The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-06


Of hickory which have been converted
into these weapons of the golf player
since the game became popular in the
United States. Carefully as it is built, -
| the driver of mashie has such q rough
and tumble experience. especially when
| its owner is amateur, that sometimes
in one season it is damaged beyond re-
pair. a drive against a sharp stone in
| stead OF the ball. grazing the ground
| with a stroke are some Of the mishaps
which son wear out tht club Will care
! lesness in leaving it on the grounds over
| night, perhaps exposed 70 the rain or
or packed away in q damp kit are other
evils from which it suffers. Enthusiastic
| experts who appreciate well-formed weap-
ons are usually as careful of them as
| their watches. and the contents of the
bag may not need renewing for several
years, but as hundreds OF new recruits
come on the greens yearly the stick
maker has his hands full at the beginning
Of each season.
From the time the club is sawed out
Of the second growth hickory until it is
placed in the kit ready for service. il
passes through an interesting variety Of
processes. Very little machine work is
done on the first-class article. After the
shaft is sawed out it must be rounded
and tapered to the proper form by hand.
requiring years of experience as well as
a clear eye. \ portion of the rounding
is done by what is known as the shaft
lathe. but filing and sandpapering are in
dispensable before it has reached the
proper proportions. As a rule most Of
the shafts made in the United States
come from the tough second growth hick-
ory but even after the planks have been
selected. sometimes so per cent Of the
material is thrown aside 20 be made up
into inferior sticks, such care is used
in manufacturing.
The heads of the best iron clubs are
really composed of soft steel and shaped
principally by the blacksmith's hammer
on the anvil. The cheaper heads are
drop forged" from iron being shaped by
dies, but even these are finished on pol
ishing lathes. 1t is really wonderful to
note the perfect proportions which the
steel heads assume under the steady
strokes of the hammer. but they, too, are
given a finish by the lathe until they
glitter like silver before they are ready
for the green. Most of the companies
manufacturing clubs have hundreds of
sets of patterns not only Of shafts but
of heads, for whenever kit is made for
some expert which differs in any way
from the ordinary stick the pattern comes
in handy to duplicate any of the clubs
which may be broken. Some of the
millionaire players of the country are
as particular about the length and shape
of a stick as the most enthusiastic pro-
fesionals and think nothing of paying
as high as $50 for single club made to
order from a special pattern
When the heads and shafts are shaped
the next process is to join them together.
It is much easier TO fit the shaft of a
driver in a wooden head than to join
the parts of an iron club, as a much
tighter joint can be made. In all cases.
however, glue is generally used and
then the surface is whipped or bound
with strong cord which is both water
and weather proof. The winding is done
on machine which will finish a club
The next operation is putting
on the grip. Made of horse hide or sheep
skin cut by machinery into proper length
and width the grip man winds 1t about
the polished wood with a few motions.
so closely and evenly that it seems TO be
a portion of the shaft itself.
Most of this work is done entirely by
hand, but requires considerable skill. The
horse-hide, of course, is used on the
best grade of sticks. the sheepskin being
placed on the inferior quality.
Varnish and shellac are the ingredients
which give the club its glossy coat and
preserve it from the effects of the wea-
her. The coating of shellac is is first
put on and over this is applied one or
more coats of varnish which when dry
S rubbed to gloss. It is then ready to I
90 into the kit with the lofter, mashie I
md the rest Of its companions.
When it is stated that one factory
which is located in Chicopee Falls. Mass :
schusetts, turns out no less than thou
5and golf sticks in the busy season for
players the idea can be gained of the {
extent of the industry. At this factory
large number of the most expert Amer
can workmen are employed, but the
has also imported artisans from
he land of -Scotiand-who are not
,nly versed in every process Of manu-
for It is not generally known
hat the best club-maker must also be q }
,layer in order TO appreciate the fine
,oints of shape and dimensions. The an
estors OF some of these men for two or :
hree generations have earned a liyen-
Iood in working upon heads and shafts
nd can tell if a club Is out Of proper :
ion even quarter of an inch. so true
8 their eye.
Work on golf kits sometimes begins =
TX months before the season actually
pens in the north. for example. de-
ending upon the outlook for business.
Or the manufacturers must be in resdi- :,
ess 70 ill orders at any time up TO :
ale in the summer. as it is game which =
epends. perhaps. more on the climate :,
han even baseball. 4 man can start !,
Ut with his kit in September and hnd !,
nks in readiness in some portion OF the :,
-nited States every month in the year
he goifing outfit has become as neces- >,
AIRY portion OF ones luggage in the ,,
inter tour to the south or California !,
: when he starts away to spend hts -
acat'cn in the Berkshires or by the sea Is
lore. Thus Il is that some OF the fac
lIies have more or less men engaged IN a
he wood shop OF blacksmith shop every ii
louth OF the year although the rush !.
Jason can be said 70 be from the st g,
: February to the Ist % May. Is
WIVES or FILlPINos :,
,teresting Facts Concerning the =
Wives Of Filipinos.
Miss Hermoine Mare Of Atlanta. who