Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Bats => Bat Making => Topic started by: Tom on January 14, 2009, 07:25:21 PM

Title: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: Tom on January 14, 2009, 07:25:21 PM

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/02thoeva/1.jpg)
The Tree before felling.

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/02thoeva/2.jpg)
“Bat Willow” grown here as wind break in East Anglia.

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/02thoeva/3.jpg)
This parcel of trees shows plantation or wind break grown willow which produces taller trees with narrower grains. Trees are felled and cut into rounds on site.

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/02thoeva/4.jpg)
This parcel of trees clearly shows parkland grown willow which produces trees with wider spaced grains.

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/02thoeva/5.jpg)
The rounds arrive at the factory to be opened up in a process known as Riving. This involves driving a wooden wedge through the round using a wooden mallet or Beetle to produce a cleft. The axe is used to “mark” the split.  (Image from the 60's)

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/02thoeva/7.jpg)
After Barking the cleft is skillfully trimmed.

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/02thoeva/8.jpg)    
Clefts are graded and stacked so air can pass between in preparation for the long seasoning period. At this stage the wet cleft weighs 20-25lbs. (Another 60's image)

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/02thoeva/9.jpg)
After 18-24 months Clefts are selected and rough graded to begin the journey into the factory. At this stage the seasoned cleft weighs 5-7lbs.

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: Tom on January 14, 2009, 07:28:59 PM

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/02thoeva/10.jpg)
Clefts are hand shaped to each models specification.

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/02thoeva/18.jpg)
The bat press.

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/02thoeva/12.jpg)
Handles are assembled from more than 20 components, including fine cane in another part of the factory.

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/02thoeva/13.jpg)     
The pressed blade is skillfully married to the handle, then crafted to perfection before sanding and polishing. Bats are quality controlled at every stage.

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/02thoeva/14.jpg)
Final grading, inspection and the seal of approval

Images courtesy of Gunn & Moore www.gm-cricket.com
The majority of photos are from early 1900's unless stated

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: BlarneyArmy on January 14, 2009, 07:35:47 PM

Thats impressive. Very mind blowing how skilled they were back then and the amount of clefts there was at the place before the factory. The amount of people working at that factory and the bats produced! Fantastic stuff!

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: Chrissy on January 14, 2009, 07:43:48 PM

Jesus how many clefts! Interesting pics also

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: danspink on January 14, 2009, 09:52:12 PM

Nice little info about how the bats are made.

:)

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: BlarneyArmy on January 14, 2009, 10:00:31 PM

The last pic is like a library lmao!

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: Talisman on January 14, 2009, 10:52:49 PM

Now you see why the old un's like Fattus Cattus and Norb love the making of bats so much, they remember taking those photo's and being involved as kids.

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: SAF Bats on January 15, 2009, 09:11:47 AM

Tom excellent you know I love all this stuff so thanks as I don't really look at the GM website.

Fattus Cattus is that you up that tree in the second picture!

I also like the look of the guy with the Drawknife on the de-barking photo [clefts no handles - 1st one in Tom's second post] he has the look of someone that has just removed a bigger shaving then he was supposed.  I've seen that look on Talisman when I'm listening to clefts!!!!

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: Sam to the C on January 15, 2009, 10:59:53 AM

its quite nice the photos very detailed!

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: sultanofswing on January 15, 2009, 11:35:04 AM

that last picture = heaven

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: Chaim on January 15, 2009, 12:46:11 PM

wow tom

brilliant thread gives a really good insight on the history of batmaking

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: FattusCattus on January 15, 2009, 08:40:24 PM

Quote from: Norbair on January 15, 2009, 09:11:47 AM

Fattus Cattus is that you up that tree in the second picture!

Yes it is - I'm fertilizing the willow.

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: BucketHandsGreg on January 15, 2009, 08:43:43 PM

Hah, what is that up the tree?

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: BlarneyArmy on January 15, 2009, 09:05:49 PM

Fattus Cattus

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: Talisman on January 15, 2009, 10:47:20 PM

The Skyline Feline.

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: SAF Bats on January 16, 2009, 03:11:16 PM

Quote from: FattusCattus on January 15, 2009, 08:40:24 PM

Yes it is - I'm fertilizing the willow.

Did the Fire Brigade get you down?

Anyways here are some more pic's

(http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/3346699.jpg?v=1&c=EWSAsset&k=2&d=5EA23F8481D3F16F6F5E421A1177DD49EC7C5022FB410D56)
18th March 1952: British cricketers Stuart Surridge (right) and Alan Moss at work collecting willow trees which will be made into cricket bats in Surridge's factory. (Photo by Dennis Oulds/Central Press/Getty Images)


(http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/3397351.jpg?v=1&c=EWSAsset&k=2&d=DAC7A34C488C04DFA6C0C083E263AF25EC7C5022FB410D56)
March 1952: Cricketer Alan E Moss, Middlesex and England (1953 - 1960), splitting willow wood with fellow batsman Stuart Surridge who owns a cricket bat factory. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)


(http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/3138979.jpg?v=1&c=EWSAsset&k=2&d=BEDFE2929D4DA7654CD09630A8488FC9EC7C5022FB410D56)
24th January 1935: Making cricket bats at cricketer Stuart Surridge's factory. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)


(http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/3263480.jpg?v=1&c=EWSAsset&k=2&d=10276273D480F6D83F2BEF9D104CCB22EC7C5022FB410D56)
March 1938: British cricketer Patsy Hendren, examining the rough cast willow at a cricket bat factory in Saint John's Wood, London. (Photo by Davis/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

(http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/52701928.jpg?v=1&c=EWSAsset&k=2&d=F87433A2638E5F91FE451D62A774DFC6ECA3385C13A290DC)
Harvesters in Essex make their way back from marshland with specially selected willow logs which will be made into cricket bats, 20th January 1936. (Photo by L.C. Buckley/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

This one I've called smoking the willow
(http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/3231618.jpg?v=1&c=EWSAsset&k=2&d=9724400E855F92635A16EE21F3D2B4B5EC7C5022FB410D56)
March 1922: England cricketing legend Jack Hobbs (1882 - 1963) carefully selects the willow from which his bat is to be made. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: FattusCattus on January 16, 2009, 08:49:40 PM

Cor - smoking a pipe and getting wood - that's a good night in for me!

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: Coach on January 16, 2009, 08:57:45 PM

ha and we complain about mass produced bats! ha

Title: Re: Batmaking in the Early Years - Pics
Post by: SAF Bats on January 29, 2009, 05:48:45 PM

A husband and wife team in Lewes, Sussex manufacture cricket bats. Mrs Cochrane claimed to be the only female cricket bat maker

(http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/3266904.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=10276273D480F6D8A35ACA2F01D1F74B)

The illusive Lord Lucan oh and the cricket bat that hit biggest of the NZ tour at Lord's Cricket ground, when he sent the ball over the pavillion
(http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/79667943.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1935121260197D6DE7860DFB1E729F0C545)

Pressing - Not much has changed huh

(http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/3270606.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=2C48553CC6AAB74CE6B155290A963167)

Gone are the days 1935 - Cricket Ball making in the England - Yep I said English Made Cricket Balls
(http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/3139812.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=BEDFE2929D4DA765441810789D34AC60)

Hanging your Balls!!! The hard centre's of cricket balls

(http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/3266930.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=10276273D480F6D87EA3980097E28E73)

(http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/3109056.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=45BAE66225B176A19D8072DC92E4D70C)