Wimbledon, the oldest tennis tournament, was founded in 1877, and the first australian open was held in 1905. Early tennis racquets borrowed their design from the older sport of real tennis, an early racket sport dating back to around the 16th century and played by the rich and elite. Tennis racket materials, design, evolution and testing. Pioneering tennis player renee richards recalls the glory. I floated this hypothetical out a couple years ago, but the thought still intrigues me. In 1874, major walter wingfield created marketing history by packaging racquets, nets, posts and balls into sets to sell as the first outdoor tennis sets. This manual is a must for any serious tennis racket collector.
Materials have driven the historical development of the tennis. Modern rackets are composed mainly of graphite, strips of which are wrapped around a racket mould and left to harden. Early racquets were also lop sided however as the game progressed so did the desire. The first tennis games were played not using rackets, but hands, very similar to handball today. A steel tennis racket was patented in 1965 by the french player rene lacoste, and in 1968 the spalding company marketed the first aluminum rackets. The main focus of the collectors guide is on rackets made, or marketed, by american makers, mostly from the turn of the century to the 1980s. Tennis came to america in the 1870s but many of the rackets from the earliest days of modern lawn tennis are beyond the reach of all but a few collectors. Throughout most of lawn tennis history, most rackets were made of laminated wood, with heads of around 65 square.
All of these items have been sold in the auctions or retail sales of, the sponsor of this website. There was a resurgence of interest in tennis going on around the time of the battle of the sexes ii in 1973 between billie jean king and bobby riggs. A collectors guide designed for collectors and sellers of wood tennis rackets. Includes several reference aids to assist in the identification of racket models. Early rackets were made of wood, which was not as good as modern. In the late 1960s, wilson popularized the t2000 steel racket with wire wound around the frame to. Shop from the worlds largest selection and best deals for tennis rackets. Description 4 x tennis rackets including maxply fort. A row of books were stood up along the center of the table as a net, two more books served as rackets and were used to continuously hit a golfball from one end of the table to the other. Since the sports inception, the design and manufacture of tennis equipment has been affected by technological advances and regulations. As part of our continuing effort to undertake research for the compilation of our book, wood tennis rackets, a collectors guide, we.
Antique and vintage tennis rackets, cans, books, and collectibles is are homepage and we are pleased to offer some of our items on this ecrater website. Racket dating was principally carried out using a book 2 and the museum catalogue. This incredible vintage tennis item comes in the form of a wooden box that back in 1888, held a complete lawn tennis kit. Old tennis rackets are fun to collect or even use on the court, and they have a distinct style that many can appreciate. Racket illustrations, generations, 1900s1960s, set 2 24 pictures in a poster format. Tennis is an old sport with a rich history of technological development in equipment. The racket was manufactured in england, uk and is in excellent condition. Advances in laminating technology resulted in the first tennis racket made of laminated wood in 1947.
Lammer and others published materials and tennis rackets find, read. With this in mind, we bring you the five most expensive tennis rackets ever sold at auction. Jun 03, 2011 what is the price range for an antique wooden tennis racket. Valentines day special vintage wooden antique tennis badminton racquetball racquets assorted brands. During the history of tennis rackets there has been a number of rackets of significant importance.
Wood tennis rackets, graphite old school tennis rackets. A smashing history of how tennis rackets evolved from wood. Classification of american wood tennis rackets for the 20th century. Wooden racquets did get better during these 100 years, with improvements in laminating technology using thin layers of wood glued together and in strings, but they remained heavy 14 ounces, with small heads around 65 square inches. The most complete and only book to document the evolution of tennis rackets. These games were played first with the bare hand, later with gloved hands, then with hands wrapped in rope. It is their bristol model with a laminated convex wedge and probably dates to sometime around 1900 to 1910. Evolution of tennis rackets this article is intended as a brief, nostalgic journey through tennis racket development, mentioning significant milestones. Jan 05, 2012 licensed to youtube by wmg on behalf of evosound. Includes a discussion of racket production and several aspects of building a collection. See todays antique tennis rackets for sale, best offer and auction. Wooden rackets started to be used in the middle of the nineteenth century when lawn tennis was invented and beginning to gain popularity. The wood rackets were all based off natural wood and while we sold millions and millions of rackets in those years, there was no real definite evolution, he says.
