The Table Tennis

Collector

The ITTF Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland“Un havre de paix et de tranquillité”Moving to China ! Details on page 7.

August 2013

69

Table Tennis is the nationalsport of China, home of millionsof fans … and over 100 WorldChampions!

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The Table TennisCollector

From the EditorDear Friends,Welcome to issue 69 of the Table Tennis Collector. The WorldChampionships in Paris Bercy are in the record books - congratu-lations to the winners, all participants, the volunteers and theorganizers. I staged a small exhibition - see my report, pp.4-5.

Our cover story announces the plans to move the ITTF Museumto the largest city in the world, where many more fans will beable to enjoy the collection.

Great Shots salutes the great Hungarian men’s team in an historicphoto from the 1932 World Championships in Prague. Also enjoya retrospective of superstars in both Tennis and Table Tennis.

The wonderfully prolific Alan Duke (ENG) continues his series onearly pioneers, as well as a report on intellectual property.

Jorge Arango (COL) introduces the famous Vienna Bronzes andsome anthropomorphic players. John Ruderham (ENG)contributes some research in support of his claim that the BristolLeague is the oldest. And Gerald Gurney shares some of his wallof rackets.

Our Philatelic Update features more items from the recent WorldChampionships in Paris, & some personalized Chinese items.Some good activity on eBay, with interesting rackets andmementos that have survived over 110+ years. And some gemsFrom the recent Graham Budd auction in London. Heavy Metalfeatures the Gold, Silver & Bronze medals from the 2013 WorldChampionships in Paris.

Hope you enjoy the new issue. ChuckEditor and Publisher:Chuck Hoey, Curator

ITTF Museumwww.ittf.com/museum

museum@ittf.com

Publishing Schedule:May 1 Submit articles by April 15Aug 1 Submit articles by July 15Nov 1 Submit articles by Oct 15Feb 1 Submit articles by Jan 15

In this issue …

Auction Action31-42

HeavyMetal

46

GreatShots 3

JorgeArangoViennaBronzes

16-17

PhilatelicUpdate26-30

GeraldGurneyRackets 24-25

Alan DukeResearch:

10-15,21-23

JohnRuderham

BristolLeague18-20

ParisWorlds

4-5

No. 69August 2013

From Paris:Left, a logo keychain by DHS, anda logo pin byButterfly.

Multi-SportStars8-9

Great Shots: Historic Photographs

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Photograph of the Hungarian Men’s Team at the 1932 World Championships in Prague,inscribed by Bellak. Great shot of some very young looking champions! Barna won thesingles, doubles and mixed. Although the Hungarians won 8 of the first 9 Swaythling Cupcompetitions, in 1932 they won silver, Czechoslovakia the Gold.

Phot

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tti

World ChampionshipsParis-Bercy 13-20 May 2013

Palais Omnisport Paris Bercy

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The ITTF Museum staged a small exhibition atthe recent World Championships in Paris Bercy.This was in the same venue as the 2003 WorldChampionships - many fond memories.The exhibition was in two separate parts. Ourever popular Timeline History and the CelebrityPhoto Gallery were installed in a long corridorleading to the VIP seating. On the 5 level wehad 6 large showcases, each with 3 shelves, theequivalent of 18 table style vitrines. Especiallynice to see old friends, make new ones, andwatch the young people enjoy the show.

An eager crowd waiting to see the ITTF Museumexhibition!

Great to meet Paul Ehrlich inParis. His uncle, legendary AlexEhrlich, won silver 3 times in theWorld Championships. Alsomet members of the French TTcollectors society, AFCTT, whodesigned a special postcard andFirst Day Cover for the stamps.

5

An antique set of Pim-Pam with boxlid illustration and rules added a nice French flavor.

Great to see young people taking an interestin the exhibition. Often I unlocked some ofthe vitrines to let the kids hold & swing anold racket, or try the Ping Pong sound with apair of drum rackets. Their reaction: Cool !Which showcase drew the most attention(i.e. had the most fingerprint smudges at theend of each day)? The unusual racketsexhibit was by far the most popular.Next stop, Tokyo.

Special exhibit honoring Claude Bergeret, 1977 World MixedDoubles Champion (with Jacques Secretin), who has given somuch hard work to our sport over the years. Bravo Claude !

Exhibit of the Gold, Silver & Bronze medals from the2003 World Championships, held at the same venue inParis Bercy.

Chuck

Two interesting photographs: above, “The strenuous game of ‘Ping-Pong’ received a cordialwelcome when it arrived in Central Africa “ 1904.Below: Table Tennis played in the mountains of Trentino, Italy 1915

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Historic PhotosPart deux

7

AnnouncementAn Update from the ITTF Museum

The following Press Release was published during the 2013 World Championshipsin Paris:

The Museum of the International Table Tennis Association in Lausanne, Switzerland,will be moved to China, the ITTF President Adham Sharara said here on Wednesday.Sharara, who was just re-elected as ITTF President, told reporters the move is toattract more visitors but the future site in China is not decided.

"The museum has been in Switzerland for 10 years and we hope to have morepeople to see it," the Canadian said. He said that the former Chinese women's teamcoach Shi Zhihao, who was elected as vice president of the ITTF, will be responsiblefor the museum's move..

Since the press release, some clarifications have been issued. There will be anongoing ITTF Museum presence in Lausanne, and the annual exhibitions at theWorld Championships will also continue to be organized.

Personally, I look forward to a positive relationship when the Museum transfers toChina, and hope to share my knowledge and 40 years of experience with thecollection. I will continue the museum website and it’s publications, including theTable Tennis Collector. Stay tuned for further details.

Chuck

Assoc Competition Year Location Singles Doubles XD TeamENG World Championship 1929 Budapest Winner SF Rd of 16 3ENG World Championship 1928 Stockholm QF Runn-up SF 3

In Tennis Fred Perry compiled an amazing record before he turned pro in 1937. He wasthe first to win a ‘career Grand Slam’, holding all 4 major titles but not in the same year.Overall he won 8 Grand Slam Singles titles and 5 Grand Slam doubles titles.

Fred Perry was back in the news again with all the drama ofAndy Murray’s recent Wimbledon victory. Perry won 3consecutive Wimbledon singles titles in 1934-36, and remainedthe last British man to win, until Murray ended the 77-yeardrought. It is well known that Perry also won the 1929 WorldTable Tennis Championships, but he was not the only TableTennis star who also played world-class Tennis. Ann Haydonof England distinguished herself in both sports, as did theHungarian Bela von Kehrling. Other examples come to mind,such as Russian Chess Grandmaster Mark Taimanov, who wasalso a concert pianist. Several have turned their Olympic track& field medals into professional football, basketball or baseballcareers. Can our readers add to this Multi-sport Honor Roll?

The 1929 World Champion Fred Perry with 1931 World Champion MiklosSzabados, who is holding Perry’s framed racket. A few years ago the Fred PerryCompany produced a commemorative boxed set with exact replicas of the racket,which has a cork grip and offset head.

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Fred Perry’s major Table Tennis statistics

byChuck Hoey

Multi-sport Masters

Ann Haydon (ENG) began playing international TableTennis at the age of 15, reaching the Finals of theWomen’s Doubles at the 1954 World Championships,with Kathy Best. She went on to win 6 silver & 4bronze medals in 5 World Championships from 1954-59, as well as 9 national Junior titles and internationalsingles and doubles Gold. She also wrote a popularbook, Tackle Table Tennis This Way (1958).

Ann Haydon is even more famous in Tennis, winning7 Grand Slam titles, including a memorableWimbledon victory over Billy Jean King in 1969. Shewon 113 career Tennis titles overall, and her highestworld ranking was No. 2. Ann was also ranked No. 2in Table Tennis in 1957 and 1958. A truly impressivewoman.

Assoc Competition Year Location Singles Doubles XD TeamENG European Championship 1958 Budapest Runn-up SF QF 1ENG World Championship 1959 Dortmund QF SF QF 4ENG World Championship 1957 Stockhom Runn-up Runn-up Runn-up 4ENG World Championship 1956 Tokyo QF SF Runn-up 2ENG World Championship 1955 Utrecht QF QF Rd of 64 3ENG World Championship 1954 Wembley Rd of 64 Runn-up QF 3

This 1927 signed photo-card shows the extraordinaryBela von Kehrling (1891-1937) of Hungary, who wasa master of both Table Tennis and Tennis. Bela wasa member of the Hungarian team that won the firstSwaythling Cup in the 1926 World Championships,defeating Austrian Munio Pillinger in a play-off toclinch the Cup. He also won Silver in the Doubles,partnered with Zoltan Mechlovits.

Remarkably, Bela was 11-time Tennis Champion ofHungary, and played in both the 1912 and 1924Olympic Games, as well as 16 Davis Cup events. Hewon 12 international Tennis titles, and alsocompeted in football and ice hockey. (With thanksto Wikipedia)

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Ann Haydon’s major Table Tennis statistics

Bela von Kehrling

Ann Haydon

Chuck

The Early Table Tennis Inventors: No. 3

Frederick Barker, Frank Barker and Vivian Johnstoneby Alan Duke

It’s amazing what a bit of spring-cleaning can unearth! What appears to be the first draft of a documentwritten in 1934 by Frederick Barker was discovered recently by his daughter-in-law, Dee.

