Improvements in or relating to Golf Clubs.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 16th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1900
Improvements in or relating to Golf Clubs.
I, PERCY HERBERT AGGETT BARROW, of Weston Street, in the County of
London, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to an improvement in the construction of golf clubs.
These clubs as hitherto made have consisted of a head usually of wood secured
to a shaft or handle, and provided at one side with a buffer of leather or the
like to protect the wood from disintegration, and to assist in the driving
capacity of the implement.
In the ordinary construction the leather pad or buffer which forms the striking
surface of the club is formed of a piece of ordinary hide, commonly horse,
cattle, or buffalo hide. Its thickness thus cannot exceed about three-sixteenths
of an inch unless several thicknesses of hide be used, which is objectionable for
other reasons.
I have discovered that by increasing the thickness of this leather pad very
considerably beyond what has hitherto been used for the purpose I can materially
improve the driving power of the club, and this without in any way impairing
its strength and solidity of construction. I attain this object by the selection
of a special leather, and the construction of the club head in the manner
hereinafter set forth.
The leather buffer of my improved golf club consists of a piece of thick hide
such as hippopotamus, rhinoceros, walrus, or elephant hide, suitably tanned to
preserve its elasticity and thickness. By this means I am enabled to obtain a
homogeneous pad of 3/4 inch or more in thickness. This leather pad is fitted to
the required position on the head of the club which is shaped or recessed to
accommodate it, and so that no sacrifice of strength is entailed by the removal
of the portion of wood necessary to accommodate the thicker pad, whilst not
increasing materially the size of the head of the club.
It will be obvious that modifications of the construction may be devised to
meet the special requirements of the player or special constructions of the imple-
ment, but such detail modifications will fall within the scope of my invention.
1 11 05h law of Anril 1899
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
-
My invention relates to an improvement in the construction of golf clubs.
These clubs as hitherto made have consisted of a head usually of wood secured
to a shaft or handle, and provided at one side with a buffer of leather or the
like to protect the wood from disintegration, and to assist in the driving
capacity of the implement.
In the ordinary construction the leather pad or buffer which forms the striking
surface of the club is formed of a piece of ordinary hide commonly horse,
cattle, or buffalo hide. Its thickness thus cannot exceed about three-sixteenths
of an inch unless several thicknesses of hide be used, which is objectionable for
other reasons.
•
I have discovered that by increasing the thickness of this leather pad very
considerably beyond what has hitherto been used for the purpose I can materially
improve the driving power of the club, and this without in any way impairing
its strength and solidity of construction. I attain this object by the selection
of a special leather, and the construction of the club head in the manner
hereinafter set forth.
The leather buffer of my improved golf club consists of a piece of thick hide
such as hippopotamus, rhinoceros, walrus, or elephant hide, suitably tanned to
preserve its elasticity and thickness.
I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 represents the head of a golf club in elevation, and
Figure 2 the same in section.
In these drawings the club A is shewn provided with a buffer of thick
leather B. This buffer is preferably inserted in the face of the club in the manner
shewn in the drawing, the rounding-off at the toe of the club being continued
in the leather buffer so that the ball can come in contact only with the elastic
leather. The pad or buffer is composed of specially thick leather such as
hippopotamus, rhinoceros, walrus, or elephant hide.
The tanning process should be carried out with special care and prolonged
sufficiently to ensure a thoroughly well tanned and homogeneous leather.
The leather thus produced is finished in the usual manner, and is preferably
treated with a water-proofing compound, but it may also be used in the natural
state.
The pieces of leather cut into the shape shewn by the drawing are let into the
striking face of the golf club, and secured there in the ordinary way.
In the drawing I have illustrated one construction of the invention by way
of example without limiting myself thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In combination with a golf club, a homogeneous leather buffer of rhinoceros
or the like hide, substantially as described.
2. The improved golf club, constructed substantially as described and shewn
in the accompanying drawing.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.