Lot 460
Golf - Hutchison, Robert
Auction: 16 May 2008 at 12:00 BST
Description
An original watercolour, ink and gilt collage for a presentation poster to Robert Hutchison. Glasgow: Maclure, Macdonald & Co, 10th Dec. 1907, 46cm by 58cm high, 17 lines of text with 14 signatures below, with watercolour vignettes of players on Prestiwick golf course; players at St. Andrews; female golfer on unnamed course, two photogravure insets of Robert Hutchison and the Hutchison, Main & Company factory premises, all within a decorative watercolour and gilt border, framed
Footnote
Note: In the late 19th century the popularity of golf was on the increase. The introduction of a new rubber-cored ball in 1898 by Coburn Haskell of Cleveland, Ohio - a tension-wound rubber thread around a solid rubber core that would fly and roll farther than a gutty that could be hit with ease and gave its striker a greater sense of power - would dramatically change the game.
Allowing older players to strike balls with ease, even allowing women and children to enjoy the game, the rubber cored ball began to dominate the market. The Haskell Golf Ball Company held the patent for the new design and it was not until a House of Lord's judgement in 1907, after a 21 day court case between Haskell and the Glasgow rubber manufacturer Robert Hutchison, of Hutchison, Main & Company, struck down the patent and allowed all golf ball manufacturers to produce this cheaper more durable and aerodynamic golf ball, making them available to all from as little as 2/- each.
This poster is a presentation from the staff of Hutchison, Main & Company congratulating Robert Hutchison on his victory over the American manufacturers, "we... do herby record our high appreiciation of the sterling business qualities which you have so consistently displayed, and the physical and moral aptitude requisite to defend the unreasonable demands made on you by the Haskell Golf Ball Company... and to bring to a successful issue the prosecution raised by them against you... judgement in your favour was confirmed in the House of Lords, their unanimous judgement being a final and fitting end to foreigners' persistent prosecution." This was not only a victory for Hutchison, Main & Co but for golf players in general as the market broadened and prices became more competitive, "the great body of golfers, on whom, by the verdict, you have conferred an everlasting benefit, will show their appreication of your good work by giving your manufactures that patronage they so justly deserve."