Topic: Keeley cricket and the industry generally (Read 22738 times)

SD · « **Reply #135 on:** May 28, 2020, 01:50:14 AM »

A while back I heard a story about an induction course for graduates working for Bosch where they were asked what they sold to their customers. Someone volunteered the answer "drills" then a slide was put up showing a hole in a wall.

Cricket bats are a bit like that for me. It is up to the manufacturer to decide the best process to achieve the end result. As a consumer I am only interested in the outcome. I don't think I am being deceived if a manufacture decides to use a CNC machine as part of the process. I assume there was a time when all bats were sanded by hand. I wouldn't feel that a bat wasn't handmade if that job is done using a machine.

For me there are two areas where I think customers are being deceived: brands were the origin and maker of the bats is not disclosed; and grading of bats with the standard required of top grades being lowered whilst prices go up.

Yorkershire · « **Reply #136 on:** May 28, 2020, 12:41:26 PM »

I've had a long hard think and I'm not happy unless:

- The batmaker plants the willow trees by hand; shovelling dirt using hands and not shovels or any other equipment
- Uses brute strength to push the tree down and uproot it using bare hands
but will allow for using body weights and leaning on it
- Chopping the willow using karate chops
- Then leave it to dry in the open air
- FLying over and breaking the cane by hand and cork
- Once ready using sharp nails to shape the bat
- I also want natural glue for the handle fitting
- Hand sanding on a morning stubble

Anything else is second rate and not handmade! Don't accept anything else guys for handmade else you are being ripped off!

Six Sixes Cricket · « **Reply #137 on:** May 28, 2020, 01:06:22 PM »

Wow, what a thread.

I understand where your coming from @LEACHY48 , but the truth of the matter is every mass producing bat maker will be using either a cnc , copy lathe etc.. so in a batmakers eyes does it matter? All these shapes still need finishing/balancing

on another note i have seen a bat made completely by using machinery ( other than the handle shape). And To concave a bat completely by sander was impressive

LEACHY48 · « **Reply #138 on:** May 28, 2020, 01:21:38 PM »

Quote from: Yorkershire on May 28, 2020, 12:41:26 PM

I've had a long hard think and I'm not happy unless:

- The batmaker plants the willow trees by hand; shovelling dirt using hands and not shovels or any other equipment
- Uses brute strength to push the tree down and uproot it using bare hands
but will allow for using body weights and leaning on it
- Chopping the willow using karate chops
- Then leave it to dry in the open air
- FLying over and breaking the cane by hand and cork
- Once ready using sharp nails to shape the bat
- I also want natural glue for the handle fitting
- Hand sanding on a morning stubble

Anything else is second rate and not handmade! Don't accept anything else guys for handmade else you are being ripped off!

Yet another flippant remark adding nothing to the topic. I'll repeat, for possibly the 1 millionth time...I don't have a problem with people using technology. I actually quite like the accuracy some technology provides. I dislike a lack of transparency... Is that so hard to get?

LEACHY48 · « **Reply #139 on:** May 28, 2020, 01:23:29 PM »

Quote from: Six Sixes Cricket on May 28, 2020, 01:06:22 PM

Wow, what a thread.

I understand where your coming from @LEACHY48 , but the truth of the matter is every mass producing bat maker will be using either a cnc , copy lathe etc.. so in a batmakers eyes does it matter? All these shapes still need finishing/balancing

on another note i have seen a bat made completely by using machinery ( other than the handle shape). And To concave a bat completely by sander was impressive

I agree that many manufacturers do it, but again it comes back to transparency, as those that I listed previously are open about their process, others are not.

I agree that some manufacturers use technology very skillfully too.

Yorkershire · « **Reply #140 on:** May 28, 2020, 01:55:14 PM »

Quote from: LEACHY48 on May 28, 2020, 01:21:38 PM

Yet another flippant remark adding nothing to the topic. I'll repeat, for possibly the 1 millionth time...I don't have a problem with people using technology. I actually quite like the accuracy some technology provides. I dislike a lack of transparency... Is that so hard to get?

Wasn't directed at you specifically

Just a bit of jest; not intended to offend anyone ...

FattusCattus · « **Reply #141 on:** May 28, 2020, 02:38:55 PM »

He's very easily offended - it's his height I'm afraid.

