Topic: Long gone Bat brands yearned for..... (Read 3429 times)

Chad · « **Reply #30 on:** February 05, 2025, 12:30:40 AM »

Sheesh, this thread made me dig up some unpleasant memories of selling bats I regret. (Top of the list is a Screaming Cat Series 3, followed by a Newbery Tour SPS and then a Golden Mongoose)

Had to dig through the collection, but a fair few names have been mentioned.

Bellingham and Smith - these were stocked by Vitas Cricket, and I still remember fondly seeing in their net test bin - it must have been one of the most concaved bats I've ever seen. It's one you've got to have tried to understand just how absurd it was - it sent the ball absolutely flying. Even had a discussion with someone else who had visited back in the day who also mentioned the exact same bat. It just seemed to defy the laws of physics and trends of big full bats today.

The South African side unfortunately got bought over by a sports store chain, which led to the cessation of the UK B&S distributor. I believe the SA workshop has also shut its doors now - but one of the bat makers there 'Gert' is still active on the batmaking scene. The bats sold here were mostly made in the UK in Sussex, although the bat mentioned above was imported from SA.

Next up, we've got Focus UK, who were handled by Vitas before they shut, Stealth who were a sponsor for a short period of time (Richard was a lovely guy to deal with), Stretton Fox x RPC collab, (No, it wasn't me that bought the Wifey sticker, it arrived like that second hand) Blank Bats and Black Cat Cricket. The latter 2 are still active I believe, I had just snapped them too as I hadn't seen much from them in ages. Funnily enough, all bar the far left Focus so far have been made in Sussex.

Now onto slightly more funky ones - SAFBats, Mongoose, Stuart Surridge (Yes, that's the Turbo 333 Laminate with a lamitoe), BAS (Very recently seem to have ceased their batmaking), M&H, (When they made inhouse - I believe this might have even been a James Laver made one) Baronet Bats, (Bernie taught Charlie French and also Rob Pack) Gradidge (Surprisingly thin handle on this! Goes to show that - like bats narrower than 108mm - this wasn't necessarily just a modern bat thing!) and the Adidas of old, where the designs had some life to them.

Charlie French, who sadly passed away last year. A batmaker who wasn't about loud bells and whistles, just seemed to keep to himself and churn out high quality bats with a love for guitars and beer. I was sad that I never got the chance to meet him, but he definitely put a lot of smiles on peoples' faces with his handiwork. The Precision was a convex profile, the Broadside was full with a hint of shape, and the Fury was a distinctly concaved shape. Plenty on here will know more about him and his work, but from what I have seen definitely could make a really nice bat.

Finally, the Newbery of old! Just remembered these bats being some of the finest money could buy, back when sheer volume and size, and width measurements seemed to become the dictator of what a good bat was. These aren't actually specifically Newbery bats, but were TK Pros which were of a similar enough shape for me to stomach putting some Tour stickers on them. I do love a good classic shaped Newbery, before they changed to the shield branding from this.

Now if anyone sees any of these defunct branded bats kicking around, and is thinking of sending them to goodness knows where to get them shortened into catching bats or having them completely stripped - please don't! There may be collectors around who would love to own them as pieces of history, so don't go sending your Newbery C6s or Vintage/Classic M&Hs away!

ch1p · « **Reply #31 on:** February 05, 2025, 12:46:12 AM »

Feel like after that post @Chad my answer should be anything you�ve out bidded me for on eBay

of course thanks for sharing as ever.

I know I could still get one from Mr Pack but something about Puma from 2007 really sticks with me. Those ballistic stickers were ever so cool. As mentioned Newbery when they were proper Newbery. And a Kelsall laminate off here would sit quite nicely.

Bats_Entertainment · « **Reply #32 on:** February 05, 2025, 12:45:31 PM »

I (not too often) wondered if Charlie French's Broadside might have been a not very discreet nod towards a Notts and England international contracted to Adidas at the time.

gihanrat · « **Reply #33 on:** February 06, 2025, 02:24:35 PM »

Nice post @Chad - glad to see you included some very out there long gone brands such as Gradidge - looks like a nice clean piece of willow - have you ever used it in anger and what does it feel like?

And do you yearn for a return of Gradidge bats again?

