Improvements in the Manufacture of Cricket Bat Handles.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Cricket Bat Handles.
I, FRANK EDWIN FENSOй, of 33, St. John's Wood Terrace, St. John's Wood, in
the county of Middlesex, Cricket Bat Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CRICKET BAT
HANDLES," to be as follows:-
My invention relates exclusively to the handles of cricket bats, and has for its
object an improved manufacture of the same whereby they are made some six
ounces lighter and possess all the strength and durability of the old cane handles.
It is well known amongst cricketers that the handles now being manufactured
with an interior lining of cork are faulty, inasmuch as they are apt to strain after
a little time, and the cork itself being too weak to resist a shock, is forced out of
position and gives the handle a curved shape some quarter of an inch out of the
straight. By my invention this straining is done away with as I insert a piece of
highly tempered steel, or other suitable metal, between a layer of cork and a layer
of willow, (or in such other manner as I may determine) which besides being an
extra support for the cork lining has sufficient resistance to bring the handle back
into its place after a heavy blow.
Preferably I manufacture the handle of alternate layers of willow and cork
with outside layers of cane, and insert the steel, or other metal, in the centre
parallel with and between a layer of cork and a layer of willow the whole being
glued or otherwise fastened together;-but as before stated the special feature of
ny invention is for the insertion of a piece of steel or other suitable metal, in the
handle of a cork lined bat for the purpose of assisting it back to its place after a
heavy blow.

page_text: I, FRANK EDWIN FENSOM, of 33, St. John's Wood Terrace, in the County of
Middlesex, Cricket Bat Manufacturer 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 invention relates to the manufacture of cricket bat handles, and has for its
object to increase the driving power of the bat, to reduce the concussion to the
blade, and to render them at once lighter, stronger and more durable, and to keep
the handle in its original perpendicular shape by means of a steel spring.
My improvements consist in the combination of cork and steel, or other suitable
metal, as a lining for the handles of cricket bats.
"
I manufacture the handle in the following way, viz:-I take a layer of cork
five-sixteenths of an inch thick and two inches wide, and a slip of willow one-
fourth of an inch thick and two inches wide, between them I lay a piece of highly
tempered steel, or other suitable metal, one-sixteenth of an inch thick, ten inches
long, and half an inch wide at the bottom tapering off at the sides to three-
sixteenths of an inch wide at the top; next to the willow I place another layer of
cork, five-sixteenths of an inch thick and two inches wide; and outside each layer
of cork I place a slip of cane two inches wide. The whole is then glued or other-
wise fastened together, and finished in the ordinary way, and spliced into the blade
so that the steel, or other suitable metal, is parallel with the front and back of the
blade, and starting from just inside the shoulder half an inch wide runs up the
handle of the bat ten inches high, tapering off to three-sixteenths of an inch wide
at the top.
The cork being very pliable is assisted by the steel to resist a heavy shock; and
the steel further supports the cork and maintains the handle in its original
perpendicular shape, which it would otherwise lose if lined with cork alone.
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
I. The combination of cork and steel, or other suitable metal, as a lining for
cricket bat handles substantially as described.
II. The insertion of a steel, or other suitable metal, spring in the handles of
cricket bats substantially as described.
DALO
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