Tom · « **Reply #142 on:** May 28, 2020, 02:50:42 PM »

As mentioned, I'm in favour of transparency � but from a manufacturers perspective. There's always question of how much you need to spell out your manufacturing process. When around ~90% of 'handmade' bats made in the UK are made with the input of either a copy lathe or CNC, do you really need to explain that? At what point does machine shaping input become synonymous with handmaking?

As mentioned, we don't feel the need to note the input of bandsaws or spindle moulders.

brokenbat · « **Reply #143 on:** May 28, 2020, 03:35:15 PM »

I guess the question is: are they cheating by using and not disclosing technology? If so, why is that �unethical�? Can�t think of another industry where people get so upset about someone not disclosing what machines they�ve used. I think �handmade in England� is sufficiently accurate, and frankly nobody really cares. If it said �100 percent handmade� and used that label to extract a higher price, you would be justified in feeling some outrage.

Canners · « **Reply #144 on:** May 28, 2020, 03:53:24 PM »

Anyone seen those overpriced pro bats on Instagram..... 😉🙃

They look unreal to me 🔥🔥🔥

dantsw13 · « **Reply #145 on:** November 26, 2021, 04:18:55 PM »

The Keeley factory is 5 miles from me. My FiL wants to buy my lad a new bat for Xmas, so I wandered down there this week. Tim spent an hour chatting/showing me around the whole place, including the CNC machine, describing what it does. He also said to bring my son on Saturday & he will pick/make a bat with him. All for a junior bat.

Considering I live in Robertsbridge, the home of GN, the 2 companies couldn't be further apart.

P.S. My FiLs other grandson lives in North Kent, and he took him to Salix for a bat recently, who did similar.

Buzz · « **Reply #146 on:** November 26, 2021, 06:12:03 PM »

Nice, I hope you got the 35% black Friday deal...

SwissTony · « **Reply #147 on:** November 26, 2021, 08:38:04 PM »

Quote from: dantsw13 on November 26, 2021, 04:18:55 PM

Considering I live in Robertsbridge, the home of GN, the 2 companies couldn't be further apart.

Newbery used to be just along the road from the gn factory,, next to Oldwood surgery, before moving to the old train shed (now garden machine shop) before finally moving to Ashburnham and changing to Keeley Cricket.
Spent a some of my youth in the building next to the surgery, can still remember doing some binding and pressing there.

Bats_Entertainment · « **Reply #148 on:** November 26, 2021, 08:57:26 PM »

Didn't John Newbery start the business while still working in the GN factory?

InternalTraining · « **Reply #149 on:** November 26, 2021, 09:10:24 PM »

Quote from: dantsw13 on November 26, 2021, 04:18:55 PM

The Keeley factory is 5 miles from me. My FiL wants to buy my lad a new bat for Xmas, so I wandered down there this week. Tim spent an hour chatting/showing me around the whole place, including the CNC machine, describing what it does. He also said to bring my son on Saturday & he will pick/make a bat with him. All for a junior bat.

Considering I live in Robertsbridge, the home of GN, the 2 companies couldn't be further apart.

P.S. My FiLs other grandson lives in North Kent, and he took him to Salix for a bat recently, who did similar.

Keeleys are very good to deal with! They will make a superb bat for you!

Author Topic: Keeley cricket and the industry generally (Read 22738 times)

SD

Re: Keeley cricket and the industry generally

Yorkershire

Re: Keeley cricket and the industry generally

Six Sixes Cricket

Re: Keeley cricket and the industry generally

LEACHY48

Re: Keeley cricket and the industry generally

LEACHY48

Re: Keeley cricket and the industry generally

Yorkershire

Re: Keeley cricket and the industry generally

FattusCattus

Re: Keeley cricket and the industry generally

Tom

Re: Keeley cricket and the industry generally

brokenbat

Re: Keeley cricket and the industry generally

Canners

Re: Keeley cricket and the industry generally

dantsw13

Re: Keeley cricket and the industry generally

Buzz

Re: Keeley cricket and the industry generally

SwissTony

Re: Keeley cricket and the industry generally

Bats_Entertainment

Re: Keeley cricket and the industry generally

InternalTraining

Re: Keeley cricket and the industry generally