Catalog: Antiques: Instruments and Implements (107)

Offered for sale is a desirable, circa 1870, wide mouth, apothecary bottle with an open pontil on the base.

The eight inch tall bottle is in very good condition and is empty of contents. The ground glass stopper fits snugly, and some faint interior hazing from age and use is noted. The early hand written paper label is securely pasted to the bottle and is marked "ZINC CARBONAS."

A very nice, early, pontilled bottle indeed!

A second bottle from the same pharmacy labeled ACID ARSENIC is seen in some of the photos and is available for separate sale in another listing. Enter "ACID" in the search box.

Offered for sale is a desirable, circa 1880, wide mouth, apothecary bottle sporting a polished base.

This eight and 1/2 inch tall bottle is in very good condition and is empty. A few unobtrusive, tiny exterior imperfections are seen and felt. The interior of the bottle notes mild hazing and faint product lines.

The molded ground glass stopper fits well and the hand written early paper label is marked "ACID ARSENIC".

Very nice indeed!

A second bottle from the same pharmacy labeled ZINC CARBONAS is seen in some of the photos and is available for purchase in a separate listing. Enter "ZINC" in the search box.

Offered is this circa 1918-1921, very scarce, Kroydon DEEP GROOVE Golf Club with an atypically designed grooves screen pattern.

Deep grooved clubs were designed to significantly enhance the backspin of a golf ball. As history would have it, these clubs actually worked quite well and gave an unfair advantage to those professionals who were adept at using them! In 1921, RIBBED GOLF CLUBS were banned just after the OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP by both the R&A and USGA.

The back of the club is stamped as follows: "Kroydon U6 GEO HANSEN", and measures 36.5 inches from heel to top of shaft. The sole is stamped SPADE MASHIE. The leather grip appears to be original and is in good condition. The hickory shaft is straight and sturdy and has "M515" stamped below the grip. The head of the club shows mild and honorable wear, good grooves with minor scattered pitting to the surface.

A very nice example of an early club with a controversial history!

For more details search DEEP GROOVE GOLF CLUB - JOCK HUTCHISON - RIBBED GOLF CLUB

This is a nice example of a Spalding Deep Groove Kro Flite Mashie Niblick Hickory Shaft Golf Club dating to the 1912 - 1921 era. Interestingly, this type of design was banned in 1921 as illegal.

This club measures 36.25 inches from the heel to the end of the shaft. It is stamped 'MASHIE NIBLICK' on the sole and notes a 'FLYING CROW' cleek mark and 'SPALDING' etc. on the back. The face sports a DEEP GROOVE pattern and a darkened patina. The grip is an old replacement and the sturdy hickory shaft is straight with slight loss at the hosel end. The clubhead shows mild wear with the expected scratches, scuffs of an antique club. A nice seldom-found Spalding Bros. deep groove golf club!

SOME HISTORY

"A.G. SPALDING BROS. began its golf club manufacturing in 1892, first in the USA and then in Britain shortly thereafter. In 1905, they introduced their popular "GOLD MEDAL" model and continued this successful line until 1919. The Kro - Flite example was first manufactured in the 1920's and eventually became one of Spalding's most popular models. They have been a major innovator / manufacturer in golf and other sports equipment for many years.

Offered is very likely a Spalding Deep Groove Mashie Hickory Shaft Golf Club which is stamped 'DEDSTOP' on the sole.

This club measures almost 37 inches from the heel to the end of the shaft. It is also stamped 'MASHIE' on the sole and notes a 'FLOWER' cleek mark and the word, 'SPECIAL', etc. on the back. The face sports a DEEP GROOVE pattern and a darkened patina. The grip is an old replacement, and the sturdy hickory shaft is straight. There is a small wood chip on the shaft next to the hosel (as seen in the photo), and mild wear and dings are evident, but most prominent, on the leading edge of the club. I believe that 'DEDSTOP' is a model name used by Spalding. I have not seen the 'FLOWER' cleek mark on a Spalding club before, so there is a bit of question as to who made this club. An interesting, circa 1915, seldom-found club.