As you would expect for a first draft, the document has many crossings-outand corrections. Firstly, corrections made whilst writing the document, andsecondly when the writer has returned to the article at a later date to makeadditions and amendments. These changes are sometimes interesting in theirown right, giving an insight into Frederick’s thought processes. A few examplesof these are (i) the reference in the first paragraph to ‘this primitive form ofping-pong’, where the name replaced is ‘table tennis’; (ii) Johnson amended toJohnstone; and (iii) the original mention of two lawn-tennis balls in the set,later amended to one. I have transcribed the draft (as best as I can), omittingall the crossed-out wording, and I have inserted references to my notes and comments.

The Infancy of Ping-Pong

An article by John R. Tunis in a recent issue of The American Mercury1 has caused me to reminisce. Ithappens that your correspondent is, innocently enough, in a measure responsible for the birth of Ping-

Pong, or Table Tennis, as the game was first called. In 1888 when thewriter was a law student at Cavendish College2, Cambridge, England,we used to play table-tennis3 with books set on end for a net, a bookfor a bat, and a common tennis ball as the fly-between. The originatorof this primitive form of ping-pong was a fellow student by the nameof Johnstone4. I cannot recall his christian name. The game was notthen played elsewhere at Cambridge to my knowledge, so it wouldseem that Cavendish College is its true birth place.

In the same year of 1888, while on vacation at our home atWoodford, Essex, England the writer spoke casually of the game to hisfather, Frank Cowlin Barker. The latter at once sensed its possibilitiesas an indoor sport. For the row of books stood on end, he substituted aminiature tennis net. The book which had served us as a smitermetamorphosed into a wooden bat. It had no handle but was grasped

entire in the palm of the hand. As I remember, it measured some __" by __ by __1" and was concentricallycurved at the sides and ends, so as to facilitate a firm hold. And, most fatal of all errors, no change wasmade in the ordinary lawn tennis ball we had used at College.

My father took out patents5, on just what features I cannot recall,and a little later he brought home a sample of the manufacturedproduct. It all came housed in a rather clumsy wooden box; – theminiature net, a couple of bats, tapes to mark the court lines and a felt-covered lawn-tennis ball. But there was more, to-wit, a cartoonconceived by a local artist, and grotesquely depicting two notedstatesmen of the day playing table tennis. One was Lord Balfour andthe other, I think, was William Gladstone; or it may have been LordSalisbury. The implements used by the two worthies in the sketch were,of course, those of my father’s invention. Under the cartoon was thelegend: “Settle the argument around a square table”. I feel quite surethat that cartoon never helped to sell any of those sets. With the set

Frederick Barker

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The Early Table Tennis Inventors: No. 3

came also a book of instructions. One of these read: “Before starting to play, all light bric-a-bric [sic]should be removed from the room”. Indeed a very commendable admonition, with a lawn-tennis ballabout to be set in erratic circulation. I recall clearly a heavy antique chinese jar that fell victim to a wildreturn by one of my younger brothers.

But the sets did not sell well. At least my father never reported to usany financial returns. The wholesale dealer may have been the Hamley6

of London mentioned by Mr. Tunis in the article referred to above, butwhoever he was, Mr Tunis is in error in stating that the dealeroriginated the game.

A few years later, the whole family of us emigrated to Las Cruces, NewMexico. In 1892 _ _ _ Spalding7, the famous ex-base-base [sic] playerand sporting goods merchant, visited his son Keith who was boarding8

with us at the time. My father tried to interest him, Mr. Spalding, sen,in his patents, but, if my memory does not fail me, objection was madeto the heavy rubber ball. The introduction of the celluloid ball and theresulting onomatopoeic name of ping-pong, no doubt won the game itsfirst era of vogue.

The writer has played true ping-pong only once in his life – in1904. His adversary was Mr Charles Taft9, the eldest son of ex-President Taft.The game was staged by the the Igorrote head-hunters,at Baguio, in the Philippine Islands. The honors went to Charlie.

Neither my father nor any of his children ever took to ping-pongseriously; but Dad won the annual lawn-tennis singles at Woodford,Essex, England, at the age of forty odd. And one of my youngerbrothers10 is still winning tennis trophies in the Rio Grande region,in veterans singles and doubles. You will understand that I mentionthese family exploits in lawn tennis only in extenuation of our guiltas the inventors of table tennis,

But perhaps, after all, it would be better for my father’s eternal peace for his name to remain for everunsung, than to be chronicled as the inventor of table tennis.

Your obedient servant,Frederick. F. Barker

Notes:1. February 1934, pages 211-6;

article titled ‘Sport in Miniature’.2. Frederick Francis Barker:

Matriculated in Michaelmas term1887 from Cavendish Hall;LL.B., 1891. The CavendishBuilding was taken over byHomerton College in 1894. (Isthere any connection with thename of the first Table TennisClub, formed some years later,the Cavendish Club?)

3. One of the common, possibly apochryphal, storiesrepeated over the years regarding the invention ofthe game concerns undergraduates e.g. “Nearly 100years ago Cambridge University Undergraduatesplayed the first rudimentary table tennis game withcigar boxes and balls fashioned from champagnecorks” All You Need to Know … table tennis - TheEarly Days (John Jaques) c.1977. Barker’s accountnow provides first-hand confirmation that therewas probably a basis for this story, and that suchgames actually took place, and at Cambridge! Butnevertheless, I still believe it to be true, as stated in

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The Early Table Tennis Inventors: No. 3

the article on James Gibb (TTC No.67) “that manyhomes independently came up with similarideas at the same time”.

4. There are a few possibilities from those with thatname (or its variations) at Cambridge in 1888, butonly one of them was at Cavendish College -Vivian Pulteney Johnstone: Matriculated inEaster term 1886 from Cavendish Hall; BA 1890. Ibelieve that the wording of the article indicates thatthe ‘fellow student’ of Frederick Barker was also atCavendish College, and not Cambridge in general.This is another example of amendments to the draftproving informative, as the original text for “Thegame was not then played elsewhere atCambridge” was “The game was not then played atany of the ^other^ colleges at Cambridge”; and theauthor summarises this paragraph by suggestingCavendish College as the “true birth place”.

5. All the Applications were in his mother’s name. Asshe is never mentioned by her son, does this meanthat she was not involved in the inventions, playingsolely an administrative role in registering thePatents, Trade Mark and Design? Maybe FrankBarker needed to keep these separate from his otherbusiness interests? Or was it all a joint family effort(but if so, it seems strange that her role was notacknowledged in this account)?

6. The claim that caught FFB’s attention was:“Originated by a London sporting goods dealernamed Hamley in the late nineties …” (from TheAmerican Magazine article). Note that in 1902,Hamley Brothers were advertising a very similarbat, the “Smasher” bat (see article ‘AbandonedPatents’ in a forthcoming edition of the Collector).

7. Albert Goodwill Spalding b. Byron, Illinois2.9.1850, was the eldest of 3 children (parentsJames and Harriet); d. San Diego 9.9.1915. Hedebuted in the top American baseball league at

only 22. His company was co-founded with hisbrother, Walter, in Chicago in 1876, and the firstshop opened in 1885 in New York (A G Spalding& Bros, 520 Fifth Avenue). In 1898 the companycreated the first tennis, football and golf balls in theUS, and the first basketball in the world. Hemarried Josie Keith (d.1899) in 1875, and they hadone son Keith.

The reference to Spaldingis interesting, as thecompany was, in late 1891,advertising a game ofIndoor Tennis, featuring aracket that “has no handle,but is made to fit the palmof the hand, firmly held inplace by a strap over the

back of the hand”. That sounds very similar to theone described in this document! A Spaldingcompany archivist states that the earliest catalogueheld in their collection is from 1904, and none ofany earlier material held makes any reference toIndoor Tennis (or table tennis). (See TTC No.50,page 5, for a copy of the advertisement, togetherwith a drawing from Emma Barker’s US Patent.)

8. Emma Barker was reported as running a “first-classprivate boarding house”.

9. Following victory in the Spanish-American War,the Philippine Islands became a US Protectorate.William Howard Taft was sent by PresidentMcKinley to set up a civilian government (1900-03, governor from 1901). His eldest child wasRobert Alphonso (graduated from Yale in 1910).The youngest was Charles Phelps Taft, b. c1897(i.e. he would only have been about 7 in 1904!).Note that President Taft had a wealthy brother,Charles, who assumed the lion’s share ofWilliam’s hefty travel expenses (William almostalways took his wife Nellie and at least one or twoof his children on his official travels).

10. This would probably have been Percy (b.1873).

Frederick Barker’s document is important in providing new information on a number of different aspects:1) Confirmation that Cambridge undergraduates did indeed play an early form of table tennis.2) The story behind the Barker Patent Applications.3) That there was, as always suspected, a connection between those Patents and the Spalding company.4) That the early Barker game was actually produced (in however limited a form), and illustrated with its

own cartoon (and he also confirms the ball as the likely reason that it never caught on!). That set issurely something for collectors to search for! And perhaps someone has already seen a copy of thecartoon without realising its significance?

