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THE
TABLE
TENNIS
The Journal of the Table Tennis Collectors’ Society
31
Spring
2003
A selection of early boxed sets from Chuck Hoey’s collection—items such as these will form a part of the new
ITTF museum in Switzerland—see page 3.
Photograph © Table Tennis Heritage Museum and may not
be used without the express permission of Chuck Hoey.
In this issue…
· The ITTF Museum—A Special Announcement (p3) by Chuck Hoey
· The Story of a Rare and Unusual
Sale on Ebay (p4) by Michael Thomson
· The Music of Table Tennis
(addendum) (p5) by Chuck Hoey
· Britain’s Only Table Tennis Stamp
(p6) from Alan Duke
· Latest from Ebay (p8)
No. 31
· Günther’s Pins: Part 4 World Championships (p10) by Günther Angenendt
· Philatelic Pages (p12) by Anton Zwiebel
· 21 Up: Test Your Knowledge (p14) by
Gerald Gurney
· Membership List 2003 (p16)
The infamous Pole Alex Ehrlich as caricatured in the programme English Open 1950
The Table Tennis Collector
Page 1
THE TABLE
W
TENNIS
COLLECTOR
From the Editor
elcome to the first issue of my
second year as Editor of The
Table Tennis Collector. The final
membership figure from 2002 was 50
and I am pleased that as many as 43
have subscribed so far for the forthcoming year. I hope that some of the
“stragglers” will respond to my recent
reminder letter.
In Europe we are coming
to the end of our domestic seasons—how has
your been? Perhaps the
summer will enable you
to get out to even more
antique/postcard/stamp
fairs and give you the
opportunity to enhance
your collections further. Conversely,
perhaps the warmer weather will entice you out of doors and away from
Ebay and other electronic delights.
31
Spring 2003
Editor:
Graham Trimming
17 Gwendale, Pinkneys Green
Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 6SH
England
Tel: +44 (0)1628 636978
email: [email protected]
How do you store your collections?
Recently I decided that the floor corner of my dining room and the tops of
cupboards may not be the best place
to store a collection of highly desirable table tennis antiques. So I took
the bold step of throwing out the third
bed in the house (only one is in regular use anyway) and converting that
room into a dedicated storage area,
with a proper cabinet to shield the
100 years old boxes from the ravages that dust and sunlight can bring.
By the time you read this the work
should be complete.
I recently had the unfortunate task of
having to come to terms with the
passing of the years, fifty
to be exact. That makes
me about half as old as
the objects that I collect.
What a frightening
thought!
My mother,
bless her, decorated a
cake (actually, she is
very expert at it) with
scans of pictures from
my collection and Nita (my girlfriend)
and I hosted a party at my table tennis club (Cippenham) with Society
member (and team-mate) Mike Rhodes one of the principal guests.
This edition of the Journal includes
some fine submissions by members
including a quiz from Gerald and the
exciting and important news about a
new museum to be created in Switzerland by the ITTF and Chuck Hoey.
I am sure we all look forward to that!
Membership List 2003 (continued from page 16)
Paul Nichols
50 Newton Road, Duston, Northampton,
Northants, NN5 6TL, England.
Tel: +44 (0) 1604 457896
Email: [email protected]
Interests: All TT items.
Acquire: Postcards complete 1900s set.
Robert Op de Beeck
Jan Frans Willemsstraat 66, B-2530
Boechout, Belgium.
Tel: +32 (0) 3455 4159
Interests: TT museum.
Jeong Kye Park
PO Box 1028, Busan 600-610, South
Korea.
Email: [email protected]
Interests: Philatelic TT, football & other
sport stamps.
Robin Radford
16 St. Edmund Cr, Tawa, Wellington
6006, New Zealand.
Tel: +64 (0) 4232 5672
Fax: +64 (0) 4232 9172
Email: [email protected]
Web site:
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/rradford/
Interests: TT cartoons & clip art';TTNZ
web site maintenance.
Sale/Exchange: TT cartoons & clip art.
Acquire: TT cartoons; clip art; cards; old
adverts etc - electronically.
Jose Ransome
Conifers, Church Lane, Ormesby,
Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS7 9AU,
No. 31
England.
Tel: +44 (0) 1642 322223
Fax: +44 (0) 1642 700872
Email: [email protected]
Interests: General.
Acquire: Old TT set.
Mike Rhodes
57 Rochford Gardens, Slough, Berks,
SL2 5XA, England.
Tel: +44 (0) 1753 676122
Email: [email protected]
Lutz Schoenfeld
Karl-Kellner-Str. 27b, 30853
Langenhagen, Germany.
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.tt-domain.de
Sale/Exchange: Philatelic items;
postcards; pins.
Acquire: as above.
Michael Thomson
Craigievar, 1 Kinnoull Terrace, Perth, PH2
7DJ, Scotland.
Tel: +44 (0) 1738 622052
Fax: +44 (0) 1738 445690
Email: [email protected]
Interests: Origins and story of PP and
TT and all items made by Jaques & Son
and their association with Hamleys
and Parker Brothers, USA.
Sale/Exchange: Numerous surplus PP or TT
items inc. postcards, books (UK &
USA), balls, boxed sets.
Acquire: Jaques or Hamleys early
catalogues and rule books or ephemera
for any of their games but preferably
for PP and TT; any Jaques games.
Hans-Peter Trautman
Siegfriedstr. 17, D-64385 Reichelsheim,
Germany.
Interests: Stamps mint perforated and
imperforated; artist-sheets;
minister-sheets; colour-proofs; all kind
of postmarks.
Sale/Exchange: Stamps mint
perforated and all kinds of postmarks ask for list of duplicates.
Acquire: Postmarks - ask for want list.
Graham Trimming
17 Gwendale, Pinkneys Green,
Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 6SH, England.
