IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CRICKET BATS
Year: 1885

page_text: We АмOS ODD and HENRY ALBERT ODD both of 46 North End Croydon in:
the County of Surrey Manufacturers of Cricket Bats do hereby declare the nature
of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CRICKET BATS to
be as follows: -
..
The object of the invention is to improve the handles of cricket bats particularly
and to obtain great strength, with lightness and ease in use and at the same time
to secure economy in manufacture by reduction of expense in material employed
therein.
We construct our cricket bats as regards the blade portion of wood as usual and
the handle we build up of cane much as has been commonly practised and insert
therein a strip of material adapted to deaden the jar given to the bat by a blow
and to increase the comfort of the user by diminishing vibration.
This strip of material is inserted throughout the handle and splice into the bat
centrally thereof parallel to the face of the bat and the whole is bound or strung
in the usual manner.
The material for this central strip which is employed at present is cork but
such cork is expensive and liable to crumble out and wear away and therefore we
employ a strip or layer of linoleum, kamptulicon or such like material possessing
the requisite deadening effect without the liability to wear out of the handle.
In place of one strip, parallel strips may be used.
The improved bat thus made develops greatly enhanced driving qualities.

page_text: We AMOS ODD and HENRY ALBERT ODD both of 46 North End Croydon in
the County of Surrey Manufacturers of Cricket Bats, do hereby declare the nature
of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CRICKET BATS,
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 the invention is to improve the handles of cricket bats particularly
and to obtain great strength, with lightness and ease in use and at the same time
to secure economy in manufacture by reduction of expense in material employed
therein.
We construct our cricket bats as regards the blade portion of wood as usual and
the handle we build up of cane much as has been commonly practised and insert
therein a strip of material adapted to deaden the jar given to the bat by a blow
and to increase the comfort of the user by diminishing vibration.
This strip of material is inserted throughout the handle and splice into the bat
centrally thereof parallel to the face of the bat and the whole is bound or strung
in the usual manner.
The material for this central strip which is employed at present is cork but such
cork is expensive and liable to crumble out and wear away and therefore we
employ a strip or layer of linoleum kamptulicon or such like durable composition
material possessing the requisite deadening effect without the liability to wear out
of the handle.
In place of one strip, parallel strips may be used.
The improved bat thus made develops greatly enhanced driving qualities
combined with cheapness of manufacture and durability.
We will by the aid of the accompanying drawings proceed to describe our
invention and means adapted for carrying the same into practical effect.
Figure 1 shews a back view of the blade of a bat but with the upper portion
thereof below the shoulders 6' for a short distance supposed to be cut away as well
as a portion of the handle, a in order to better indicate the superposition of the
respective layers of material built up to make the handle.
Figure 2 is a section taken through the centre of the bat at right angles to
Figure 1 on the line A A.
Figure 3 is an end view of the handle.
1
In these figures the kamptulicon or similar durable composition of inexpensive
but suitably elastic character is shown in two layers, but one, two, or more may be
so used.
a sbews the handle of a bat and b the blade b¹ indicating the shoulders.
(1) is the outermost and encircling serving layer of string surrounding the handle
as usual (2) is an outer back layer of cane, (3) is an insertion layer of kamptu-
licon or linoleum or similar composition adapted to deaden vibration whilst being

page_text: sufficiently durable (4) is the middle layer of cane, (5) is a second insertion layer
of kamptulicon or equivalent composition and (6) is the outer face layer of cane.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
The employment in the manufacture or construction of cricket bat handles of
an interposed layer or interposed layers of kamptulicon, linoleum or equivalent
durable composition material as set forth.
Dated this 18th day of May 1886.
W BROOKES & SON,
Agents for the said Amos Odd and Henry Albert Odd.