Placing players under contract is a more recent development I understand but I don't know when it became common place.
One of the GNs is marked as being borrowed mid tour from another player has he broke his last bat. That is one thing you can't see happening to a modern player
I can remember, in county cricket, if a player broke his bat, he would often see out the over using the non-striker's bat before receiving his replacement from the pavillion. Simpler times.
But players were clearly paid money to endorse bat brands in pre-sticker times. Many of Boycott's bats are, unsurprisingly perhaps, 'Geoff Boycott Autograph' models.
Love the way the faces are falling off most of them.
And interesting to see County bats had 'Hunts shoulders' even back in 1967!