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Table TennisHistory Journal 87Excellent research for Historians, Collectors

and all Lovers of our Great Sport February 2019

Chinese poster for Rong Guotuan, who won the 1959World Singles title, China’s first World Championshipin any sport. See pages 33-40

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Table TennisHistoryJournal

From the EditorDear Friends, -30C at this writing!

Welcome to issue 87 of the Table Tennis History Journal, forhistorians, writers, collectors, and all lovers of our sport. We aresorry to learn of the passing of long time collector Bob Op deBeeck of Belgium.

In the new issue your editor reports on several interesting NewDiscoveries, Old Treasures, also a summary of Chinese TableTennis posters, and the usual Auction Action.

Alan Duke (ENG) continues his in-depth research into earlynewspaper articles, and reports on the oft-told story of Mr ECGoode and the pharmacy change mat. He also shows someimages from the Foley porcelain Ping Pong patent. Jorge Arango(COL) presents his 6 installment on early pirated images, andGerald Gurney (ENG) sends an article about the Xylonite worksin Brantham, Essex.

More Barna rackets to share, thanks to Fabio Marcotulli (VEN)and Bruno Lancon (FRA).

Our Philatelic Update introduces 2 new blue meters, a postmark from India, and a French personalized stamp.

Auction Action, features some surprises, including a rare earlycandy box, Table Tennis art, and a ticket for the 1936 World Ch.

Hope you enjoy the new issue. Feedback always welcomed. Nextedition scheduled for June 1, 2019.

For our sport, Table Tennis for All, For Life.Editor and Publisher:

Chuck Hoey, Honorary CuratorITTF Museum & China TT Museum

[email protected]

Publishing Schedule:June 1 Submit articles by May 15Oct 1 Submit articles by Sep 15Feb 1 Submit articles by Jan 15

In this issue …

AuctionAction55-69

No. 87February 2019

PhilatelicUpdate

41

World Ch.MissingScores

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PiratedImagesPart 617-25

Jorge Arango

Chuck

Back Page:World Ch.Budapest

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ResearchEC Goode 14-17Foley porcelain 27Newspapers 42-54

Alan Duke

Cover:RongGuotuanposter 33

I have received the 2018 attendance statistics from Shanghai, forthe new Table Tennis Museums. From April to December therewere 73,823 visitors, an average of 8,200 per week! Also therewere 50,000 visitors for 9 traveling exhibitions throughout China.Congratulations to the talented and dynamic museum team inShanghai - very impressive stats! Keep up the great work.

New Discoveries, Old TreasuresSilver bat 4 Silver bowl 5Szabados bats 6 Kimono 916mm film 8

Chinese Posters33-40

Gerald Gurney

BranthamXyloniteWorks

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Barna bats10-12

1935 ColemanClark article

28-32

World Championships Scores

This is a periodic update about the important WorldChampionship Scores project. We made steady progress,thanks to the help of several diligent readers, butunfortunately there is no progress to report in over a year.We are tantalizingly close to completing the Men’s Singles,but in the other Individual Events, many scores are missingfrom the 1940s and ‘50s, even one from the 1965 Worlds! Iencourage our readers to dive in and help preserve thehistorical record and find those scores. Please contact theEditor if you find any. Go for it!

World Championships - Missing Game Scores, Individual events:

MS: 1936: Rd/16

WS: 1934: Rd/16: wins by Kettnerova & Berry 1936: Rd/16 (wins by Smidova, Gal & Koudelova 1947: Rd/16 (wins by Hruskova, Farkas, Abou Heif, Pritzi) 1949: Rd/16

MD: 1936: Rd/16: all except wins by McClure/Blattner, Soos/Hazi, Haguenauer/Bedoc 1949: Rd/16 1950: Rd/16 1955: Rd/16

WD: 1936: Rd/16: Kleinova/Holoubkova won 3-0; Medyanszky/Gal won 3-0 Votrubcova/Depetrisova won 3-1 need game scores 1947: Rd/16 1950: Rd/16, + Farkas/Rozeanu winning Semifinal scores 1965: Rd/16: need only Liang Li-chen/Li Ho-nan 3-0 scores