But, as is quite normal with such new discoveries, further questions are posed! Why no mention of hismother, Emma, and her role? And why, in 1934, such an apologetic tone for their part in the invention oftable tennis?

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The Early Table Tennis Inventors: No. 3

Frank Cowlin Barker was born in 1845 at Writtle,Essex. His parents were Francis, a tenant farmer,and Mary Ann (née Cowlin). As a youngster he livedat Westlands Farm, Mountnessing, where the mainactivity was the breeding and training of horses. He

was the pride of the familyand was provided with a goodeducation, boarding (at leastpart of the time) with theCurate of Brentwood at theParsonage, and attendingBrentwood Grammar School,where he won many prizes(both academic and athletic).

Following this he spent a year or two in France andGermany. Living in Hackney in 1868 he met andmarried Emma Feeley. With her jet-black hair anddark blue eyes, she described herself as half-Irishby descent; vivacious, but moody, and althoughconventional in the Victorian way, she could satirisethe typical social traditions of the period. She wasliving at 22 Spurstowe Road, Hackney, having been‘adopted’ in girlhood into the more settled family ofa Captain and ‘Aunty’ Smith (a Mary Ann Smith wasone of the witnesses at their marriage). From 1874-1891 Frank was involved in a variety of businessinterests in London and Spain e.g. as co-partner inAnthony Morris and Company (CommissionMerchants); iron ore importer (from Spain), fibre-pulp, electric light, slot machines, iron foundry, etc.His business interests also required him to spendseveral years at Cartagena, Spain.

In 1881 he was living with his family at SnakesLane, Woodford. He was a champion local lawn-tennis player, and also had a variety of otherhobbies. At Glengall he set up a model dairy andaviary, kept bees and rabbits, and grew fruit trees,flowers and vegetables. After moving toHeatherdale he continued to dabble in horticulture,and started to breed game-cocks. Although still

listed as living with the familyin 1890-91 (at GwendwrRoad), he had travelled to LasCruces, New Mexico in thelate 1880s, where he foundedF C Barker and Co.

An article in the weekly Kansas City Star, headed‘Seeker of Health found Wealth near Las Cruces’,described how Frank (‘an iron ore merchant inEngland’) had been advised in the mid-1880s by hisphysician that a move to a mild, dry climate “mayprolong his life, otherwise he would be an earlyvictim of his pulmonary tuberculosis”. New Mexicowas such a place, described in 1896 as “the world’sgreatest sanitarium”, with “thousands upon

thousands of acres of fine agricultural lands”. Inaddition to his health problems, a contributary factorwas probably that his City business was borderingon bankruptcy. His family emigrated to join him in1891.

Knowing that he needed light exercise in the sun,he bought a 2-acre tract of land near the Santa FéRailway station and began growing vegetableswhich he sold in the town and valley. This becameso successful that it expanded to 30 acres. Itbecame the largest ‘truck farm’ (a farm devoted tothe production of vegetables for the market) in thesouthwest, and revolutionised farming methods.Frank’s health obviously benefitted from this life, ashe is recorded as playing tennis for Las Cruces on anumber of occasions e. g. in the first ever matchagainst El Paso, against the local college (March1894), and against Mesilla (October 1894).

He was a powerful manin the town, but had fewfriends. Although he wasa regular at the variouswhist parties held locally(and a sound player), it

is probably fair to say that, with the possibleexception of their daughter Millicent, Emma adaptedto life in Las Cruces better than the rest of thefamily. Although in London he had become a keensocialist, these theories waned when in NewMexico. In November 1905, Frank succumbed tohis illness, possibly hastened by his increaseddrinking after Emma’s death from liver cancer a fewyears earlier in El Paso (where she had been takento hospital for treatment andan operation). Frank is buriedin Las Cruces MasonicCemetery, next to Emma andtheir youngest three children,Leonard and Mabel (who bothdied of typhoid fever just afew months after arriving inNew Mexico), and Marie (probably born in NewMexico; died 30.12.1892).

TIMELINEFrank Barker

27.11.1845 Born at Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex1851 Lived at Westlands Farm, Mountnessing, Essex1861 Scholar, boarding at the Parsonage, Brentwood, Essex1860s Scholar at Brentwood Grammar School1868 Living at Richmond Road, Hackney31.10.1868 Married Emma Feeley at Hackney Parish Churchc1870-1873 Living in Cartagena, Murcia, Spainc1873-1874 Living in Hackney, Londonc1874-1888 Living at Snakes Lane, Woodford, LondonLate 1880s Emigrated to Las Cruces, New Mexico10.7.1891 Bought out W E Lawrence, becoming F C Barker & Co.24.2.1893 Represented Las Cruces in first tennis match v El Paso14.4.1893 Presented paper on English form of government12.8.1893 Resigned as Editor of Rio Grande Republican1897 Moved to Mesilla Park, Las Cruces19.11.1905 Died, Las Cruces; buried in Masonic Cem. (Plot A/10/4)

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The Early Table Tennis Inventors: No. 3

The author of the document, Frederick FrancisBarker, was born on the last day of 1870 inCartagena, Spain. He grew up with his parentsFrank and Emma at Woodford, Essex, and spentthree years in France and Germany between theages of 10 and 13. He won a number of prizes atschool, and was admitted to Cambridge Universityfrom Cavendish Hall in 1887. He left with anhonours degree in law in 1891, and the same yearwas employed as aschool tutor inCanterbury. InFebruary 1892, hesailed on the Cunardliner SS Etruria fromLiverpool to New Yorkto join his family in LasCruces, New Mexico.

There he lectured at the State College for manyyears, where he was very popular with the students,with always a pleasant greeting for everyone. Aswith the rest of his family, he involved himself invarious local events. On Columbia Day, 1892, he

presented a paper, ‘Anecdotes ofLife of Columbus’, at a literaryand musical entertainment. Thefollowing February he gave thePresidential Address at a fund-raising event for the monthlycollege newsletter. On thesporting front, he played in the

same team as his father in tennis matches,representing Las Cruces against El Paso andMesilla, but played on the opposite side in thematch between the college and the town!

Over the years he had been employed in a varietyof roles: teacher, stenographer, Civil Serviceemployee. In October 1897 he accepted a positionwith Krakauer, Zork & Moye in Chihuahua (leadinghardware dealers in the south-west), havingpreviously acted as foreign correspondent for theMexican bank, Banco Minero (also possibly inChihuahua).

On 14 June 1899 he married Tudie Bailey at herhome in Mesilla, at 6am. The early hour of theceremony was to enable them to catch the earlysouth-bound train for a month’s honeymoon inMexico. On their return they moved into the YairCottage, Mesilla Park. In March 1901 he became anaturalised US citizen.

In the early 1900s, Frederick worked in thePhilippines as Government translator and legalsecretary to Governor Taft. Whilst there, he andTudie lost their 2-year old daughter to Asiaticcholera, Tudie returning to El Paso in poor health.He lived for twenty years in Spanish-speakingcountries (3 in the Philippines, 3 in Bolivia, and 14in Mexico). He practised law in Mexico City for 10years, and was successful in Spanish-American titleand corporation work. He and Tudie divorced afternearly 20 years of marriage, half of which was spentliving apart, and he got re-married at the age of 48,to Josephine Louise Stoiber. They moved to LosAngeles, where he became a Member of the LosAngeles Bar, specialising in Mexican andInternational Law. He also wrote a number of booksand articles e.g. ‘Mexican Petroleum Legislation’(1925), ‘New Laws and Nationalism in Mexico’(1927), and ‘Mexican Mining Concessions’ (1931).

The couple had two children, Francis James inAugust 1919, and Mabel Louise in April 1923.Frederick was successful at athletics, and listed hisother hobbies as lawn-tennis, golf, whist, bridge,writing, music, and philosophy. He died in LosAngeles on 3 June 1954.[For further details on both Frank and Frederick, see the

article on Emma Barker (TTC 65).]

Vivian Pulteney Johnstone was born in Madras,India, in April, 1870, the third son of GideonPulteney Johnstone (b. c1842) and Emily SophiaJohnstone (b. 1843, Madras). He went to school inMargate, Kent, and then, from at least 1882-84,

TIMELINEFrederick Barker

31.12.1870 Born in the District of the British Consulate, Cartagenac1874-1887 Living at Snakes Lane, Woodford, London1887-1891 Cavendish College, University of Cambridge1891 Boarding at 20-21 Old Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent13.2.1892 Emigrated to Las Cruces, New Mexico, on SS Etruria21.10.1892 Gave talk on ‘Anecdotes of Life of Columbus’1890s Lecturer at State College, Las Cruces3.2.1893 Gave Presidential Address at fund-raising event24.2.1893 Represented Las Cruces in first tennis match v El Paso15.10.1897 Joined Krakauer, Zork & Moye14.6.1899 Married Katherine (Tudie) Bailey at her home in Mesilla1899-1900 Living at Yair Cottage, Mesilla20.3.1901 Became naturalised US citizenEarly 1900s Working in the Philippines for Governor Taftc1910s Practising law in Mexico City12.5.1914 Registered at Brazil Legation with Americans intending

to remain in Mexico City23.2.1917 Divorced from Tudie12.11.1918 Married Josephine Louise Stoiberc1920s Moved to Los Angeles28.8.1919 Francis James born (San Francisco)20.4.1923 Mabel Louise born (Los Angeles)3.6.1954 Died in Los Angeles

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The Early Table Tennis Inventors: No. 3

attended public school at Tonbridge. He wasadmitted to Cambridge University in 1886, andgraduated in 1890. At that time, his family (all‘British subjects by parentage’) were living inFulham, and then from around 1894 to 1901, hespent some time inEastbourne (where heplayed cricket, top scoringon at least one occasion forDevonshire Park). For awhile, he was employed asa schoolmaster, and thenfrom 1907 until 1914, hetook on the role ofSecretary of WimbledonPark Golf Club (and also played in theirtournaments and represented the Club in teammatches).

