w...
Category

Vintage 1920s American Sports Equipment and Memorabilia

Materials

Softwood

Vintage 1970s Dick Brewer Surfboard
By Dick Brewer
Located in Haleiwa, HI
Mid-1970s Dick Brewer surfboard. Features an orange tint with uncommon rocket tail winged shape design. Glassed on single fin with pinstriped outline....
Category

Vintage 1970s American Sports Equipment and Memorabilia

Materials

Softwood, Fiberglass, Foam

1988 Mark Richards 'MR' Surfboard
By Mark Richards Surfboards
Located in Haleiwa, HI
1988 Mark Richards (MR) surfboard. Features 80s style colorful Mark Richards text and iconic MR Superman logos. Rounded pintail shape design with glassed...
Category

Vintage 1980s American Sports Equipment and Memorabilia

Materials

Foam, Fiberglass

Tesla Carbon Fiber Surfboard 1 of 200
By Tesla
Located in Haleiwa, HI
Tesla carbon fiber surfboard, 1 of only 200 ever made. This example remains in it’s original packaging, still sealed. Tesla Design Studio in collaboration with Lost Surfboards and Matt “Mayhem” Biolos, surfboard shaper for World Surf League Championship athletes. This Limited Edition Tesla Surfboard...
Category

2010s American Sports Equipment and Memorabilia

Materials

Fiberglass, Foam, Carbon Fiber

You May Also Like

Six Antique Deer Trophies on Wooden Plaques, Germany ca. 1930s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Six Antique Deer Trophies on Wooden Plaques Germany ca. 1930s. A set of six antique Black Forest deer (Capreolus capreolus) trophies on turned wooden...
Category

Early 20th Century German Rustic Taxidermy

Materials

Antler, Wood

"Fractal Gun" Custom Wooden Marquetry Surfboard
Located in Nr Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
This is a unique custom surfboard featuring a marquetry deck, designed and hand-crafted by the w o o d p o p studio which specialises in marquetry and inlay work. The studio prid...
Category

2010s Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Particular Trophy of an Abnorme Moose from a Noble Estate, circa 1930s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Particular Trophy of an Abnorme Moose from a Noble Estate, circa 1930s A particular trophy of an abnorme moose (Alces alces) from the palace of Salem in South Germany. It was shot b...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Rustic Taxidermy

Materials

Antler, Wood

Antique Industrial Slatted Foundry Patterns Handmade Wood Wall Sculpture, Grp 4
Located in Topeka, KS
Incredible slatted antique handmade wood industrial foundry patterns. These were created to make the sand cast molds for casting iron sewage grates. There are ten patterns in this gr...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Industrial Architectural Models

Materials

Wood

Antique Industrial Foundry Pattern for Mold Handmade Wood, Number 11
Located in Topeka, KS
Incredible antique handmade wood industrial foundry pattern. A single long narrow slatted form. This was created to make the sand cast molds for casting an iron sewage grates or other type grill. It is in wonderful antique condition with fabulous patina from all its years of age and use, circa late 19th century. Wow! This antique industrial foundry...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Industrial Architectural Models

Materials

Wood

Antique Industrial Arched Foundry Patterns for Molds Handmade Wood, Group 3
Located in Topeka, KS
Incredible arched antique handmade wood industrial foundry patterns. These were created to make the sand cast molds for casting iron sewage grates. There are five patterns in this gr...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Industrial Architectural Models

Materials

Wood

Recently Viewed

View All