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Clubmakers kallades de som professionellt arbetade med tillverkning av golfklubbor i olika former. Det innebär dock inte att clubmakern själv tillverkat hela klubban, (smitt eller svarvat klubbhuvudet utan kan mycket väl betyda att denne monterat ihop klubban eller producerat vissa delar av den, som t.ex. tillpassning och montering av skaft eller grepp. Det var inte ovanligt att clubmakern mot en avgift kunde få sitt namn stämplat på klubban.
Här fyller vi vart eftersom på med information dels om yrket som sådant dels om några av yrkesmännen själva och deras hantverk. Bilderna på klubborna är eller har varit i vår ägo. De kan ses som exempel där stämplarna ofta visar att flera personer eller företag varit inblandade i tillverkningen och färdigställandet av klubban. Vi tycker det är intressant att tyda de olika stämplarna för att kunna härleda klubborna till personer, platser och tid. Informationen nedan gör på intet sätt anspråk på att vara komplett.
Anderson & Sons, David
One of the large golfing families. David started the business together with his five sons in 1893 making both clubs and balls. The firm was instrumental regarding the revival of ash during the middle of 1890's with large export to America.
Anm. avs. bilden: Den mindre texten i ellipsform under "D Anderson, St Andrews" säger "Warranted hand forged" och kan tyda på att Robert Condie smitt klubbhuvudet.
Auchterlonie, D & W
2 Ellice Place St. Andrews 2-4 Golf Place St. Andrews Fleming Place St. Andrews, (works)
D&W Auchterlonie startade redan 1865 av David A tillsammans med Andrew Crosthwaite. 1896 byttes AC ut mot brodern Willie, (Open Champion 1893). Willie spelade i början av sin karriär endast med två klubbor, en play club och en cleek. Man tillverkade själva träklubbor men järnklubbor köpte man smidda från Tom Stewart och Robert Condie. Även tredje brodern Laurie ingick en kortare tid i firman innan han emigrerade till USA och vann US Open 1902. Vid den tiden hade firman hela 16 anställda och verksamheten drevs av Willies son Laurie ändå fram till dennes död 1988.
Anm avs. bilden: Klubbhuvudet är smitt av Tom Stewart.
Ayres, FH
One of the oldest sporting goods houses in Britain established in 1810 and at some point operated their own forge for making iron heads. After the turn of the century they adopted the Maltese Cross as their cleekmark
Brodie & Son's, Richard
(Robert) Brodie & Sons was a small cleek making forge in Anstruther, Fife. The B S & A in an inverted triangle was their cleekmark. They were strictly a wholesale supplier of heads to the trade. Many Brodie heads went to the Tom Morris shop for their Autograph series. From 1894 - 1955 when the firm were purchased by Tom Auchterlonie & Son, St. Andrews.
Condie, Robert
Robert Condie from St. Andrews was a great clubmaker with a superior reputation for quality iron clubs. Born in 1863, he was trained by the legendary Robert White and in 1890 he opened his own forge and shop on Market Street.
Anm. Condies cleekmark var en ros.
Forgan, Robert
The Links, St. Andrews
Anm. Forgan var "hovleverantör" till Prinsen av Wales. På bilden till vänster visas "Plume of feathers" cleekmark som användes fram till ca; 1900. Till höger det senare "Crown" cleekmark ca; 1901-1908.
Forrester, George
Born Eile 1847. One of the most innovative makers of the 1890's. George Forrester was universally respected by the professional players and club makers alike. Forresters first employment was with a local mason and later he spent some time in US. Returning to Fife he adopted clubmaking as a full time profession. He gained considerable attention in 1890 when he patented his Center Balanced irons with their rounded backs. They were followed by another new Forrester patent almost every year.
Gibson & Company, William
Kinghorn, Fife
1868-1921*
Wm Gibson used the famous STAR cleekmark and produced many different models such as; Genii Model irons, Star Maxwell irons, Superoir and Stella series and was ultimately acknowledged as the worlds largest producer of golfclubs adopting modern manufacturing methods withoit sacrificing old qualities of Scottish Club Making. The firm survived into the 1920's.
Halley & Co, J.B.
