old jt mask

[swampy455]

I found a old looking mask in a box in my basement it was small and had very little face protection. I know its from jt because of the strap. any info here?

[Pacifist_Farmer]

We could speculate all day about what type of mask it is, but unless you supply pictures or an actual name its all gonna be speculation. At least a little more detail would help.

[swampy455]

I asked my dad he said it was a jt whipper snapper or something. he never did play but my uncle left all his old stuff here. it has a triangle like face mask thats plastic that has round ear protecters

[Beemer]

Yup JT Snappers. The straps go thru the ear protectors right?

Those were add ons when the Rules[insurance] changed and called for ear protection.

[swampy455]

ya. they can come off the mask. one thing im thinking is that wow we have evolved fromthesto the masks of today.

[drg]

Very likely a vintage JT mask, I believe they were called JT Elite masks or I keep remembering the name JTX mask ... someone with a clearer memory of the old days can probably confirm or deny.

Edit: Okay if they have earpieces they are newer than the masks I was thinking of. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe whippersnappers were sold strictly as goggles only, and they were made to work with the "new" X-fire masks, not the older masks like the one you have. They had all kinds of odd names for mask systems during the transitional period between the "triangle" masks (BMX design) and the X-fire (true paintball design), some carrying the OTG (over the glasses) designation and some called "deadboltz", which had little plastic lock pins secured with screws, that held the lens in.

[swampy455]

well i wasent alive wen my uncle played. so i have know idea what it was like in paintballs old days.

[drg]

Lol ... my first mask system was the infamous Uvex/Woodstalk combo. Followed by the equally infamous "P.M.S. mask" (with the same goggles I believe).

[Gandalf]

What you have is most likely the snappers. Very old. Little plastic mouth and some cheek face, chin protection.[not much] Then the add on ear protectors held in place with the strap.
The whole side of your face was exposed. Ya we use to play with those, in tournys. Silly us.

[swampy455]

o thats y my uncles has scars on his face...... ouch

[z1p101]

The whole side of your face was exposed. Ya we use to play with those, in tournys. Silly us.

It was even considered cool to take off the face protection and play without it. Some teams had team rules saying that you were not allowed to wear the face mask part.

Ahh, those were the days.

[swampy455]

is that why ther r pictures of ironmen for the 90's wearing no facemasks

[drg]

The whole side of your face was exposed. Ya we use to play with those, in tournys. Silly us.

Only if you were silly enough to not use a hood or some other kind of protection! :rofl:

This thread has inspired me to scan this photo of me, circa 91. The oldest record I have of myself playing, though I started a few years earlier ...

Here's a small look at what it was like swampy455 ...

http://www.halfcocker.com/albums/storage/drg91.sized.jpg

I am wearing one of these masks and you can see another lying on the car behind me.

Sigh, I wish I took a lot more pictures than I did...

[swampy455]

cool a pump with a vertical stickfeed. i always loved to play with pumps :) man that must of been cool playing back then. such a differnt style of play.

[drg]

Yeah horizontal stick feeds are a relatively new invention ;)

[z1p101]

Yes, they (The Iron Men) were one of the teams with the rule.

The theory was that it made you keep your head down and the ball had a better chance of bouncing off your face than it would a plastic face mask.

JT did not come out with a soft face mask until about 93 if I remember correctly.

[drg]

cool a pump with a vertical stickfeed. i always loved to play with pumps :) man that must of been cool playing back then. such a differnt style of play.

Interestingly enough ... it wasn't *THAT* different. semis were coming on the scene in numbers at this field I am at (which led me to buy my first mag later in 91), a few cockers, a hurricane (chopped down to "mad max" size), several illustrators, pmi-3s (not VM-68s) ... woodsball hasn't changed THAT much over the years IMO. sure there's more paint flying now but engagements are pretty much similar. the effective ranges of guns has not changed much, etc.