The consensus is that the game of tennis was originally played by french monks during the 11 th or 12 century. If you think that this tennis racket is expensive, wait until you see what the next four went for. In the week before the tournament, as i practiced with my old kramers last used in 1982, my first year of college tennis, i was visited by a longforgotten pleasure. This is very nice early tennis racket complete with the original case. The original blue color is faded, but it offers a quaint look into the history of the sport.
Books racket collecting rackets resources wood tennis rackets, a collectors guide. Unfollow vintage tennis rackets to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Ever since i saw todd martin ball out with a wooden racket against chang a couple years back, ive wondered how the best would do if they were forced to play with old technology. It is not intended as a complete history of tennis racketsthere are any number of internet sites that have that type of article and go into detail to the nth degree. Racquets saw only minor changes between 1874 and the end of the wooden racquet era more than 100 years later.
Vintage history of the tennis racket antique display case shadowbox. Most likely it would have included two or four rackets, the net, the posts and stakes to assemble the net, and possibly a few lawn tennis balls. Heavy wooden tennis rackets with frames to keep them from warping. Rackets or racquets is an indoor racket sport played in the united kingdom, united states, and canada. If youre a fan of tennis, youll know that its equipment has gone through significant changes. How tennis racket is made material, making, used, parts. The wooden rackets used in this period were created with a wide head so that it was easier to use the ball, but the rackets were also relatively heavy. The impact of materials testing on design developments of individual racket components is.
Periods and generations, summary of all generations a one page summary to accompany the poster formats. Wood tennis rackets and antique vintage tennis collectibles including old school graphite tennis rackets, cans, balls, books, and accessories advanced search. Kuebler s 1995, book of tennis rackets from the beginning in the 16th century until about 1990. A smashing history of how tennis rackets evolved from wood to. I dont know if im ready to sell them yet but here they are. The history of the tennis racket shadow box wall decor. Jan 22, 2020 tennis a smashing history of how tennis rackets evolved from wood to fibre and changed the game the open era in 1968, when professionals and amateurs began competing together for cash prizes, was. Until the 1970s, tennis rackets were made out of woodmost commonly ash and beech. Tennis and other racket sports books for sale by wilfrid m. This vintage tennis racket is an 1889 edition that bears the initials c. What is the price range for an antique wooden tennis racket. Tennis racket trader vintage buy and sell new and used.
A racket or racquet is a sports implement consisting of a handled frame with an open hoop. Unfollow vintage wooden tennis rackets to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Wood is still used for real tennis, rackets, and xare. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. A small number of them were made of metal, such as a 1920s racket by dayton. The history of tennis is the history of the tennis racket. And my uncle gave me 2 rackets he found in his basement. Aug 19, 2014 pioneering tennis player renee richards recalls the glory days of wooden rackets after winning the new york state mens title in 1964, richard raskind became renee richards and a civil rights icon. Aug 14, 2011 i am a sophomore in highschool and am a pretty decent tennis player. The sport is infrequently called hard rackets, possibly to distinguish it from the related sport of squash formerly called squash rackets.
I recently found a pair of very old wooden rackets and im kind of curious about their worth and exactly how old they are. Throughout most of lawn tennis history, most rackets were made of laminated wood, with heads of around 65 square inches 420 cm 2. The design evolution of tennis rackets is briefly covered. Celebrating more than 60 years of inspiring, informing and entertaining the collecting community. Until 1965, all professional tennis rackets were made of wood. What the metal rackets made possible was a change in design to allow a broader head.
As is common in major sports, regulations became more exacting over time, with improvements affecting the qualities of the tennis racket and the tennis ball. Alternatively table tennis was played with paddles made of cigar box lids and balls made of champagne corks. Tennis rackets quite heavy, with wood protective covers. Shop for old spalding tennis rackets online at target. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Regarding tennis rackets, up until 1882 lopsided or tilt top rackets were made. The five most expensive tennis rackets sold at auction.
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