James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1899

J A M E SL I L L Y W H I T E , F R O W D& Co. iii. C R I C K E T B A . T H EB A Tis , byuniversal consent, the implement of greatest interest to Cricketers , and on it, therefore , the manufacturer finds the greatest scope for his efforts . Being required for offerce 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 immense driving powers , yet to be well balanced , so that it may" come up well." Theblade being madeof willow-alight and soft wood-the face of it has necessarily to be hardened ; but to obtain the best results the wood mustnot 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 beingweak; it must have just the right amountof ovalling , andbe well and truly spliced into the blade. Finally , in addition to all the special qualifications stated , great durability is demanded and 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 , andyearly growing scarcer and dearer, it will be apparent that the quantity of the highest class of Bats must always be limited ; and the demandbeing great , they naturally commanda good price . The remainder are valuable in proportion to the nearness with whichthey approach to the standardof first -class . JAMES LILLYWHITE, F R O W D& Co. have for m a n yyears past made amostcareful study h o wbest to overcome the difficulties above referred to, and as a result of their labours they have succeeded in inventing a number of machines and special appliances which enable them to produce the highest class of Bats with a certainty altogether unknownto the rule of thumbmethodso generally practiced . O fcourse, 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 , and keeping a large stock of it . They have , therefore , always plenty of thoroughly seasoned wood ready for use . Further , they employ only highly skilled workmen, who are then trained to carry out the firm's ideas . Finally , the Bats , whencompleted , are subjected to a process of continuous oiling and seasoning in a carcfully regulated temperature in alarge ware- house specially built for this purpose , and are then ready for use , and may besent with the fullest confidence to the mosttrying climates in the world. 2, NEWINGTONCAUSEWAY, AND 09 TO 74, BOROUGHROAD, LONDON, S. E. L 2