Box Tennis Racket Factory Original research John Hunt March 2025
Rescue activities in the Box Market Place flood of 1935 (copyright John Hunt)
The firm of Murray and Baldwin were a distinguished manufacturer of tennis rackets and sometimes referred to as makers of world famous rackets.[1] Percival Murray (son of a professional tennis player) and Chambre Baldwin (entrepreneur) started the business in the late 1920s when they renting two rooms in York Street, Bath. Between them they developed a method of producing high quality and very attractive wooden rackets. In 1930 they applied for a patent for their racket press.[2] They employed travelling salesmen to sell their goods to sports shops all over Britain, listed alongside Slazenger and Dunlop in shops in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and throughout England.
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Moving to Box
The firm took over the Box Brewery premises in 1935 and renovated them after they had been vacant for 11 years. They started manufacturing in Box a year later. It was a huge leap in size of premises as the old brewery held property in what is now the car park as well as cottages fronting the A4 road. But the location was sufficiently local to allow them to retain five of their original staff: manager John Hunt (seen left, usually called Jack), secretary J Tanner, Fred Tatchell, chief maker Charlie Field and polisher Fred Pegrum. Jack Hunt’s full name was Albert Vernon John Hunt and the family lived at 14 The Bassetts in 1939. The business expanded rapidly and, at its peak, employed 60 people, many of whom lived in the village. Photo of Jack Hunt from unrecorded newspaper article (courtesy John Hunt) |
The manufacturing process required very precise conditions of a moist, regular temperature and the water spring in the Box Brewery proved to be ideal. In fact, it proved to be too wet as a violent thunderstorm on 26 June 1935 flooded the whole of the Market Place. The staff rushed out to try to assist residents in the street (see headline photo outside Frogmore House).
Inside the factory premises in the 1935 flood (copyright John Hunt)
Branded Goods
As well as the process of shaping and glueing wood to make the rackets, the firm had a unique process of veneering and coating the frame with up to 17 laminations, greatly enhancing its appearance. They featured this at the annual British Industries Fair held in London and Birmingham in the inter-war years where they promoted their highest quality brand under the name Red Crest which sold at a price if 75 shillings in 1933.[3] The Blue Crescent racket at 60 shillings was advertised in 1937 as 5-ply, ash beech frame, with white, dark blue and light blue silk bindings, and strung with fine quality white gut.[4] As well as tennis rackets, they also produced a range of badminton and squash rackets along with children’s wooden toys, such as toboggans, sledges and scooters.
They were innovative in bringing out new models and selling off older ones at a discount. Just before the Second World War they ceased producing their 1937 models of Yellow Crest and Red Crest rackets and sold them at greatly reduced prices. An advertisement in the Daily Express chronicled the complexity of the rackets:
As well as the process of shaping and glueing wood to make the rackets, the firm had a unique process of veneering and coating the frame with up to 17 laminations, greatly enhancing its appearance. They featured this at the annual British Industries Fair held in London and Birmingham in the inter-war years where they promoted their highest quality brand under the name Red Crest which sold at a price if 75 shillings in 1933.[3] The Blue Crescent racket at 60 shillings was advertised in 1937 as 5-ply, ash beech frame, with white, dark blue and light blue silk bindings, and strung with fine quality white gut.[4] As well as tennis rackets, they also produced a range of badminton and squash rackets along with children’s wooden toys, such as toboggans, sledges and scooters.
They were innovative in bringing out new models and selling off older ones at a discount. Just before the Second World War they ceased producing their 1937 models of Yellow Crest and Red Crest rackets and sold them at greatly reduced prices. An advertisement in the Daily Express chronicled the complexity of the rackets:
- Yellow Crest Frame of multi-ply ash and beech, with white wedge and white lime handle. White surgical tape lappings on shoulder. Finished in amber and mauve silk bindings and fitted black leather grip.
