Oldest putter in my collection....50 years today

[KRW59]

This putter was given to me by my grandfather, 50 years ago today, on my 10th

birthday. It was his first putter , given to him in 1919 . 100 years in the

family. I will be giving it to my grandson , this spring when I make my annual

trip to the San Diego area ....I think it was made between 1896 - 1900

Edit: ( just found out made in 1917 )

 

-MADE BY-

CRAWFORD McGREGOR & CAMBY CO

DAYTON OH

 

 

 

 

Appears to be a cast aluminum body , with a carbon steel face insert ,

Total static weight 356 grams , 6:00 toe hang , still all original...

[BIG STU]

WOW! Nice--- Great story too. I am glad you are passing it on within your family

[TheMoneyShot]

Great story and what an awesome piece for the collection. You should frame it and place it on the wall in the man cave:)

[SubaruWRX]

Killer backstory on this one!

[Dr.Frankenputz]

It’s a beauty

[tokeyb]

That is just fantastic.

[PeanutsDaddy]

Looks primed for a refinish ; )

 

Fabulous patina. Love the pinned, hickory shaft and leather wrapped grip.

 

Will the putter see future action or will it serve as a ‘wall hanger’?

 

Thank you for sharing.

[sailfishchris]

That's Incredible! What I also find incredible is that putter design has not changed in over 100 years- looks like an Odyssey 9

[KRW59]

Looks primed for a refinish ; )

 

Fabulous patina. Love the pinned, hickory shaft and leather wrapped grip.

 

Will the putter see future action or will it serve as a ‘wall hanger’?

 

Thank you for sharing.

 

Thank you all for the kind words . I'm going to take the advice of a few here and

box frame it with a gutta percha ball. Hopefully the grandson ( age 10 ) will hang

on to it for another 50 years . Then pass the torch to his grandson.

 

I have been giving the grandson cut down Scotty's , every other year , since age 6

 

Edit: could not resist adding this priceless moment...the grand daughter, age 4

and me,last summer at my home course. With her first putter (customized 2 ball)

 

[jray]

Amazing story!

[gambit]

Chief called and said this is it

[tleader]

Very cool putter and sentiment.

[Zigzog]

Love this, amazing! :)

[wfrogge1]

Question, why do you think its cast aluminum?

[KRW59]

Question, why do you think its cast aluminum?

 

Overall total weight of the putter is only 356 grams , that rules out lead ,

magnet dosen't stick to it , rules out any ferrous metals . There are a couple

of small air pocket holes in the rear edge left during the casting process.

And the texture and estimated density are almost identical to my outdoor solid

cast aluminum patio furniture. I know aluminum was not very common until after

1900 , but was starting to become available in household goods ( flatware).

Also the largest supplier of aluminum in the U.S at the time was in the Pittsburg

area. So... by no other means than circumstantial evidence , I guessed.....

 

Kind of the way I came up with date it was made....Crawford , McGregor and

Camby didn't all get together until 1896 . And McGregor changed his name to

MacGregor in 1900 , because that was the more common Scottish way of

spelling / saying it. They thought if they had a Scottish name it would add to their credibility as a producer of golf equipment, (McGregor is Irish) ...

[majic]

The face is lead. I think it’s a Norit or it was a Norit patent. Early MacGregor. I will try to find a catalog picture.

[KRW59]

The face is lead. I think it’s a Norit or it was a Norit patent. Early MacGregor. I will try to find a catalog picture.

A magnet is strongly attracted to the insert. Carbon steel ?

It's the rest of the head that a magnet will not stick to.

 

Edit . I found a listing of it in an auction catalog .1917 Macgregor .

Aluminum head with lead insert. Description fits except for the insert is

definately a magnetic material . Well...that clears up the actual age of the

putter ... still 100 years in the family .. just not as old as I thought.

 

Thanks Majic ( Tad )

 

Edit: catalog was from auction held Dec.4th 1999 at the Wilson World Hotel

Irving , Tx. Item #16.

[Frid_the_kid]

As a Dayton, Ohio resident- I’m fairly familiar with the company story. I read once that they were possibly the first American company to build a course for their employees.

 

Really cool piece of history!