SOME HISTORY

"A.G. SPALDING BROS. began its golf club manufacturing in 1892, first in the USA and then in Britain shortly thereafter. In 1905, they introduced their popular "GOLD MEDAL" model and continued this successful line until 1919. The Kro - Flite example was first manufactured in the 1920's and eventually became one of Spalding's most popular models. They have been a major innovator/manufacturer in golf and other sports equipment for many years.

Offered is a skillfully hand-crafted, Civil War era, soldiers' crutch constructed entirely of wood.

The crutch measures approximately 46.5 inches in length x 8 inches wide at the arm support. The pole section or the leg of the crutch is about 43 inches long x 1.25 inches wide x 1 inch deep in dimension. It sports bench-made, skilled joinery as evidenced by the wooden pinned mortise and tenon joint. The bottom tip reveals a few worn nails embedded into it, likely to help reduce wear. The finish shows an all-original, warm patina as typically seen in other early wooden objects of similar age.

Overall, there is evidence of mild wear and tear, and the arm support joint is slightly loose- all commensurate with an antique object designed for this purpose and of this era.

A fine early medical example to add to your collection.

Please also see the RARE Civil War Field Surgical / Mortuary Gleasons Table offered for sale.

Offered is a circa 1928, very scarce, George Sargent, DEEP GROOVE, hickory shaft, golf club.

The unique features of this club are (1) - only 1/2 of the face has deep grooves, and (2) - the grooves are ground at an acute angle which is quite unlike any I have yet to see documented. The more common deep groove examples have grooves throughout the face, with the grooves parallel to the sole.

The back of the club is stamped as follows: George Sargent - CHEVY CHASE (a Maryland suburb of Washington, DC).

The club measures 36.5 inches from heel to the top of the shaft. The leather grip appears to be original and is in good condition. The hickory shaft is slightly bent. The head of the club shows modest and honorable wear, and good grooves with generalized pitting to the surface.

Deep groove clubs were designed to significantly enhance the backspin of a golf ball, causing it to stop quickly. As history would have it, these clubs actually worked quite well and provided an unfair advantage to those professionals who were adept at using them (esp. Jock Hutchison)!

In 1922, DEEP GROOVED GOLF CLUBS were banned just after the OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP by the R&A (Royal & Ancient- the UK's much older version of the USGA), and later by the USGA. Of interest, this club was imported from the UK and was still being offered for sale 6 years after the ban. The club was, perhaps, a special order/experimental design commissioned by George Sargent. Certainly, a very unique example of an early club design sporting a colorful history!

For more details, search DEEP GROOVE GOLF CLUB - JOCK HUTCHISON - RIBBED GOLF CLUB.

A brief biography:
George Sargent was born in England in 1882. He began his career path rather early, beginning as an apprentice golf club maker by the young age of 12. After 3 years of training, George's path gradually progressed into playing professional golf, and by the age of 19, George was playing professionally full-time. He eventually moved to Canada, becoming a club pro. By 1909, George successfully won the US OPEN and continued his career in the US. He was head pro at various prodigious country clubs including EAST LAKE in Atlanta, designed numerous courses, and is credited with introducing the use of motion pictures to study the golf swing. He served as the president of the PGA for 5 years, and was inducted into the PGA hall of fame.

Offered is this very scarce, circa 1900, Willie Dunn, Smooth Face Hickory Shaft Golf Club. The club is sleek in design, low profile in stance and of quality manufacture. Although smooth face golf clubs fell out of fashion by the very early 1900s, they were still offered in catalogues for a number of years beyond this date.

This smooth face club is stamped on the back "WILLIE DUNN - NEW YORK". The original appearing leather grip is in fair condition with some loss, and the hickory shaft sports a nice aged patina.

Measures 37 inches from heel to top of shaft and is probably a MASHIE NIBLICK although it is not marked as such. There are various small leading edge dings, minimal pitting to the metal surface and examples of wear commensurate with this club's 110+ years of age and use.

Of English origin, Willie Dunn settled with his wife and son in New York. His first professional position was at the Ardsley Country Club, Ardsley, New York, where he designed the course and established a club-making business in 1896. Not only was he a very talented golf club maker, he was also an accomplished professional golfer finishing 2nd in the inaugural US OPEN. He also gained a fine reputation as an outstanding golf course designer. Please refer to some wonderful history on his life on WIKIMEDIA.