XD: 1933: Rd/16 (all except: Glancz/Gal, Barna/Sipos, & Kelen/Mednyanszky) 1936: Rd/16: wins by Hamr/Kleinova, Ehrlich/Braunova, Tereba/Kettnerova 1947: Rd/16 1949: Rd/16; QF: Leach / Franks 3-2 scores 1950: Rd/16 (I have the British player scores, missing the others) 1955: Rd/16 (I have wins by Simons/Elliot, and Tanaka/Narahara, missing the others) 1957: Rd/16 (I have Leach/Rowe & Haydon/Andreadis wins, missing the others) 1959: Rd/16: Berczik/Lantos 3-0; Murakami/Matsuzaki 3-0; Wang C/Sun 3-1; Sung/Choe 3-1 Ogimura/Eguchi 3-0

Chuck

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New Discoveries - Old TreasuresSilver Bat 1901 Hallmarks

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New Discovery - Old Treasure

The John Sanders Challenge Cup, presented by Mrs.L. W. RouseSilver hallmarks date the bowl to 1903. On ebay for $190

New Discoveries - Old TreasuresSzabados Bats

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It’s a rare occasion whenany Szabados signaturebats surface. This fine pairwas found in their originalbox, with photo of the1931 World Singles Champ.These are shown in theaccompanying Slazengeradvertisement. They aredefinitely an old treasure!

Another type of Szabados bat,originally listed on ebay at £499,but then withdrawn due to ‘anerror in the listing’, which oftensuggests it was privately sold.

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16mm Dunlop film featuring 5-time World SinglesChampion Victor Barna vs 1931 World SinglesChampion Miklos Szabados. Directed by RolandLitchfield, £38

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New Discoveries - Old TreasuresMeisen Kimono

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Meisen antique silkKimono & Haori. Thekimono is 147 cm inlength, the haori is71 cm long, both are60 cm wide. $450,then lowered to$427immortalgeisha.comnotes that Meisen isa method of flatweaving shiny silkwhich began in thelate Edo period.On ebay for $427

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Barna Batsfrom Fabio and Bruno

Superb Barna bat with redsignature, no red oval, theDunlop logo in redteardrop, with originalBarna testimony.From Fabio Marcotulli

Superb Barna bat with redsignature, no red oval, theDunlop logo in redteardrop, with originalBarna testimony.From Fabio Marcotulli

Jeu de Ping Pong, by Aux Quatre As, with pair of hardbats with Barnasignature, underscored. With thanks to Bruno Lancon (FRA)

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Greeting card with copy of a painting by famous Italian artist MassimoCampigli (1895-1971), kindly sent by another great, Fabio Marcotulli

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The Tale of E C Goode and the Chemist’s Cash Matby Alan Duke

The Story: This oft-repeated story was featured by Chuck Hoey in a Fact or Fiction article (TTC 46, page 4). Thetale of a Mr E C Goode from Putney using a racket covered with a rubber cash mat, spotted by chance in achemist’s shop, probably originated from Ivor Montagu’s description in his second book on the game, TableTennis (1936) - written over 30 years after the event, by someone who wasn’t even born at the time! In thisversion the claim was made that Mr Goode then proceeded to defeat everyone at the next Royal Aquariumtournament, including in the final the then champion of England Mr A C Parker “by the preposterous score of 50points to 3”. In later versions of the tale, the event had even become the national championships!

When and Where: In attempting to verify the origins of this story, assuming that memory wasn’t playing trickswith the venue and that it was at the Aquarium as described, thetournament would have to have been before 10th January 1903. On thatnight, after 26 years as “a landmark of London as well known as St Paul’s tothe average citizen”, the Royal Aquarium closed, and 3 weeks later on 1st

February following the sale of props, etc, the Wesleyans took possession. Inhis farewell speech, “Uncle” Ritchie (manager; and father of M J G Ritchie,organiser and referee of the tournaments held there) stated that he was“proud to say that about thirty million people had paid for admission sincethe Aquarium was opened” (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 12 January). Also, ifthe reference to Arnold Parker were to be believed, that places the event after December 1901.