Tel: +44 (0) 1628 636978
Email: [email protected]
Web site:
http://freespace.virgin.net/graham.
trimming/index.htm
Interests: All TT related items pre-1939
especially 1900s
Sale/Exchange: Book "TT and how to
play it" 1902 Ritchie/Harrison; book
"Table Tennis" Symons 1935; book "A
manual of PP" Schaad 1929.
Acquire: Gossima 1891; early unusual
bats, sets and other items.
Russ Walker
4316 Irving Ave N, Mpls, MN 55412,
Tel: +01 612 522 7905
Email: [email protected]
Interests: c. 1902 paddles/sets.
Acquire: Milton Bradley "Royal Game".
Roy Williams
Robroy, 24 The Mall, Prestatyn,
Denbighshire, LL79 7LS, Wales.
Tel: +44 (0) 1745 888780
Interests: Stamp collecting; TT items.
Sale/Exchange: English & Welsh TT
magazines 1960s onwards; pin badges;
cloth badges.
Acquire: Wales cloth international and
county badges; TT postage stamps;
programmes; 1930s magazines; any
results etc. re: Welsh internationals.
Anton Zwiebel
Kerkweg 30, 9439 PG Witteveen, The
Netherlands.
Tel: +31 593 552788
Email: [email protected]
Interests: Stamps; cancellations; picture
postcards.
Sale/Exchange: Stamps; cancellations;
picture postcards.
Acquire: Picture postcards.
Next issue - publication July 2003 - copy date 1 June 2003
The Table Tennis Collector
Page 2
The ITTF Museum—A Special Announcement
By Chuck Hoey
T
he ITTF will be forming a museum at their new headquarters
in Lausanne, Switzerland. The museum, which will occupy the entire
ground floor of a 17th century chateau, will be initially based on my Table Tennis Heritage Collection.
Renovations are expected to be completed by late summer.
The website which I have created will
be a key component of the museum,
as it is our portal to the world, enabling table tennis enthusiasts from
around the globe to enjoy the museum from the comfort of their home,
library or school. Plans are in progress to expand the website well beyond the current 33 sections, to include histories of table tennis, the
ITTF and the great legends. The
website can be viewed at:
http://tabletennismuseum.com
though this link will likely be renamed
once the museum is formally opened.
I will be relocating to Switzerland to
serve as the Curator in a volunteer
capacity. While my collection begins
the process, I view the job as a team
effort, with advice and assistance
expected from my fellow collectors,
veteran players, journalists/authors,
historians and all lovers of the great
sport of Table Tennis.
Among the initiatives I want to implement is a Museum Advisory Panel,
which will meet periodically to discuss issues, new acquisitions, and
future plans. I would also like to host
an annual meeting of Table Tennis
collectors at the museum, to cultivate
an active relationship with the collector community.
all museums, and official recognition
(+other perquisites) will be provided
to those who help in a meaningful
way.
Currently we are hoping to complete
the section of World Championship
programmes, as well as strengthening the sections on classic vintage
bats (e.g., we need to find some examples of Barna hardbats). Perhaps
now you all can appreciate why I
have been so aggressive on eBay of
late!
I look forward to this formidable challenge, and hope very much to meet
all of my distinguished colleagues at
the museum someday.
A huge
amount of work lies ahead, and miles
to go before I sleep (R.Frost).
Donations are an important aspect of
Answers to Quiz on page 14
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
The Vulliamy, but do not ask what this means. Retailed by Wootton & Sons, Ipswich, England, c.1900.
Pyrography. The blade and handle have been burnt by the owner using a hot iron. He (or she) has added the initials
LLS.
The game of battledore & shuttlecock. Two players simply hit the shuttlecock to one another and tried to achieve a
high "score". The reverse has an ink inscription on the vellum: 1st FEB. ‘89. PIPPA & MARY 1500.
John Jaques, easily recognised by the shape of the grip.
When the bat is held by the blade it becomes a ball-retriever, the ball being picked up by the "cup". This was made
in the 1980s to the design of Patent 20452, 19 September, 1902, registered by Edward Samuel Peck. It may well
never have been in production.
It is hollow. It was promoted by the well-known tennis (and table tennis?) player C.G. Eames. He is remembered for
saying, "Glad!' rather than "Sorry!" when he played a lucky shot, arguing that it was dishonest to do otherwise. The
bat is also impressed PAT. APP. FOR (Patent applied for).
It was, no doubt, painted by a young Victorian lady as an exercise in artwork.
J.R. Mally. It was called the BULLDOG and has fierce image of one stamped on the blade with the Patent number
94272 indicating 1902. The handle is impressed THE CLUB.
A template (or pattern) used by the Grays Company and with an inscription PATT 1919. The hole allowed it to be
hung on a nail in the workshop.
Probably, but your guess is as good as mine. Very heavy.
Identical netting was used during the war and was stuck on windows to prevent shattering by bombs.
According to the Royal Archivist, Windsor, this may be from the Royal Household or simply a souvenir item.
Theoretically to improve the aerodynamics, but in fact the holes increase resistance. It was called the FORMOZA
WIZARD and dates from 1946 - see Issue 29.
Certainly earlier, 1920s or before, and of German origin. It is impressed EDAM GES. GESCH. More information
needed, please.
Fretwork. The pattern was cut with a drill and a fretsaw via a template. There are, at least, three different patterns.
Battledore & shuttlecock. This bat is about 30 years older than the earliest table tennis bat.
Probably, judging by the shape, Ayres, but this is a prototype and it was very possibly never in production.
Louis Wain. He lived 1860-1939 and is famous for his thousands of illustrations of cats - who are often shown engaged in human activities (including playing table tennis). There are many fakes but this example is 100% genuine.
The bat dates from c.1900. See Issues 1 and 2.
£1000 - or more. It is one of only two known examples (and the other one is not identical).
