TEI3 Generations

[puttputt]

My first cammie was a gift from my father as I headed of to College.  He purchased me a TEI3 Newport.  It was the most beautiful putter I had ever layed my 18 year old eyes on.  TEI3's still hold a special place with me..  As everyone knows there are different makes(generations) within the TEI3 lines.  I would like to share a little about each..

Sole Stamps=Started in 1997 the line then was limited to Newport's, Newport II's, and Santa Fe models.  The sole stamp(TEI3 logo) had 2 white borders around it.There are believed to be around 1000-2000 produced.  To my knowledge nobody knows for sure.  1 interesting note led to the change of the sole stamp.. When Tiger shattered the Masters record in 1997 Scotty moved the logo(TEI3) to the face for better brand recognition. 

The next phase is known to most as the "1st Generation" After the Masters in  1997, the above change was instituted.  (logo moved to the face).  In 1998 the line was expanded to include the Newport Long Neck, Newport II Long Neck, and Del Mar 2.

The next and final phase is known to most as "2nd Generation." Starting in 1999, the Teryllium 2’s were introduced.  The line included the same six models of putters used in the 1st generation series. Scotty, in his words "enhanced the putters with the addition of an elastomer membrane around the insert and cosmetically with the elimination of the two white borders around the TEI3 Logo."  Finally in 2000, the final model was added to production, teh Del MAr 2 mid slant.  TEI3's were discontinued after the year 2002.

I will locate some pictures to do some comparisons..


Kevin

[puttputt]

here is a first generation pic..



Kevin

[TonyT]

...Starting in 1999, the Teryllium 2’s were introduced.  The line included the same six models of putters used in the 1st generation series. Scotty, in his words "enhanced the putters with the addition of an elastomer membrane around the insert ...

Kevin

isn't this when the TeI3s stopped being milled by...

...ahhh, never mind.

T

[Herd8497]

here is a first generation pic..
Kevin

I had a mint Santa Fe like that.  Only Cameron I regret not keeping.  The elasomer dots in the cavity were what first drew me to the TeI3 models.

[reflog74]

Don't forget the T2 (the name chosen for the 2nd gen putters, until the producers of The Terminator, um, terminated the name for infringing), and it's follow up, the TeI (mit umlaut ober the "e" -- probably so Ahh-nold would get it).
Then there's my favorite underrated model, the SF2 TeI, made only one year, 1999.

John

[puttputt]

Heres a good one.. 2nd generation is on the left..




Kevin

[puttputt]

here is a first generation pic..
Kevin

I had a mint Santa Fe like that.  Only Cameron I regret not keeping.  The elasomer dots in the cavity were what first drew me to the TeI3 models.

I believe that the dots were to represent his age at the time....32..  could be wrong but thats popping in my head..

Kevin

[T.J.]

I must have the 2nd generation then, because it has the elastometer around it,,, really like the feel of it, only insert putter I have ever liked,,, I should not be a stock broker, bought it 3 years ago in almost mint for $200 with a brand new heacover,,,, but, not in it for $$ always wanted one so i got it,,,,,,,,

[Herd8497]

Interesting Kevin, I've never heard that.

Jay

[puttputt]

I must have the 2nd generation then, because it has the elastometer around it,,, really like the feel of it, only insert putter I have ever liked,,, I should not be a stock broker, bought it 3 years ago in almost mint for $200 with a brand new heacover,,,, but, not in it for $$ always wanted one so i got it,,,,,,,,

thats a great pickup..  If I ever get around to it I would like to pick up the same model in all three..  They would look great on the rack and be good conversation pieces.  I love how putters particularly in the same line evolve..Interesting to learn the why changes were made..

Kevin

[T.J.]

I wish he would have made a Napa in the TeI3 style,,, I tried the Tad Moore and it did nothing for me.

[puttputt]

I wish he would have made a Napa in the TeI3 style,,, I tried the Tad Moore and it did nothing for me.

I too am a Napa fan.  Bet it would have felt great.  Can't imagine how it would have worked no way to get the same 32 dots on it..

Kevin

[reflog74]

here is a first generation pic..
Kevin

I had a mint Santa Fe like that.  Only Cameron I regret not keeping.  The elasomer dots in the cavity were what first drew me to the TeI3 models.

I believe that the dots were to represent his age at the time....32..  could be wrong but thats popping in my head..

Kevin

Let's do the math.  Born 1962.  http://www.scottycameron.com/studio/scottybio.aspx
Would have been 32 in 1994.
TeI introduced 1997.
Nice story, but fail.

John

[jcigars]

...Starting in 1999, the Teryllium 2’s were introduced.  The line included the same six models of putters used in the 1st generation series. Scotty, in his words "enhanced the putters with the addition of an elastomer membrane around the insert ...