But I have yet to find any reference to Mr Parker losing 50-3 as reported. And although there were a number ofcandidates named E C Goode in the London area at that time, none ever appear to have entered any of thereported events (let alone win any), and none were from Putney. But there were numerous reports of a MrGood. And during 1902 there were plenty of tournaments at the Aquarium to choose from, e.g. All-EnglandChampionships (8-14 January), Westminster Championships (3-8 February), South London Championships (5-8March), London Championships (29 October to 1 November), All-England Championships (3-6 December).

Earlier Reference?: Checking to see whether Ivor Montagu had made any reference to the story in his (muchrarer) earlier book Table Tennis To-Day (1924) gave an important new perspective to the tale! Firstly, thesubject was a Mr Good (not the E C Goode as copied and elaborated on in every subsequent re-telling of theevents), and secondly there is no reference to Mr Parker (or Putney for that matter, only “a suburb”).

The time is some two or three days before the great championship tournament at theAquarium in 1902. The scene is a suburb, and Mr. Good, one of the competitors, is returningto his home. He has a cold, and, oppressed by a headache, he enters a chemist’s shop andbespeaks a palliative. Then with a suddenness that characterises all great discoveries, heperceives the chemist’s cash mat. A Eureka-stroke of genius, a simple transaction, and thething is done. The red rubber mat is purchased, and glued to Mr. Good’s racket. With ascissors he shaves it down, and in due time he repairs to the championship. Thus appeared therubber racket and the devastating top spin drive. A single stroke won every point, and Mr.Good with ease passed through round after round to win by an incredible margin.

Mr Good at the Tournaments: In a report on the first Royal Aquarium tournament [TTC 64/8] the Daily Expressof 14th December 1901 claimed that the “most exciting contest of the evening” was that between G Greville(victor the following month in the first All-England Championships) and E B Good, the former winning a veryclose match. Note that a Miss Good, a “superb half-volleyer”, was reported to be “one of the best players”,losing in the semi-finals to eventual winner Miss Vyvyan Eames (another excellent player, and also a superbhalf-volleyer). The Sportsman of 11th January 1902 lists a G B Good as one of the last 24 left in the All-EnglandChampionships (and Miss Good in the last 8 ladies; she went on to finish 2nd; [TTC 67/29]). Although there wasan Ernest B Good living in Hampstead at the time, it’s possible that the E B Good of the first report could be anerror in the programme or in transcription, and that it could also be G B Good (see box later).

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E C Goode

To get a spin on the ball in order to manage certain intricate strokes, …a new wooden racquet has been designed which is covered with a layer ofindia-rubber. The rubber “bites” the ball without injuring it, a gyratingmovement thus being imparted to it.Daily Express 20 January 1902 [TTH 89]

The remaining examples are all for a Mr F Good, and apart from theWimbledon event were all held at the Aquarium. At the WestminsterChampionships in February he won the Gentlemen’s Singles, his“magnificent return strokes” being a feature of his play. Arnold Parkerwon the Gentlemen’s Handicap event, and Miss Good was 3rd in the ladies‘ event [TT&PP 5]. Mr Good was also

successful in a tournament at Wimbledon(27 February - 1 March), using the newregulation ball, “half as heavy again as thosehitherto in use” [TT&PP 9]. Lawn Tennis &Croquet magazine (5 March) described himas being “in fine form, and has undoubtedlyimproved since the time when he nearlysecured championship honours at theAquarium” [surely this reference must be to

an earlier event than the very recent Westminster tournament?] [TTC 79/14]. At the South of LondonChampionships he was runner-up in both the Gentlemen’s Singles and Handicap.

Rubber-covered rackets caused considerable problems for the home players when a team from the HendonPing Pong Club arrived in Sheffield with such rackets for a match in April of that year. The event took place atthe Royal Victoria Hotel, in a large ballroom full of spectators. The Sheffield Daily Telegraph of 14th Aprildescribed the play of the Hendon team: “Using rackets covered with rubber, they seemed to make the ball dowhat they liked––shoot forward from a slow drop, curve in the air to right or left, screw in any direction, or fallback over the net. It was a revelation of the possibilities of ‘cut’. The most effective stroke was the ‘upper cut’––a sharp upward movement of the racket at the moment of striking––mainly a wrist stroke––which caused theball, on touching the table, to shoot forward at a very low angle.” Matches were best of three, 20 up, andHendon (including in their team Arnold Parker) won by 19 games to 6.

