Plante
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Interesting Email. Giacomin's First Mask Lefty Wilson
I have since granted this gentleman membership obviously.
"I just came across this site and I think it is wonderful. My name is Arnie Bradford. I have been collecting vintage style goalie masks since the seventies. I have been involved with hockey in some form at the professional level for almost 35 years now. I have quite an extensive collection of original masks from Ernie Higgins, Lefty Wilson, Greg Harrison, Bill Burchmore and many other lesser known mask makers. Which brings me to this piece of information. Mr. Giacomin's first mask was made by Lefty Wilson. Lefty and I were friends in the late sixties through about 1978. Afterwhich we lost touch. Lefty made Giacomin's mask in 1968. Eddie refused to wear the mask except in practice. He was one of the last hold outs. Somewhere around late 1970, Eddie took a stick to the face in a practice and decided to wear the mask from that point on. It was not long after that first incident that Eddie ordered his now famous Ernie Higgins mask after seeing the one his friend Gerry Cheevers owned. Eddie also owned a Jacques Plante Mask that he NEVER wore. He felt the eyeholes were too small and impaired his vision.
As for Gilles Villemure's mask. That was made by a fellow out of Minnesota named Vernon Michaels. It was the only mask he ever made that was used in the National Hockey League. If I am not mistaking, Mr. Villemure still owns the mask. I have tried for many years to pry it from his hands."
Thanks for listening,
Arnie
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1/16/2007, 8:44 pm
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Olden Goalie
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Re: Interesting Email. Giacomin's First Mask Lefty Wilson
Ok, I guess it made sense to let him join. Two huge mystries cleared up at once that's a pretty good day.
I can't belive he doesn't know who made Dryden' first mask.
All kidding aside welcome aboard. Please promise you will post pictures of your collection soon.
Who was saying things have been quiet.
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1/16/2007, 8:52 pm
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Plante
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Re: Interesting Email. Giacomin's First Mask Lefty Wilson
Actually 3 read the Dion post.
B
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1/16/2007, 9:17 pm
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craigcoxe
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Re: Interesting Email. Giacomin's First Mask Lefty Wilson
Boy Plante, we are just letting anyone join these days... :)
What happened to the days when you had to take photos of yourself wearing a mask in front of the mirror, shirtless and in leather pants to be a honoured member here?
I say Arnie must go through a 6 month probationary period where he must post at least one interesting story a day from his travels...
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1/16/2007, 9:36 pm
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mulletsave55
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Re: Interesting Email. Giacomin's First Mask Lefty Wilson
Nothing like new blood and new stories! Welcome Arnie!
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1/17/2007, 8:28 am
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irishgoalie
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Re: Interesting Email. Giacomin's First Mask Lefty Wilson
Welcome aboard Arnie. Speaking of Giacomin's masks here are a couple of pictures from my collection.
O{* O{* O{*
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1/17/2007, 9:13 am
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irishgoalie
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Re: Interesting Email. Giacomin's First Mask Lefty Wilson
More of Steady Eddie and his mask
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1/17/2007, 10:50 am
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NYR1
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Re: Interesting Email. Giacomin's First Mask Lefty Wilson
WOW! This is what makes this site so great. Villemure does indeed have his original mask, because I asked him that question when he signed my replica. I had no idea Wilson made the first Giacomin mask, which finally answers the qustion that many of us had regarding that mask. Good work Plante for getting this posted.
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1/17/2007, 5:50 pm
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nsimo31
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Re: Interesting Email. Giacomin's First Mask Lefty Wilson
First off, welcome to the board Arnie. We all here would love to see some of your collection, need some help posting pics ?
Anywho
Maybe its just me, but I've seen a lot of Lefty's masks and they all seem to have notable features, the mouth and slots etc. Lefty's masks vary but you know its a Lefty. Eddie's first one just does not look like a Lefty to me in my humble opinion.
Simo
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1/18/2007, 12:47 pm
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MONTREALER
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Re: Interesting Email. Giacomin's First Mask Lefty Wilson
Me neither - It does have a lot of Sawchuk-ishness to it, but it's far from your typical lefty. Who knows?
What bothers me is that Lefty's style was fairly defined by that time, so why would he make a mask that was so atypical of his normal look?
Maybe he had his reasons, maybe somebody else made it.
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1/18/2007, 3:11 pm
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