Antique Fishtail Tennis Racket by Prosser & Son

About the Item

Wooden Prosser & Sons Fishtail Tennis Racket. A lawn tennis racket by T.H. Prosser & Sons with nice ash frame with convex walnut wedge. The wedge is stamped with the makers name in gilt 'T.H. Prosser & Sons' on one side and the retails stamp on the other 'Benetfink, London'. The top of the racket stamped with a very faint indecipherable name. Handle with a very attractive and unusual shaped fishtail, the handle also with a deep central groove and with lined grooves for extra grip. The stringing in good repaired condition with three rows of red trebling to the top and bottom. A good fine example of The fishtail (fish tail) was an innovation in the Victorian period and was an attractive gimmick to help tennis players to grip their rackets. They were manufactured approximately from the 1890's to the 1920's and their shapely handle is always an attraction to the collector. Benetfink described themselves as 'furnishing ironmongers' and from 1845 to 1907 they had a large store on Cheapside in London. They sold a very large range of metalware items for the home and claimed in an advert in 1852 that they could furnish an eight-roomed house for £5. As well as selling optical lanterns, chandeliers and lamps they also had a sports department offering bicycles and sports attire. By 1900 they were selling motorcycles as well motoring accessories. Gamages (also a department store) took over Benetfink and Co. in 1907 and the Cheapside department store became Gamages's City Depot. T.H. Prosser & Sons, 198 & 200 Pentonville Rd., London was established in 1857. They made real tennis and then lawn tennis rackets and presses. In 1891 they listed the 'Springlight', 'Dorothy' and the 'Ivanhoe' rackets. T. H. Prosser & Sons was one of the oldest English companies which made sports equipment included real tennis and tennis rackets. The company established in 1857' at 548 Hollway Road in London. Established in Pentonville in the 1850s, Prossers supplied universities and schools, and were official makers to Princes Club in Knightsbridge and Queen's Club in West Kensington. They were also the first to make lawn tennis rackets, under the direction of Major Wingfield, inventor of the game." Taken from the internet T. H. Prosser & Sons was one of the oldest English sporting companies. Established in 1857 at 548 Hollway Road in London. They manufactured real tennis equipment and then later, lawn tennis rackets and presses. They supplied universities (Oxford & Cambridge) and schools, and were official makers to Princes Club in Knightsbridge and Queen's Club in West Kensington. . In 1891 they listed the 'Springlight', 'Dorothy' and the 'Ivanhoe' rackets

Dimensions:

Height: 26.78 in (68 cm)Width: 9.06 in (23 cm)Depth: 1.19 in (3 cm)

Materials and Techniques:

Ash

Place of Origin:

United Kingdom

Period:

Early 20th Century

Date of Manufacture:

Circa 1905

Condition:

Replacements made: Good clean condition. Frame straight. Two strings are replaced, a few others have been re-worked. Wear consistent with age and use.

Seller Location:

Oxfordshire, GB

Reference Number:

Seller: 298881stDibs: LU975737410772

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