St James’s Gazette 29 September 1902

I believe that this tournament, the second staging of the Championship of London (October 1902) for thehandsome London Cup, may well be the one referred to by Ivor Montagu. In the semi-finals, committeemember Mr Good defeated the currentholder Mr R D Ayling, and went on to winthe event by beating Mr P Hamer 40-29, 40-27. Mr Ayling finished 3rd and Mr PBromfield 4th. But that wasn’t quite it, asthe regulations of the event stated that ifthe current holder were to be triumphantagain then the trophy would become his“absolute property”, but if not the final match the following Saturday between the previous and the new holderwould determine who would “become the complete possessor before the Aquarium passes away”.

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E C Goode

Mr Good again defeated Mr Ayling in that final deciding match, 50-35, 50-34 [Sporting Life, 3 and 10November]. The event was played under the TTA laws, including the old existing service law of service directlyover the net, rather than the new (PPA) “bouncing service” [London Daily News, 30 October]. Aside from theobvious prestige of the event, another reason for thinking that this may be the one referred to is the stature ofthe defeated finalist, Ralph Ayling. It may be that, in his later version, Montagu mixed up in his memory twoEnglish champions (Arnold Parker being the better-known of the two). Although Ayling wasn’t at the time ofthe match the champion of England, he rectified that a month later [TTC 67/20-21].

Other evidence: Arnold Parker described such a racket in his book “Ping-Pong; The Game and How to Play It”,published at the beginning of February 1902. Under the heading of Covered Wood Rackets he stated that “thereis one make covered with an india-rubber pad, very similar to those one sees on many cash-desks to allowmoney to be picked up more easily than it can be off the smooth counter”. He may have been describing FrankBryan’s “Atropos” rubber faced bat, being advertised at that time (for example as shown in TTC 46 from Ritchieand Harrison’s Table Tennis and How To Play It, also published in early February).

In support of the claim that Mr F Good could have been that visitor to the chemist, M J G Ritchie described himin the Dundee Evening Post of the 8th December 1902 as “one of the pioneers of the indiarubber-lined racket.Mr. Good puts a marvellous amount of top spin on all his strokes…”. And finally, he lived in Putney!

In 1901 Frederick Good (born in Bridport, Dorset, at the end of 1876) was living with his parents and fouryounger siblings at Wynnstay (now Lyle Park), 57 Putney Hill. By 1911, he had married and had two children,had followed his father Alfred into Journalism, and was still residing in Putney (at 16 Holmbush Road). Oh yes,and one of those siblings was Kate (born early 1878 in London), and another was Gregory Beaconsfield (bornmid-1881, also in London). A table tennis family?!

Fact or Fiction? Given the amount of experimentation at the time with racket types and their coveringmaterials, the idea is not inconceivable that someone could have come up independently with the idea of usingthe cash mat. But that in itself would not have justified Montagu’s 1936 claim that they were the inventor ofthe rubber-lined bat (although in a footnote he did acknowledge that in 1902 “two patents for a rubber racket”were “registered from as far apart as London and Belfast”). [These would have been from Frank Bryan (25276,11 Dec 1901) and William Laird (1573, 21 Jan 1902) respectively.] But did it actually happen as described?There is no evidence for a date for the pharmacy visit or when the racket was first used in a tournament. Thereis no actual evidence that it ever happened as described (many years later) by Ivor Montagu! With regard tothe last statement, I find it strange that such a newsworthy event doesn’t seem to have been picked up by thenews-hungry reporters of the time, as I have not yet found any contemporary reference! And if it did happen,there is only circumstantial (although fairly convincing) evidence that the innovator was Frederick Good!!