- Red Crest frame of 4-ply beech and ash with sycamore wedge and mahogany handle. Shoulders lapped with surgical binding and finished red and green silk. Fitted red leather grip.[5]
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Promotional Advertising
Before the Second World War the business was promoted by Chambre Baldwin’s son, John Arthur Robert Baldwin, who used the firm’s rackets playing junior tournament tennis and hoping to become an amateur at Wimbledon. However, he was involved in a vehicle accident in Somerset in 1939 when he crushed his foot and broke the tibia and this aspiration ended.[6] The court heard some doubts about the seriousness of the injury and Arthur’s tennis ability but awarded him compensation. The original business partnership of Messrs Murray and Baldwin converted itself into a limited company before the war, possibly because the hot glue used in the manufacturing process was highly flammable. It also altered its advertising by offered to string new rackets to the requirements of the purchaser in the West of England and return within 24 hours.[7] Because they were skilled in producing laminated, moulded wood, the air ministry contracted this small factory in Box to manufacturer aircraft propellers during the war. In 1943 the Box address was given as Tennis Gardens and in 1946 the firm was admitted to the Bath Chamber of Commerce, calling itself Sports Equipment Manufacturers and its address Crest Works, Box.[8] Photo of workers from unrecorded newspaper article (courtesy John Hunt) |
Decline
Immediately after the Second World War there was an upsurge in demand for greater leisure goods. The demand often came from overseas who had survived the war in better financial shape than Britain. The business had three models, Beau Nash 84 shillings, Standard 79s.6d and Carlton 70 shillings.[9] But the processes for producing these changed when a different type of glue was used which made the rackets brittle and likely to break. The product became less popular and the company lost a considerable amount of trade.
By the early 1950s televisions were becoming cheap enough to be bought by individuals. The company was able to convert its manufacturing to television cabinet making for Bush Radio and Television in 1953, using similar laminating processes to rackets. It was a time-consuming practise with only 12 cabinets being made per hour and was quickly superseded by mass production. The business struggled on, took out a mortgage but by 1956 it had no option but to close.[10]
Immediately after the Second World War there was an upsurge in demand for greater leisure goods. The demand often came from overseas who had survived the war in better financial shape than Britain. The business had three models, Beau Nash 84 shillings, Standard 79s.6d and Carlton 70 shillings.[9] But the processes for producing these changed when a different type of glue was used which made the rackets brittle and likely to break. The product became less popular and the company lost a considerable amount of trade.
By the early 1950s televisions were becoming cheap enough to be bought by individuals. The company was able to convert its manufacturing to television cabinet making for Bush Radio and Television in 1953, using similar laminating processes to rackets. It was a time-consuming practise with only 12 cabinets being made per hour and was quickly superseded by mass production. The business struggled on, took out a mortgage but by 1956 it had no option but to close.[10]
References
[1] Western Daily Press, 14 March 1931
[2] The Daily Record, 1 March 1930
[3] The Perth Advertiser, 15 April 1933
[4] The Portsmouth Evening News, 5 May 1937
[5] The Daily Mail, 15 May 1939
[6] The Bath Chronicle, 4 March 1939
[7] Bristol Evening Post, 25 March 1939
[8] Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer, 3 March 1939, Bath Chronicle, 6 March 1943 and Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 5 October 1946
[9] Ireland’s Saturday Night, 3 May 1947
[10] Bristol Evening Post, 18 April 1962
[1] Western Daily Press, 14 March 1931
[2] The Daily Record, 1 March 1930
[3] The Perth Advertiser, 15 April 1933
[4] The Portsmouth Evening News, 5 May 1937
[5] The Daily Mail, 15 May 1939
[6] The Bath Chronicle, 4 March 1939
[7] Bristol Evening Post, 25 March 1939
[8] Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer, 3 March 1939, Bath Chronicle, 6 March 1943 and Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 5 October 1946
[9] Ireland’s Saturday Night, 3 May 1947
[10] Bristol Evening Post, 18 April 1962