IL Umpire last night

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by outathm

I am by no means a gear junky, I buy something and get rid of the old one. But that is the coolest chest protector I have seen in a long time! I have a friend who goes to Japan on a regular basis for business, I am sending him with a mission this next time.

It looks as if it's designed to fit the Japanese male frame, which is distinctly smaller than the average American. Caveat emptor.

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by mbyron

It looks as if it's designed to fit the Japanese male frame, which is distinctly smaller than the average American. Caveat emptor.

This protector does come in different sizes, but I don't think "chunky American" is one.

[GerryB]

What brand name is that "B"? Sorry, I'm giving in to the gear junkie in me!

[SanDiegoSteve]

I thought at first it was Bridgestone, but after further investigation the logos don't quite match.

[GerryB]

Got it, Belgard. See:

Japanese Equipment

[Rich]

Originally Posted by GerryB

Got it, Belgard. See:

Japanese Equipment

And I found a catalog selling this protector for 55650 yen, which right now is just about $600. It's over twice the cost (in the same catalog) of a WV Platinum.

http://www.go-stop-call.com/gsccotalog2.pdf

[SanDiegoSteve]

Here is a link to the html page for Belgard at the Go-Stop-Call site:

–ì‹…—p•iƒxƒ‹ƒK�[ƒhŠ”Ž®‰ïŽÐ‚Ì�R”»—p•i”Ì”„�@‘S“ú–{“–ì‹…˜A–¿Œö”F�@ ‘S“ú–{ƒ\ƒtƒgƒ{�[ƒ‹‹¦‰ïŒö”F‚Ì�R”»—p•i

[GerryB]

With these catalog pictures, does it strike you that it is Carlucci-like in design (no, I'm not suggesting in quality or fit! Copy cat maybe?) with a plate of some sort over their closed cell protector?

The translation seems to say they will put your name on for free...

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by GerryB

The translation seems to say they will put your name on for free...

That's mighty Japanese of them!

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by GerryB

With these catalog pictures, does it strike you that it is Carlucci-like in design (no, I'm not suggesting in quality or fit! Copy cat maybe?) with a plate of some sort over their closed cell protector?

Tak's CP was custom made specifically for him.

The poster who said he was a funny guy is spot on. The first time I met him he greeted me with a slight head bow and "Takeshi Hirabayashi...sorry about Pearl Harbor."

I believe he's about 42. He can speak English fairly well, but he frequently enjoys playing to some people's uneducated assumptions and will speak like a 1950's "Hollywood" caricature.