Club: Left-handed ‘Star’ Maxwell bent-neck Putter

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

Year: c.1910

Shaft: Original, straight shaft. Front facing side deliberately shaped flat at the end of the shaft under grip. Vintage suede grip with new replacement whipping.

Length: 34”

Condition: Good for age. Gibson's 'Star' stamp and retailer's stamp on reverse are worn but still readable. as well as sta.

Other details: A punched face putter, by W.  Gibson & Co.,  with slight weighted rear flange along the bottom of the blade. Partly visible stamp for J. Lillywhite, Frowd & Co., London, who were one of the premier sports retailers of the day with a department store situated in the West End.

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.