Kevin

isn't this when the TeI3s stopped being milled by...

...ahhh, never mind.

T

Yes Bobby Bettinardi milled the first generation TeI3's

Jimmy

[kylek]

The tei3 has always been one of my favorite SC putters.  I had a mint sole stamp for awhile that I ended up selling.  Still kicking myself in the rear for that!!!!

[reflog74]

IIRC, the TeI insert design was co-patented by Cameron and August Slivnik, owner of Black Oxide Services.

After terminating with Bettinardi, the 2nd generation TeI with elastomer was introduced and was made by BOS, I think.  Have heard that the reason for the elastomer was because of the difficulty in precision machining the insert and putter heads for a flush, seamless fit.  Anyone else know anything about this?

John

[rrkman]

I have no idea why the elastomer was put in there....that sounds like a legitimate reason...or could have been to soften it up a little more?  I guess that would depend on the elastomer...cause it might have the opposite effect as well, right?

From a looks standpoint, I would much rather have the 'no elastomer' model.  I had a chance to pick up a gamer for $100 last year but didn't.  I wish I would have given it a try....problem is that I have 3 putter phobias - sitedots, flow necks, and inserts.  If I see another one, I might give it a shot.  If nothing else, I'll look at it for a couple months and pass it on.

[jcigars]

The TeI3 was my first high end putter purchase. Look where that purchase got me

Jimmy

[Venno]

IIRC, the TeI insert design was co-patented by Cameron and August Slivnik, owner of Black Oxide Services.

After terminating with Bettinardi, the 2nd generation TeI with elastomer was introduced and was made by BOS, I think.  Have heard that the reason for the elastomer was because of the difficulty in precision machining the insert and putter heads for a flush, seamless fit.  Anyone else know anything about this?

John

John I believe that is 100% correct.

[reflog74]

I had a set of sole stamps, but here are pics of the nicest TeI's I ever owned.  Still in the original shipping box, with shipping documents, GIP, hang tags.  Enjoy.

John

[TonyT]

I always wished for a TeI3 Napa and a Laguna 2.5.  Those would've been killer.

T

[reflog74]

IIRC, the TeI insert design was co-patented by Cameron and August Slivnik, owner of Black Oxide Services.

After terminating with Bettinardi, the 2nd generation TeI with elastomer was introduced and was made by BOS, I think.  Have heard that the reason for the elastomer was because of the difficulty in precision machining the insert and putter heads for a flush, seamless fit.  Anyone else know anything about this?

John

John I believe that is 100% correct.

Thanks Nick!  Good to know I haven't forgotten everything.  LOL!

John

[puttputt]

John,

thanks for sharing.. does not get much better than that..

Kevin

[puttputt]

here is a first generation pic..
Kevin

I had a mint Santa Fe like that.  Only Cameron I regret not keeping.  The elasomer dots in the cavity were what first drew me to the TeI3 models.

I believe that the dots were to represent his age at the time....32..  could be wrong but thats popping in my head..

Kevin

Let's do the math.  Born 1962.  http://www.scottycameron.com/studio/scottybio.aspx
Would have been 32 in 1994.
TeI introduced 1997.
Nice story, but fail.

John

I knew I had read it somewhere..

http://www.scottycameron.com/authentication/registrysearch.asp?registry=A007038


One of the first teryllium prototypes made. Scotty took a prototype 1996 Amateur Victory Newport and added a teryllium inlay and drilled 32 holes in the cavity signifying his age at the time. He then added black silicone in the holes. Later in the production models white elastomer was used


Kevin

[kylek]

I remember reading that too Kevin.  I think it was even a question on one of the TCC trivia contests one year.

[reflog74]

here is a first generation pic..
Kevin

I had a mint Santa Fe like that.  Only Cameron I regret not keeping.  The elasomer dots in the cavity were what first drew me to the TeI3 models.

I believe that the dots were to represent his age at the time....32..  could be wrong but thats popping in my head..

Kevin

Let's do the math.  Born 1962.  http://www.scottycameron.com/studio/scottybio.aspx
Would have been 32 in 1994.
TeI introduced 1997.
Nice story, but fail.

John

I knew I had read it somewhere..

http://www.scottycameron.com/authentication/registrysearch.asp?registry=A007038


One of the first teryllium prototypes made. Scotty took a prototype 1996 Amateur Victory Newport and added a teryllium inlay and drilled 32 holes in the cavity signifying his age at the time. He then added black silicone in the holes. Later in the production models white elastomer was used


Kevin

Just to clarify, Kevin.  I didn't say that wasn't the story.  Just that it couldn't be accurate.  Cameron was 34 in 1996, the earliest he could have drilled out a 1996 3rd Am head.

John

[reflog74]

BTW, here is one of those 1996 3rd Am protos for TW.

