IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR THE GAME OF CRICKET
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Gibson Bussey of Museum Works Rye Lane
Peckham in the County of Surrey Manufacturer for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR THE GAME OF CRICKET"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Gibson Bussey at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th January 1883.
GEORGE. GIBSON BUSSEY of Museum Works. Rye-Lane Peckham in the County
of Surrey, Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR THE GAME OF
CRICKET"
The object of these improvements is-
1. To increase the strength, durability and elasticity of Cricket Bats.
2. To decrease their weight and the jar and sting resulting from a heavy
drive.
3rd. To facilitate the setting up of Wicket Stumps.
Hitherto the blades of Cricket Bats have been formed from solid blocks of wood
the grain of which runs longitudinally, with the necessary consequence that a split
or crack once formed increases and naturally extends the whole length of the
blade: by my improved method I stop the natural tendancy of a split to extend by
building up the blades of alternate layers of wood either with the grain of the
wood all one way, or transverse or diagonally to each other, the blade is thus built
up of two or more layers preferably about three. In addition to layers of wood I
sometimes introduce layers of leather, canvas, or other material possessing tough,
fibrous-properties, and to further increase the durability. I face them with material
of this character. Preferably of leather, in the production of handles for Cricket
Bats. I have effected two important improvements the first relates to the manner
in which I build up cane handles, heretofore made by planeing the naturally round
cane into flat sided pieces and then glueing them singly side by side. which is a
slow, tedious and wasteful process: by my improved method. I first construct a
strong metal mould the matrice of which is the shape of the intended handle. into
this mould I crush by hydraulic, or other extreme pressure, a sufficient number of

page_text: pieces of round cane, with the bark only removed and soaked in glue, to fill the
mould which mould is by preference but not of necessity, made in two parts, and
then apply the necessary pressure to form a consolidated mass: for the purpose of
increasing the flexibility of the handle so made. I insert layers of hemp cord, or
other fibrous material into the interstices of the layers of cane.
To produce still cheaper yet flexible handles I form them by placing one on the
other alternate layers of wood and leather canvas or other tough and fibrous
material. but exclude India-rubber, whale-bone, cane and cork, all of which I am
aware have been used prior to the date of this patent.
A further improvement relates to the fixing of Cricket Bat handles to the blades
which I effect in the following manner.
Having fixed the handle into the blade by dovetail and glue on the usual plan.
I bore a hole about 1/4 inch in diameter right through at the junction, that is, at
the point end of the V dovetail so that part of the holo intersects the end of the
handle and the bottom of the V; cach side of this 1 inch hole I countersink into
a cone shaped recess leaving its narrow part or waist in the centre of blade, into
this hole I insert a plug of ebonite (or other material that admits of being made
plastic by heat and hardens when cold) when in a plastic state and then crush the
plug so that it fills the cone shaped recess which when cold forms a double headed
rivet and thus prevents the handle from becoming loose at that point of the
junction.
My next improvement relates to setting up the Stumps of Wickets this I offect
by providing a ground plate either wood or metal having a recess therein, into
which recess I insert any flexible material, by preference India rubber; in this
flexible material I insert three holes to receive the pointed part of the stump,
Having planted the ground plate into the ground and flush therewith and firmly
pinned it thereto I set up the Wickets by inserting the pointed end of the Stumps
into this flexible material instead of into the earth by which means I gain the
following advantages. 1 The distance from stump to stump is preserved correct
and equal because the hole in the flexible material being once made to measure
remains so.
2nd The ground is not disturbed by the stumps being continually knocked out
of the ground and set up again, nor are the points of the stumps destroyed by the
same process.
-
3rd The stumps are quickly and accurately put in position without hammering or
effort.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Gibson Bussey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th July 1883.
.
"
GEORGE GIBSON BUSSEY of Museum Works Rye Lane, Peckham in the County
of Surrey Manufacturer
CRICKET."
N APPLIANCES FOR THE GAME OF
ALUYEND
N APPLIANCES FOR THE GAME OF
CRICKET."
