Club: A 'Grampian Range’ Rustless Mashie 5 Iron "Ben Ledi"

Maker: William Gibson & Co., Kinghorn, Scotland.

Year: c.1928

Shaft: Original, straight stamped 'Super Star' shaft, with original vintage leather grip. Original thick tapering rubber piece beneath the grip at butt end of shaft.

Length: 36.25”

Loft: 40 degrees

Swing Weight:  C7-C8

Condition: Very good. Nice clear maker's stamp and Gibson 'Star' cleek mark on reverse.

Other details: The Grampian Range of clubs used different names of high Scottish mountain peaks (Ben's) for each iron, the mashie being named after Ben Ledi.

A punched face mashie, by W.  Gibson & Co., with patented drilled blade. Patent no. 310209-28. Eight holes are drilled through the top of the blade and filled with a flexible material behind the sweet spot. 

Born in 1868, William Gibson began work as a blacksmith, before serving an apprenticeship at the famous forge of James Anderson of Anstruther. In 1896 he left there, moving to Edinburgh the following year to become a partner in the firm of Sterling and Gibson. On the death of his partner in 1899 he renamed the company William Gibson and Co., and moved to the Fife town of Kinghorn in 1903.

The Gibson of Kinghorn company not only produced clubs under their own name, but supplied metal heads to many clubmakers and golf professionals of the era, with their clubs being identified by the Gibson ‘star’ stamp mark (clearly visible on the back of this head).

By introducing modern manufacturing methods, but retaining the traditional qualities of Scottish club making, the firm went on to become the world’s largest producer of golf clubs at that time.