John

[JTeke]

That Woods putter is rediculously gorgeous!!

[mattsam]

I've got a Sole Stamp Pro Plat without it covering the insert, its awesome feeling.  Anyone know how many of those there are? 

[puttputt]

John,

wasn't that at all.  It was just bugging me that i had read that and could not find it.


Kevin

[jr]

A couple of points or observations.

The story about the 32 dots and his age has always perplexed me. I do not recall there being any putters prior to 1996 that had this feature and Cameron would have been 34 at that time, or 33 if the design was done after November of 1995. I think it is just a good story and that is it.

Model years were not necessarily the year when the putter was designed or first manufactured. In the early years, pre 2000 or so, putters were put into production at the end of the year but were designated as the following years putters. Hence the original 1997 TeI3's were really created in 1996. This is why you see some of the 1996 US Am putters with the inserts and how Tiger came to use one in the 1997 Masters.

I believe the Registry notes that state this "Scotty took a prototype 1996 Amateur Victory Newport and added a teryllium inlay and drilled 32 holes in the cavity signifying his age at the time." are misleading for more than one reason. I do not think that Cameron personally added the insert and drilled the holes on the putters. I think that was done by someone at the Bettinardi shop using a CNC machine. Cameron has never owned or operated a CNC machine and I think it would have been beyond his capability to do the insert without the use of a CNC machine. Even with knowledgeable CNC operators that did that work for a living, Black Oxide could not do the inserts precise enough so they opted for the white elastomer around the insert to hide the imperfections.

I think the stainless US Am heads are the same heads that were milled for the stainless 1993 Masters Victory putters.

The word "teryllium" was not a real word until used by Cameron. It is more like a trademarked name like GSS. The actual metal is called "tellurium" and is:

a) Occasionally found native, tellurium is more often found in combination with other metals. It is silvery-white, lustrous, brittle, and crystalline. (Amorphous tellurium is dark gray to brown and has metal characteristics). As a p-type semiconductor, it shows greater conductivity in certain directions.

b) Tellurium is used to improve the machinability of copper and stainless steel. When combined with lead, tellurium increases resistance to sulfuric acid while improving strength and hardness.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tellurium

[LindenH]

I'm with you on your observations;  I have a couple of examples of the Santa Fe in TeI3 in my collection, both sole stamps.   The TeI3 range are the most photogenic Camerons IMO and I think they can be regarded as one of the genuine milestones in putter manufacturing.  Remarkable engineering for what, after all, is simply a putter...... hats off to RJB.  Did the Ping pixel insert arrive before or after the TeI3?

After the intital T2 name was shelved because of problems with the 'Terminator 2' movie and the Të3 was abandoned for 'political' reasons, I think the resulting TeI3/teryllium names were derived as nothing more than marketing ploys for the copper alloy used for the insert. 

Most copper metals used in any engineering situation will be an alloy of some sort. Kunifer is an alloy of 90% copper (Cu) and 10% nickel (Ni) and is probably the softest metal that could be used for practical purposes as a putter insert - quite possibly too soft (used for auto brake pipes). 

Interestingly, beryllium-copper is also a common copper alloy made-up of copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and upto 5% beryllium (Be), it could be that teryllium is a copper alloy of copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and tellurium (Te), but only Titleist/Scotty Cameron originally referred to it as TeI3 or Teryllium.

As a pure chemical formula, TeI3 should be an element formed by amalgamating the white, brittle, tin-like element of tellurium (Te) with iodine (I) in a ratio of 3 to 1 - which it obviously isn't - hence my theory that the name was a marketing idea arguably based closely upon the 'beryllium' being used by Ping.

Still one of the landmarks in this strange collecting addiction we all share.

[cunham32]

John (reflog74)-What a great collection of beautiful putters you have!  Very cool to see.  I don't think I've ever seen a T.Woods Prototype before.  Very cool.

[xxio]

The story about the 32 dots and his age has always perplexed me. I do not recall there being any putters prior to 1996 that had this feature and Cameron would have been 34 at that time, or 33 if the design was done after November of 1995. I think it is just a good story and that is it.

Circa '64 just doesn't sound as good

[reflog74]

John (reflog74)-What a great collection of beautiful putters you have!  Very cool to see.  I don't think I've ever seen a T.Woods Prototype before.  Very cool.

Not mine.  Just happened to have pics of one.

John

[golfer4life]

Thanks for the pictures John.  I have never seen that putter before.  It is a beautiful piece indeed.

Hector

[reflog74]

I've got a Sole Stamp Pro Plat without it covering the insert, its awesome feeling.  Anyone know how many of those there are? 

Never seen one that wasn't aftermarket.  Pics?  COA?

John

[geogolf]

IIRC, the TeI insert design was co-patented by Cameron and August Slivnik, owner of Black Oxide Services.

