Club: Smooth-face mashie

Maker: Unknown. There are feint marking on reverse side of head that are possibly  for the professional H. J. HOWLETT

Year: c.1890s

Shaft: Unusual celluloid coated shaft with vintage perforated full leather grip. Shaft and grip are both later replacements.

Length: 35.25"

Condition: Good condition for age. Some small dents and marks commensurate with age.

Other details: Small head smooth-face mashie with short 3.25" hosel. The shaft is a later re-fit and is unusual because of the early plastic/celluloid coating, which has a printed wood effect. A test of the shaft with a magnet does not detect metal, and the shaft section beneath the grip is certainly wood (hickory). This shaft is similar in design to the PerWhit Patent 24026/32 shaft (by Albert Frederick John Percival and Ernest Robert Whitcombe) that combines a traditional wood shaft coated with a protective sleave of plastic.

This club was part of a collection owned by David Stirk, Golf historian and author of many books on the subject, including "Golf in the Making".

David's hand written notes on the club are attached, giving a description and condition report of the club. The description details the cross-over period in the 1920s with the advent of new materials and the steel shaft.