Bats_Entertainment · « **Reply #34 on:** February 06, 2025, 03:21:29 PM »

Gradidge became Slazenger.

t2ylo · « **Reply #35 on:** February 06, 2025, 06:54:44 PM »

I have a newer SS Turbo Grand Prix 333 and no idea who makes them now & it�s not �grainy� but it�s got a great handle and goes like the clappers. Probably the best performance in the house, and there�s some serious posh brands knocking about various bags
If I can remember how to post photos I�ll add them.
Newbery Blitz is not far behind it for pure ping.

Chad · « **Reply #36 on:** February 06, 2025, 10:13:22 PM »

Quote from: gihanrat on February 06, 2025, 02:24:35 PM

Nice post @Chad - glad to see you included some very out there long gone brands such as Gradidge - looks like a nice clean piece of willow - have you ever used it in anger and what does it feel like?

And do you yearn for a return of Gradidge bats again?

Oops, didn't quite match the topic! Gradidge were well before my time really to yearn after... In terms of sought after/yearned for brands...

Screaming Cat, Newbery (While Tim was still making their bats), B&S SA, Peak Slazenger when they produced their own bats and Vantage Cricket - one of the first brands I bought a custom bat from!

Frontfootdrive · « **Reply #37 on:** February 07, 2025, 08:59:55 AM »

Always fancied a Peak Sports as they looked belters in hands of John Crawley,Jimmy Cook etc.....was it a Corniche as their top of range ?

think the shop is still in Stockport now but only selling Kids school equipment etc

SD · « **Reply #38 on:** February 08, 2025, 12:04:40 AM »

Quote from: Frontfootdrive on February 07, 2025, 08:59:55 AM

Always fancied a Peak Sports as they looked belters in hands of John Crawley,Jimmy Cook etc.....was it a Corniche as their top of range ?

think the shop is still in Stockport now but only selling Kids school equipment etc

Peak Sports was owned by the Monkhouse family whose main business was as supplier of school uniform. The retail store in Stockport supplied school uniform alongside the (much less profitable) sporting goods business.

The family sold out of the business in 2018 to a larger competitor, Banner. Peak Sports still exists as a dormant company owned by Banner.

gihanrat · « **Reply #39 on:** February 08, 2025, 01:29:17 PM »

Quote from: SD on February 08, 2025, 12:04:40 AM

Peak Sports was owned by the Monkhouse family whose main business was as supplier of school uniform. The retail store in Stockport supplied school uniform alongside the (much less profitable) sporting goods business.

The family sold out of the business in 2018 to a larger competitor, Banner. Peak Sports still exists as a dormant company owned by Banner.

Interesting to learn about these companies from yesteryear. Did they also sponsor Dominic Cork and Darren Gough at one stage if memory serves?

I remeber there was a Stac Black Prince bat in our club team which went like a gun and was super lightweight feel, whatever happened to Stac?

SD · « **Reply #40 on:** February 09, 2025, 11:13:07 PM »

Quote from: gihanrat on February 08, 2025, 01:29:17 PM

Interesting to learn about these companies from yesteryear. Did they also sponsor Dominic Cork and Darren Gough at one stage if memory serves?

To my recollection, Darren Gough, Dominic Cork, John Crawley and Mike Watkinson all used Peak Sports bats whilst playing test cricket

Kulli · « **Reply #41 on:** February 10, 2025, 10:27:01 AM »

Sure some WI players did too.

Anyone know who made their bats?

Maverick06 · « **Reply #42 on:** February 15, 2025, 08:40:44 PM »

Duncan Fearnley....I guess they are still there but haven't seen anyone using it. Nothing online either (in terms of reviews)

Author Topic: Long gone Bat brands yearned for..... (Read 3429 times)

Chad

Re: Long gone Bat brands yearned for.....

ch1p

Re: Long gone Bat brands yearned for.....

Bats_Entertainment

Re: Long gone Bat brands yearned for.....

gihanrat

Re: Long gone Bat brands yearned for.....

Bats_Entertainment

Re: Long gone Bat brands yearned for.....

t2ylo

Re: Long gone Bat brands yearned for.....

Chad

Re: Long gone Bat brands yearned for.....

Frontfootdrive

Re: Long gone Bat brands yearned for.....

SD

Re: Long gone Bat brands yearned for.....

gihanrat

Re: Long gone Bat brands yearned for.....

SD

Re: Long gone Bat brands yearned for.....

Kulli

Re: Long gone Bat brands yearned for.....

Maverick06

Re: Long gone Bat brands yearned for.....