James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annaul 1897

iii. J A M E SL I L L YW H I T E, F R O W D& Co. C R I C K E T B A . T H EB A Tis , by universal consent , the implement of greatest interest to Cricketers , and on it, therefore , the manufacturer finds the greatest scope for his efforts . Being required for offence as well as defence, it is like the Warrior's blade, " both Swordand Shield ," and hence the importance of concentrating in a single weapon all the qualities most valued by Cricketers . To satisfy the demands of modern players is no light or easy matter , as they involve conditions all but irreconcileable . TheBat is usually required to be light , yet to have plenty of wood, to have immensedriving powers, yet to be well balanced , so that it m a y" comeup well." Theblade being madeof willow-a light and soft wood-the face of it has necessarily to be hardened; but to obtain the best results the wood must not be condensed throughout , or the grain crushed by great pressure , as the natural elasticity would thereby be injured . Very few manufac- turers appear to understand the correct method of performing this important operation . Then, too, the handle must have plenty of spring , without being weak; it must have just the right amount of ovalling , and be well and truly spliced into the blade . Finally , in addition to all the special qualifications stated , great durability is demandedand expected . Such Bats as w e have described are naturally highly prized by Cricketers everywhere, but as they can only be produced by a manufacturer w h ois an artist as well as a good mechanic and painstaking m a nof business , while the special quality of willow required for them is difficult to obtain, and yearly growing scarcer and dearer , it will be apparent that the quantity of the highest class of Bats must always be limited ; andthe demandbeing great , they naturally commanda good price . Theremainder are valuable in proportion to the nearness with which they approach to the s t a n d a r dof first-class. JAMES LILLYWHITE, FROWD& Co. have for manyyears past made amostcareful study how best to overcome the difficulties above referred to, and as a result of their labours they have succeeded in inventing a numberof machines and special appliances whichenable themto produce the highest class of Bats with a certainty altogether unknownto the rule of thumb method so generally practiced . Of course , the first necessity is to possess good materials , and therefore J.L. ,F. & Co. have always acted on the principle of purchasing the very finest willow that could be obtained , andkeeping a large stock of it . Theyhave, therefore , always plenty of thoroughly seasoned woodready for use. Further, they employonly highly skilled workmen, who are then trained to carry out the firm's ideas . Finally , the Bats , when completed , are subjected to a process of continuous oiling andseasoning in a carcfully regulated temperature in a large ware- house specially built for this purpose, and are then ready for use, andm a y be sent with the fullest confidence to the most trying climates in the world. 2, NEWINGTONCAUSEWAY, AND 69 TO 74, BOROUGHROAD, LONDON, S.E,