In September 1914, soon after the start of the GreatWar, he joined the 16th Middlesex (Public School)Service Battalion as a Private. His medical recordedhim as 5'11½", 12 st. 6 lbs, with dark healthycomplexion, black hair, and brown eyes; he waspassed as ‘fit for the Army’. But he had given hisage as 35 years and 5 months - he was actually44. The following year he was promoted to LanceCorporal, and soon after to Corporal. On 24th Marchhe applied for appointment to a temporary

commission in the RegularArmy for the period of the war,declaring himself of ‘pureBritish descent’ (and born in1879!), reverting at his ownrequest to Private. His medicalexamination in May declaredhim to be suitable for SpecialReserve, and he joined theKing’s Royal Rifle Corps as aTemporary 2nd Lieutenant.

He married Lily B de Alcazar, née Belsten (b. 1871,Clifton, Bristol) at Wandsworth in 1915. She hadbeen married to Maximiliano (1867-1914) for 24years, and Vivian took on the role of step-father toViolet Muriel Anita (b. 1891, Bristol) and MercedesLilian M (b. 1895, Keynsham, Bristol).

2nd Lt Johnstone spent most of 1916 on sick leave,with 18th Brigade Training Reserve, suffering withneuritis of the left arm. This was attributed to“getting wet on the range”. The following year, hewas promoted to Temporary Lieutenant (King’sRoyal Rifle Corps), serving in the Training Reserve.In February 1918, he applied for a position in aRecord Office, as “doing the duties of a MusketryOfficer – standing about on the Range and onParade at my age – 47 – is most trying in bad

weather, and does not tend to improve matters”.Note that he also seems to have aged somewhatduring the war years! In March, he reported for 3months probation to No.1 Infantry Office, Hounslow,and this move evidently suited his talents, as hegained a satisfactory report, stating that he showeda “keen interest in his duties”. In March 1919 heapplied for demob, as he had a “definite offer of[his] pre-war employment”, open until May 1st. InApril, it was reported that he was to relinquish hiscommission “on account of ill-health contracted onactive service”, and was demobilised on 15th April.He then returned to his role as Secretary of theWimbledon Park Golf Club.

Vivian Johnstone was tragically killed when hejumped in front of an electric train at WimbledonPark Station on the evening of 17th May 1931. Hedied at the scene from his extensive injuries. Hisaddress at the time was given as 9 AtherstoneTerrace, Gloucester Road, SW7. He had recentlysuffered from influenza, from which he had not fullyrecovered on returning to work, and may also havebeen concerned about some money his sister hadinvested in India. A witness at the inquest who knewJohnstone personally stated that he had recentlynoticed a big difference in his mental state.

As Secretary of the Golf Club over so many years,“his capability, tact, and naturalcharm of manner had won for himthe warm regard of all the membersand a very great number of visitingplayers”. During the War, he wasnever actually in the firing line, butdid invaluable work training recruits and givinginstruction in physical exercises.

Thanks for all their help and encouragement to Andy Barker and Peter Lovesey, with acknowledgements formuch of the biographical detail to another article from the pen of Frederick Barker, ‘The Barker Strain’ (1923).

TIMELINEVivian Johnstone

cApril 1870 Born in Madras, India (British subject)1881 Boarding at Ditton House, Northdown Road, Margate1882-1886 Scholar at Public School, Tonbridge1886-1890 Cavendish College, University of Cambridgec1894-1901 Living in Eastbourne1907-1914 Secretary of Wimbledon Park Golf Club11.9.1914 Enlisted in 16th Middlesex Service Battalion (No.448)1.2.1915 Promoted to Lance CorporalMarch 1915 Promoted to Corporal27.3.1915 Reverted at own request to Private15.5.1915 Medical Board declared him fit for Special Reserve22.5.1915 Commissioned as Temp. 2nd Lieutenant (KRRC)2nd Qtr. 1915 Married Lily B de Alcazar at Wandsworth5.2.1917 Declared unfit for ‘Gen. Service’, fit for service at home1.7.1917 Promoted to Temp. Lt. (18th Training Reserve Battalion)22.3.1918 Transferred to No.1 Infantry Record Office, Hounslow15.4.1919 Demobilised; Living at 27 Hogarth Road, Earl’s Court1919-1931 Secretary of Wimbledon Park Golf Club17.5.1931 Killed at Wimbledon Park Station

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16

VIENNA BRONZESBy Jorge Arango

Vienna bronzes are famous and distinguished by their naturalistic and detailed representation ofhuman figures and all species of animals. Table Tennis is not an exception and several figurines havebeen presented in TTC issues. In this article several of these figurines are presented.

Vienna Bronze foundries have been in existence since 1850. Mr. Bermann and Mr. Bergmann, theoriginal owners, designed many, many bronzes. There are approximately 20 to 30 thousand differentbronzes that the foundries are capable of producing.

Presently there are several foundries and therefore thereare different sculptures which are eagerly sought by thecollectors.

The bronzes are created by the lost-wax method, whichwas discovered about 5000 years ago. Some materialsand procedures have changed, but are essentially thesame: Forming a sculpture with a soft material; coveringit with another material; putting the conjunct in the fire,in order the inner material be melted, and leaving a cavitywhere melted metal be poured.

It is very difficult to establish the date of the table tennisVienna bronzes because the molds can be the same, butit is estimated that some of them are from the 1930s.

In the modern method, each bronze is separately cast.This means, if you have bronze playing cats, each cat andparts of the table are separate pieces. The bronzes aresand-casted. This is a procedure that consists of wetsand. They take the original mold, pressit it into the sand,which leaves an impression. Then, the worker pours inthe hot bronze. He lets it cool and then will hand file eachpiece. The pieces are then soldered together to createthe playing cats.

Playing hares

This dog (TTC 28) is an example of thedetails of the Vienna Bronzes.

Once the bronze is made, it will behandpainted with oil paint. Each piecehas approximately 5 to 10 coats ofpaint on them. This is a feast in itself.All these painters are artists and shouldbe appreciated for the work they do.

Table Tennis sculptures are small, with15 cm being the maximum length.

(Part of the text was adapted fromZalzburg Creations Inc. Home Page).

17Human players

Frog (TTC 30)

Frogs (TTC 55)

Pigs

Cats Another version of cats (TTC 30)

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By John Ruderham

Some table tennis leagues around the world may have come and gone, but there are several that have prevailedfor many years, are still active today and therefore legitimately entitled to the above title. The Plymouth & DistrictTable Tennis League held their one hundred year celebrations in 2003 (a full report can be found in TheCollector edition No. 32), the Sunderland & District Table Tennis League partied in 2010 and at the end of thismonth the Exeter Table Tennis League will no doubt be celebrating too. Over the coming years there will be afew more preparing for their centennial festivities as well.

However, I should like to propose that there is one league which canjustifiably lay claim to the crown of the oldest, continuous league inthe world. ETTA records show that the Bristol & District TableTennis Association was founded in 1919, but my investigationsindicate their creation was in fact considerably earlier. In January1902 the Bristol YMCA, just one of many organisations thrivingaround the city at this time and boasting over fifty registered players,was already leading the way in promoting the sport with theirpreparations for the “Championship of Gloucestershire”, attractingentrants from as far afield as London. When James MycroftBoucher (of Bristol) won that event at the Victoria Rooms in Cliftonon 11/12 March 1902, local newspapers were already reporting onmany, many “friendly” matches being played at this time betweenrival clubs. However, it wasn’t until later in the year that the WesternDaily Press on 6 October 1902 (see right) announced that “leadingplayers in the district” had formed the Gloucestershire Ping PongAssociation with Mr J Hart as Honorary Secretary, and which was tobe affiliated to the Ping Pong Association already created in Londonon 21 December 1901. Under the auspices of this new Association,I have counted at least forty newspaper reports of matches that thentook place between November 1902 and May 1903 amongnumerous clubs, many of which were connected with either the local

YMCA or church (seeleft just one example report published on 13 December 1902). Infact, at a General Meeting of the Ping Pong Association which tookplace earlier at the Queen’s Hall, Langham Place, London on 15 May1902, the Honorary Secretary, Mr Washington Gray, mentioned thathe had to “specially thank Mr Boucher (an Executive Committeemember of the PPA) for his help in the West of England”, so we cansee that Bristol was certainly at the forefront in the promotion of thegame at that time.

