Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22802 Location: UK

A few years ago I bought some old film-star related photos, autographs, and so on. With them were a few other odds and ends, which I think belonged to the lady that collected the film memorabilia.

Most interesting is an old, very dried out, leather golf (I assume) ball, sewn together but coming apart a bit at the seams. Does anyone know anything about these old balls? I assume it's pre 1900(ish), and it doesn't weigh a great deal. I've read that some can be filled with feathers. I can see something white inside the ball, where the seams have opened up a bit, but not enough to be sure of the material. There's no maker's name on it.

I'll get a photo uploaded shortly.

RJ
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ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4254 Location: South Cheshire

It must be pretty old as just about all balls made in the last century up until the 80's weren't leather and were filled with something that resembles a long rubber band.

Golf balls were originally wooden , then leather filled with hair , then leather filled with feathers, sounds as if it could be the latter so possibly Victorian?

Not one I have played with !

These days we have water droplets in the ball?! Smile

Dave

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4876 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi Rick
You could have the price of another old vehicle there.

http://www.golfballmuseum.co.uk/

http://www.scottishgolfhistory.org/origin-of-golf-terms/golf-ball-feathery-gutty-haskell/
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Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22802 Location: UK

Thanks for the links Penman, interesting stuff. The ball I have is stitched, but the stitches are visible, it's not been turned inside out as is described on the museum link you posted, to hide the seams and stitches. Maybe it was for another sport altogether, or for golf but made in a different way. I'll have a proper look again at the links you posted tomorrow.

thanks, RJ
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Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22802 Location: UK

The construction of this ball doesn't match the generally accepted rules, according to a few sites I've looked at. Perhaps it's for another sport, as already suggested.

Usually, "featheries" have a top disc of leather, a lower disc, and a central band, that are part- sewn together before being stuffed with dampened feathers, the remaining access hole then being sewn up, and left to dry. The mystery ball appears to be made from one piece.

The following page though has a photo of a ball constructed the same way as mine, just to confuse matters more.

http://www.golferstrunk.com/custom-golf-balls.html

RJ
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Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22802 Location: UK

Here's another similar ball, which didn't sell on ebay last year for a tenner - something tells me it's not a golf ball Smile

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Golf-Ball-Leather-Hand-Stitched-Hair-or-Wool-Filled-/311367817747?nma=true&si=bEJQTJ70WL41WWoX5UDY%252B2slbFE%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

RJ
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Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22802 Location: UK

Although a similar style of ball appears on this golfing site ... Question

http://blog.2ndswing.com/19th-and-early-20th-century-golf/

RJ
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peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7215 Location: Edinburgh

To realise Penman's suggestion it would probably be best if included in a dedicated auction of golf memorabilia. Maybe contact Bonhams.

Peter
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peppiB · Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 3:20 pm Post subject:

I watch Bargain Hunt (sad I know) and Tim Wonnacott found a similar ball in a fair and bought it for very little money. After describing it, he sggested that in a specialist golfing sale it could realise a substantial amount of money as survivors are rare

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22802 Location: UK

Hi all,

Ok here are a few photos of my spherical puzzler.

I'm remaining sceptical for now about whether it's a golf ball, or for another sport. Most "featheries" appear to be constructed differently, although a) I've read that the way they were put together wasn't always the same, perhaps based on date (and perhaps on filling?) and b) as mentioned previously, similar balls have appeared on golfing websites - so maybe they know what they're talking about, then again ...?

What looks like the earlier stitching is very fine. In places a slightly heavier cotton has been used to re-inforce areas where the original has come apart.

It would appear to have been painted at some point, in a lightish colour, although most of it has long gone.

Added: the description of how Featheries are made on this page http://www.standrewsgolfco.com/shop/products/heritage-collection/clubs-and-balls/historic-balls/the-featherie-ball/ seems to fit, ie "The leather was cut in two, three or four lobes then fanned out like petals of a flower". This one has four such "lobes", fanning out from the centre.

RJ
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ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4254 Location: South Cheshire

What size is irt Rick? As far as I know golf balls haven't changed in size that much in size, could you photo it against a modern ball so we can scale it?

If it is golf ball size or there abouts, I can't think of another sport with that sized ball?

Dave

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22802 Location: UK

I don't own any modern golfing equipment sadly Smile

It measures about 45mm across, although isn't perfectly circular.

RJ
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lowdrag · Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 1600 Location: Le Mans

As a golfer for over 40 years, when Rick first mentioned my heart leapt into my mouth since I thought it might be a "feathery". These were boiled feathers in leather, and are worth five figures today. Golf balls were small, and later in the gutta percha era the English size was established at 1.62 inches. The americans though played a ball measuring 1.68 inches which became the norm world-wide in 1983. But this doesn't look like a golf ball to me at all Rick, or at least not a type I have ever seen. Maybe lacrosse or somesuch?

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22802 Location: UK

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 7:28 pm Post subject:

I would have thought it perfectly normal for there to be a little variation in something made before the factory age. Different workers would have made them in slightly different ways, and it probably wouldn't have been their main business - more likely a sideline for cobblers or saddlers wanting to use up odd scraps of leather.