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Racket Displays Page 2

 

John Wanamaker

Wissahickon  c 1890

 

     This John Wanamaker, Wissahickon Model, tennis racket was most likely manufactured for the Wanamaker Department Stores by the Wright & Ditson company around 1890. Many times tennis manufacturing companies would make rackets for local sporting goods stores or country clubs that would have their own labels placed on them.  John Wanamaker owned a chain of very famous department stores in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago during the late 1800s and early 1900s.  The Wanamaker stores eventually were taken over by Macy’s Department Stores.

 

$599

Challenge Cup

c. 1930

 

   The Wright & Ditson Company was formed in 1878 when George Wright and Henry A. Ditson merged their two companies.  The company was purchased in 1891 by Spalding but continued the Wright & Ditson label into the 1940s.  This Challenge Cup model was manufactured from 1924 until 1932.

 

$599

R. G. Pilch

“The Marvel”

c. 1910

 

 

     Robert George Pilch (1877-1957) was a noted cricket player in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Later in his career he established the Sport Shop in Norwich, England which sold a wide range of sporting goods.  The Sport Shop did not manufacture tennis rackets and this racket was most likely produced by George G. Bussey & Company, the widest wholesaler of sporting goods during that era.

 

$699

Harry C. Lee & Co.

Waverley Model tennis racket

c. 1931

 

  Harry C. Lee & Company began producing tennis rackets in 1898 and continued to produce rackets into the 1960’s. The company had a retail store and factory at 10 Warren Street in New York City that featured a large tennis racket hung above the entrance. Harry C. Lee rackets were used by many top players during the first half of the century including Vincent Richards and Althea Gibson. Vincent Richards authored several books about tennis that were published by Harry C. Lee & Co.

 

$799

N. J. MAGNAN CORP.

Olympic Model

c. 1930

 

   The N. J. Magnan Corporation produced reckets from the 1920s until the early 1950s.  In addition to the Olympic model they also produced the Superior, Defender and Overhead.

 

$499

 

 

 

A. W. Gamage Ltd.

FANtail Tennis Racket

c. 1910

 

    Gamages was a department store founded by Mr. A. W. Gamage at 116-128 Holborn in Central London.  Gamages did not manufacture tennis rackets  and this racket was most likely produced by George G. Bussey & Company, the widest wholesaler of sporting goods during that era.

 

$599

Bancroft

Streamliner

C. 1941

 

   The Bancroft Racket Company was founded by Fred J. Bancroft in 1882 and as early as 1906 was manufacturing over 35,000 rackets a year. Bancroft was a major supplier of tennis rackets to other sporting goods companies and did not offer a racket under their own name (The Bancroft) until 1912.   Both brothers being master wood crafters prided themselves in making their rackets from second growth ash from Vermont and New Hampshire.

 

    Bancroft emphasized personal handcrafting and was the racket of choice for Bill Tilden even though he had agreements with other racket makers.  The Bancroft brothers sold the company in the late 1940s.

 

$329

Spalding

Domino DD Model

Cir 1919

 

     The A. G. Spalding Company was formed in 1876 by Albert Goodwill Spalding, a pitcher and manager for a local Chicago baseball team. The company’s first emphasis was on baseball equipment but soon branched into other areas.  The company claimed to make the first American tennis ball.  Spalding’s first tennis rackets were advertised in 1885 featuring the Windermere, Kenwood, Union Club and Junior.  The Domino DD model was produced from 1916 until 1929.  On Domino DD model rackets made after 1920, the wedges containing the Spalding logo and model were advertised as ebony color.

 

$499

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