When the 1903/1904 season got under way, the reports in the WesternDaily Press and Bristol Evening Times were actually showing that theleague matches were being played under the title of theGloucestershire Association League (see a typical report right dated 15January 1904). No league tables appear to have been published, butthe teams that won more matches than they lost that season wereTotterdown YMCA, Mary Carpenter Memorial, Kingswood YMCA,Bishopston Institute, and the Manor House Institute, although StJames’s YMCA gained the greatest number of victories overall and in areport on 8 January 1904, it was stated that when Messrs Stamford,

Buse and Westlake featured, they were considered as “undoubtedlyone of the best teams in the West of England”. However, thirteenmonths earlier on 11 December 1902, they were soundly beaten bythe Clifton Ping Pong club comprising Messrs J M and F Boucher,Plum, Alder, Hay and Shove. Although league matches continued insubsequent seasons it was indicative of the “downturn” in thegame’s popularity nationwide after 1903 that reports of leaguematches typically diminished. What is evident, though, was that witha Division Two match report dated 26 January 1906 (see left), wecan see that the game in the West Country was still as popular asthe decade wore on as it was in 1902, although matches were now

restricted to four-a-side. However, with the majority of clubs situated in and around Bristol, the GloucestershireLeague had by this time modified its name to become the Bristol & District Table Tennis League, and this is alsoshown in the newspaper heading. The Plymouth league had done likewise and adjusted its title from the original“Three Towns and District Ping Pong League” and by 1908 had three divisions of its own, so we can see thatcontinuous league matches flourished in both of these early Associations long before the next one (theSunderland & District Ping Pong Union) was formed on 3 March 1910.

The superb group photograph alongside is of the Bristol LeagueDivision One winners at the end of the 1907/1908 season, whowere the Young Men’s Club team representing the St Michael andAll Angels Church in Bedminster. Noteworthy is that Messrs AlbertHenry Matthews and Samuel Ellis Jones were members of thesame club and team which played in the 1902/1903 season, so wecan again see that the game’s popularity among many devoteescertainly did not wane in the West Country. Another player by thename of James Thompson, who went on to claim the inauguralDaily Mirror title in May 1923 at Selfridges in London, was alsofeaturing at this time in the Bristol league, although by 1912 hedecided to take a break which lasted ten years.

Although the Bristol, Plymouth and Exeter leagues suspended league activities when World War I broke out dueto many players enlisting, the Sunderland league did manage to continue until 1915, as well as running theirIndividual Championships until 1917, and then recommencing all activities in 1919. It was not until after the Warhad ended, that in Bristol on 22 July 1919 a meeting was convened with the object of re-commencing the leagueprogramme and two divisions with six teams in each were up and running by 18 September 1919. That wassatisfactory until the 1921 season when it was then possible to run three divisions and also cups were madeavailable for the champions. The Bristol Individual Championships have run from the 1919/1920 season to thepresent day as well, with the first Men’s Singles winner being James Edwin Sherrard Hamilton who was also theleague’s first Chairman. It is also interesting to note that only wooden rackets were allowed in the Bristol leagueuntil the 1925/1926 season, but that changed when Bristol became one of the founder affiliated members of theETTA in 1926, as it did too for some other leagues around the country. Many renowned players have emanatedfrom the Bristol league over the years, such as Gilbert Belsten and Clifford Axe who both represented England inthe 1920s, along with James Thompson who was bestowed the England team captaincy in the 1926/1927

season soon after unfortunately facing the eventual Men’s Singles winner at the firstWorld Championships in London in 1926, Roland Jacobi, in the first round. CharlieDawes and Doug Shipton were other luminaries in the 1930s, as was Aubrey Simons(see left) who achieved a World number four ranking in 1953 following England’sSwaythling Cup win in Budapest that year. This year Aubrey has reached the age of 92.Other players of note who have graced the Bristol league over the years are ChrisSewell, Chester Barnes, and Margaret Fry. In the late 1970s, the Bristol league was veryproud of its status too as the largest league in the world, having no less than 29 divisionswith 14 teams in each submitted by 99 clubs, and in 1979 had 1497 registered players.Although numbers have dramatically plunged since that time all around the country,

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these last few years that “title” has alternated between the Bristol and Sheffield leagues(see right the Top Ten of registered ETTA individual league members as at the end of the2012/2013 season for information). However, just prior to the outbreak of World War II, thenumber of league players was on the rise almost everywhere and numbers wereexceptionally higher than they are today. For example, in the 1937/1938 season Bristolhad approximately 800 players registered, but the Birmingham and the Civil Serviceleagues could boast around 4,000 members each, although it was Birmingham that had byfar the largest number of clubs with a huge 174.

Anyway, with regard to my original challenge, I show below what I believe to be the definitive “Top Sixteen” ofthe world’s oldest league clubs – unless anyone else knows differently, of course! Both formed in 1925, theLiverpool and Lowestoft leagues stand just outside in 17th and 18th positions, but then follow quite a few thatwere founded in 1927, for example, Aylesbury, Manchester and Southend to name just three. Followingexhaustive research I have endeavoured to provide “exact” dates where already known or now discovered, but inmost cases only “years” are shown, although one or two of these are still awaiting further authentication. TheMaidstone League is just one that unfortunately does not possess an actual date, but nevertheless is alreadyplanning its centenary celebrations as the front cover of its latest Handbook proudly quotes “Founded 1919 –Heading for the big 100!” Some leagues over the years, however, have needed to amalgamate in order to

survive. One of those was the London Civil ServiceLeague, although formed in 1923, it then mergedseventy years later with the London Banks League(founded 1937), so I therefore present them jointly andas “continuous”. As regards the Cardiff & DistrictLeague I show its date as 1921, but I should mentionhere that I discovered an article in the South WalesEvening Express dated 28 November 1922 which refersto the league being “resuscitated” after the War. Thesame newspaper later reported on 2 January 1923 thatWalter Stanley Windsor had “held office of Secretary ofthe Cardiff League during two seasons before the War”,so along with additional references I have observedregarding several active clubs conducting matches in1912, 1908 and 1907, it is highly likely that they mayrise significantly higher in this table if further evidence isuncovered.

Although league founding dates were published in the very early ETTA Handbooks, unfortunately the 1951/1952edition seems to be the last that this was so. It was also interesting to learn that a few of the leagues’ foundationdates appeared to have been “amended” since the earlier editions, for example Plymouth was originally shownas 1906 until the 1938/1939 publication and this is one league that it has been suggested necessitates furtherinvestigation. The Birmingham league actually suspended operation of its 1929/1930 season and Exeter did notre-start after the War until 1920, but for the sake of just one year or so, and indeed the two world conflicts, I feelthat no leagues should be disregarded under these circumstances. Many leagues have, however, “disappeared”over time or ceased for a far longer period and are therefore not deemed to be classed as “continuous”, forexample the Scarborough League which was originally formed in 1902 but then shortly disbanded only to be re-formed twenty-nine years later. I was also very aware that when the “boom” period in England ended in 1904,the sport was taken up in Hungary a year or so later, but having already checked withtheir national association, it would appear that any early leagues that may have beenformed there very soon dissolved. Other countries around the world did not seem to startproceedings until the late 1920s and 1930s. The “Top Sixteen” therefore consists offifteen English leagues and one Welsh league so far. Of course, if any other league notincluded in the above list is able to provide evidence of their founding date and believe itshould be considered, or specific dates come to light where presently unknown, pleasedo let me or the ITTF know and this table may then be updated accordingly in a futureissue. Thank you.

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTYby Alan Duke

Intellectual Property is the collective term for the various methods employed to safeguard therights of owners, authors, inventors, publishers, etc: Trade Marks, Patents, Designs, andCopyright. Most countries operate broadly similar systems, but this series of articles will beconcerned primarily with that of the United Kingdom during the early days of table tennis (theend of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries).

TRADE MARKS

This is a special symbol or name that distinguishes the goods of one manufacturer or traderfrom those of another. The mark can be the name of a company or person represented in adistinctive way, a signature, an invented word or words, or a pictorial mark. It must bedistinctive and must not be similar to an existing mark registered for the same class of goods.

Thus a Trade Mark identifies the origins of an article (not necessarily a new invention), whilst aPatent protects a new product or process.

From left to right above are shown some examples of Parker Brothers’ U.S. Trade Marks for ‘Ping-Pong’:6 Aug 1901 36854 Game (Hamley Brothers).9 June 1931 283766 Bats and rackets of the tennis type for games.

9 June 1931 283767 Hollow composition and like balls for indoor bat or racket games, tablegames and the like.

24 May 1932 294408 Table and parts thereof especially constructed for a game.(Drawing lined for the color red)

A list of early UK Trade Marks was published in TTC 28, to which should be added Emma Barker’s‘Palmeretto’ (151408) [TTC 65]. A few early examples from the files of UK Trade MarkRepresentations are shown at the end of this article.

PATENTS

The grant of a Patent gives the sole right to manufacture and market an invention. An inventorhas no protection in law until he puts his thoughts into writing or produces a specimen article(and the invention must not have been made public prior to the application for a Patent).Patents generally apply only to the country in which they are granted, and must be for a “new”device or process, involving an “inventive step” (in order to exclude applications for slight ortrivial changes to existing items).

