60/562/1-16

Playing fields: Our Sporting Life in the countryside, Common Salt

These sixteen samples show various stages in the making of a cricket ball. The samples are part of a large collection of traditional craft products acquired from the British Council in 1960. They were supplied by John Wisden & Co. Ltd., sellers of cricketing equipment, of Penshurst, Kent, circa 1945–6. The samples show: two pieces of leather, dyed scarlet, from which the cover is cut; four sections of the cover, pierced; two halves of the cover, stitched; the blocked cover; two reinforcing pieces; the blocked cover with the reinforcing pieces in place; the two covers cut to size; the covers stitched over the ‘quilt’ or core (the core is missing from the set), showing the first seam; the covers stitched over the ‘quilt’, showing the second seam and holes for the third; and the completed ball.

16 samples for a cricket ball

MERL miscellaneous note, B. L. 22 March 1961 – ‘The British Council collection. // This collection of material which is covered by the accession numbers 60/430 to 60/791 contains examples of craft products made in the British Isles. The major part of the collection was prepared immediately after the Second World War for a travelling exhibition which was sent to Australia and New Zealand. // The collection was purchased for a nominal sum by the Museum in two portions, the one in the summer of 1960 and the other in February 1961. // For further details see the individual catalogue cards and the catalogue prepared for the temporary exhibition of the collection.’, MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘This series of sections is designed to show the stages in the making of a cricket ball. In order of development they are:– 2 pieces of leather, dyed scarlet, from which the cover is cut; four sections of the cover, pierced ready for closing (the holes should not penetrate the surface of the leather); the two halves of the cover showing stitches (the sewing throughout is by hand with a hemp or linen thread, a bristle being used as a needle); blocked cover; two reinforcing pieces; blocked cover with reinforcing pieces in place; the two covers cut to size; the covers stitched over the ‘quilt’ or core (note the ‘quilt’ is missing from the set) showing the first seam; ditto showing first and second seams and holes for the third; the completed ball. // From: John Wisden & Co. Ltd., Penshurst, Kent.’, British Council ‘Exhibition of Rural Handicrafts from Great Britain’ Exhibition Catalogue, 1946, ‘Introductory Note’ – ‘This exhibition contains only examples of handicrafts that are still being practised in the British Countryside. It is confined to the work of our traditional craftsmen and women who, with very few exceptions, would not think of themselves as artists or designers but whose work, nevertheless, so greatly enriches the daily life of those who live with and use their products. The work of these craftsmen, too, provides the basis from which many artist-craftsmen gain technical knowledge and inspiration. // Included with these rural crafts are eight screens showing handicraft processes which can be undertaken by schools or adults who wish to practise a craft at home. In this way we hope these examples of Britain’s country crafts may be related to a practical aspect of present day life in the Dominions and meet the increasing need to find satisfying ways of using the leisure which machinery now makes available to us. // Along with her traditional rural crafts Great Britain seeks to employ all the resources of modern agricultural science and engineering. We have therefore included with this exhibition some photographs showing examples of recent developments in agricultural machinery.’, British Council ‘Exhibition of Rural Handicrafts from Great Britain’ Exhibition Catalogue, 1946, ‘Screen L. Making a Cricket Bat and Ball’, p.17 – ‘The Bat // English grown willow (Salex Alba) provides the best wood; willows grown elsewhere prove too brittle or heavy. When the trunks reach a circumference of about 50 inches they are felled in winter and sawn into lengths of 2 feet 4 inches. These are hand cleft into 10 or 12 segments. The segment is next sawn into a blade and stacked to season six months in the open, six months indoors, and then partly shaped with a draw knife. The face of the blade is then subjected to a pressure of 2 tons per square inch to harden it. The sides are also pressed and the V-shaped splice to take the handle is sawn out. // The handle is made from imported Sarawak cane. This is cut into the necessary lengths and planed square, 12 to 16 pieces of cane being glued into units of four called “slips” for each handle. In order to absorb shock three strips of rubber are glued between the slips. // The whole handle is now turned on a lathe to its round shape. The end of the handle is sawn to fit the blade exactly. Nothing but glue and a perfect fit hold the two parts of the bat together. The bat is then further finished by plane and drawknife and at this stage correct weight and balance are achieved. The bat is again pressed and rubbed with sandpaper. The handle is then bound and given its grade and maker’s mark. A final burnish with a bone on the blade makes the bat ready for use.’, British Council ‘Exhibition of Rural Handicrafts from Great Britain’ Exhibition Catalogue, 1946, p.17–18 – 'L.10. The centre or “quilt” made of cork and worsted. // L.11. Pieces of leather dyed scarlet, from which the cover is cut. // L.12. The four sections of the cover, pierced ready for “closing.” The holes do not penetrate the surface of the leather. // L.13. The covers showing stitches. The sewing through-out is done by hand with a linen or hemp thread, a bristle being used as a needle. // L.14. Leather quarters reinforce the covers, which are roughly blocked to shape. // L.15. The covers cut and blocked to size. // L.16. The quilt fitted to the covers, showing first and second seams and holes for third seam. // L.17. The completed ball. // Supplied by John Wisden & Co. Ltd., Kent.’, British Council Ref. No. NZ L10, L11, L12, L13, L14, L15, L16, L17.

1945 - 1946

Ball, cricket, Sample