The object of these improvements is :—
1 To increase the strength, durability, and elasticity of Cricket Bats
2nd To decrease their weight and the jar and sting resulting from a heavy
drive.
3rd_To facilitate the setting up of wicket stumps.
Hitherto the blades of Cricket Bats have been formed from solid blocks of wood,
the grain of which runs longitudinally, with the necessary consequence that a split
or crack, once formed, increases and naturally extends to the whole length of the
blade. By my improved method I stop the natural tendency of a split to extend,
by building up the blades of alternate layers of wood, either with the grain of the
wood all one way or transversely or diagonally to each other, the blade is thus
built up of two or more layers, preably about three. In addition to or substi-
tution for layers of wood I sometimes introduce layers of leather, canvas or other
material, possessing tough fibrous properties and to further increase the durability
I-face them with material of this character, preferably of leather.
•
In the production of handles for Cricket Bats, I have effected two important
improvements; the first relates to the manner in which I build up cans handles,
heretofore made by planing the naturally round cane into flat sided pieces, and
then glueing them singly side by side; which is a slow, tedious, and wasteful
process. By my improved method, I first construct a strong metallic mould, the
matrice of which is the shape of the intended handle; into this mould I crush by
hydraulic, or other extreme pressure, a sufficient number of pieces of cane, with
the bark only removed, and soaked in glue, to fill the mould, which mould is by
preference, but not of necessity, made in two parts, then apply the necessary
pressure to form a consolidated mass; For the purpose of increasing the flexibility
of the handle so made, I insert layers of hemp, cord, or other fibrous material, into
the interstices of the layers of cane.
In order to produce still cheaper yet flexible handles, I form them by placing
one on the other alternate layers of wood and leather, canvas, or other tough and
fibrous material, but excluding India rubber, whalebone, cane and cork, all of
which I am aware have been used prior to the date of this Patent
A further improvement relates to the fixing of Cricket Bat handles to the blades
which I effect in the following manner :-
Having fixed the handle into the blade by dovetail and glue on the usual plan,
I bore a hole about a quarter of an inch in diameter right through at the junction,
that is, at the point end of the V dovetail, so that part of the hole intersects the
end of the handle and the bottom of the V; each side of this inch hole I counter
sink into a cone shaped recess, leaving its narrow part or waist in the centre of
blade; into this hole I insert a plug of ebonite (or other material that admits of
being made plastic by heat and hardens when cold) when in a plastic state and
then crush the plug so that it fills the cone shaped recess which, when cold, forms &
double headed rivet, and thus prevents the handle from becoming loose at that
point of the junction.
My next improvement relates to setting up the Stumps of Wickets. This I effect
by providing a ground plate either of wood or metal, having a recess therein, into

page_text: which recess. I insert any flexible material, by preference India-rubber; in this
flexible material I insert three holes to receive the pointed part of the Stump-
Having planted the ground plate into the ground and flush therewith, and firmly
pinned it thereto, I set up the Wickets by inserting the pointed ends of the Stumps
into this flexible material, instead of into the earth, by which means I gain the
following advantages-1"-the distance from stump to stump is preserved correctly
and equally, because the hole in the flexible material being once made to, measure
remains so.
2nd The ground is not disturbed by the Stumps being continually knocked out
· of the ground and set up again, nor are the points of the stumps destroyed by the
same process
3rd The Stumps are quickly and accurately put in position without hammering
or effort
:
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed I claim―
1. In appliances for the game of cricket, the improved construction of cricket
bats substantially as herein before described.
2. The novel construction of handles for cricket bats substantially as described.
3. The means and manner of fixing cricket bat handles to the blades substan-
tially as hereinbefore described.
.4. In appliances for the game of cricket the improved bed plate to facilitate the
setting up of wicket stumps, substantially as herein before described
5. The improvements in appliances for the game of cricket and the use and
manufacture thereof substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof I the said George Gibson Bussey have hereunto set my hand.
and seal this eighteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three
GEORGE GIBSON BUSSEV ral