An application for a Patent commences with the submission of a Provisional Specification, whichmust include a description and the inventor’s “claims” for the invention. On receipt, the date isnoted and a number allocated. This date is very important, as it determines who was first withthe submission of an invention. Applications generally remain confidential until their finalacceptance and publication, the only notification being a listing in the weekly Official Journal of

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

the Patent Office, giving the number, applicant’s name, a brief description, and the date. AComplete Specification, providing full details and drawings, must be received within a set time-frame, after which detailed searches are made to determine the validity of the application. Ifsuccessful, the Patent is sealed and published, granting exclusive rights for 16 years. At the sametime, an abridged version is published, in one of a large number of Classes, in order to make thesearch process much quicker and easier (both for applicants and for validation).

The granting of Patents, and the rights these provide, was designed to encourage the disclosureof the subject matter to the public, and to encourage production of the item.

A list of early UK Patents was published in TTC 24 - 27, to which should be added the following:

Date Number Applicant Brief description

6 Nov 1901 22382 Robert Luke MayorImprovements in table games (cricket, billiards,bagatelle, parlour tennis, table croquet, quoits,golf, bowls, skittles, and nine-pins).

5 Dec 1901 24741 Benjamin Arthur Joule An improvement applicable to the handles of golfclubs, cricket bats, racquets and the like.

29 June 1921 176724 William Hopwood Frame for table fives.

2 March 1922 197767 James Honey Posts and clamps for table tennis and otherpurposes.

25 July 1934 435218Table Badminton Ltd,CJW Lashley, EE Natali,and WA Woolf

Improvements in or relating to means for playinggames (Table Badminton).

7 Dec 1934 445374 Roberts Bros (GlevumWorks) and Bert Butler

Improved apparatus for use in playing a TableGame, played by persons seated at table.

26 Oct 1944 592005 William Wright Improvements to the durability of bats for TableTennis.

18 Dec 1946 615605 Halex Ltd and SydneyWilliam Snell

Hollow ball of celluloid or the like plastic material,made from two similar pieces.

16 Jan 1947 620364 Miguel Llebot Caňellas Reinforced celluloid ball for playing ping-pong,table tennis or the like.

10 Nov 1948 648034 Halex Ltd and S W Snell(Technical Director) Table-tennis bat manufacture.

9 Feb 1949 657186 Jules Donier Table tennis ball manufacture.

With the two 1901 Patents in the above table added to those in the earlier listing, thisconstitutes a fairly comprehensive record of Patents from the early phase of the game. Theother examples above represent a few further selected entries from later periods.

This series will continue with a look at some Patent Applications which did not make it throughthe process, followed by Registered Designs, and finally Copyright.

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Examples of Representations of Trade Marks submitted with the original Applications

Received 25 Oct. 1890; Registered 4 Feb. 1891 Received 16 July 1891; Registered 12 Oct. 1892

Received 20 Sep. 1900; Registered 26 Dec. 1900 Received 31 Dec. 1900; Registered 22 Jan. 1902

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Is there any end to the variety of table tennis bats produced around 1900 and later? In the earlydays of my collecting I found examples - often unrecognized by dealers and very cheap - at everyfair or market which I attended, but now I see hardly any at all.

Here are a few of my discoveries - now permanently displayed in a shop cabinet which I picked upat a junk auction. I added the (appropriate) green baize and the pins which hold the bats.

I will be very pleased to hear from you if you can provide any information (which I will then passon to the Editor).

Top Row:A. Fretwork (but who produced this?)B. Cork blade with elegantly shaped gripC. Pimpled rubber with decal image of Bergmann (in jacket & tie!)D. An economy example!

Second Row:E. Mahogany blade and cork gripF. Cork blade and leather-covered gripG. Solid mahogany in one piece

Bottom Row:H. A fancy pattern in one pieceI. Suede leather surface, made by Parker Brothers, USAJ. Unique pyrography by R for the player LLSK. Basic but with fine mahogany grip 24

Gerald Gurney Shares his Rackets

Top Row:L. Fretwork - rare than the oval styleM. The Foroma Wizard by Greensmith Ltd (aluminium faced with rubber)N. Another “aerodynamic” bat, by Edan, GermanyO. Highly elegant - by W.A. Curnock

Second Row:P. Basic - and covered with clothQ Vellum battledore - by Jaques or an imitation?R. The Cumberland by Slazenger - sandpaper/cork

Bottom Row:S. Sandpaper with fine mahogany grip;T-U Pair, Nixon-Mao caricature bats from the Ping Pong Diplomacy era, 1971-72 (made in Hong Kong)V. Basic example by Cobbett, Marylebone

Note: All except C, T, and U belong to c. 1900-1910

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26

Philatelic Update

Special thanks to Hans-Peter Trautmann, Winfried Engelbrecht, Tang Ganxian, and MarcTemplereau for their helpful inputs.

France 2013 May 13 Gravure Luxe black print. Designed by Mrs. Sophie Beaujard,engraved by Mr. Pierre Albuisson.

Luxembourg 2.V.2013, 15 Games of the Small States of Europe, issued insheets of 10, with pictograms of different sports in the margins, includingTable Tennis. Enlarged to show the small pictogram in the margin, right.

China 2013.5.22 WorldChampionships, Paris. LIXiaoxia wins the Singles.

This mark from 2004 escaped ourattention, until recently found byHans-Peter Trautmann

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Postmark used in Verona, Italy, for theEurope Table Tennis Inter-Cup JoolaConsolation competition, 8-9 June. “Citta diVerona”, won by ASPTT LILLE MetropoleTennis de Table (FRA). The Finals of the2012-13 season were held in Rochols &Genevois, FRA, winner: Post SV Mühlhausen(GER) 3:0/12:4 over Morez Haut Jura (FRA)

Two varieties of Chinese red meters, 9.June.2013, for the China vs World Challenge

China 2013.04.20 TT folkchallenge jiyuan Henan

Note:Tang Ganxian (CHN) advises that the above two redmeters were used, even though the event wascancelled ! The Shanghai Post did not receive thenotice of cancellation.He also mentions that the folk challenge eventpostmark is from an earlier stage of the competition.The finals were played on 14 July. Perhaps we canexpect a special postmark for the finals.Thank you Tang Ganxian for this information.

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These and the next page are items from a personalized philatelic book celebrating China’s winningof all 4 Gold Medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The 1.20Y stamps have Olympic but not TTmotif, which appears in the attached photos, of CTTA officials, and the winners. Vignettes, not stamps

CTTA logo, & photo of men’s and women’s teams. I enlarged the postmark style cachet

Vignettes of Men’s Singles Gold Medalist Zhang Jike and the Men’s Team

Vignettes of Women’s Singles Gold Medalist LI Xiaoxia and the Women’s Team 29

Caution! The style looks very similar to cinderella items we have seen in pastissues. One seller on eBay acknowledged that they were printed in Lithuania andsent directly to the collectors’ market. But he said the printers have a certificationfrom the Postal officials in Mozambique stating that they are valid for post. TheUniversal Postal Union (UPU) is usually the best source for this kind of informationthrough its series of Philatelic Circulars, but no information yet on this issue. Canour philatelic specialists offer any clarification?

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Auction Action

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This season has featured many fine antique items upfor bids, especially in the Graham Budd auction. Alsoon eBay several fine early rackets, boxed sets fromFrance, Germany, England and the USA, books, balls,programmes. With a few exceptions the pricesseemed reasonable, indeed some were great bargains.

Silver Table Tennis trophy, 1902, won byH.A.Hawkey £450. Graham Budd auction.

Ping Pong clay pipe, c.1902 £100.

Silver plated Table Tennisprize bat, rare. £1150Graham Budd auction.

Original box with 9 Globe Metal Polish TableTennis celluloid balls. Rare. $132.50

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Three groups of early boxed sets from the Graham BuddAuction on May 13. Top: £420 Middle: £400 Bottom:£550. An average yield of about £150 per set, minus fees.

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Mellier’s Ping Pongperfume Bottle, only $24Seldom seen.

Tennis de Salon set, 4 drum rackets, 118 EurosAnother example attracted no bids at 200 Euro

Fine quality Jaques set in dovetailed wood box £336

Fine c.1902 wood boxed set by Williams of Paris,wood bats, rules, boxlid illustration & 2 tubes ofballs. Bargain at 200 Euros

Hallmarked Sterling Silver prize spoons, each withthe same Table Tennis scene. £31

1902 Parker Brothers set, illustrated lid, wood batswith pyro design on the handles, the AmericanOgilvie edition (paperback) of Arnold Parker’s PingPong and How to Play It. With the extras, this setcommanded $522.

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The Popular English Game, excellent box lid lithograph, with 4 finerackets, in wood box. This great set attracted much attention. $755

Card

Col

lect

or

Mollycoddle postcard, usually found with edgewear. $7

Ladies team photo-card, $37. Several pen-hold grips!

Tuck postcard 623.III Write Away series, “I am sending”, towhich the sender has added: “this to add to your collection.”An early collector ! Sold for a reasonable £15

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Playing cards from London 2012 Olympics (6D) and Para-lympics (9H) with official Table Tennis pictograms. £3 eachOfficial postcard from the London 2012

Olympic Games, issued in a 38-card set.