These presentation bats are covered with a special, expensive material lacquer (or japanning) and were made in Narakawa, Japan, for presentation at the World Championships, Chiba City, 1991. Only four pairs were made.
An easy question to finish! J.R. Mally. These bats are a very special rarity.
How did you get on? A score of 15 (with or without the bonus) is very good.
No. 31
The Table Tennis Collector
Page 3
The Story of a Rare and Unusual Sale on eBay
Michael Thomson takes up the story of an item sold on Ebay for a
staggering price.
By Michael Thomson
An early SPALDING’S Table Tennis boxed set recently sold on eBay for a stunning price of $887.77.
It was offered by seller in the United States with an item title of “Old 1896 Spalding Table Tennis Ping Pong Set”. This
was supplemented by a detailed Item Description and it had some good supporting pictures which I show below.
S
ome damage to the top left and
top right of the box lid will be
noted but the pair of bamboo rackets
with single vellum surfaces had very
good impressed marks and were in
superb mint condition. There were
no balls but the net and the posts
were also good and it had the original
Spalding “Rules and Directions for
Table Tennis”.
necessary information about your
antique Ping Pong set”. All this was
included in the sale. Prima facie,
this meant that it pre-dated the development of Ping Ping/Table Tennis in
the early 20th Century by some five
years thus provoking some healthy
correspondence between members
of The Table Tennis Collector’s Society and the seller.
The attribution of the date to 1896
was supported by a letter from A. G.
Spalding, from their Massachusetts
USA address, written to a previous
owner in 1967. Intriguingly, they provided a copy of their 1896 Fall/Winter
Catalogue saying that it gave “the
After some preliminary exchanges,
the seller provided some additional
pictures which showed the text of his
documents, the writer of the article
wrote to say that he was:
No. 31
“worried about the 1896 date and the
The Table Tennis Collector
wording of these Rules confirm that
there is an error somewhere and
somehow. The Rules and Directions
were almost an exact copy of the
Rules and Directions for Ping Pong
or Gossima by J. Jaques & Son, Ltd
and Hamley Brothers. The only material difference was that “Table Tennis” had been substituted for "Ping
Pong or Gossima". The very same
illustration has been used on the front
covers of both. Elsewhere, they were
verbatim the same. The Jaques/
Hamleys version is definitely
1901/02. I can give you many reasons why but can prove more easily
that it was issued after 1899 because
this was the date when Jaques bePage 4
came a limited company and they
could not have put Ltd after their
name before this. Ergo, they could
not have issued their rules in 1896.
You may say that the copying was
the other way round - i.e., by Jaques
from Spalding. Again there are rea-
Perhaps predictably, the seller responded to say that he wondered
“whether there could be a common
earlier source than what you mention,
even whether J. Jaques & Sons
could have used the same before
they were Ltd.”
The writer then used information
gleaned from earlier editions of The
Table Tennis Collector to write:
“you will note that the wording in the
Table Tennis leaflet begins "Table
Tennis during the past year has
made a perfect furore in England so
much so that "Punch" (The English
satirical magazine) has made it a
subject of caricature on its front
sons why this is not the case. I can
comment on this if you wish. But,
looking at it simplistically, you will see
that the very last line reads "service
after five points scored, like "overs" at
Cricket. This would have made
sense in London, England, but
hardly in the USA. These rules by
Spalding are marked New York, Denver and Chicago!
To let your readers see the evidence,
here are pictures of the two sets of
Rules and Directions. It is clear that
the Spalding version on the left is a
“dead ringer” for the Jaques on the
right.
page." It is very well documented
that all this happened in
1901/02. The furore was of course
with the Ping Pong craze and later
the Table Tennis name was used to
circumvent Trade Mark protection of
the name Ping Pong. Ping Pong was
registered in England on 20th September 1900 and in the USA on 6th
August 1901. I attach a copy of a
short article which appeared in the
magazine "The Table Tennis Collector" in February 1993. You will see
that it refers to the "Punch" cartoons
and that the earliest was published
on 24 April 1901.”
“Thanks for taking the time to write. I
have to agree that the 1896 date
doesn't fit.”
The seller wrote politely to concede:
He did not this time update his eBay
Item Description!
Members of the Table Tennis Collectors’ Society, who were bidding for
this item, would all have been aware
of the anachronistic date. However,
in spite of this error, it remained a
very fine example of a rare early Table Tennis boxed set and it was
bought by a specialist collector of
Spalding memorabilia in America for
the extremely high price of $887 or
almost £600.
The Music of Table Tennis (addendum)
Following the major listing by Alan Duke of music titles referencing table tennis or ping-pong in issue 29,
Chuck Hoey has recently discovered another nine titles.
1. Ping Pong Waltzes, by W. L. Bingaman, "Dedicated to Mrs Estella Armleder" publ. by Puntenney & Eutsler
(Ohio, USA) 1902.
2. Ping-Pong Polka, by W. P. Chambers,
publ. Carl Fischer (NY) 1902—
illustrated cover, parlour scene inset
into battledore head.
3. Ping Pong March-Two Step by Harry
P. Wilkins "The Latest Society Fad”
published by Hugo Worch, Washington DC 1902.
4. Ping Pong March and Two Step, by L.
Ferrari published by Emporio-ItaloAmericano (NY) 1902
5. Ping Pong March and Two Step, by
Herbert D. Fry published by H. D. Fry,
Connecticut (USA) 1902.
6. The Ping-Pong Girl Song, words &
music by Gustav Huth, arranged by A.
No. 31
Van Hoesen, published in 1902
(publisher name not mentioned on
cover).
7. Pong-Ping Z-Zzipp Walkee-Backee
Milee, by E. Remler Hoogs published
by The Dominion Original Song Bureau, Toronto, 1903.
8. Ping Pong! by Theo Ward, publ. Francis, Day & Hunter, London 1901.
9. Ping-Pong by Heniot Levy, 1935,
Dedicated to Stell Andersen & Silvio
Scionti, for two pianos.
