Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: Psi on November 19, 2020, 03:50:34 PM

Title: Vintage bats - old beauties
Post by: Psi on November 19, 2020, 03:50:34 PM
Just thought I'd post these bats that I got at auction recently. They were listed as 'modern bats' but they appear  to be mint condition bats from the 40s or 50s. I've already sold on the GN to a friend and he is really happy with it. GN are interested in it for their museum. I will try and speak to Surridge to find about the full sized SS Peter May 4 star extra special.

Anyone on here know much about the dates of these models? I remember someone from Surridges posted on here last year...
(https://i.postimg.cc/TwGbp6S2/IMG-20201114-235039.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R3shDj42)

(https://i.postimg.cc/cCL8Bc0V/IMG-20201115-121000.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ft1Lwm3K)

(https://i.postimg.cc/wM4RfsB3/IMG-20201115-121009.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/V0MN5vnc)

(https://i.postimg.cc/d0Gds15S/IMG-20201115-121016.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/nscMTHbv)

(https://i.postimg.cc/qMg3tQmK/IMG-20201115-121029.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/nCbzgKfV)

Title: Re: Vintage bats - old beauties
Post by: wasted_talent on November 19, 2020, 03:52:23 PM
wow - thats some classic wood there! :o
Title: Re: Vintage bats - old beauties
Post by: InternalTraining on November 19, 2020, 04:04:30 PM
@Psi , lucky man!

I love the stickers...the simplicity.

Why don't people make bats with simple decals.

That Gray-Nicolls has "Keeley" shoulders.

How do they ping?
Title: Re: Vintage bats - old beauties
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on November 19, 2020, 04:30:24 PM
Imagine manufacturers only giving their bats 4 or 2 stars now? And manufacturers all using the same 1- 5 star system?


Interesting that the Geoff Boycott Gillette Cup Final bat that sold for 4K at auction was 'only' a 4 star.


Title: Re: Vintage bats - old beauties
Post by: Psi on November 19, 2020, 05:15:47 PM
I would love to try this with a ball and even in a match. It is of course a very light 2lb 5oz. But I don't think I will ever do that.

Peter May's own bat in the Surridge archive was only a4 star, so this must have been the top grade. However, the willow on this bat is not grade 1 and has some pin knots.

Title: Re: Vintage bats - old beauties
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on November 19, 2020, 05:33:26 PM
Are you suggesting 5 Star bats only came along later?  I don't think so.
Title: Re: Vintage bats - old beauties
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on November 19, 2020, 05:53:02 PM
Peter May made his debut for Surrey in !950 amd for England in 1951. So definitely 50s not 40s.

So it must be linseed oil that makes old bats go really dark in colour with age?  These ones have stayed remarkably light. Because they have not seen linseed oil?

Title: Re: Vintage bats - old beauties
Post by: Psi on November 20, 2020, 02:03:43 PM
No idea really of the exact age, but gn thought the other bat was 40s or 50s. Does anyone have a contact at Surridge? I coudn't get through on their phone switchboard.
Title: Re: Vintage bats - old beauties
Post by: Chalkie on November 20, 2020, 02:17:53 PM
Peter May made his debut for Surrey in !950 amd for England in 1951. So definitely 50s not 40s.

So it must be linseed oil that makes old bats go really dark in colour with age?  These ones have stayed remarkably light. Because they have not seen linseed oil?

That would be my guess, I have some old GNs that could give David Dickinson a run for his money, they don’t appear to have been used much but religiously treated with oil.
Title: Re: Vintage bats - old beauties
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on November 20, 2020, 02:49:54 PM
Hammond retired in 1951. Which is not to say there couldn't have been a Hammond bat in production after that.

The forty and fifty year-old bats in the Boycott auction had all remained light in colour. Boycott was a known oil sceptic. Perhaps one of the early ones?
Title: Re: Vintage bats - old beauties
Post by: Buzz on November 20, 2020, 09:10:29 PM
The shoulders on that GN look very familiar 😳
Title: Re: Vintage bats - old beauties
Post by: billyb on November 21, 2020, 12:22:05 AM
The shoulders on that GN look very familiar 😳

Evidence that the Time Lord all along was... Keeley?
Title: Re: Vintage bats - old beauties
Post by: Mattsky on November 21, 2020, 10:51:29 AM
Great find. Can't be many 60-year old unused bats knocking about. Hence the interest from GN,  I guess.
Title: Re: Vintage bats - old beauties
Post by: shentser on November 21, 2020, 12:30:13 PM
(https://i.postimg.cc/TPwFp065/20201121-120523.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XrRQPwXn)(https://i.postimg.cc/ZqMg3Nb7/20201121-120540.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/v153wc6f) (https://i.postimg.cc/kDTwCrD1/20201121-121748.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kDTwCrD1)

I have got a similar Hammond autograph. Was hanging up in a school for many years . It has the 1st XI signatures on the back but I dont recall it being dated. Over lockdown I disposed of the wifes willow pattern plates and hung some bats there instead. The screaming cat was her choice as she used it for a few years in the womens league. The size 4 Nixon is simply known as the "magic bat "  and must have scored over 1000 runs in junior cricket for my daughter and a few other users and the Hammond was my choice.
Title: Re: Vintage bats - old beauties
Post by: InternalTraining on November 21, 2020, 06:22:56 PM
@shentser , that's so cool!!