Royal Bayreuth 2-handle cup. $385 Exists in 2 other TT patterns

C.1902 era boxed set, plain wood bats, only $20

Seldom seen boxed set of “TAB-TEN” or Table Lawn Tennis, withlarge plain wood bats. Thisrealized £215 despite its box indistressed condition. This gamewas much hyped by David H. E.King, inventor. It appears to use anarrower table, marked withLawn Tennis court lines.

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Boxed set by McLoughlinBros (NY), with pair oflong handle battledores(1 side damaged), foldingfree-standing net, $25reserve not met. Boxlidalso has rules for Fives.

The Millenium Sports Award, presented to J-O Waldner,1 meter long ornate sword in presentation box. Asecond oval plaque says “European Meat”. Offered at arather optimistic $5000.

Book about the 1973 AAAGames, China. Excellentphotos. $10, in Chinese.

Das Ping-Pong Spiel, Berlin 1906. Interesting foreground shadows! €42.50

37Seldom seen postmark from the European YouthChampionships, Bad Blankenburg 1961

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This Bussey drum racket with leather collar & fine handle sold for an amazing1500 Euros !! The occasion was the ITTF Dream Builders auction, so themoney went to a good cause. For more info about the program, visit:http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_full_story2.asp?ID=31622&Category=

No bids at £50 for this No. 3 size battledore, 45 cm length

Small head strung rackets with blue leathergrip wrap, £140. This type is found in FrenchTennis de Salon sets, & in Le Spiro Ball, aFrench table tetherball game.

Fine drum racket by Williams (Paris)with textured bulbous handle. € 174

Vellum/strungcombinationracket $355

Wood rackets, unusual elongatedhandles. $350

Gold medal for the 1948 Corbillon Cup winner, England (ElizabethSteventon), in presentation box, with related documents. £312

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An ordinary very distressed box, plain wood rackets … butone collector spotted the treasure: the netposts are tubesthat hold extra balls, with a wood cap, and a wood piecethat can be used to lift the balls. A bargain at £12.50

The Clevum wood racket, turned ivorinehandle, and wood blade that has been cross-hatch cut to form primitive pips. £303.Important as it shows an early understandingof spin potential.

Right: Fine pair of wood bats with turnedhandles, sandpaper surface. C.1902 Sold fora surprising high price of $255Below left: Pair of Slazenger combinationrackets, 1 side pimpled rubber, the other, cork.Leather wrapped grips. A bargain at only £23.Below right: Fine pair of early wood bats. £62

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41Well preserved Dunlop Alpha hardbat, $124

Bergmann Popular Modell with picture decal,1925 SEK. Some of the Popular rackets had astrip of the pipped rubber on both sides of thehandle, for ventilation & better grip.

Jaques Improved Haydon hardbat, afterthe great English star, Adrian Haydon. £51

Desmond Douglas picture racket,mint condition, a strong £185

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Stiga ‘Tre Kronor’ hardbatsold for 887 SEK

Barna boxed bat from 1953, with original seal stillintact, and publicity card. $349. Another example,without the seal, but no white streak on the rubber,sold for $395 in a spirited auction.

Superb Stiga Demonsponge bat, 99 Euro.Demon was also a modelby Slazenger for bothTable Tennis and Tennisrackets.

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Table Tennis World Championships 1926-2013Results and Photographs, by Igor Batich (UKR).Meticulously researched - congratulations Igor !

History of Italian Table Tennis, by Dr. Fabio Colomboand Giorgio Malisani. 500+ pages! In the back sectionare international results and rankings. Well done guys!Available from: segreteria@editvallardi.com

Alec Brooks 1953 booklet, TableTennis Quiz, autographed, £27

Spalding’s 1902 booklet, $84

The amazingly prolific journalist and author Tim Boggan has released volume 13 in his legendaryseries on the History of USA Table Tennis. This, and volumes 1 through 12 are available at US $40each from: Tim Boggan, 12 Lake Avenue, Merrick, NY USA 11566

Diane Rowe’s 1965 classic, $37The 1955 Twins on TT sold for $20

Günther Angenendt ebay thorin2001Langacker 10a 44869 Bochum, Germany+49-2327-77117 ttanpp@gmx.dePre-war World Ch Programs; all TtitemsGerman boxed sets & bats; TT pins

Jorge Arango jharango@une.net.coCl. 10 No. 25-103 Ap.116 Medellin ColumbiaPhilatelic & general TT items Ebay: nofrah37

Michael L. Babuin, PhD USAPO Box 3401 Cary N,c. 27519 ebay: sirculesmike.babuin@townofcary.orgPre-1905 books, old film copies, programs

Oliver Born Germanyborn4TT@freenet.de www.old-butterfly.deOld Butterfly rackets, especially Korpa

Keith Bowler14 Ewell Street, Balmain, N.S.W.2041 Australia (02) 98104128Old magazines, publications up to 1961

Fabrice Chantriaux France10 Rue des Chevrefeuilles F-45130 Saint-Ay02.38.88.82.11 Fax: 02.38.45.94.29F.chantriaux@wanadoo.fr Stamps, cancels,Postcards, posters, old papers on TT

Colin Clemett colin@clemett.demon.co.uk7 Brookmead Way, Havant PO9 1RT UKHistorical documents

Fabio Colombo Italy drfabioc@gmail.comhttp://drfabiocolombo.ilbello.com/Table Tennis books, World Rankings. AuthorSeeking STIGA Stipancic rackets

Ron Crayden (ENG) in Memoriam

Andre Demeure Belgium 02/770.55.29Place de Mai 10 B-1200 BrusselsA.m.demeure@skynet.be Cancels, coins, redmeters, stationeries, color proofs, artistsheets, stamps (perf+imperf), postcards

Jean Devys Residence La petite vigne,20 rue Edgar Quinet, A16 F-59100 RoubaixFrance 33.320828444 Fax: 33.320650849 TTphilately, cycling jean.devys@orange.fr

Axel Dickhaus GermanyAtzienbacherf Str. 88 D-51381 Leverkusen+49 (0)2171 32108 Fax: 49 (0)2171.731478axel.dickhaus@freenet.de TT balls, phone cards

Alan Duke alan-duke2@talktalk.net2 Shapwick Close, Swindon WILTS. EnglandSN3 3RQ UK +44 (0) 1793 531234History, music & photo record of TT items

Sergio Durazzano durazzano@aruba.itVia Girardini 8, 33100 Udine, Italy0432.21105 Stamps & historical books

Winfried Engelbrecht GermanyVirgiliastr.21 D-45131 Essen 49.201.78.6795winfried.engelbrecht@imail.de Philately:Stamps, FDCs, Sheets, Postmarks, books,phonecards, tickets, stickers, W.C. Programs

Romualdas Franckaitis LithuaniaRfanckaitis@gmail.com

Gao Yi-bin gaoyibin2008@hotmail.com2-202 Lakeside Apartment, Jiangning,Nanjing, P.R.China 211100+8625 5212 3334 TT stamps, FDC, postcardsphonecards, coins, medals, pins, cancels

Roman Gelman rgpinman@aol.com24 Taverngreen Court, Baltimore, MD. USA21209 410 602 0267 Pins,,badges,medals

David Good dgood42@yahoo.com710 N.Waverly, Dearborn, MI 48128 USA+1 313 278 5271 c.1900 sets, equipment,ephemera, memorabilia

Scott Gordon USA sgordon@hardbat.com5340 Shelato Way, Carmichael, CA 95608+1 916 978 0117 www.hardbat.com filmsHistoric films,classic era hardbats, old books

Gordon Gotal mim-borovo@zg.htnet.hrMeduliceva 23 Zagreb 10000 Croatia+3851 4848 687 Exch: TT pins, medals, post-cards Acquire: WC & EC official badges(Guest, organizer, player, press, etc)

Steve Grant NY, NY USA authorNyman455@yahoo.com ebay: prompt101Ping Pong Diplomacy, Early 1900s TT

Esko Heikkinen esko.heikkinen@diacor.fiVainamoisenkatu 9 B 17 Helsinki 00100Finland +358 50 62532TT history, Stiga bats

Gerald Gurney +44.1206.230330Guildhall Orchard, Great Bromley ColchesterESSEX CO7 7TU England. All racket games, Allequipment, ephemera. Historian, author.Worldwide exhibitions. Swimming items.Exch: boxed sets, postcards, books, rackets

Rex Haggett rex.haggett@ntworld.com27 Meadow Close, Stratford-upon-AvonWarwickshire, CV37 9PJ England+44 (0) 1789 269352 Philately

Barry Hayward UK19 Little Hardwick Road, StreetlyWest Midlands WS9 0SDbarry_hayward@LHRstreetly.freeserve.co.uk

Chuck Hoey Curator, ITTF MuseumChemin de la Roche 11, RENENS 1020Switzerland museum@ittf.comArt bats, unusual bats, historic photos,Important medals, museum quality items

Martin Holland mjh44now@yahoo.co.uk44 Victoria Road, Barrow-in-Furness, CumbriaEngland BA14 5JU TT postcards & trade cards

Rolf Jaeger USA Tennisheritage@aol.comTennis and Table Tennis itemsCustom jewelry: www.tennisboutique.com

Dean Johnson USA3404 Holly Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23451(757) 478 3605 djab2b@aol.com

