Cricket bats

[Rough Hewn]

[emoji106]

[Rough Hewn]

And balls.

[emoji106]

[eggsarascal]

34 minutes ago, Rough Hewn said:

 

 

 

Where the Bat Willow is being felled is just along the river Stour from my old place, I think the bat makers is Wrights of Chelmsford.

[nepia]

The place we moved to near Bexhill in 1968 had 4 acres with over 700 trees planted by the previous owner, including 50-odd Cricket Bat Willows.  They were 80'+ trees by then and Gray Nicolls used to pop along from Robertsbridge every year and harvest two trees: the spec was a minimum of 16' of straight knot-free stem with a minimum girth of 48".

The rest of the tree my dad processed into firewood for my mum to try and burn in the house when it was only half seasoned 😟

[Puffingbilly413]

26 minutes ago, eggsarascal said:

Where the Bat Willow is being felled is just along the river Stour from my old place, I think the bat makers is Wrights of Chelmsford.

I was trying to work out the manufacturer from the markings in the last few frames of the video but couldn't make it out.  I was guessing at Duncan Fearnley or Gray Nicholls but certainly not sure.  Great films both.

[Puffingbilly413]

A more modern film but good to see there is still hand production involved.  Can almost smell the leather.

[Boy]

All I can say is Howzat for a couple of films!!!!  I thought Wrights just supplied the willow blade to manufacturer's. Tried to buy some from them years ago but they weren't interested in a little scrot like me.  

Edited January 26, 2021 by Boy

[agg221]

Interesting film. We grow a small amount of willow for J.S.Wright - a very nice old-fashioned company to deal with. When we were buying the field next to our house, the land agent passed on an enquiry from the present Mr Wright who informed us that the willows had been planted on their behalf by the previous owner and would we like to continue the arrangement? Of course we have done so - no contracts in writing, just a handshake and our word on the arrangement. I have since met Mr Wright who is as much an old-fashioned gentleman as you would expect from the company he runs - it's nice to be part of the tradition.

 

Alec

Edited March 3, 2021 by agg221