Lot # 46: John Butchart Play Club c. 1890

Starting Bid: $500.00

Bids: 11 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Fall 2022",
which ran from 11/3/2022 7:00 PM to
11/19/2022 8:00 PM



This is a rare club!  Stamped "Butchart" on the top of the head, it was most likely made by John Butchart who was born in 1854 and worked in Carnoustie.  Butchart was once an assistant to Frank Bell who worked at the Dalhousie Golf Club from 1870 to 1876.  Bell's place at Dalhousie was taken by David Mitchell. Butchart struck out on his own and made clubs, but it was apparently he had a tough go as a clubmaker during the 1880s.  He eventually left the life of an independent clubmaker to be employed by the famous Carnoustie clubmaker Robert Simpson.

John, however, was the father of Cuthbert Butchart, the famous clubmaker and professional who came of age as a clubmaker in the late 1890s and continued to grow his business in the early 1900s.  Because Cuthbert was born in 1876 and this club (typical of those made at the end of the long nose era) dates to approximately 1890, it is easy to conclude that John Butchart made this club and not his son. 

The 44 1/2" shaft and leather wrapped grip are original.  there is a leather repair to the face of this club.  This was done while the club was in use, and such repairs were a normal part of the long nose world.  If a damaged club could be patched up and put back into service, it was.  Nothing wrong with that.  The insert shows an added dimension of a good clubmaker's skills.

 

 

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