INTERESTING INFO

In an interview Willie Dunn remembered he was the first to play with the rubber-cored ball which had just been invented. Dunn was on a train traveling from Chicago to New York when he received a telegram asking him to stop over in Cincinnatl, where he found a man named Haskell waiting for him. The gentleman told Willie Dunn he had invented a new golf ball and he told Dunn that he would give him $500 If he would try it and pass favourably upon it. Dunn stopped off and tried the ball, he just teed up the rubber core and was charmed by the sweet way it left the club. He just signed the recommendation and was the first pro to play the Haskell ball.

Offered is an interesting group of five, amber-colored, Eli Lilly medicine POISON bottles. All bottles are empty of contents.

The first bottle is a 5 inch tall CODEINE PHOSPHATE medicine which sports a screw cap and partial 1 cent narcotics tax label. This is a circa 1950s era bottle with good full label in nice shape.

The 2nd bottle is a tiny 2.25 inch ATROPINE SULFATE hypodermic tablet example complete with screw cap and full label in nice order dating to the 1950 - 1960 era.

The 3rd and 4th bottles are identical, corked poisons, MERCURY BICHLORIDE antiseptics, sporting ribbed edges on back, circa 1930s era. The 3.75 inch bottles also have the word 'POISON' boldly embossed on back. They each have a good, complete label, one of which notes some writing in black crayon. Both bottles show mild wrinkling in the label. Together they make a nice pair.

Finally, bottle #5, circa 1930's era, is saved as the "best for last"! It measures about 2.75 inches and sports a near perfect POISON label. The bottle has ribbed embossing including the word POISON on the back.

Together all five bottles make a fine quintet!

Offered is a beautiful, circa 1895, Spalding Morristown model, Splice Neck Brassie Golf Club made in the Scotland.

This handsome club shows evidence of only light use with minimal wear noted to the face and sole. The clubhead was skillfully made from durable dogwood and is expertly spliced into the finest hickory shaft. The head sports a warm honey toned original finish. The sole is adorned with a brass plate which protects the horn at the leading edge of the face. The expertly replaced leather grip is covering the original listing. Two "MORRISTOWN" stamps are noted with the first at the top of the shaft and a second stamp which is faintly seen on the crown of the club head.

The club measures 40.5 inches long from the heel to the end of the shaft. A slight gradual bend is noted towards the lower quarter of the shaft. An eye catching early club!

Please note the photographed 1895 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS document from the SPALDING catalogue archives, confirming the origin and maker of MORRISTOWN golf clubs.

******NOTE****** BOTTLES PRICED EACH ***** Offered is a wonderful group of 3, circa 1920-1930 era, John Wyeth apothecary bottles sporting fancy, shield-shaped, gold toned foil labels. Decorative stock bottles such as these beauties were meant to be refilled and reused and were the pride of the pharmacy staff. Eye-catching, reflective medicine bottles such as these also served as an advertising mechanism as they often were placed prominently high on cabinet shelves in plain view. The 8.5 inch amber bottles are empty and in excellent condition. The ground glass stoppers cannot be removed and appear perfect. The front labels show slight wear and faint stains commensurate with age and use.

***NOTE***ETHOBRAL is a Narcotic

It will be hard task to find bottles with labels in this fine condition. A lovely trio not to be missed!

AROMATIC CHLOROFORM - $55.00

QUININE/STRYCHNINE - $55.00

ETHOBRAL (BARBITUATE sedative) - $68.00

******NOTE****** BOTTLES PRICED $55.00 EACH ***** Offered is a wonderful group of 3, circa 1920-1930 era, John Wyeth apothecary bottles sporting fancy, shield-shaped, gold toned foil labels. Decorative stock bottles such as these beauties were meant to be refilled and reused and were the pride of the pharmacy staff. Eye-catching, reflective medicine bottles such as these also served as an advertising mechanism as they often were placed prominently high on cabinet shelves in plain view. The 8.5 inch amber bottles are empty and in excellent condition. The ground glass stoppers cannot be removed and appear perfect. The front labels show slight wear and faint stains commensurate with age and use.

It will be hard task to find bottles with labels in this fine condition.

A lovely trio not to be missed!

Offered are three nice, collectible, C1920 - 1930 era, hickory shaft golf clubs.

