Improvements in Golf Clubs.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 17th July, 1895-Accepted, 31st Aug.. 1895
Improvements in Golf Clubs.
I, ROBERT SIMPSON, of Dalhousie Golf Club House, Carnoustie, in the County
of Forfar, Scotland, Golf Club and Ball Maker, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to golf clubs, the objects being to manufacture a club
which shall be strong and durable, and which may be easily loaded with lead for
balancing purposes, whose head may be securely spliced to the handle and fitted,
if desired, with brass sole plates; in fact to provide an article which shall, in
appearance, be similar to the existing wooden club, although stronger and more
durable.
The head of the golf club is fashioned from "hornite" a known composition,
which, as its name implies, imitates horn. This substance I have selected, after
much consideration and experiment, as being the best for the purpose in view.
Such head may be loaded with lead to any desired amount, by simply pouring the
melted metal into a suitable cavity. It may or may not, as desired, be provided
with brass sole plates and painted, to as nearly as possible imitate varnished wood.
Dated this 7th day of November 1894.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
41 Reform Street, Dundee, Agents for Applicant.
I. ROBERT SIMPSON, of Dalhousie Golf Club House, Carnoustie, in the County
of Forfar, Scotland, Golf Club and Ball Maker, do hereby declare the rature 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 :-
This invention relates to golf clubs, the objects being to manufacture a club
which shall be strong and durable, and which may be easily loaded with lead for
balai cing purposes, whose head may be securely spliced to the handle and fitted,
if desired, with brass sole plates; in fact to provide an article which shall, in
appearance, be similar to the existing wooden club, although stronger and more
durable.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, in the several figures of which,
corresponding parts are marked with the same numerals of reference.
Figures 1. and 2. respectively illustrate in plan and side elevation the club head
as roughly sawn out of the sheet.
Figure 3. shows in side elevation the club head when bent.
Figure 4. illustrates an elevation of the press used for bending the club heads.
Figures 5. and 6. illustrate in plan and side elevation a portion of the appliance
used for retaining the club heads in their bent form while drying.
Figure 7. shows a mode of attaching the handle to the club head.

page_text: The head 10. of the golf club is fashioned from "hornite" that is to say hard
vulcanized fibre, a known composition, which, as its name implies, imitates horn.
This substance I have selected, after much consideration and experiment, as being
the best for the purpose in view. Such head may be loaded with lead to any
desired amount by simply pouring the melted metal into a suitable cavity. It may
or may not, as desired, be provided with brass sole plates and painted to as nearly
as possible imitate varnished wood.
The head is fashioned in the following manner :-It is first sawn out of a sheet
of the material in the form, illustrated by Figures. 1. and 2, after which it is
soaked in boiling water for about twenty minutes in order that it may become
flexible. It is then placed in a press. somewhat similar to a letter copying press,
as shewn in Figure 4, and bent the desired amount. The sole of the press is
made at 11. to conform to the face 12. (Figure 3), while. the moveable plate 13.
is at 14. made to conform to the face 15. (Figure 3). If the softened head were
simply pressed between the two faces.11. and 14. it would almost inevitably crack
at or about the corner 15.. In order to avoid this I introduce a thin steel plate 16.
between the head 10. and the moveable plate 13, and then press and bend the two
into shape. The head, is left; in the, press for about twenty minutes in order that
it may partly set, after which it is removed to the appliance illustrated in Figures 5.
and 6. and kept there for about a week until it is thoroughly dry. The appliance
consists of a wooden plank 17. into which are driven a number of wooden pegs. 18,
so arranged that, the heads may be kept from getting out. of shape, as shewn.
When the heads are thoroughly, dry they are finished in a manner similar to wooden
ones except that they do not have the "horn" in the striking, edge as a facing, or
protection and are similarly attached to their handles, or they may be attached in
the manner shown in Figure 7, in which 10. is the head and 19. is a part of the
handle, its extremity being driven and wedged as shewn into the hole 20. in the
known way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1.) The use of "hornite," that is to say hard vulcanized fibre, for golf club
heads, as described.
(2.) The mode of fashioning golf club heads when made of "hornite," that is to
say hard vulcanized fibre, substantially as described.
(3.) The combination of a press, with a loose metal plate, substantially as
described and for the purposes set forth.
(4.) The use of the appliance as illustrated by Figures 5. and 6, substantially as
described and for the purposes set forth.
(5.) The mode of attaching "hornite," that is to say hard vulcanized fibre golf
club heads to their handles, as described with special reference to Figure 7.
Dated this 15th day of July 1895..
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.
41 Reform Street, Dundee, Agents for Applicant..