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[JamesC]

http://richarddawsonphotography.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/woodstock-cricket/#wpcom-carousel-803

Just some pics.

[wilkie113]

Cracking set of photos!

It's weird seeing it in photos after being there! haha

[Tom]

This photo shows just how little batmaking actually goes into some of these Woodstocks from John:



No doubt they're decent bats, but don't go expecting a totally handmade bat in Shropshire.

[JamesC]

Does anyone know where they are made to this stage?

[Tom]

Does anyone know where they are made to this stage?

Judging by the CNC backs, animal glued handles and grip holding the willow to the handle. I'd guess like the majority of the batmakers he buys from TK.

[tim2000s]

Judging by the CNC backs, animal glued handles and grip holding the willow to the handle. I'd guess like the majority of the batmakers he buys from TK.

Surely not... I'm sure they are entirely made, pressed, cut and spliced in Shropshire....

[Riggers]

I think your wrong mate. I spoke to John yesterday and he makes every bat himself and chooses every cleft as well. He has made bats Flintoff and other legends and he is currently making for Matt Prior and 2 other England players. He has offered to fully make me 3 bats for a great price and I think ill probably take the offer.

[tim2000s]

I think your wrong mate. I spoke to John yesterday and he makes every bat himself and chooses every cleft as well. He has made bats Flintoff and other legends and he is currently making for Matt Prior and 2 other England players. He has offered to fully make me 3 bats for a great price and I think ill probably take the offer.

Hmmm. Tom probably has the best view of anyone on this forum as to what bats, prior to being made into playable instruments, look like fresh from pressing and "pre-prep"....

[wilkie113]

I think your wrong mate. I spoke to John yesterday and he makes every bat himself and chooses every cleft as well. He has made bats Flintoff and other legends and he is currently making for Matt Prior and 2 other England players. He has offered to fully make me 3 bats for a great price and I think ill probably take the offer.

I think you can see from the pictures that he has part mades there mate. Bit naive to think that he makes every single bat from a full cleft! There are many bat makers (from what I've heard) that have CNC shaped bats from TK, and theres no shame in that.

Having been to collect my bat from John at the workshop, I have seen the part made clefts dotted around. There's nothing taken away from what he does, he produces very good bats, and very good kit.

[Tom]

Let's just say the photography set shows lots of arty shots of the tools, but very little of the actual batmaking.

[JamesC]

Is there anyone from Woodstock registered on the Forum who could shed some light on this?

[Nickauger]

Judging by the CNC backs, animal glued handles and grip holding the willow to the handle. I'd guess like the majority of the batmakers he buys from TK.

I thought that was common knowledge. Mind you, I reckon I could get a piece of willow to that stage. I would imagine the real skill is in the shaving and shaping of it into something that is truely a work of art like the woodstocks quite clearly are. Surely it takes maybe half an hour to get to that stage (when competent) and 2-2.5 to get it to a bat shape.

[Dan W]

I thought that was common knowledge. Mind you, I reckon I could get a piece of willow to that stage. I would imagine the real skill is in the shaving and shaping of it into something that is truely a work of art like the woodstocks quite clearly are. Surely it takes maybe half an hour to get to that stage (when competent) and 2-2.5 to get it to a bat shape.

Exactly.

If I was in the business I'd outsource the donkey work of handling and shaping as much as possible.

I always feel a bit sour at these types of conversations as sooner or later the cynicism of the UK small shavers using TK clefts will damage the industry in the long run.

[ppccopener]

sure there are loads of companies who get willow or part made/pressed bat from Newbery

John worked for Newbery for years good luck to the bloke he's great to deal with

going to see him soon to copy the bat i have now which i think is a tk bat

his bats are a lot more 'organic' that forum favourites like black cat

[Tom]

Exactly.

If I was in the business I'd outsource the donkey work of handling and shaping as much as possible.

I always feel a bit sour at these types of conversations as sooner or later the cynicism of the UK small shavers using TK clefts will damage the industry in the long run.

Look at the bats to the left and right (ignoring the middle bat) - they've been CNC'd completely. Just need the handle shaping and sanding.