The first club is stamped on the back with the following: "Hillerich & Bradsby Co. - Louisville, KY - GRAND SLAM" with the "hand and cards" cleek mark". The "#7" is stamped on the sole. The face is DOT stamped with a fancy "GRAND SLAM" mark on the sweet spot. The straight shaft measures 35.5 inches to the heel and sports a replaced leather grip.

The second club is stamped on the back with the following: "LADY BURKE" in an oval - the "#11", the "SCALES" cleek mark and "NIBLICK". The straight shaft is 35 inches long to the heel and sports a nice patina and original grip with a small piece missing. The face has a straight line configuration.

The third club, which has "MASHIE" stamped on the sole, measures 36.5 inches and has an original leather grip and a shaft with a slight bend. The back has the following stamps: "Approved by GOLFERS ASSN. of AMERICA" and "CRAIG WOOD - LOUISVILLE G.C. - MASHIE and P-52".

SOME HISTORY:
The Burke Company was the offshoot of another Ohio golf manufacturer. Its founder, William Burke, had managed MacGregor's club-making for nearly 15 years before branching out on his own in 1910 and converting his new company into Burke Golf Company, beginning with a full production of complete golf clubs.
Truly one of the world’s best golfers during his era, Craig Wood, was the winner of 21 PGA Tournaments including both the Masters and U.S. Open in 1941. He spent many of his most competitive seasons as a head professional in New Jersey and was a member of three Ryder Cup teams (1931, 1933, 1935). He worked at Forest Hill Field Club in Bloomfield from 1928-31 and at Hollywood Golf Club in Deal from 1932-35.

Craig Wood was the first player to lose all four major championships in extra holes. His major wins came late in his career at age 39.

Offered are two, circa 1930 era golf clubs, each sporting complete, original, leather grips and hickory shafts, all in good condition.

The first club has the following stamped on the back in an oval: "Wright & Ditson SPECIAL", plus "HAMMER FORGED" and the cleek mark image. A worn "MASHIE NIBLICK" stamp is noted on the sole. The face has a dot style stamping, and the shaft has "WRIGHT & DITSON" stamped near the grip. The shaft has an old repair and a bend. Overall, a nice club with mild wear to the metal appropriate for its age.

The second club is a handsome 3 iron Spalding Kro-Flite model sporting a lined face with a fancy circular design in the sweet spot. The #3 is stamped on the sole. The back has the following stamping: "Professional Golf Assoc. - Custom Made KRO-FLITE" and a crow cleek mark. The condition is very good noting a slight bend towards the handle and a wonderful patina.

In 1892, A. G. Spalding & Bros, acquired the Wright & Ditson Company to enhance their position in the club making industry. Wright & Ditson company was founded in 1871, and the name continued to be used by Spalding on both golf clubs & balls into the 1940's.

Offered are two, choice, circa 1920s - 1930 era hickory shaft golf clubs.

The first club, the ladies' 7 iron, comes with considerable pedigree. It was offered by the golf professional Frank Belwood while employed as Club Pro at Garden City Golf Club in NY. This club is a handsome ladies' mid iron with a somewhat low profile construction measuring 38 inches to the heel. The hickory shaft has a nice original patina. Noted is a slight bend towards the club head with a faint split at the hosel. The leather grip appears original and is in good condition except for some loss as seen in the photo. The club head sports dot face styling and is in good condition with mild leading edge dings. The back of the club is stamped "F.BELWOOD - GARDEN CITY"- (within a double oval) plus "SPECIAL - HAND FORGED, and (L)" indicating a ladies club.

The second club, a Putting Cleek, is in very good overall condition sporting a solid hickory shaft with an original patina. The early grip is generally good except for a small missing piece. The head sports a dot-punched style on the front, and the shaft is straight. The back is stamped with the following: "GUARANTEED HAND FORGED - PUTTING CLEEK" - and H. WATE?? SPECIAL" in an oval.

SOME HISTORY ON FRANK H. BELWOOD:
Garden City Golf Club, founded in 1899, was one of the first golf courses established in the USA, and in 1902, hosted the US OPEN. Frank H. Belwood was a successful golfer for many years and was the club professional for Garden City Golf Club in NY until the early 50s. He was a charter member of the PGA, and during the early history of American golf, he participated in various major tournaments competing against the best players of his era.