After terminating with Bettinardi, the 2nd generation TeI with elastomer was introduced and was made by BOS, I think.  Have heard that the reason for the elastomer was because of the difficulty in precision machining the insert and putter heads for a flush, seamless fit.  Anyone else know anything about this?

John

  John Here is the Patent on the Tei3 2 ( Second generation)
http://www.google.com/patents?id=YKUCAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#v=onepage&q=&f=false

And First Gen.

http://www.google.com/patents?id=aAcDAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#v=onepage&q=&f=false

The 3'rd am Tei3 is simply awesome. Wonder what the story is on the 2 marks on the floor of the cavity trailing edge ?! That Insert has to be thin as paper with the cavity milled out like that!


PS......about 1998... you could buy used Tei3's, send in for a refinish- get a new shaft grip and cover as well...... for $45.00 wholesale and flip them pretty easily :-).  That lasted maybe less than 12 months  LOL.

[rrkman]

The 3'rd am Tei3 is simply awesome. Wonder what the story is on the 2 marks on the floor of the cavity trailing edge ?! That Insert has to be thin as paper with the cavity milled out like that!

Geo...I wondered about the marks as well but didn't ask.  Was hoping that you, JR, or someone like that would know.

Thanks,

Randy

[jr]

At first I thought that the marks were some type of alignment aid but if the putters was made to represent something Tiger used it would make no sense. I believe they are a screw up from the vice/clamps that held the putter down when the sole was being hand stamped. 

[reflog74]

I was told the marks were caused by a clamp.

John

[putterplating]

Clamp marks.  It would be almost impossible to sand them without screwing up the look of the back cavity.  It is pretty sad that they messed up such a great looking putter!!

[golfer4life]

I would not touch it, leave that putter "as is" IMO.

Hector

[JTI]

A couple of points or observations.

The story about the 32 dots and his age has always perplexed me. I do not recall there being any putters prior to 1996 that had this feature and Cameron would have been 34 at that time, or 33 if the design was done after November of 1995. I think it is just a good story and that is it.

Model years were not necessarily the year when the putter was designed or first manufactured. In the early years, pre 2000 or so, putters were put into production at the end of the year but were designated as the following years putters. Hence the original 1997 TeI3's were really created in 1996. This is why you see some of the 1996 US Am putters with the inserts and how Tiger came to use one in the 1997 Masters.

I believe the Registry notes that state this "Scotty took a prototype 1996 Amateur Victory Newport and added a teryllium inlay and drilled 32 holes in the cavity signifying his age at the time." are misleading for more than one reason. I do not think that Cameron personally added the insert and drilled the holes on the putters. I think that was done by someone at the Bettinardi shop using a CNC machine. Cameron has never owned or operated a CNC machine and I think it would have been beyond his capability to do the insert without the use of a CNC machine. Even with knowledgeable CNC operators that did that work for a living, Black Oxide could not do the inserts precise enough so they opted for the white elastomer around the insert to hide the imperfections.

I think the stainless US Am heads are the same heads that were milled for the stainless 1993 Masters Victory putters.

The word "teryllium" was not a real word until used by Cameron. It is more like a trademarked name like GSS. The actual metal is called "tellurium" and is:

a) Occasionally found native, tellurium is more often found in combination with other metals. It is silvery-white, lustrous, brittle, and crystalline. (Amorphous tellurium is dark gray to brown and has metal characteristics). As a p-type semiconductor, it shows greater conductivity in certain directions.

b) Tellurium is used to improve the machinability of copper and stainless steel. When combined with lead, tellurium increases resistance to sulfuric acid while improving strength and hardness.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tellurium

Scotty Cameron has trademarked GSS?? I didnt think this would be possible? So no other putter company can sell a putter as a GSS putter?

Sorry, back on thread...i picked up a brand new 1st gen Tei3 Newport 2 for $150 a couple of months ago. The Tei3 was the putter i saw as a kid that i was in awe of!

[jr]

Anyone can make and sell a German Stainless Steel putter but Cameron / Acushnet have a Trademark on the marketing symbol "GSS".

[JTI]

Anyone can make and sell a German Stainless Steel putter but Cameron / Acushnet have a Trademark on the marketing symbol "GSS".

Wow, im amazed they would let anyone trademark GSS, though i suppose it probably hasnt been used before to denote stainless steel of german origin....anway, thanks for the info

[jr]

http://www.scottycameron.com/studio/glossary.aspx


[size=medium]GSS
[size=12px]Trademarked by Scotty to signify the highest quality stainless steel he's found for putter making, GSS stands for German Stainless Steel.

[russ]

BTW, here is one of those 1996 3rd Am protos for TW.

John

It looks like those two marks could frame the ball without having a sight dot. Great looking putter. Thanks.