Covered under both a 1922 British patent and a 1923 registered design issued to John Randall, this putter is devised to provide the golfer with a soft touch when putting.  Randall believed that, because lead was such a soft metal, that a lead face would soften the impact of the club with the ball.  Rather than insert lead across the entire face, as a few others had done, Randall used rows of lead plugs.  According to his 1922 patent, he believed that a solid lead face would "soon become dented and worn, with consequent loss of accuracy in play." 

The raised ridge along the top of the head continues up the hosel, and all the way up the shaft (including under the grip) to the end of the shaft.  It was thought that the ridge on the head would help the golfer square the putter to his or her line, and the ridge under the grip, because it was inline with the ridge on the head, would help the golfer get the face square at impact.

The sole is stamped "Registered No 685,349 / British Pat No186,522 / J Randall, Sundridge Pk, Kent / etc."  This putter—head, shaft, and grip—is all original and in outstanding condition.

For more on John Randal and this putter, see TCA2 v2 p610-611.