When and where? Did this happen out of the blue because of a headache, or had Mr Good seen ArnoldParker’s suggestion and gone looking for such a covering? If the latter the earliest it could have been wouldhave been early February, which is also the time when he won the Gentlemens’ Singles at Westminster. So thatfits with the statement that he practised for the weekend and then won the imminent tournament, but hedidn’t in the final beat Arnold Parker (or any champion). And although he was described as having improved, nomention was made of his racket! The London Championships later in the year would have given him morechance to read Parker’s book, more opportunity to spot one of the new rubber rackets by then on the market(perhaps thinking he could do better by manufacturing his own), and possibly more chance for practice. And Iassume that this event was regarded as the more prestigious (or were all events at the Aquarium considered,as described by Montagu, “great”?), and included that double triumph over an England champion.

Conclusion: Failing to find any reports from local Putney and Westminster newspapers of the time confirmingthe episode, I believe that it is a good human story for the book, based on a number of separate facts, allweaved together with a little artistic licence thrown in (twenty years later). But I would be very happy todiscover otherwise!

With thanks to Günther Angenendt for the text from the Ivor Montagu book; and to fellow researcher Jota Ito for his simple“When did the story originate” question which prompted a more thorough research into the subject!

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EARLY PIRATED IMAGESBy Jorge Arango

Continuation

This is the sixth article of my series about early pirated images.

23. TUCK POSTCARDS

Above left: A postcard from a 6-card Tuckseries. Above right: Another Tuck postcard.Below: An illustration card, with a piratedimage.

24. FIRST OPEN PING PONG TOURNAMENT

Left: Image from the first open Ping-Pong tournament, held at the end of 1901 (Alan Duke, TTC 80.)Right: An image from a German magazine, presented as it would be from the first Berliner Ping Pongtournament (held in November 1902.) In a future article, I will consider this publication.

25. FASHION 1

Above: An image from the Steve Grant’s book “Ping Pong Fever”. Below: Two images from TheEvening Star, May 24, 1902. As these last images are more detailed, the Steve Grant’s image is apirated one.

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26. FASHION 2. PING PONG DRESS

Left: An image from the Steve Grant’s “Ping Pong Fever.” The other two images are from The EveningStar, May 4, 1902 and The Omaha Daily Bee, Respectively. The text accompanying the Evening Starimage is the following:

“To any one who desires to see the ping-pong dress at its best, attention must be directed to the greenand white foulard with the ball pocket of stitched white suede gown hanging on either hip. The skirt ofthis gown is in all respects conventional save in the folded triple box pleats that run down the inner lineof either hip. These pleats hang close when the wearer heels together, and they spread to give herlongest step full freedom. The waist is, to all intents and purposes, a shirt waist with a chemisette ofwhite taffeta that is stitched with green, and yoked in at the top. A flaring collar of oak lead green taffetafalls upon the shoulders, and this good color is repeated on the cuffs of the half sleeves and forms thebelt. Straps and bindings of stitched white taffeta and big greenish mother-of-pearl buttons, with a beltbuckle of the same, are the only other decorative materials used on this distinctively graceful little suit.”

As the description of the dress is more detailed in the Evening Star article, I think this would be theoriginal one. On the other hand, it is interesting to note the color of the dress in the Grant’s article isred, while that of the Evening Star is green,

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27. FASHION 3. PING PONG COSTUME

Above: Images from the Steve Grant’s book “Ping Pong Fever.” Below: images from The OttumwaCourier.

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28. FASHION 4. THE PING PONG GIRL

The Ping Pong Girl. Omaha Daily Bee, July 13, 1902 and The Evening Star, July 12, 1902. Only oneday of difference; perhaps, both images were copied from another one!

29 THE PING PONG GIRLS

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PING PONG CORSETS. Here I present some corsets images which are not pirated, but are relatedwith the ping pong fashion. More fashion images can be found in the Steve Grant’s book “Ping PongFever.”

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Oct. 25, 1902 Kabo

30 THE PING PONG GIRL IN TRAINING

The Republic, July 27, 1902

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The Sunday Call, Nov. 09, 1902.

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31 NOTHING NEW TO HIM

Topeka State Journal, August 09, 1902 and Fort Worth Register, June 22, 1902 (Steve Grant’s book“Ping Pong Fever. Both images must be pirated ones.

