Posted 10 years ago
rsweiss1
(1 item)
Wright & Ditson Co.
George Wright and Henry Ditson each had their own companies until they formed Wright & Ditson in 1878, located in Boston, MA. They claimed to be the first American importers of tennis equipment and they were one of the first to manufacture tennis racquets. Their first racquets were lopsided, made between 1880 & possibly as late as 1883.
Feltham & Co.
Tilt-top lawn tennis racquets were made from about 1878; only 4 years after lawn tennis had been launched as a past time! Feltham & Co., City Steam Works, Barbican, London, E.C., one of the premier racquet-makers of their era, produced racquets from the 1870s on. Although Feltham's name isn't on the racquet, the Prince of Wales three feather plume logo and “Marylebone” were branding used by Feltham, signifying that they were a royal supplier. The logo was used in the late 1870s and 1880s.
Bliss Mfg. Co.
The Bliss Mfg Company is in contention for the title, “oldest tennis racquet maker in the U.S.” The others being; Horsman, Wright & Ditson, Peck & Snyder, A.J. Reach, DW Granberry, Horace Partridge, A.G. Spalding, V. Kent and Bancroft. The Rhode Island Historical Society has an 1882 Bliss Mfg Company trade catalog for tennis racquets. The manufacturing plant was located in Pawtucket, R.I., which was a major hub for original U.S. tennis racquet manufacturers in the 1800's.
E.I. Horsman Co.
Horsman was one of the oldest, if not the oldest American racquet manufacturers. Founded in 1865 by E.I. Horsman, the company primarily made toys in New York. In 1885 Horsman claimed to be the largest tennis racquet manufacturer in the country.