Jean-Francois Kahn France49 rue Leonardo da Vinci, 77330 Ozoir laFerriere jean-francois.kahn@upmc.fr+33 1 40779762 TT philately: imperf stampsSheets, color proofs, minister/artist sheets,errors, postmarks, meters, FDCs, specimens

Christian Klaus Möllersdorf, Austria43.664.8546343 christian.klaus@agum.netTT stamps, cancels, postcards, autographcards, FDCs, historic photos, magazines,Newspapers, score-lists, books, posters …

Jan Kleeven sjangkleeven@planet.nlMargrietstraat 63 6373 NN LandgraafNetherlands Pins, flags, pennants, stamps,Phonecards, stickers

Matti Kolppanen FinlandKollekannaksent 12E, FI-02720 Espco matti.kolppanen@kolumbus.fiTT history, TT postcards

Randy Koo NetherlandsTorenwacht 37, 2353 DB Leiderkorp+31 071 5417413 rkoo@planet.nlStamps mint, postmarks, red meters, FDC

Hans Kreischer +34965698195Avenue les Comargues 21, Busot-Allicante03111 Spain hanskreischer@hotmail.comwww.ttmuseum.nl

Kevin Lau USA kevintennis@yahoo.com7544 N.Claremont Ave, Chicago, IL 60645773-719-0860 Philatelic, pins, coins,memorabilia, souvenir & decorative items

Collector Directory

44

Caron Leff csleff@aol.com USA9201 Lalique Lane #1602, Ft. Myers, FL33919 Interest: pins

Francis Leibenguth France1 résidence des Hauts de Villebon 91140 Villebon-sur-Yvette +33951966614stanfl54-hardbat@yahoo.frVintage bats (esp hardbats), vintage setshttp://raquettes-collection.blog4ever.com

Jorgen Lindh joli@mbox303.swipnet.seEgnahemsgatan 13D S-43242 VarbergSWEDEN ebay ID: joliswede

Steve Luck, 12 Liskey Hill, Perranporth,Cornwall TR6 0ET Phone: 07860 446209steve@stevelucktennis.com racket sports,rowing, billiards, croquet, archery ...

Fabio Marcotulli Venezuelalailagalvez@yahoo.com ebay ID: zappirosBarna rackets, TT items from all eras

Hubert Menandhubert.menand@laposte.netPresident, AFCTT (French TT Collectors)

Eldon Mohler eam2@ix.netcom.com1820 E.Warm springs Rd.Suite 112 Las Vegas. NV 89119 USAFax: +1-702-453-8472

Erik Kenneth Muhr England UK2 Highgate Hill, Hawkhurst KENT TN18 4LB01580 752676 History of Table Tenniskenmuhr@btopenworld.com

Rudolf Mueller GermanyBahnhofstr. 58 D-57250 Netphen 02738-1461 Stamps, cancels, letter, error, redmeters r-mueller-netphen@t-online.de

Jan Nusteleyn NetherlandsWeserstraat 21, 9406 VP Assen 0592-356050 e-mail: nleyn@hotmail.comStamps, mint perforated FDCs red meters,cancels WC, EC, EC-Youth, Top-12

Robert Op de Beeck +03/455.41.59J.F.Willemstraat 66 2530 Boechout BELGIUM

Florian Pagel Germany flo.p@gmx.netOlder Banda, Stiga, Joola, Butterfly, Imperial

Gregory PinkhusovichApt.10, h.2 Sheshet Ha-Yamim StrAriel 40700 ISRAEL +972-54-3394739gpinkhusovich@yahoo.com TTpins, badges, medals, coins

Alberto Prieto USAalberto@valortabletennis.com

Robin Radford rjradford@xtra.co.nz16 St Edmund Cr TAWA, Wellington, NZ+64 04 232 5672TT cartoons, comic strips, clip art

Jose Ransome”Conifers” Church Lane ORMESBYMiddleborough TS7 9AU ENGLAND01642 322223 ajransome@aol.com

Geoff Reed21 Beaulieu Park, St Helier.Jersey JE24RN reedgeojtta@gmail.com44.01534.730132 Table Tennis history

Helmut ReinhardtFriedrich-Voss-Platz 19,D-24768 Rendsburg, GERMANYH.Reinhardt-Stral@kabelmail.de

Ortwin Schiessl AustriaLascygasse 14-16, A-1170 WIENortwin.schiessl@aon.at table tennisphilately: Stamps, sheets, FDC, postmarks

Lutz Schoenfeld Germanyselling Table Tennis items on ebay: pongistee-mail: rulusch@t-online.de

Martin Senn St. Gallen, Switzerlande-mail: keys@swissonline.chSeeks old Stiga blades & catalogues

Luigi Simeoni luigi_simeoni@libero.itVia Ponte S.Pancrazio 2/a 37133 VeronaItaly 0039 045 532033 TT Balls, catalog

Harry Sintemaartensdijk NetherlandsJulianastraat 8,2651 DP Berkel en Rodenrijs0031 105114621 harry.smd@kpnmail.nlTischtennis Aufklebers/stickers

Tang Gan Xian P.R.Chinatangganxian2013@163.comQing Hu 4-35-104, ChangShu 215500+86-512-52722359 TT stamps, FDC, pinspostmarks, postcards, phonecards,tickets,

Marc Templereau France tpam@free.fr16 Hameau des cerisiers 38150 RoussillonSecretary, AFCTT (French TT CollectorsAssoc) http://afctt.over-blog.comCollections : stamps, FDC, players postcards,autographs, programs

Michael Thomson1 Kinnoull Terrace, PERTHPH2 7DJ SCOTLAND UK 01738 622052thomsonmfamily@blueyonder.co.ukJaques and history of Table Tennis

Solazzi Tonino solton66@virgilio.itVia Millefonti 6 / 5 10126 Torino, Italy00393391870279 Table Tennis pins

Hans-Peter Trautmann GermanySiegfriedstr. 17 64385 Reichelsheimhpt@hptrautmann.de ebay ID: hpt146Stamps mint, perf + imperf, sheets, colorproofs, minister/artist sheets, postmarks,errors, red/blue meters

Graham TrimmingRosemount Juniper LaneWooburn Green, Bucks HP10 0DE England44 (0) 1628 529609graham.trimming@virgin.net pre-1939 TTitems, esp c.1900s. Acquire: Gossima 1891;early unusual items; early World Ch items.

Nikola Turk nikola.turk@zg.t-com.hrUlica Pavla Hatza 26, Zagreb 10000 CroatiaSport historian, Sport-recreation activist,journalist Professor of Kinesiology. Philatelic

Damir Uzorinac CroatiaPrilaz Gjure Dezelica 20 10000 ZagrebDamir.Uzorinac@pliva.hr 38598474982Books, pins, stamps, cancellations

Russ Walker rj_wal@msn.com4316 Irving Ave N, MPLS MN 55412 USA+1-612-522-7905 ebay ID: russw58Early 1900s equipment & boxed sets

Yao ZhenxuRoom 401 Unit 1 Building 2No. 4 Dongsikuaiyu South StreetChongwen District, Beijing 100061, China+86-13911990508 cttayao@china.comTT stamps, FDC, postcards, coins, pins,phonecards, postal material, tickets etc

Jos Zinkstok NetherlandsNeckarstraat 8 NL9406 VN ASSEN+31 592 350486 Fax: 0031 592 355861j.zinkstok@poveia.nlwebsite: www.poveia.nlTT cancellations, stamps, vignettes, onreal used, letters/covers/cards, FDC

Anton Zwiebel In Memoriam

45

Collector Directory

Heavy Metal

Copyright ITTF Museum 2013 Published by the ITTF Museum: Chemin de la Roche 11, CH-1020 RENENS,SWITZERLAND e-mail: museum@ittf.com website: ittf.com/museum

No part of this journal may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher

From the 2013 World Championships in Paris Bercy, theGold, Silver and Bronze medals, with special thanks toClaude Bergeret of the FFTT. Detailed match scores areavailable on the ITTF Museum website: World Ch Results

The Gold Medal Congratulations to:Men’s Singles: Zhang Jike (CHN)Women’s Singles: LI Xiaoxia (CHN)Men’s Doubles: Chen C / Chuang C (TPE)Women’s Doubles: Guo Yue/LI Xiaoxia (CHN)Mixed Doubles: KIM Hyok Bong/Kim Jong (PRK)

The Silver Medal Congratulations to:Men’s Singles: WANG Hao (CHN)Women’s Singles: LIU Shiwen (CHN)Men’s Doubles: HAO Shuai/MA Lin (CHN)Women’s Doubles: DING Ning/LIU Shiwen (CHN)Mixed Doubles: LEE Sangsu/Park Y (KOR)

The Bronze Medal Congratulations to:Men’s Singles: MA Long, XU Xin (CHN)Women’s Singles: DING Ning, ZHU Yuling (CHN)Men’s Doubles: Kishikawa/Mizutani (JPN) WANG Liqin/ZHOU, Yu (CHN)Women’s Dbles: Feng Tianwei/Yu Mengyu (SIN) CHEN Meng/ZHU Yuling (CHN)Mixed Doubles: Cheung Yuk/Jiang Huajun (HKG) WANG Liqin/RAO Jingwen (CHN)