Robert
Urquhart sought the perfect adjustable iron. He received four British
patents in the 1890s as part of his quest. This example was made in the late 1890s and has "Urquhart" stamped across
the middle
of the
face inside an oval containing mesh pattern lines. The Urquhart trademark
of a 'U" inside a circle remains on the toe of the back of the blade along with "No. 1865" which is believed to be a production sequence number. This same "No 1865" is also stamped on the back of the hosel which indicates both head and hosel are original to each other.
The head is designed so that the club can be used both right- and
left-handed. Just push in the small
lever on the back of the hosel and you can pull out and rotate the
spring-loaded blade to a different position, left- or right-handed. The
screw in the base of the hosel allows the golfer to adjust how far the
head comes away from the hosel when the small lever is pushed and the
golfer pulls the head in order to rotate it to a different loft.
The
shaft is original and measures 38 inches. The sueded leather grip is old, from the period, but is not original to this club. Even so, it matches up well.
Urquhart adjustable irons are fascinating mechanical clubs with considerable engineering in both design and production. This Urquhart iron a fine collectible in perfect working order!
This club is the middle right club in the group image that accompanies this lot. fFr more info on Urquhart and his irons, see TCA2: v2, p440-441