To be continued

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The Xylonite Works at Brantham, Essexby Gerald Gurney

Footnote from Gerald:

You may be surprised to hear thatMargaret Thatcher, later to becomePrime Minister, worked (from 1947 to1951) as a research chemist at BXPlastics, where she was described, bythe company’s technical director, as“very conscientious, hard working, butnot overly popular with her colleagues”.But the production of ping-pong ballshad, I think, long ceased. Does anyoneknow how long?

From the Essex County Standard, February 1902:

One of the most mysterious manufactories in the world is atBrantham, near Mistley, in Essex. No stranger is allowed to setfoot within the Xylonite Works there. Enormous quantities ofstrange articles of various kinds are constantly dispatched fromthese unpretentious buildings. But secrets will ooze out, in spiteof any amount of hermetical sealing, and I hear that these worksre, and have been for some time, engaged in an incessantattempt to cope with the public mania for ping-pong.

The Brantham Works, it is said, have practically a monopoly ofthe manufacture of ping-pong balls - so far as this country isconcerned - and it is appalling to think how much of thehappiness of millions of English people depends upon theexistence of this factory and the exertions of its workers. Tens ofthousands of homes might be desolate if, by any untowardaccident of fire, flood, or other evil agency, the works atBrantham were to cease their daily output of ping-pong balls.

It is stated that 30,000 gross of these ping-pong balls areproduced at Brantham every week. This means 4,320,000 balls,and if strung together they would make a line some 93 miles (150km) in length. But as it takes nearly 300 ping-pong balls to weigha pound (454 kg), the weight of these 4,320,000 balls is not muchmore than six tons (5,443 kg). These little arithmetical problemsare very easy. But who can calculate the tremendous quantity ofmuscular effort, human excitement, and weird noises whichthese 4,320,000 balls will cause before they have finished theirearthly career?

The labs at Brantham Works, whereMargaret Thatcher once worked

The Brantham Works factory, also known as BritishXylonite, British Industrial Plastics, BX Plastics & WardleStoreys, closed in 2007. Photos by Adam Slater

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THE FOLEY CHINAby Alan Duke

Following the Editor’s update about Foley Ping-Pong porcelain (TTH 86/7), and his subsequent pleafor further information, whilst I’m afraid that Ican’t report finding any more of his wished-foritems (let alone a full tea-set!), I can add a littleknowledge about the Design itself.

As briefly listed (together with a small image of the design) in TTC 73/12, theapplication for what became Registered Design No. 391255, described as a“Set (pattern of Ping Pong players)”, was received on 20th May 1902. It wasentered in the Register the following week, and announced in the PatentOffice Journal of 11th June. It had been submitted by Wileman and Company(Pottery Manufacturers), The Foley Potteries, Staffs, and consisted of whatwas really six separate illustrations shown in a circular arrangement (perhapsrepresenting a plate). But from what has been found so far, it would appearthat only one of those illustrations was actually used:

The other five are shown below, and top left and right.

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Chinese Table Tennis Posters- a Summary, by Chuck Hoey

China has a rich heritage of large and colorful posters used to promotehealthy ideals, exercise and friendship through sport. These were publishedfrom the 1940s onwards, sometimes referred to as propaganda posters, andthere are many examples with a Table Tennis scene or leitmotif, mostly fromthe 1970s. Some of these posters have already appeared in the HistoryJournal, and now I’d like to present a summary. I encourage our readers tosend photos of other such posters, to expand our knowledge base.The website chineseposters.net presents a wide variety of topical posters,some available for reproduction. Typically the posters are c. 60x38 cm.Enjoy!

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Poster celebrating Rong Guotuan’s victory in the 1959World Championships Men’s Singles, the first WorldChampionship title for China in any sport.

1972 After class activities

1965 World Table Tennis Championships, Ljubljana

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1964 Young Girls, Go Forth & Play Table Tennis!

Strengthen Training, Enhance Physique1970s Children train

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1972 Table Tennis Spreads Friendship

1973 The Silver Ball Spreads Friendship 36

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Two posters from the 1973 Asian African Latin AmericanFriendship Invitational Tournament

Another poster from the 1973 AAA FriendshipInvitational. These images were also producedin postcard format.

