Topic: Bulldog Pedigree (Read 17985 times)

SAF Bats · « **Reply #60 on:** June 15, 2009, 10:03:03 PM »

I thought you guys made bats?

SillyShilly · « **Reply #61 on:** June 15, 2009, 10:10:09 PM »

Thats what i call a good old fashioned rhetorical question.

SAF Bats · « **Reply #62 on:** June 15, 2009, 10:18:24 PM »

Well maybe but I think it is answered

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=10.0

How did you get into bat making? Who trained you? Any advice for
young bat makers?

I'm self taught to be honest. I did an apprenticeship with Westland
Helicopters in Yeovil, where i trained as a machinist, so i am a skilled man by
trade. From there i have spent a small amount of time with various bat makers in
the Somerset area

SillyShilly · « **Reply #63 on:** June 15, 2009, 10:27:08 PM »

Thats some keen investigatory work there, your skills are obviously wasted as a batmaker, you could have been the next Columbo.......or Miss Marple?
I've worked a few jobs as a student that required machine work - yet i get the feeling i wouldnt having the Philliest Foggiest of how to make a bat - as for batmakers in the Somerset area the only two i know of is Redback and M&H - he was very lucky to have got some time with either of these guys.

jamferg · « **Reply #64 on:** June 16, 2009, 05:34:02 AM »

OK Can you tell me how what they charge for their top of the range bats and how much are yours currently selling for?

It wasn't the quality of the bat you sold me that I objected to, it was a fine bat, but I wanted a bat that had providence, I wanted to know who made it, what skills they had,who they made bats for. You knew this and yet still sold me a bat under these pretenses knowing it was none of these things. I know now that it could have come from Somerset, Devon, India or East London. That's why I'm on here posting Kieron.

Howzat · « **Reply #65 on:** June 16, 2009, 09:16:28 AM »

http://www.hornscricket.co.uk/pages/the-ultimate

"Ivor" the batmaker is from Somerset

SillyShilly · « **Reply #66 on:** June 16, 2009, 09:26:12 AM »

good spot Leo - i got a funny feeling he used to make bats just under the name 'Ivor' bats and now he is joined up with Horns, but i may be wrong on this one......

Bulldog Cricket · « **Reply #67 on:** June 16, 2009, 12:45:02 PM »

Lots has happened since that interview. Things move on.

I used to own Horns cricket with Ivor and his son Richard.

We started the company approx 4 years ago. Ivor knows Paul Bradbury very well and we got all our willow from Paul. Ivor made bats with Paul and i think still carries out repairs for Bradbury UK. When Paul moved back to Australia we managed to get hold of some of his tools and machinery and some more clefts. We made bats in Ivors shed at the bottom of his garden. (He still does for Horns)

Things did not work out with Horns so I decide to leave and start another company Bulldog. At this time, we split the remaining clefts we had between us. Jim, your bat was handmade in Somerset from one of these Bradbury clefts.

Bulldog has since taken off and along with work commitments (Bulldog is not fulltime) we could not keep up with demand hence why we asked another bat maker to make bats for us.

Apple · « **Reply #68 on:** June 16, 2009, 02:57:16 PM »

Ive got a bulldog, Growler goes like no other bat that i have

jamferg · « **Reply #69 on:** June 16, 2009, 03:34:16 PM »

The orginal bat was made from a Bradbury cleft but if you remember we swapped back again. I then bought the bat in question

Bulldog Cricket · « **Reply #70 on:** June 16, 2009, 04:28:00 PM »

yes i remember Jim, it was still made from a Bradbury cleft. That was all we had at the time.

Mark Tilley · « **Reply #71 on:** June 17, 2009, 06:15:04 AM »

Hi guys. The "Ivor" you are discussing is my partner in Horns. He is the only bat maker I know of who still uses the traditonal tools to make his bats. He even finishes the blades with a horses shin bone!! His first bats were made under his own name later shortened to ID. Kieron, how did you find learning these techniques from him?

SAF Bats · « **Reply #72 on:** June 17, 2009, 08:18:46 AM »

Mark there are still a few bat makers out there using traditional tools to make bats

Bulldog Cricket · « **Reply #73 on:** June 17, 2009, 12:25:42 PM »

Hi Tills,

Not easy at all, especially when we had limited tools and no press. Hardest parts were getting the splices cut correctly in the cleft. This was done by eye without any jigs or fixtures, but was helped when Ivor obtained Bradburys band saw. Also without a press the bats we produced were very soft but did go very well. The finishing was also a problem as Ivor did not have any drum sanders or burnishing equipment. All the sanding was done by hand and then like you say finished with a shin bone.

How is Ivor, i have not spoken to him for a while ?

Good to see HORNS are still going being that i played a part in setting it all up and and designing the logos etc.

How are things going at Chard this year ? Em keeps me up to date and tells me you have all the �stars� playing. Do you think you will get promoted this season ?

Cheers

Kieron

Mark Tilley · « **Reply #74 on:** June 17, 2009, 04:43:44 PM »

Hi Kieron

If I am a one of the "stars" I would be more than happy!! Wasn't playing to start with as nobody seemed "up for it" but after seeing the first two results felt I had let the boys down a bit. Results now going our way, even gave Lydeard an absolute hiding on Saturday, thay were not HAPPY! How is being back at home?

Tills

Author Topic: Bulldog Pedigree (Read 17985 times)

SAF Bats

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SillyShilly

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SAF Bats

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SillyShilly

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jamferg

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Howzat

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SillyShilly

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Bulldog Cricket

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Apple

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jamferg

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Bulldog Cricket

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Mark Tilley

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SAF Bats

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Bulldog Cricket

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Mark Tilley

Re: Bulldog Pedigree