A METALLIC RACQUET, OR IMPROVED BAT FOR TENNIS AND SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1885

page_text: We, JOHN ALEXANDER DUTHIE of Pitmedden House, Udny, Engineer, DAVID
SHERRIT, 78, Waterloo Quay, Aberdeen, Engineer, and JAMES ANDERSON, of
4, Frederick Street, Aberdeen, Racquet Maker, all in the County of Aberdeen,
Scotland, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for A METALLIC RACQUET,
OR IMPROVED BAT FOR TENNIS AND SIMILAR PURPOSES, to be as follows:-
The frame of our improved racquet is constructed of thin steel or other metal
and is hollow in section.
It is not united so as to form a tube but the edges are merely brought together
so as to meet closely and are by preference folded inwards so as to present a
rounded and smooth edge at the point of contact.
To form the handle, the tube used in the frame is continued on both sides of the
frame to the length required.
Two other hollow circular or semi-circular pieces of metal are fitted against the
aforesaid tubes, so as to occupy the hollow space on either side of their line
of contact.
A metal clasp clips the four pieces at the end of the handle and forms the butt
of the handle.
These tubes are also soldered together if required. At each side of the neck or
juncture of the handle and frame is placed a metal clasp to hold the frame firmly
in its right position.
On the inside edge of the frame are the holes for lacing purposes. These holes
are fitted with eyelets to prevent any danger of fraying or cutting the strings.
On the summit of the frame is fixed if preferred a thin strip of metal fitting
tightly to the frame, in order to protect the frame from wear when used for picking
up balls.
A special feature in our Racquet is the improved system of fastening the gut.
In the Racquets now in use the gut is usually laced through to the outer edge,
which plan has two serious disadvantages.

page_text: It exposes the gut to unnecessary wear and tear, and also favours the frequent
lodgement of water in the lacing holes, thus causing the gut to soften and break.
Our improved frame is entirely closed on the outer edge so that water cannot
enter that way, and the gut is not exposed to damp.
We effect the lacing of the frame by first interlacing a string through the eyelets
on the innerside of the frame, and then twisting the gut around the loops of
this string.
We thus preserve the gut used for striking from all contact with the lacing holes,
whereby its durability is greatly increased.

page_text: metami nacquet or improved Dat for res and sta
Purposes.
We, JOHN ALEXANDER DUTHIE of Pitmeddan House, Udny, Engineer, DAVID
SHERRIT of 78 Waterloo Quay, Aberdeen Engineer and JAMES ANDERSON of
4 Frederick Street, Aberdeen Racquet Maker, all in the County of Aberdeen
Scotland, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
Our improved tennis bat is designed to replace the defective and fragile wooden
bats now in use, by a durable bat having a metallic frame and handle and also
improved methods of fastening the gut or strings.
"
We construct the rim or frame of our bat of a thin metal tube, preferably of
steel, either closed or open, whole or slit, and of round, oval or other suitable
section.
i
If made of open or slit tube the edges may be turned back on the inside so as to
strengthen the tube and present a rounded and smooth surface at the line of contact.
The edges of all slit or open tube are to be brought close together and to be soldered
at the line of contact.
}
To form the handle, the metal tube used in the rim or frame is continued on
both sides of the frame to the length required. If tube be used having the edges
turned inwards as before stated, when the handle is reached the tube is preferably
not turned inwards for the length of the handle but its section is left plain, the edges
just meeting or slightly lapping so far as the handle is concerned, and it is then
brazed or soldered so as to make it as solid as possible.
Two other hollow circular or semi-circular pieces of metal, or of other suitable
substances, are fitted against the hollow spaces on either side of the handle so as to
fill out the handle to the size required.
At the end of the handle a metal clasp holds the four pieces together and forms
the butt or end of the handle.
At each side of the neck, or juncture of the handle with the head, is placed a
three-sided metal plate or clip to hold the frame and handle in their proper position.
These plates are held at their upper parts by two small rivets, and at their lower
cords by means of another clasp, which passing round the plates and tubes holds
them all firmly in their proper position. On the inner edge of these two metal
plates are pierced the holes for lacing purposes.
These holes are fitted with eyelets or eyes as hereafter described in regard to
the frame.
On the crown or summit of the frame is tightly fitted, or soldered, a thin strip
of metal as a head guard to protect the frame from wear, when used for picking up
balls. This strip and the plates before mentioned, together with all seams and
joints are firmly soldered or brazed together.
A special feature of our improved bats are our improved methods of fastening
the strings. Instead of lacing the strings through or partly through the rim, we
adopt one of the two following plans.
(1) We interlace a string or wire through eyletted holes on the inside edge of
the rim of the bat, forming alternate loops and spaces around the said rim and