Premiere Zhou with the athletes

For the Afro Asian Table Tennis FriendshipInvitational Tournament

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1975 Sports for Good Health

1982 Train Body, Participate in Out of School Activities

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There are several movie posters as well featuring Table Tennis.

Modern posters are also abundant, often produced to promote atournament, the World Championships, or Olympic Games, sometimesshowing a top player. These are not included in this survey.

We end with a very familiar poster, showing Chairman Mao playing TableTennis, supposedly in Shanghai. This image has been mass produced inmany formats and different sizes. Be careful if you are considering apurchase of this image labeled ‘vintage’. Most are not original, but aremore recent reproductions often found on eBay. They vary widely inquality and cost, and are sometimes available to order in any size.

Modern postcard of Chairman Maoplaying Table Tennis

Large version on silk brocade

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Chuck

Philatelic Update

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Blue meter for the 19 Sport Games of Jiangsu, China, 23.9.2018

34th All India Postal Table Tennis Tournament hosted byHimachal Pradesh Circle from 24.09.2018 to 28.09.2018

Blue meter from the 39 edition of the Men’s Word Cup event ,held in Paris 19-21 October 2018.

From the French TT philatelic collectors comes news of this personalized stampCommemorating the 2019 French Championships in Le Mans, 1-3.3.2019

“Read All About It” – PART 4 (December 1901)by Alan Duke

Daily Express 28 November 1901

THAT PING-PONG FAD.––––––––––––––––––

PLAYERS EXCITED OVER THEAQUARIUM CONTESTS.

–––––––

Players of Ping-Pong (table tennis it appears is thetechnical name) are flocking to enrol themselves in theFirst Table Tennis Tournament, which will commence atthe Royal Aquarium on December 11, and continue untilDecember 14.

If the contests cannot all be decided by that date theTournament will be continued.

“Ping-Pong” has not died the natural death so manypeople predicted for it, but the game is increasinglyplayed.

“We have had hundreds of applications, said Mr.Ritchie to an ‘Express’ representative yesterday.

“The Tournament will be played on the Americansystem, that is, all the players meet each other.

“We have reserved the north-west gallery for thegames, and there will be eight tables each 9ft. by 5ft.

“Each table is allowed a ‘run’ of 22ft. by 9ft., which isa good margin.

“Our prizes will be very handsome, and the Society alsoproposes to present a challenge cup for the Ladies’ TableTennis Championship of London.

“From the quantities of correspondence I have receivedI think that the game has come to stay.”

Whitstable Times 30 November 1901

A further report on the above event also provided detailsof the Committee:C. P. Dixon, Cambridge University,––C. G. Eames,Streatham Common Table Tennis Club,––W. Harrison,Cavendish T. T. Club,––E. F. Long, Chiswick T. T.Club,––A. H. Petch, Upper Clapton T. T. Club,––M. J. G.Ritchie, Queen’s Club,––S. T. Whitemore, BloomsburyHouse T. T. Club.

Illustrated London News 30 November 1901

The caption, bottom right above, reads :Table Tennis. Society’s New Game. A Large Stock Kept.Sets Complete, 4/6, 7/6, 10/6, 13/6, 21/- Bats, Vellum or Gut,

3/- each. Balls, 1/3 Dozen.

The illustration is the same as that used in Ayres andDavenport advertisements [TTH 85/34 and 45; TTH 84/28].

Illust. Sporting & Dramatic News 30 Nov. 1901

For table-tennis players, Spiers and Pond have a new andexcellent arrangement for fixing the poles without metalclasps, which are found to injure tables. Of course, table-tennis is the proper name for Ping-Pong. Another greatboon in connection with the game is a ball finder. It is alittle cup on a long stick, into which the ball fits and bywhich it is lifted, thus saving endless fatiguing anddemoralising stooping and grovelling after these nimblelittle celluloid balls.