Note: No. 7 may be a dubious entry, as
there is no suggestion on the cover about
any connection to the game of ping
pong—what a bizarre title!
Other versions of music already listed:
1. Ping-Pong, Percy Greenbank & Ivan
The Table Tennis Collector
Caryll 1901 USA (different cover)—
English edition, publ. Francis, Day &
Hunter, London.
2. Ping-Pong on the Brain, Will Fieldhouse, 1902 - a 1-page version by
Francis, Day & Hunter.
3. Ping-Pong (A Crazy Song), Joseph
Gillott, 1-page version with 4 verses,
Francis, Day & Hunter 1901.
4. The Ping-Pong Girl, Woodward &
Sanford, a Professional Copy publ. by
Shapiro, Bernstein & VonTilzer,
1902—"This copy is intended for the
use of PROFESSIONAL SINGERS
ONLY, and anyone found selling or
exposing it for sale is liable to a fine or
imprisonment, or both, and will be
prosecuted under the copyright law by
THE PUBLISHER".
Page 5
Britain’s Only Table Tennis Stamp
Alan found this article recently in a presentation pack of the Racket Sports set of
stamps issued in 1977. Not only does it describe the only table tennis stamp issued in Great Britain, but the accompanying text is by our guru Ivor Montagu.
From Alan Duke
History
A
ll the four most popular and widespread sports of today – Tennis, Table Tennis, Badminton and Squash – originated
substantially in their present form in Britain during the latter part of the 19th Century. So far as is possible to trace in
their ancestry, the hand, bare or gloved, came before the racket. Strings were stretched across the glove some time in the
Middle Ages. Wooden blades, and later strings on a frame, followed.
The common ancestor of the first three, the original Tennis – now often called Real Tennis – was, like its offshoots, played
across a net. Popular during late medieval times, in 1600 there were said to be more than 1000 courts in Paris alone.
Shakespeare mentions it often. Henry VIII was good at it. Four Kings died because of it. Now fewer than 30 courts in all
are still in use.
This old Tennis was played typically among or inside buildings, eventually within four walls making use of their features –
projecting buttresses and slanting penthouses – but it was also played in open fields. In 1874 a Major Wingfield saw the
chance to exploit tennis outdoors as a social pastime for both sexes, making use of the croquet
lawns then popular, and he patented a version with softer balls of wool-covered rubber, air-filled, a
court of hour-glass shape and the outlandish name Sphairistiké. This initiative roused others and
soon, with help of the MCC, rules were framed and the first Wimbledon Championships held in
1877 under the name LAWN TENNIS, with the court settled as a rectangle and 200 persons present.
Modern tactics – volley, lob and smash – gradually developed. Nets became lower, balls faster
with higher air-compression, the racket frame improved. Now the game demands high athleticism
and has become a spectator sport with thousands watching tournaments and league matches, the
greatest players being professionals. The ILTF numbers 103 countries as members and associates, play being strongest in depth in USA and Australia.
About a decade after Wingfield, undergraduates and British Army officers carried tennis into mess and common room as a
parlour game. They used tables as courts, any convenient balls or rackets and books stretched across in place of a net.
At first called TABLE TENNIS or Table Lawn Tennis the game became a late Victorian rage, especially in the nineties under the name Ping-Pong, taken from the sound of celluloid balls on hollow vellum rackets and patented by John Jaques of
Croydon.
Diversity of rule, and a gulf between expert and tyro created by the discovery that a pimpled rubber cover to a wooden
racket blade enormously increased control of spin and speed, led to almost total collapse of the game at the start of the
20th century. Revived after the First World War with standard rules devised in England, its relative cheapness and moderate space demands speedily made it a mass sport; it spread everywhere and a sponge underlay to the pimpled rubber
No. 31
The Table Tennis Collector
Page 6
cover has markedly increased its speed and agility. The ITTF affiliates 124 members, several
of which count their organised players in hundreds of thousands – two, USSR and China, in
millions. 33 world championships have been held in 14 different countries. The level of play is
strongest in the Far East; in Europe, perhaps, in Hungary and Sweden. In international competition no distinction is made between professionals and amateurs.
BADMINTON, an obvious marriage of tennis principles and the ancient pastime of battledore
and shuttlecock, is thought to have originated about 1870 at the Duke of Beaufort's seat of that
name near Bristol. Instead of a ball the object hit is a cork base set with feathers, though a
modern version exists made with nylon. An hour-glass shape for the court was retained right
up to 1901. The aero-dynamics of the shuttle obligate indoor play, away from wind, and air
resistance so rapidly slows flight that attack is basically by smash or drop; all strokes must perforce be volleys, rewarding speed of foot and mind. The IBF includes 70 members; Indonesia – and probably China – lead in skill; in Europe, England and Denmark are specially strong.
The most recent in development is SQUASH RACKETS, though its origins are equally ancient. Unlike the Tennis family of games it is
played not by rivals across a net, but standing side by side and striking against a
front wall. The distant ancestor is the hand-game still played at some English public-schools as Fives, using 3 walls or within a 4-wall box. The direct parent is the
now rare Rackets – described by Dickens as played in the courtyard of the Fleet
Prison by men held for debt – a harder, sharper game than Squash, played with
mainly fast up-and-down strokes in a long box with a hard ball covered in white kid.
Squash is said to have been originated at Harrow public school around 1850 by
boys waiting in a smaller ante-room to take part in the senior game.
Squash takes its name from the softer ball, hollow, with thick exterior of rubber or similar synthetic, dictating subtler tactics,
longer rallies and use of ricochet from all 4 walls of the smaller box. A commercial handicap has been the difficulty of turning the game into a spectator sport, though attempts have been made both with a glass backwall and with TV. Progress in
popularity was slow and at first the squash court was largely a rich man's private amenity, in country house, hotel or club.
