Improvements in Metal Headed Golf Clubs.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 17th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metal Headed Golf Clubs.
I, FRANCIS ARCHIBALD FAIRLIE, of 18 Alexander Square, Brompton,
London S.W. Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to golf clubs with metal heads particularly those known as
lofting irons and the object of my invention is to make it practically impossible in
play to hit the ball with the socket of the handle and so drive the ball out of its
true course.
In metal heads of the usual construction the socket for the shaft or handle and
the driving portion or blade of the club are formed in such manner that the socket
projects slightly in front of the blade. It is this front projecting portion which is
liable when the club is used, to come into contact with the ball and whenever this
takes place the ball is nearly certain to fly in a direction other than that desired by
the player.
To obviate this difficulty and to effect the object of my invention I propose to
set the socket or shank of the lofting iron or other metal headed club entirely
behind the face of the driving portion or blade whereby a plane surface only is
presented to the ball under all conditions of play.
Dated this 17th day of April 1891
H. B. BARLOW,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metal Headed Golf Clubs.
I, FRANCIS ARCHIBALD FAIRLIE, of 18 Alexander Square, Brompton,
London S.W. Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to golf clubs with metal heads particularly those known as
lofting irons and the object of my invention is to make it practically impossible in
play to hit the ball with the socket of the handle and so drive the ball out of its
true course.
In metal beads of the usual construction the socket for the shaft or handle and
the driving portion or blade of the club are formed in such manner that the socket
projects slightly in front of the blade. It is this front projecting portion which is
liable when the club is used, to come into contact with the ball and whenever this
takes place the ball is nearly certain to fly in a direction other than that desired by
the player.
To obviate this difficulty and to effect the object of my invention I propose to
set the socket or shank of the lofting iron or other metal headed club entirely
behind the face of the driving portion or blade whereby a plane surface only is
presented to the ball under all conditions of play.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will describe the accompanying sheet of drawings reference being had to the
figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a front view Fig. 2 a back edge view and Fig. 3 a plan of a lofting iron
made according to my improvements.

page_text: Fig. 4 is a front view and Fig. 5 a back edge view of an improved cleek and
Figs. 6 and 7 are similar views respectively of an improved mashie.
In each of these views, a designates the metal blade or driving portion of the
club and b the socket into which is fitted and fixed the wooden shaft It will be
readily seen on reference to the drawings that in each case a straight driving
surface is obtained without any part of the socket projecting in front of the blade.
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 herein described improvements in metal headed golf clubs which consist
in setting the socket or shank entirely behind the face of the blade or driving portiou
for the purpose specified.
2. The several constructions of metal heads herein shown and described.
H. B. BARLOW,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for Applicant.
H. B. BARLOW,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for Applicant.