ADDITIONAL INFO ON THE PUTTING CLEEK:
A putting cleek has more loft than a putter. The cleek putting style was popular in early golf and it was said to give the player more options. On smoother greens, the players hands would be placed forward in the stroke to de-loft the club and get the ball rolling smoothly. On bumpy/rough greens it would be held normally and the extra loft would "raise the ball above the roughness".

Offered are three C1905-1930, hickory shaft golf clubs from Edinburgh, Scotland.

The first club, a ladies' MASHIE iron, is stamped with the following: "HENDRY & BISHOP Ltd. - EDINBURGH - Made in Scotland - Warrented Hand Forged - SPECIAL (L) with the MITRE BRAND" cleek mark. This circa 1930 club has a handsome construction and measures 35 inches to the heel. The straight hickory shaft sports a nice patina, and its original leather grip is in good condition. The club head is in good condition with mild leading edge dings and sports dot face stamping.

The second club, a circa 1905 JIGGER, is in very good overall condition sporting a solid, straight hickory shaft with an original patina. The club head sports a random sized dot-punched style on the face. The back is stamped with the following: "HAND FORGED IN SCOTLAND and M.J. BRADY - SPECIAL" in an oval. T.S.St.A plus REGISTERED TRADEMARK and a PIPE" cleek mark. (T.S.St.A stands for TOM STEWART-ST ANDREWS.) A JIGGER is a short-shafted club with low loft which was used in the same way as the modern chipper. The club has minimal dings and wear to the head. A high quality, low profile specialty club! A very nice example indeed!

The third club is a fine example of a circa 1900 crafted, low profile and low lofted driving iron or mashie. The leather grip has been professionally replaced, and the straight hickory shaft sports an original patina. The club measures 37 inches to the heel. There is deep nicking to the hosel and a slight wiggle where the shaft joins. The face has a ding by the toe end, perhaps the result of an honorable blow that caught both ball and stone many years ago. The back is stamped with the following: "SCCMCoy LTD - ED......." (? Edinburgh).

A nice trio of Scottish clubs!

Offered is a handsome, circa 1905-1910 era Spalding hickory shaft golf club. Features of this club include the following: (1) a manufacturers stamp on the shaft - "A.G. SPALDING BROS.- GOLD MEDAL" and (2) a rams horn insert on the bottom of the leading edge that is secured with 3 wooden pegs - indicating that this is an example of an early club.

The condition of this club is very good with an original leather grip and a straight hickory shaft with a nice original patina. The club measures 41.5 inches long to the heel. The crown of the club is stamped "SPALDING 1".

SOME HISTORY:
"A.G. SPALDING BROS. began its golf club manufacturing in the mid 1890s, first in the USA and then in Britain shortly thereafter. In 1905, they introduced their popular "GOLD MEDAL" model and continued this successful line until 1919. They have been a major innovator / manufacturer in golf and other sports equipment for many years.

Up for your consideration is a handsome Hillerich and Bradbsy 7 Iron, sporting a hickory shaft and a professionally replaced leather grip. Measures 35.5 inches from heel to end of the straight shaft. The stamping on the back includes the "HAND & CARDS" CLEEK mark, and "Hillerich & Bradbsy Co. Louisville, KY". The popular club model "GRAND SLAM" is proudly stamped on the front sweet spot. The condition is very good with the expected minor scratches and dings complete with a newly replaced leather grip. Overall, this club sports a nice patina and is worthy of any collection. I believe that this club dates to the 1920 - 1930 era.

SOME HISTORY:
H&B operated as a carpentry business starting in 1855 by J.F. Hillerich. In the mid 1880s, his son expanded the business into making bats for a local semi-pro baseball team which were an instant hit with the players. In 1894, they were labeled the "LOUISVILLE SLUGGER", and in 1905, HONUS WAGNER signed an endorsing contract attesting to their quality. Salesman, Frank Bradsby, became a partner in 1916, and the company was renamed "The Hillerich and Bradsby Co". This same year, the company started making golf clubs. By 1923, TY COBB, BABE RUTH and Lou GEHRIG all used their bats!