I just realized ... that gun I am holding in that picture passed ownership to the guy standing next to me, who sent it to Doc's for stock conversion oh, going on 7 years ago maybe ... it's still there lol

[swampy455]

Interestingly enough ... it wasn't *THAT* different. semis were just coming on the scene and this field I am at had its share, a few cockers, a hurricane (chopped down to "mad max" size), several illustrators, pmi-3s (not VM-68s) ... woodsball hasn't changed THAT much over the years IMO. sure there's more paint flying now but engagements are pretty much similar. the effective ranges of guns has not changed much, etc.

I just realized ... that gun I am holding in that picture passed ownership to the guy standing next to me, who sent it to Doc's for stock conversion oh, going on 7 years ago maybe ... it's still there lol
well, when u put it that way i can see how it was similar to this day

[phizz]

I have six of these masks sitting in a box someplace, straps all in good shape, and they are what we used to use back in the 80's with our PGP's when we first started. I remeber those damn ear shots, boy did they hurt. I even have one ear that sticks out a bit because I was shot almost point blank and the ball broke the cartilage. Oh and does anybody remember those pistols with the feedsticks that went straight up from the chamber? I had a friend with a couple of those and I hated them, so hard to aim.

[Jeffy-CanCon]

Yes, they (The Iron Men) were one of the teams with the rule.

The theory was that it made you keep your head down and the ball had a better chance of bouncing off your face than it would a plastic face mask.

JT did not come out with a soft face mask until about 93 if I remember correctly.

The first soft JT masks were later than that, 1996 or 1997 I think. In 1994 they were still hawking the hard plastic X-fire mask. The Spectra (260°) came next, which was also hard plastic. Then the Pro-Flex, with it's rubbery soft bits..

The Vents Predator was a soft mask available in 1993.

[z1p101]

Yea, the vents had the hard plastic front with the soft sides.

The first soft JT mask was an upgrade for their older goggle systems. You could not buy the goggles and the mask at the same time (or in the same package I should say). I remember a team mate buying the mask part after getting a piece of his lip shot off while wearing the old face shield and that was 94 at the latest.

JT later packaged them together a year or two after X fire (edit I meant the spectra) mask was introduced.

[Muzikman]

Lol ... my first mask system was the infamous Uvex/Woodstalk combo. Followed by the equally infamous "P.M.S. mask" (with the same goggles I believe).

PMS or PMI? PMI had a mask that was just the face piece and you used Uvex goggles.

http://www.airgun.com/museum/faceshield.htm

[Muzikman]

The Vents Predators were the best masks ever made. They never fogged, they were soft sided, they fit over glasses and if you wanted even more protection they had a head cover that you could get.

[z1p101]

The Vents Predators were the best masks ever made. They never fogged, they were soft sided, they fit over glasses and if you wanted even more protection they had a head cover that you could get.

They were nice but I can think of some negatives.

The side padding always felt like it was sticking to you on a hot day and they did not have enough face ventilation. I always felt like I was suffocating in them unless I took off the side pads. Also, I may be a worrier, but I never really trusted that back clip idea on the strap.

But I knew a lot of people who loved them.

[[NA]WARLORD]

The Vents Predators were the best masks ever made. They never fogged, they were soft sided, they fit over glasses and if you wanted even more protection they had a head cover that you could get.

QFT. Mine fogged one time, then 3 steps later it cleared itself. I love those goggles. The only bad part to them is the straps loosened easily. I had to sew mine in place so the buckle wouldn't slide. This was the only goggle system I ever used that didnt need a fan to clear gog fog.



http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/2347/im000171ya5ge2.jpg
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/1316/ventspredatorud1.jpg

[athomas]

I liked my Vents and still have them. I also had the old JT snappers which were the JT goggles and small plastic face protection. They were actually green or black motocross goggles that JT sold as paintball masks. The Whipper Snappers were just the goggles without face protection. JT did sell a soft upgrade for the JT snapper and Whipper snapper called the JT Softstream. I had one in 1993 and it offered full face and ear protection. I bought the JT upgrade but then bought the Vents very shortly after which were much better but about 3 times the cost.

