Improvements in the Construction and Manufacture of Cricket Bats.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 26th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Manufacture of Cricket Bats.
I WILLIAM SYKES of Horbury near Wakefield in the County of York
Manufacturer of Athletic Goods, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
:―
My improvements relate to a new method of making the blade of a cricket bat,
the object being to impart greater durability to it, and also the more economical
production of these articles than by any process now in use.
The blade of a cricket bat has heretofore been made in one piece usually of
willow.
My invention is the making of it by a number of pieces of willow being
combined with one or more pieces of cane.
I first take a piece of willow, or other kind of wood that may appear to be
more suitable, the ordinary length of the blade of a bat as may be used from
time to time and I plane one side so as to give an even surface; I then provide one
or a number of strips of cane glued or otherwise fastened together this being the
length of the blade and about one third its width. I further take two lengths of
willow or other wood that may be used, and glue at each side of the cane
longitudinally making when finished a complete picce which is of the same
dimensions as my first piece of willow the latter being the foundation of the bat
blade. I then glue, peg, or otherwise fasten the cane piece, which is to form the
face of the bat, on to the one piece of willow first selected which gives me a cricket
bat pod or blade. This is then spliced with the handle and shaped in the ordinary
way as now generally adopted to form a cricket bat. As thus made the blade
will consist of cane in the centre with a piece of wood on each side of it forming
the face, this arrangement combining both durability and elasticity.; and one
whole piece of willow or whatever kind of wood may be used to form the back of
the blade.
I claim, if preferred, to make the whole of the face of cane formed into one
piece by a number of strips, or of strips of willow alone combined in the same
way; or so to arrange the strips of willow and cane together as may appear
most desirable in order to attain my object. I also claim to combine the handle
with the blade so as to continue the cane from one into the other, running down
the centre, if desirable.
Dated this 13th day of June 1891.
'
WILLIAM SYKES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Manufacture of Cricket Bats.
I WILLIAM SYKES of Horbury near Wakefield in the County of York,
Manufacturer of Athletic Goods 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:-
My improvements relate to a new method of making the blade of a cricket bat,
the object being to impart greater durability to it and also the more economical
production of these articles than by any process now in use.
The blade of a cricket bat has heretofore been made in one piece usually of
willow.

page_text: i
My invention is to make it up of a number of pieces of willow being combined
with one or more pieces of cane.
I first take a piece of willow, or other kind of wood that may appear to be
more suitable, the ordinary length of the blade of a bat, as may be used from
time to time, and I plane one side so as to give an even surface. I then provide
one or a number of strips of cane glued or otherwise fastened together, the length
of the blade and about one third its width. I further take two lengths of willow
or other wood that may be used and glue at each side of the cane longitudinally
making when finished a complete piece which is of the same dimensions as my
first piece of willow the latter being the foundation of the bat blade. I then glue,
peg or otherwise fasten the piece, made up of cane and willow which is to form
the face of the bat, on to the one piece of willow first selected which gives me a
cricket bat pod or blade. This is then spliced with the handle and shaped in the
ordinary way as now generally adopted to form a cricket bat. As thus made the
blade will consist of cane in the centre with a piece of wood on each side of it
forming the face, this arrangement combining both durability and elasticity; and
one whole piece of willow or whatever kind of wood may be used to form the back
of the blade.
In order to further strengthen the bat if desirable I insert one or more dowels
of cane towards the bottom of the blade or any other part in which it may be
required for the purpose above named.
.
claim, if preferred, to make the whole of the face of canc, formed into one
piece by a number of strips, or of strips of willow alone combined in the same way;
or so to arrange the strips of willow and cane together as may appear most
desirable in order to attain my object. I also claim to combine the handle with
the blade so as to continue the cane from one into the other running down the
centre if desirable.
And in order that my said invention, and the manner of performing and
carrying the samne into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have
hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, in which the same reference
letters are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a cricket bat showing strips of cane and willow
placed alternately.
Figure 2 is the same of a cricket bat made with one strip of cane only in the
centre.
Figure 3 is a side elevation.
Figure 4 is a plan or section of Figure 1 and
Figure 5 is a plan of Figure 2.
The parts marked "A" represent strips of willow, B the cane, C dowels of cane
which may be inserted for strengthening purposes and D the back of the bat.
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
The parts marked "A" represent strips of willow, B the cane, C dowels of cane
which may be inserted for strengthening purposes and D the back of the hat.
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 making of a cricket bat blade or body of strips of willow and cane
combined to form the face as herein described and shown by the accompanying
drawings.
2. The making of a cricket bat body by combining strips of willow alone or
cane alone to forin the face of a cricket bat as herein described.