Morning journal and courier., 1889-06-14
MAKING A TENNIS RACQUET.

Shaping and StrInging-FrOm Straight
 to Curve and from Curve to Straight.
 [From the Boston Herald.l
 "It was about decade ago that lawn ten- his racquets were first madei In this country" said member of leading Boston firm. "At that time the racquets were modelled after the English makes, and. compared with the present perfected sryles, were rather crude and far too heavy. The important feature of balance received almost no attention ,and the weakest point of all was in the shape of the racquet, the head hanging low to one side. It took us about five years to work around to the straight racquet. Lovers of the game, although ct first expressing pre- ference for the curved racquet, began about five years ago to ask for the straight one. Not a little singular is the fact that many years ago the English players used this style and then abandoned 1t only to return to it's uses again since 1882.
 "The first racquets made in this country were strung with the best quality of Ameri- can gut, and it is curious fact that there is only one manufacturer of tennis racquets gut in America. It is needless to say that the domestic article now used is far superior to that of ten years ago. In the manner of meshing no change has been deemed neoess- ary, the only improvement sought being rigidity, and this feature has received great deal of attention.
 "For the frames we select the very best second growth ash, and for the handles Spanish cedar is used to obtain the necessary lightness. We make the throat of black | walnut chiesy because it takes good pol proper weight. Why, ebony or rosewood \ would add two ounces to the weight of the 1 racquet It is the opinion of the best of l jud ges that the weight of tennis racquet should be from 13 to IA 1-2 ounces, and if we should use ebony or rosewood in the | .l~ 1o ok {oaI fn EQ strength out of the frame to make 1t light enough for use. It is little singular, but ! there only half dozen racquet factories in this country, and of these the town of
 Pawtucket, R. J! contains four. The others 1 are located in this State."
 An hours ride over the Old Colony road and brisk drive over country roadway
 brought the writer to the racquet factory It was a busy place, where about thirty
 hands were employed in different stages oi the work. The visitors were shown the method of making the racquets. Lengths o1
 second growth, selected ash about 1-2 feel leng after being delivered at the factory, are ! at sawed into strips about 1x3-4 inch Ufhese are then allowed to season for few months, after which they are planed dow1
 to 7-Sx5 8 inch. The strips are then steamed for an hour and bent into the desired shape on forms especially made for this purpose
 While firmly held thereon they are placed
 in the drying room for twenty-four hours
 Being removed, the next process is the put
 ting in of the triangular throat piece and long bit of wedgeshaped pine to form th
 handle. By the aid of best quality glue ant
 8 couple of brass screws, these pieces ar
 securely held in position. A peculiar featur of this business Is that the frame strips hav' to be sawed with the grain just as the.
 would naturally split; and although the ut most care is observed in the selection o 7 stock, yet it is fact that only one-quarte !, of that picked out is used. The frames ar now ready to be planed down on a bug plansr to get the ''twist' out of them or, il other words, to get them perfectly true 3 Next the Spanish cedar handles are attached . ! glue again forming the adhesive agent. B beyelline the edges 6 proper size is give these handles, which average, say 1-4x1 l. $ inches, and better grip is assured. No' numerous holes are bored through the frsm