Halley was a sport goods company with the ability of light manufacturing. They began in about 1898 as an agent for other club makers but soon found it profitableto make their own clubs, balls, bags, tees, and other related items. The Halley Company made its biggest name in the ball market with the extremely successful Ocobo gutty ball.In the 1920's they created many new club model lines to attract buyers. Their most common cleekmarks are the crossed swords, the sea shell and the pyramid. The firm's dynamic founder James Bryce Halley died in 1908.
Nicoll, George
Fife Iron Works , Leven
1893-1983
G. Nicoll started the firm 1881 as a young blacksmith and used the upturned HAND as a cleekmark. They produced many series and brands such as Zenith, Recorder and Indicator series which was the first matched set in 1926. The firm finally closed its doors in 1983.
Sayers, Ben
Bernhard Sayers, born in Leith 1857 played his first round of golf at the "old" age of 16. He stood only 5' 3" (160 cm) but rapidly learned the game, became as apprentice at Musselburgh and within two years he finished 4th in a professional tournament. He was tied for 2nd place in the Open Championship in 1888 and participated in every Open from 1800 to 1923, a record of its own. In 1912 he began club production in a larger scale and in 1923 the Robin trademark was registrered.
Ben Sayers, the "wee yin" died in 1924, having lived as an accomplished golfer, instructor, club maker and one of the most colorful characters from golf's golfen years. His son Ben Jr made the famous Benny Putter as a reminder of his father's career.
Anm. Ben Sayers använde fågeln som cleekmark, kallat "Craig".
Spalding, AG & Brothers
Founded by baseball pro Albert Goodwill Spalding in 1876 and started to sell golf equipment in 1893, opening a decade later in several major US cities as well as in Dysart Fife. Promoted the famous Harry Vardon US Tour in 1900. Marketing models as Gold Medal, F-series, Kro-Flite. The last major move during the wood shaft era was the enlistment of Bobby Jones as a designer and an executive. Spalding also produced the famous Calamity Jane Putter in 1931.
Anm. Ett av Spaldings cleekmarks var "the Crow".
Stewart, Tom
Thomas Stewart was the dean of scottish clubmakers with a world wide reputation of excellence. The cleekmark was the old clay PIPE and his most famous customer was Robert Tyre Jones using Stewart clubs capturing his GRAND SLAM in 1930.
Of all the old Scottish cleek makers who worked during the wood shafted era, Thomas Stewart of St. Andrews was the most respected in his day and is best known today. He was not the largest producer or the most innovative but his high quality product paried with his association with many champion golfers and his location in golf’s capital placed him in a position of prominence.
In his early days, his best customer was the shop of Tom Morris and Old Tom himself played with irons made by Stewart. A frequent visitor to St. Andrews and Stewarts forge,the american amateur Robert Tyre Jones Jr. greatly admired Stewart’s workmanship and used many Stewart irons during his career.
The cleekmark with which Stewart shared his fame was the clay pipe, first used in 1893. He registered his cleek mark as a trade mark in 1905 and from then on small lettering designating trade mark appeared under the pipe.
Tom Stewart’s interest was golf, and he prided himself in knowing all about that. He died in 1931 which closes a well-defined period in golf history, when consecrated craftsmen supplied the implements for the game in the true spirit of its traditions.
In his early days, his best customer was the shop of Tom Morris and Old Tom himself played with irons made by Stewart. A frequent visitor to St. Andrews and Stewarts forge,the american amateur Robert Tyre Jones Jr. greatly admired Stewart’s workmanship and used many Stewart irons during his career.
The cleekmark with which Stewart shared his fame was the clay pipe, first used in 1893. He registered his cleek mark as a trade mark in 1905 and from then on small lettering designating trade mark appeared under the pipe.
Tom Stewart’s interest was golf, and he prided himself in knowing all about that. He died in 1931 which closes a well-defined period in golf history, when consecrated craftsmen supplied the implements for the game in the true spirit of its traditions.
Winton & Co, William
The Winton family comprised of several members who practised clubmaking in different localities. William M Winton was responsible for making the infamous Calamity Jane Putter which was given second hand to Robert T. Jones by Stewart Maiden. The firm used "Diamond Brand" as a cleekmark referring to a small diamond symbol.