Only since the Second World War has the sport been appreciated as an ideal means of concentrated all-weather exercise
in compact space and time for busy adults, and courts come into being on a large scale, promoted, in hundreds and even
thousands, in several countries by military establishments as well as civic authorities. The ISRF, founded as recently as
1967, already counts 14 members and 6 associate members. Professionals play a role as teachers and exemplars, the
strongest coming from Pakistan, Australia and the UAR.
IVOR MONTAGU
The stamps, issued on 12 January 1977, were designed by Andrew Restall DA MSIA MSTD and printed in photogravure
by Harrison and Sons Limited. This pack number 89 was designed by Andrew Restall and made and printed in Great Britain by Moore and Matthew (Printers) Limited.
No. 31
The Table Tennis Collector
Page 7
Latest from Ebay
One of the best sources of items to augment collections of any sort is
the internet auction giant Ebay. He is a selection of some of the better
items that have been traded on Ebay since the last issue of this journal.
www.ebay.com
Y
ou don’t see one for ages, then two come along in
a short space of time. Two or three weeks after
the fabulous Spalding set featured in Michael Thomson’s article (see page 4) another one appeared. This
one sold for the (comparatively) lower price of $502 but
only at the second time of asking—it initially failed to
reach its reserve. For the second attempt the reserve
was obviously lowered. This set now graces the Editor’s collection and represents by far the highest price
he has paid for any acquisition. This example does not
feature the beautiful colour lithographed box lid of the
first set but does benefit from a box of original balls.
The racquets are in wonderful condition and are the
first single sheet examples in the Editor’s collection.
Another member of the Society parted with £104 for this boxed
Parlour Tennis set. Inside the lid was stamped “Thornton & Co.
Ltd, Belfast”— reference, no doubt, to the original vendor. The
grips on the handle slide off and would not have been original
but added by the owner to facilitate his grip. The makers of
Parlour Tennis were British firm T. Ordish & Co.
We were not furnished with a picture of the top side of
the box lid of this set so I can’t verify that it was called
“Ping-Pong or Table Tennis” as suggested by the laws
produced on the inside lid. However, the set bears
the makers label for Frank Sugg of Liverpool and the
turned wooden net supports are similarly marked with
impressed lettering. But the posts do look as if they
have borrowed a design from Jaques! It sold for £75.
This is another example of the American Parker Bros. PingPong. This one made $124 for its owner. These Parker sets
come up fairly often on Ebay and without first hand visual examination are sometimes quite difficult to date. No doubt Chuck
would know the difference, perhaps the box design changed
over time, but I am unable to comment!
No. 31
The Table Tennis Collector
Page 8
This poorly focussed photograph is of an F.H. Ayres bat described as being
in fantastic condition. The wooden bulbous handle has the initials L.M. impressed just below the hasp, presumable identifying the original owner. This
bat is unusual for the length of the handle—much shorter than one normally
associates with vellum drum racquets. AUS$350 made it an expensive, but
most visibly appealing, addition to the collection of a Society member.
Maybe it was because the
seller restricted his market to
the USA and Canada, or
maybe this 1920s set just did
not appeal—but $27 was all it
made for its owner. It did have
four bats and five balls but, I
guess, 1920s fare is just not as
collectible as that from twenty
years earlier.
Restricting bidding to the USA
stopped the Editor from entering the fray for this pyrographic
portrait of Sitting Bull. Plenty
of others did bid, though, and
pushed the eventual acquisition price to a member of the
Society to $160. Described as
an early souvenir from York
Beach, ME.
That the sport impinged upon many aspects of life in
the early days of the last century was never more
demonstrated than with this tin of cigars. Marketing
must have been more professional then than we
might imagine, This was made in Holland for the
American market and measures 7.5 x 4.5 x 2.5
inches. A member of the Society parted with $304 to
add this to his collection despite the fact that the cigars had gone and the tin was empty!
Values placed by collectors on Royal Bayreuth seem to be very
fickle. Some of these items attract very high prices—as reported
in previous issues of the Collector. Perhaps it was because the
seller admitted a 0.5 inch hairline on the top edge (I have to look
hard to find it!) but, for whatever reason, the Editor was able to
add this creamer jug as his first piece of Bayreuth for the paltry
sum of $32.
By the look of the players, who are wearing shorts, this must be a later piece
than most items reviewed in these pages. Described as an English lighter and
marked on the base “Mosda Streamline 500”. The measurements given 1.75
inches tall by 2 inches long. A member added to his collection for only $29.
No. 31
The Table Tennis Collector
Page 9
Günther’s Pins
1981
Novi Sad
Yugoslavia
(vr,b)
1981
Novi Sad
Yugoslavia
Team Leader
(vr,b)
1981
Novi Sad
Yugoslavia
Guest
(vr,b)
1981
Novi Sad
Yugoslavia
Committee
(vr,b)
1981
Novi Sad
Yugoslavia
Steward
(vr,b)
1981
Novi Sad
Yugoslavia
1981
Novi Sad
Yugoslavia
1981
Novi Sad
Yugoslavia
(c,n)
(c.n)
(c,n)
1981
Novi Sad
Yugoslavia
Given by Korean
delegation
(r,n)
1981
Novi Sad
Yugoslavia
1981
Novi Sad
Yugoslavia
1981
Novi Sad
Yugoslavia
1981
Novi Sad
Yugoslavia
(c.n)
(c.n)
(c.n)
(c.n)
1983
Tokyo
Japan
1983
Tokyo
Japan
1985
Gothenburg
Sweden
1987
New Delhi
India
(r,b)
(c,b)
(r,b)
(r,b)
1987
New Delhi
India
1989
Dortmund
Germany
1991
Chiba
Japan
(r,b)
1987
New Delhi
India
All India Umpires
Association
(r,b)
(uc,n)
(uc,b)
1991
Chiba
Japan
1991
Chiba
Japan
1991
Chiba
Japan
(uc,b)
(uc,b)
(uc,b)
1991
Chiba
Japan
Given by united
Korean team
(uc,b)
1991
Chiba
Japan
1991
Chiba
Japan
1991
Chiba
Japan
1993
Gothenburg
Sweden
(uc,b)
(uc,b)
(uc,b)
(uc,p)
A few copies of Gerald Gurney’s
fabulous book Table Tennis—The
Early Years are still available from
him priced £6 (or $10 or €10) inc.
postage. Gerald’s details can be
found elsewhere in this issue.
