Lot # 146: c. 1890 Bussey & Pinder's Steel Socket Thistle Putter w/Multipiece Head and Sewn Grip

Starting Bid: $150.00

Bids: 1 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Summer 2021",
which ran from 7/7/2021 12:00 PM to
7/24/2021 8:00 PM



William Bussey and Joseh Pinder, both from London, received a British patent (No., 16,593) dated Oct. 23, 1890, that covered this putter head made with a gunmetal blade and steel hosel. This same patent, the seventh ever granted for a golf club, also covers the unique sewn grip on this club. 

According to Bussey and Pinder's patent, the hosel is made as a hollow tube. An approximately 3/8" high extension (boss) atop a very short "neck portion" of the blade fits inside the lower end of the hosel.  Once joined, the head and hosel are brazed toether. The shaft is then placed into the regular hollow portion of the hosel where it is "secured therein by means of cement, glue, or other otherwise."

One interesting point is that the hosel is actually made of steel, not iron. The back of the head also tells us this as it is stamped "Patent Steel Socket" along with "Bussey & Co. / London / Thistle".

The sewn grip, as shown in the image, consists of a rectangular piece of leather sewn lengthwise into position on the shaft. This took some engineering or sorts to accomplish, but it made for a long lasting grip that would not come loose and unwind as could happen with a wound grip.  

The word "Putter" is stamped onto the shaft, just below the grip. The gunmetal blade does show some wear, as often happens with gunmetal putters due to the softer-than-iron nature of gunmetal. Overall this putter is a solid example, and of the tens of thousands of golf club patents in existence today, this putter was produced under the 7th golf club patent ever issued—which makes this club one of the first clubs ever produced under a patent in the history of the game.  Now that is great history, not just great creativity!

Views: 379