[drg]

PMS or PMI? PMI had a mask that was just the face piece and you used Uvex goggles.

http://www.airgun.com/museum/faceshield.htm

Yes it was indeed the PMS mask, or more accurately the "P.M.S. mask" I believe it was usually called. The PMS was a great deal less protective than the PMI mask and was actually rated "unsafe" by PCRI I believe at some point (which all uvex-based systems are). I just thought it was hilarious it was called the PMS mask.

There is a picture of a PMS mask in use in this post, naturally another "oldschool baller" thread. The guy holding the Splatmaster is wearing a PMS mask:

http://www.automags.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1210928&postcount=22

[spectre184]

PMS or PMI? PMI had a mask that was just the face piece and you used Uvex goggles.



Don't forget the wood stalk mask!

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/8/22518454037.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=6307708)

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/8/22518470118.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=6307718)

[swampy455]

WOW! i never knew i had this stuff in my basement. face and eye pro tection have changed alot! alittle piece of history in my home.

[wetwrks]

Don't forget the wood stalk mask!

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/8/22518454037.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=6307708)

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/8/22518470118.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=6307718)

:headbang: :headbang: :headbang: I remember these.

[Jaan]

My friend Rob *still* plays with Whipper Snappers. He did put goggle-flage on them so it protects a little better.

You can convert Vents to use modern goggles. There is a thread over at M Carter Brown about how to do it... MCB Thread Link (http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/custom-projects-custom-questions/837-mask-transplant.html)

I agree, they were the best mask ever. I wear glasses and mine almost never fogged with that mask. I had the Vents Predators, not the OTG (over the glasses) and they still fit over my eyeglasses great. I was hoping the new Vents would be as good as the old ones. I did see one guy once have the clip strap break when it got hit with a paintball...still, it was a nice way to put on the mask especially with glasses.

[swampy455]

you can still use the whipper snappers?

[z1p101]

you can still use the whipper snappers?
You would have to check with your local field owner/manager and see what he says .

[swampy455]

nah i think its too unsafe for the less face protection and because of the broken post.

[russc]

I use Vents that have been modified to use Spectra frames and lenses. They're great masks - I just use the modern lenses because they are readily available and I know they haven't degraded. I also use a subdued JT strap beneath the clasp strap for extra safety. Hell, the way I play my mask falls off with a single strap no matter what.

I'm actually currently working on putting together some Whippers. They're perfectly safe if you have proper ear protection. The lenses can be replaced with those from the modern JT Elites.

[swampy455]

I use Vents that have been modified to use Spectra frames and lenses. They're great masks - I just use the modern lenses because they are readily available and I know they haven't degraded. I also use a subdued JT strap beneath the clasp strap for extra safety. Hell, the way I play my mask falls off with a single strap no matter what.

I'm actually currently working on putting together some Whippers. They're perfectly safe if you have proper ear protection. The lenses can be replaced with those from the modern JT Elites.
ya i heard of the old vents to take spectra lens it looks comfortable.

[drg]

Don't forget the wood stalk mask!

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/8/22518454037.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=6307708)

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/8/22518470118.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=6307718)


Mentioned in post #8 ;)

[druid]

Here's my first mask...still in pristine shape. Soft ears still intact and rivets not even rusted. On the inside of the left cheek-plate (yellow circle but you can't see it) it says "JT Racing (C) 1985" .
Pics when I found it after 20+ years...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/druidsdecendant/Paintball/JTWhippersnapper007.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/druidsdecendant/Paintball/JTWhippersnapper002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/druidsdecendant/Paintball/JTWhippersnapper003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/druidsdecendant/Paintball/JTWhippersnapper004.jpg

It was asked if they could still be used...the answer is 2 part...

1. It's up to the field because of their ear protection standards.
2. Yes, if you put new lenses in them. The Whippersnappers use JT Elite lenses and only need 2 of the 4 screws and clips to sceure them.

Here's a lousey "pic of a pic" of me at Skirmish's Normandy this year (no scanner...sorry) with a new smoke thermal lense installed...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/druidsdecendant/Paintball/Invasion%20of%20Normandy%2007/meatION07.001.jpg


...and yes...I'm wearing a digital MARPAT Kilt that's made of real MARPAT material. Laugh all you want...you WISH you could be this sexy...