1995
Tianjin
China
Porcelain
(r,b)
1995
Tianjin
China
Porcelain
(r,b)
1995
Tianjin
China
1995
Tianjin
China
(r,p)
(r,p)
No. 31
The Table Tennis Collector
Key:
c = common; uc = uncommon;
r = rare; vr = very rare; u = unique.
p = pins (butterflies); n = needles;
b = brooches; screw p = screw pins.
Nets and Edges
Commonwealth History
Jose Ransome writes to say that
although the Commonwealth History
(reviewed last issue) was intended
primarily for member associations,
there are spare copies available if
anyone is interested. The cost is
£12 plus £3 postage. Contact Jose if
you are interested (see members’
details elsewhere in this issue).
Marg Walden
Jose also writes to tell of sad news
concerning the passing of Marg Walden, a member of the Society, who
died in February. Marg made a large
contribution to the Commonwealth
Federation and the Canadian Association. In particular Marg was also
the driving force behind the Commonwealth History book.
1903 photographs/cartoons?
New member Pat Archdale of England needs some help finding photographs and/or cartoons of tournaments from 1903 to augment her
collection of 1901 and 1902 items.
Does anyone have any to sell? Pat’s
details can be found elsewhere in
this issue.
The Early Years
1975
Calcutta
India
(vr,b)
World
Championships
(contd.)
1975
Calcutta
India
Given by Korea
delegation
(vr,b)
Günther Angenendt shares more of
his 130-page catalogue of table tennis pins. These are the fifth and
sixth pages on the subject of the
World Championships and cover the
years 1975, 1981 to 1995.
1975
Calcutta
India
Part 4:
(c,n)
Page 10
No. 31
The Table Tennis Collector
Page 11
Philatelic Pages
Anton Zwiebel continues his regular contribution about table tennis
stamps, post-marks and other items of philatelic interest.
Rumours are getting stronger and
stronger that a representative of an
Eastern European printing industry
is travelling around. In a number of
countries he/she is offering money
to decision-makers.
In that way
obtaining orders to print stampissues. Those issues could easily be
called false and will, most probably,
not be getting permission for display
in FIP-exhibitions. This could also be
the reason that prices for such issues
are outrageous. It is a pity that the
world’s leading catalogues are often
two or more years late in printing
data on such issues.
In the
meantime we, foolish and greedy
collectors, have drawn our purse and
Please send your contributions for
the philatelic pages to:
Anton Zwiebel
Kerkweg 30
9439 PG WITTEVEEN
The Netherlands
[email protected]
purchased these “rogue” issues.
This way of doing business could
also explain why often the same
pictures appear in different countries.
I give you one example here. An
Angola issue this time (at 50%).
You see this player also in
Kyrgyzstan and Guinea Bissau
issues. Mozambique used the same
picture of a doubles pair, and so
on. Check for yourself whether the
player(s) shown are really the ones
named on the stamps.
So, my
advice is to be careful in what you
buy, but follow your own taste and
purse.
Olkusz1 cancellation is a handstamp in black on
mail from the venue where on 18th May 2002 the
70th Polish Senior Championships were held.
2002.10.31 is a cancellation from Ji Nan (P.R.
China) to commemorate the 2002 ITTF Men’s
World Cup.
2002.9.29—a handstamp in black from a
tournament held in Busan South Korea, at the
occasion of the 8th Busan FESTIC Games.
Winners: women’s team - North Korea; men’s
team - P.R. China.
2001.07.28—LuNeng Cup match, held in
the City of XuZhou.
2002.6.29—Lu Neng Cup match in JinHai.
2002.9 The New Rule of the ITTF – Uncover Service
2002.9.29 14th Asian Games Table Tennis
2002.10.28 Taishan Sport Cup for University Students, held in Jinan
2002.12.22 50th Anniversary of The Chinese Table Tennis Team (1952-2002 under the stylized number 50). (type B)
2002.12.21 ditto, but without the 1952-2002 under the stylized 50 (type A) (not shown).
No. 31
The Table Tennis Collector
Page 12
Rumania brought us again a series of cancellations. I think that this long running and very extensive series gets far more
attention than it should. I would like to hear from you (readers of this magazine) whether you agree that only cancellations
should be shown here when they are from the cities/countries that really held the various events. These Rumanian
cancellations, how artistic they may be, only represent events held in other countries. So-called “touristic souvenirs”. So,
unless you tell me otherwise, here is the last bunch of them:
08.11.2001 The 2nd
cancellation for the
World Cup Men in
Yangzhou P.R.China
30.3 – 07.04.2002 The
23rd European
Championships in
Zagreb Croatia
10-16.6.2002 The 1st
Cadets World
Championships in
Tiszaujvaros Hungary
13-16.6.2002 The 4th
World Juniors Festival
in Tiszaujvaros
Hungary
24-29.06.2002 The
Veterans World
Championships In
Lucerne Switzerland
03-07.07.2002 US
Open in Fort
Lauderdale USA
12-21.07.2002
European Youth
Championships in
Moscow Russia
Here is an issue from the Ivory Coast
issue dated 06-11-2002 shown at 50%,
also imperforated available.
22-06-2002 El Salvador issued a vertical
strip of 4 stamps. At the occasion of the
19th Central-American and Caribbean
Games. 4 x 0.11 cent. The top stamp
contains table tennis. No picture available yet, sorry.
