IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUfacture of GOLF BALLS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Currie, of the Caledonian Rubber Works,
Edinburgh, India-rubber Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUfacture of GOLF BALLS."
Sealed the 13th June 1878, and dated the 20th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Currie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th December 1877.
WILLIAM CURRIE, of the Caledonian Rubber Works, Edinburgh, India-rubber
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GOLF BALLS."
Whereas hitherto the balls used in the game of golf have been made from com-
pressed feathers covered with leather, and from gutta percha, now my. Invention
consists in making such balls from india-rubber combined with ground cork,
ground leather, or vegetable fibres, either blended with the india-rubber or by
forming a core out of either of such substances and covering the same with india-
rubber. The said substances may be employed in the proportion of an equal
quantity of india-rubber, which has been cleansed from impurities, and of either of
the above-named substances, and of about a tenth part of the whole weight of
flowers of sulphur. These substances are thoroughly mixed together by pressing
the mass between mixing rollers. The material so mixed is then brought to the
consistency of dough, and is pressed into hollow moulds of the size required. The
balls so produced are then submitted to heat in order to give them the necessary
hardness by the vulcanizing process. The degree of heat may be varied according
to the degree of hardness required, but in ordinary cases 280 degrees of heat would
be employed, and the process continued for about four hours. This is the mode of
manufacture pursued when the balls are made solid without a core. When they
are made with a core composed of any of the above-named substances this core is

page_text: made quite spherical, and inserted in the centre of a piece of india-rubber, which
has been softened by being worked in the mixing rollers; this is then moulded in
the manner stated above and subjected to heat for hardening as required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Currie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th June
1878.
WILLIAM CURRIE, of the Caledonian Rubber Works, Edinburgh, India-rubber
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GOLF BALLS."
My Invention of "Improvements in the Manufacture of Golf Balls" consists in
the mode of manufacture thereof herein-after described.
Whereas hitherto the balls used in the game of golf have been made from com-
pressed feathers covered with leather, and from gutta percha, now my Invention
consists in making such balls from india-rubber combined with ground cork,
ground leather, vegetable fibres, or other similar substance, either blended with the
india-rubber or by forming a core out of either of such substances, and covering the
same with india-rubber. The said substances may be employed in the proportion
of an equal quantity of india-rubber, which has been cleansed from impurities, and
of either of the above-named substances, and of about a tenth part of the whole
weight of flowers of sulphur. These substances are thoroughly mixed together by
pressing the mass between mixing rollers. The material so mixed is then brought
to the consistency of dough, and is pressed into hollow moulds of the size required.
The balls so produced are then submitted to heat in order to give them the
necessary hardness by the vulcanizing process. The degree of heat may be varied
according to the degree of hardness required, but in ordinary cases two hundred
and eighty degrees of heat would be employed, and the process continued for about
four hours. This is the mode of manufacture pursued when the balls are made
solid without a core. When they are made with a core composed of any of the
above-named substances this core is made quite spherical and inserted in the centre
of a piece of india-rubber which has been softened by being worked in the mixing
rollers; this is then moulded in the manner stated above and subjected to heat for
hardening as required.
In order to produce the required indentation or grooving of the surface of the
said balls the hollow part or interior of the mould in which the ball is moulded is
covered with a rough fabric or material, such as canvas or other flexible material,
with a raised or broken surface, and the ball is taken from the mould with the
fabric or material adhering to it, which on being removed leaves the ball with a
surface indented in a manner corresponding with the projections of the fabric or
material.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as of my Invention is,

page_text: the use of india-rubber and the process employed in the manufacture of golf balls,
as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Currie, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Thirteenth day of June, in the year of Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
J. G. LAIRD,
16, Daley Road,
Rubber Factory Manager.
WILLIAM CURRIE. (L.S.)