Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 29th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 30th Aug., 1887.
I HENRY SIDNEY DARK of the Firm Messrs. F. Dark and Sons of Lords Cricket
Ground, London, N.W. Cricket Bat Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of
our said invention to be as follows:-
―
The object of this invention, is, to manufacture handles for Cricket Bats, from a
combination of cane or its equivalent such as Bamboo, and cork, to obtain great
strength, also the required springyness between the grip and the blade, and a firm
hold, and produce a better finish.
For the purpose of this invention we prepare lengths of cane, such as Bamboo, in
square, hexagonal or other shape, in cross section, and parallel or otherwise in length,
and secure several of such lengths together by cement, glue or other means, to
compose a square, hexagonal or equivalent shaped body as a centre stem, one end of
which is fastened into, or to, the blade at the shoulder in a well known manner of
fastening handles thereto.
On this prepared central stem, which may vary in thickness in its length, we glue
or otherwise attach strips of cork; the inner surfaces of which have been prepared to
touch the exterior of the central stem, and adhere to, their edges butting to present a
neat appearance.
The outer ends of the cork are dressed for the reception of a wooden or other
ferrule, to give a finish to the handle; the grip portion being filed or dressed to the
required shape.
Dated this 29th day of October 1886.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said H. S. Dark.

page_text: An Improved Construction of Handles for Cricket Bats.
I, HENRY SIDNEY DARK of the firm Messrs. F. Dark and Sons of Lords Cricket
Ground, London, N.W. Cricket Bat Manufacturers, 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:-
The object of this invention is, to manufacture handles for cricket bats from a
combination of cane or its equivalent, such as Bamboo and cork, to obtain great
strength, also the required springyness between the grip and the blade and a firm
hold, and produce a better finish.
For the purpose of this invention, I prepare lengths of cane such as Bamboo in
square, hexagonal, or other shape in cross section, parallel or otherwise in the length
and secure several of such lengths together by cement, glue, or other means, to
compose a square, hexagonal or equivalent shaped body as a centre stem, one end of
which is fastened into, or to, the blade at the shoulder in a well known manner of
fastening handles thereto.
On this prepared central stem, which may vary in thickness in its length I glue or
otherwise attach strips of cork; the inner surfaces of which have been prepared to
touch the exterior of the central stem and adhere to their edges, butting to present a
neat appearance.
The outer ends of the cork are dressed for the reception of a wooden or other
ferrule to give a finish to the handle, the grip portion being filed or dressed to the
required shape.
The invention will be further understood by the annexed drawings. Figure 1 is a
partial sectional elevation and Figure 2 a transverse section through the line a b
Figure 1, in which the cane or Bamboo strips or lengths A are of square form but
glued or cemented together and shaped to fit at the lower part B (the tang) into the
blade C to the desired depth for firm attachment therein in the manner well known.
The upper part at D is of increased dimensions to fit the shoulder E of the blade C
and from this point the outer cane or Bamboo strips or lengths are reduced to a curve
at the grip part, the extremity being of larger size and with a stud G on to which
an end ferrule or cap H is fixed, said cap H being sufficiently broad for covering the
ends of a cork or its equivalent body I, this being in longitudinal sections cemented
on to the cane or Bamboo strips to form the handle proper or part gripped., hy the
Batsman.
The lower ends of cork covering are shaped to fit the curve of the shoulder to
produce a neat joining. The cork is then shaved or filed to the requisite dimensions
and finished, the bat then having the appearance shown by the elevation Figure 3.
At Figure 2 the cane or Bamboo strips are of square shape in cross section and the
cork handle is composed of four pieces, but the cane or Bamboo lengths may be of
any shape as exemplified at Figure 4 and finished off to any desired number of sides
for the reception of the cork, the strips or lengths of which may he in any number.

page_text: By this invention, the handle is made very strong and stiff without losing the
required flexibility or springyness so essential for good batting.
The cork may be covered to any height by a wrapping of cord if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :—
The improved construction of handle for cricket bats and composed of numerous
strips or lengths of cane or Bamboo cemented together as an attachment to the blade
and covered with cork as hereinbefore described and substantially as shown by the
annexed drawings.
The 29th day of July 1887.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Henry Sidney Dark.