For their information and support my
thanks go to Mrs. Katharina Barth,
Hans-Peter Trautmann, Tang Gan Xian,
Wolfgang Zajitschek, Jeong Kye Park,
Winfried Engelbrecht, Lutz Schönfeld ,
Bob OpdeBeeck and Yao Zhenxu.—AZ.
For the final part of the Philatelic Pages please go to page 15.
No. 31
The Table Tennis Collector
Page 13
21-Up: Test Your Knowledge
There are many table tennis bats which were not intended for inclusion in a boxed set; they sometimes turn up
in pairs. Only one of the following was found in a box. Here are a few from my collection - with questions to
test your knowledge. The answers will be found on page 3. For the sake of simplicity, I have used "bat"
throughout.
By Gerald Gurney
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Not at all easy, but what name was given to this very
attractively designed bat?
What is the technical name of the artwork on this bat?
What game was this handsome vellum bat (22.5
inches) used for?
Which company made this well-known bat?
Why does this bat have a "cup" at the end of the grip?
Can you guess what is unique about this (entirely
wooden) bat? It makes an unusual sound in play.
This bat (16.5 inches) may be for ping-pong or for
the game of battledore & shuttlecock. Why is it
hand-painted with flowers?
Which company made this bat - the only one with a
circular head? You have a bonus point if you can
say what it was called.
9.
This - in very thin plywood - is not a bat, so what is it?
10. Is this (14 inches) a table tennis bat?
11. This bat, made by Villa and marked WAR GRADE, is
covered with lightweight netting. Where did the netting originate?
12. This (probably unique) bat is hand-painted with a
floral design with the words EDWARD VII
CROWN’D 1902 added. The reverse shows Saint
George killing the dragon. How did this bat originate?
13. Why does the blade of this bat - aluminium covered with rubber - have holes all the way through?
14. Is this bat (entirely wood), designed on the same
principle, earlier or later?
No. 31
The Table Tennis Collector
Page 14
15. What is the technical name of the artwork here?
16. What game is this bat (19 inches) for? The horizontal
strings are turned round the vertical strings at every
juncture.
17. This immensely rare (or unique) bat has only one vellum face - set in a wire frame held by pins to the
wooden head. Which company made it?
18. This bat has an ink drawing of a monocled cat on
the surface. What was the name of the artist who
drew it?
19. This spectacular Art Nouveau presentation bat has a
wooden blade mounted in silver (hallmarked for Birmingham, c. 1902). It is not known to whom it was
awarded or for what event. It is surely the most valuable bat known - but what value? £500? £750?
£1000? £1250? More?
20. In what country were these bats made?
21. Which company made these bats? They have a single sheet of vellum set in a bamboo frame.
Philatelic Pages (contd.)
Attached the picture of a meter cancel in blue referring to
the European Top 12 Tournament. To be held in
Saarbrucken Germany on 1st and 2nd February 2003.
No. 31
The Table Tennis Collector
Page 15
Membership List 2003
This list of members is correct as at 10th March and includes notes of members’ particular interests as well as
any items they may wish to acquire or have available for sale/exchange.
Gunther Angenendt
Langacker 10a, 44869 Bochum, Germany
Tel: +49 2327 77117
Fax: +49 2327 77117
Email: [email protected]
Interests: Pins & badges; old books;
bats & boxed sets; WC programmes.
Sale/Exchange: Lot of pins; books; WC
& EC programmes.
Acquire: Pre-WW2 WC programmes
1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934,
1936.
Pat Archdale
26 West View Road, Keynsham, Bristol,
Avon, BS31 2UA, England.
Tel: +44 (0) 1179 830706
Juan Barcelo
CC 3463, 1000 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Email: [email protected]
Keith Bowler
14 Ewell Street, Balmain, NSW 2041,
Australia.
Tel: +61 (02) 9810 4128
Interests: General.
Ron Crayden
7 Grennell Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1
3DW, England.
Tel: +44 (0) 208 644 5004
Interests: Photography; music; book
collection
Sale/Exchange: A number of books and
duplicate photographs
Acquire: A record of Dinah Shore
singing "Do you know what it means to
miss New Orleans"
Luciano de Castris
Via G.B. Vico 9, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
Email: [email protected]
Interests: TT philatelic items esp. covers
or card (mailed) with TT stamps or
postmarks.
Sale/Exchange: as above.
Acquire: as above.
Andre Demeure
Place de Mai, 10, B-1200 Brussels,
Belgium.
Tel: +32 (0) 2770 5529
Email: [email protected]
Interests: Cancellations; red meter,
postal stationeries, stamps (perforated,
imperforated); colour proof; artist sheet;
postcards; phonecards.
Sale/Exchange: as above
Acquire: as above
Jean Devys
La Petit Vigne, 20 Rue Edgar Quinet,
59100 Roubaix, France.
Tel: +33 3208 28444
Fax: +33 3206 60849
Interests: Table tennis; cyclism.
Axel Dickhaus
Atzlenbacher Str. 88, D-51381
Leverkusen, Germany.
Tel: +49 (0) 2171 32108
Fax: +49 (0) 2171 731478
Email: [email protected]
Interests: TT balls; TT phonecards.
Sale/Exchange: TT balls; TT phonecards.
Alan Duke
2 Shapwick Close, Swindon, Wiltshire,
SN3 3RQ, England.
Tel: +44 (0) 1793 531234
Email: [email protected]
Interests: TT music; photo record of
collectibles, etc.
Sergio Durrazzano
Via Girardini 8, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Tel: +39 0432 21105
Fax: +39 0432 21105
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.durazzanotraduzioni.it
Interests: TT stamps and books.
Winfried Engelbrecht
Virgiliastr. 21, D-45131 Essen, Germany.
