George Nicoll date of forging from hand cleek

[BobUno]

I have  a George Nicoll, GEM putter, "Rustless", Hand Forged in Scotland", " Leven, Fife, Scotland" impressed into the metal when forged on the back of the putter.  The classic George Nicoll "hand of friendship" cleek mark logo is also impressed on the back of the club.  

 

Oddly, the club has a metal True Temper Century shaft, likely from the 70's, and an old style "Golf Pride" grip which has a Golf Pride logo in Cursive lettering on the Grip Cap.  The Grip Cap is rounded, not curved.  

 

So, my question:  How do I date this club from the cleek mark.  I understand there were several examples of the hand and they can be used to date range the club date of forging.  Does anyone have information to assist in dating this club.

 

Bob 

[Foozle]

10 hours ago, BobUno said:

I have  a George Nicoll, GEM putter, "Rustless", Hand Forged in Scotland", " Leven, Fife, Scotland" impressed into the metal when forged on the back of the putter.  The classic George Nicoll "hand of friendship" cleek mark logo is also impressed on the back of the club.  

 

Oddly, the club has a metal True Temper Century shaft, likely from the 70's, and an old style "Golf Pride" grip which has a Golf Pride logo in Cursive lettering on the Grip Cap.  The Grip Cap is rounded, not curved.  

 

So, my question:  How do I date this club from the cleek mark.  I understand there were several examples of the hand and they can be used to date range the club date of forging.  Does anyone have information to assist in dating this club.

 

Bob 

Bob, I am no expert on the subtle cleek mark variations through time. The basic head design was used over an extended period from the hickory era through to relatively " modern" times  by classic / vintage standards.

I have a GN Zenith putter which I bought new sometime in the '80's. I am guessing yours may be of similar age given the shaft and grip. 

 

[Foozle]

40 minutes ago, BobUno said:

I am beginning to wonder if what I have is a putter or an iron.  Here are some pictures.  Notice the very long hosel, almost makes me think it is an iron, or cleek iron.  

ApowerMirror.exe 6.73 MB · 0 downloads

It is a putter. Very long hosels were not uncommon. 

Brother Jiggered has an example of a Gradidge putter from within the Gem era with an exceptionally long and elegant hosel probably the ultimate example of the art form!

[BobUno]

It is elegant.  The head is too.  There is a drilled hole across the putter from the end of the head toward the hosel.  1/8" diameter, about 3-1/4" deep.  Any clue what that was for?

 

It seems there is very little known about this wonderful club maker other than his cleek hand.  No history of his clubs, dates of building various models, etc.  Seems like a sad reflection on the classic beauty of forged clubs from the 1900's. 

 

[Foozle]

23 minutes ago, BobUno said:

It is elegant.  The head is too.  There is a drilled hole across the putter from the end of the head toward the hosel.  1/8" diameter, about 3-1/4" deep.  Any clue what that was for?

 

It seems there is very little known about this wonderful club maker other than his cleek hand.  No history of his clubs, dates of building various models, etc.  Seems like a sad reflection on the classic beauty of forged clubs from the 1900's. 

 

I don't think that hole was standard so my guess is a DIY weight port in the image of Willie Ogg and Ogg- mented irons. Although with the long hosel there should be good weight in the head so perhaps it is material removal to reduce weight....either way some form of weight adjustment.

There is a general dearth of info on UK cubs and dates, a void that Brother Jiggered is doing great work in filling, specialising on post war. He can probably supply some good general info on George Nicoll as a company. 

[Jiggered]

Thanks for the comments Foozle.

 

I agree with your thoughts on the hole in the toe of the putter, almost certainly not original and an "owner adaptation" of some sort.

 

BobUno, George Nicoll are actually one of the better documented UK club makers, at least for the hickory era.  There's an excellent book by Roger Hill and Pete Georgiady called "George Nicoll of Leven" which was published in America and unfortunately is rarely available for a reasonable price in the UK.

After the hickory era Nicoll continued to produce many models until their demise in 1982, some of these were quite revolutionary such as the famous NOSHOK hosel. Example of a 1930s NOSHOK putter below.

 

 

 

The video link below is a shameless plug but does have some info on George Nicoll hidden among some atrocious golf.

The irons featured are the long running George Nicoll Pinsplitter model.

 

 

 

The Gem putter was produced by several makers, including but not only; George Nicoll, Ben Sayers, Edinburgh Golf, Swilken, Spalding, Tom Morris, Bronty and Tom Stewart.  It dates from the hickory era but who produced the first is now probably impossible to say with any authority, it's basically a mussel back putter with good balance that has proved very popular over the years!

 

I suppose I'd better show a picture of the Gradidge putter too. 🙂

 

 

[Foozle]

10 hours ago, Jiggered said:

Thanks for the comments Foozle.

 

I agree with your thoughts on the hole in the toe of the putter, almost certainly not original and an "owner adaptation" of some sort.

 

BobUno, George Nicoll are actually one of the better documented UK club makers, at least for the hickory era.  There's an excellent book by Roger Hill and Pete Georgiady called "George Nicoll of Leven" which was published in America and unfortunately is rarely available for a reasonable price in the UK.

After the hickory era Nicoll continued to produce many models until their demise in 1982, some of these were quite revolutionary such as the famous NOSHOK hosel. Example of a 1930s NOSHOK putter below.

 

 

 

The video link below is a shameless plug but does have some info on George Nicoll hidden among some atrocious golf.

The irons featured are the long running George Nicoll Pinsplitter model.

 

 

 

The Gem putter was produced by several makers, including but not only; George Nicoll, Ben Sayers, Edinburgh Golf, Swilken, Spalding, Tom Morris, Bronty and Tom Stewart.  It dates from the hickory era but who produced the first is now probably impossible to say with any authority, it's basically a mussel back putter with good balance that has proved very popular over the years!

 

I suppose I'd better show a picture of the Gradidge putter too. 🙂

 

 

Thanks Jiggered, I knew you would come up trumps! 

Commend these Classic Golf Club videos to all. Another great one posted last night.