Lot # 63: Willie Dunn Jr. Aluminum Duplex Club

Starting Bid: $300.00

Bids: 1 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Summer 2020",
which ran from 7/8/2020 12:00 PM to
7/25/2020 8:00 PM



On page 310 of TCA2 volume 1, the auctioneer wrote "Willie Dunn Jr. also applied for a patent, which he later abandoned, to cover an aluminum duplex head club.  Three of his smooth-face alumium duplex clubs, which appear to date to the early 1900s are known.  Dunn's name is marked on the head."  The club offered here is the 4th Willie Dunn Jr. Duplex club now known to the auctioneer. While it is unstamped, this example matches up to the other stamped Willie Dunn aluminum duplex clubs in every respect. 

Visible on the sole, the end of the original shaft has a thin piece of wood wedged into its center to help spread the tip of the shaft apart in an effort to help secure the shaft.  The grip is a modern leather replacement that captures the look of an old sheepskin. 

Willie Dunn was one of the most influential golf personalities in America during the early 20th century. He was prominent as a player, businessman, club designer, course architect, and golf instructor among other things. a good portion of his career is covered in TCA2 v1 p309-311.

In 1896, Dunn established his club and ball making operation as well as a "golf gymnasium" in New York City.  Inside a room in what is now the old Madison Square Gardens in New York City he gave golf lessons.  1898, Dunn, after laying out a golf course in Dayton, Ohio, was hired to a supervisory position by a young clubmaking company—The Dayton Last Works.  The Dayton Last Works had changed its name to Crawford, McGregor & Canby by 1900, when he was released from the company. 

Prior to coming to America, Dunn was also involved in British golf in the 1880s and 1890s both as a player, a clubmaker, and as a course manager/green keeper.  He went on to split time in America and the UK during the 20th century, returning to the UK for good in 1940.

 

 

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