Tel: +49 2017 86795
Interests: Stamps perforated &
imperforated; FDCs; all postal
cancellations; postcards especially very
old; tickets and stickers.
Sale/Exchange: as above
Acquire: as above
Dick Frost
Gerona, Church Road, Grandborough,
Rugby, Warwickshire, CV23 8DH, England.
Tel: 01788 810867
Fax: 01788 810867
Email: [email protected]
Siegfried Furchert
Goldbachstrasse 17E, 37269 Eschwege,
Germany.
Tel: +49 (0) 565 111 3138
Email: [email protected]
Interests: TT: stamps, letters, postcards.
David George
No. 1 Kingshill Cottages, Coatbridge
Road, Gartcosh, G69 8DS, Scotland.
Tel: +44 (0) 1236 872350
Fax: +44 (0) 1236 872350
Interests: TT badges/pins;
medallions/fobs; keyrings; YMCA items;
football badges.
Sale/Exchange: Programmes; postal
items; bats; battledores; net posts; sets;
books; magazines; balls; 100s misc.
items; badges; etc.
Acquire: As per interests; Bedlington
Terrier/Dandie Dinmont Terrier items.
David Good
710 N. Waverley, Dearborn, MI, 48128,
USA.
Tel: +1 313 278 5271
Email: [email protected]
Interests: Pre-1905 TT sets; bats; other
items.
Sale/Exchange: 1901-04 Punch
cartoons, articles on TT; post-1920 TT
Acquire: Pre-1905 TT sets, bats, other
items.
Scott Gordon
93 45th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819,
USA.
Tel: +1 916 457 8482
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.hardbat.com
Interests: Books; hard-rubber paddles;
films.
Acquire: Films; paddles; books.
Gerald Gurney
Guildhall Orchard, Mary Lane North,
Great Bromley, Colchester, Essex, CO7
7TU, England.
Tel: +44 (0) 1206 230330
Fax: +44 (0) 1206 230330
Interests: All racket games, especially
table tennis, tennis and badminton; all
equipment, ephemera. Historian and
author. Worldwide exhibitions. Also all
swimming items.
Sale/Exchange: Boxed sets; postcards;
books; rackets.
Acquire: Ball retriever.
Rex Haggett
27 Meadow Close, Stratford-upon-Avon,
Warwickshire, CV37 9PJ, England.
Tel: +44 (0) 1789 269352
Fax: +44 (0) 1789 269352
Email: [email protected]
Web site:
ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/R
exHaggett
Interests: Philately.
Larry Hodges
13403 Demetrias Way, Germantown, MD
20874, USA.
Tel: +1 240 686 0127
Fax: +1 240 686 0128
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.larrytt.com
Interests: TT books in English
Sale/Exchange: TT ball collection (249
distrinct types)
Acquire: TT books in English
Chuck Hoey
605 Regina Drive, Elizabeth, PA, 15037,
USA.
Tel: +1 412 384 2636
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.tabletennismuseum.com
Interests: Early bat variations; Royal
Bayreuth & English Foley porcelain;
early lawn tennis advertising &
lithography (for a book I am working on).
Sale/Exchange: Large inventory
available; early boxed sets; bats;
greetings cards; pins/medals from WC &
major continental events; sheet music;
porcelain; early books; programmes.
Acquire: Tension adjustable battledore;
WC prpgrammes 1926 thru 1934,
1936, 1937, 1939 thru 1948, 1950 thru
1952, 1955 thru 1963, 1967, 1971
thru 1975; gold/silver vintage jewellery
with TT motif.
Ray Hogg
100 School Road, Drayton, Norwich,
Norfolk, NR8 6EN, England.
Tel: +44 (0) 1603 867160
Jan Kleeven
Margrietstraat 63, 6373 NN Landgraaf,
The Netherlands.
Email: [email protected]
Interests: TT on stamps; TT pins
(national associations); TT
pendants/flags (national associations)
Sale/Exchange: TT stamps, pins.
Randy Koo
Torenwacht 37, 2353 DB Leiderdorp,
The Netherlands.
Email: [email protected]
Acquire: Mint stamps; special
cancellations; FDCs; franking machine
cancellations.
Hans Kreischer
Hollandiahof 126, 3119 ZD Schiedam,
The Netherlands.
Tel: +31 1024 69140
Fax: +31 1024 69139
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.ttmuseum.nl
Interests: Books; postcards; boxed
sets; stamps; programmes WC etc.
Sale/Exchange: Books.
Kevin Lau
7544 N. Claremont Avenue, Chicago, IL,
60645, USA.
Tel: +1 773 719 0860
Fax: +1 773 338 1831
Email: [email protected]
Interests: TT philatelic items; pins;
coins; souvenir items; memorabilia;
decorative items.
Acquire: as above.
Jorgen Lindh
Brages Grand 78, Varberg, SE-43231,
Sweden.
Email: [email protected]
Peter Longhurst
18 Woodlands Crescent, Buckingham,
Buckinghamshire, MK18 1PH, England.
Tel: +44 (0) 1280 813356
Interests: TT items; lawn tennis.
Acquire: Any of the plays written by Bill
Tilden.
Simeoni Luigi
Via Ponte, S. Pancrazio 2/A, 37133
Verona, Italy.
Tel: +39 045 532033
Email: [email protected]
Interests: Balls.
Ken Muhr
c/o English Table Tennis Association,
Queensbury House, Havelock Road,
Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1HF,
England.
Tel: +44 (0) 1424 722525
Email: [email protected]
Interests: History of TT; books;
magazines.
Contd. on p2
Published by Graham Trimming on behalf of the Table Tennis Collectors’ Society, March 2003
17 Gwendale, Pinkneys Green, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 6SH, England
Tel: +44 (0)1628 636978; email: [email protected]
© Graham Trimming—no part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior consent of the publisher.
No. 31
The Table Tennis Collector
Page 16