[TTC 81/45]

Ireland’s Saturday Night 30 November 1901

O the man who has beenknocking a little gutta-perchaball over a bumpy piece ofterritory during eightsunshiny hours of the day,chess may come as a naturalrecreation with the approachof nightfall; but it can boastfew charms for the greatdesk-chained portion of thecommunity. By all

means let those who have been exerting the body givetheir mental furniture a chance when they get home––such chances are abundant––but when a dank Novemberevening sets in, how and where are the brain-faggedmajority to find the exercise so essential to their health

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EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

and happiness? The old-fashioned round games havegone out, and many of the new ones belong to the genus“wusser.” The indoor golf game, regarded as an athleticpursuit, is a bitter mockery, and hasn’t enough excitementin its composition to make the most enthusiastic followerof the real game swear once in the whole of an eighteen-hole round. “Tiddlewinks” impresses me as a puerileinanity utterly incapable of imparting muscle; “Bridge”must be set down as unsuited to the financial status of themasses; and billiards can only be played by the averageperson at the sacrifice of home influences and the hazardof the influence alcoholic. A reduction to miniature of apopular outdoor game has solved the problem, and “PingPong” is consequently all the rage today. With anordinary parlour table instead of smooth-shaved lawn,bubbly little celluloid spheres vice the big rubber balls inflannel waistcoats, a tiny net, and racquets to match,“Ping Pong” can be played in any room of respectablesize, furnishing, as the “Pingist” or “Ponger” will soondiscover, ample exercise. There is more honest exertionin recovering the balls fromhiding places under sofa,cheffonier [a tall chest ofdrawers], and bookcase than in anaverage Rugby cup-tie. Butomitting this physical exercisefrom consideration––it is toomuch like real labour––“PingPong” provides a liver-stimulantof the most effective andexhilarating kind. It is lawn-tennis without a lawn; and themahogany battlefield has no “courts” marked out upon itsshiny surface. But the absence of courts signifies nocorresponding abolition of courtship, and “love” may becried in the telescopic version of the game as loudly (andbe cultivated as well), when nimble feet beat Brusselscarpets instead of springy turf. The origin of the tennisgame is, like the paternity of Jeames de La Pluche [aThackeray character], “wrapped in mistry,” but if I cantrust a somewhat erratic memory one English Prince hadthe honour of being slain in its service, and at a timewhen a certain King Henry fell out with an uncertainDauphin one of them sent to the other the insulting reply––“A tun of tennis balls, my liege!” I scarcely knowwhy, but the other person took this as a withering insult,and blood was shed over it. “Ping Pong” being a modernindoor version of the game, its history does not date sofar back; still it will surprise many to learn that the namefigured in price-lists three or four years ago, seeing thatLondon was largely proof against its fascination up to lastwinter. Originally, the indoor tennis game, possessingthe prettier alternative title of “Gossima,” was playedwith a rubber ball, which, however, proved too lively, andin time gave place to the xylonite or celluloid ball,already referred to. “Ping Pong” and “Gossima” are theregistered titles of Messrs. J. Jaques and Son, Limited,and Hamley Brothers, London, and this being the case Imust crave pardon where reference is made under such aheading to “Table Tennis,” the name which other athleticcaterers have adopted. No one who has seen––or ratherheard––the game will ask why it was dubbed “PingPong.” Vellum racquets were long in vogue, and as each

contest proceeded the one cried “Ping” as it sent a nastyone into the corner of the table, and the other retorted“Pong” on making a clever backhand recovery to“Ping’s” discomfiture. Then came stringed racquets––miniatures of those used on the lawn––and finally (in the“Table Tennis” varieties of the game) wooden ones are

being adopted by reason of theirdurability and comparative silence;for even the players themselves,unlike those who affect the violin,cornet, or trombone, have begun tobe aweary of their self-made music.“Ping Pong” has come to Belfast,and come to stay…[Results weregiven of a tournament recently heldin the Exhibition Hall, the “first ofany dimensions held in Belfast”,attracting over 500 entries.]…In the

present day craze for feverish excitement “Ping Pong”seems destined to supplant the shooting gallery, the branbag, and even the hat trimming competition in publicfavour. …[Details were provided regarding equipment,and basic guidance given on the method of play andscoring.]... It was not played in Belfast to any extent untilMarch last, but Mr. Bleakley*, Athletic Stores, BridgeStreet and Bedford Street, assures me that since then hisfirm have disposed of nearly2,000 sets of “Ping Pong” and“Table Tennis,” and 500 gross––72,000––celluloid balls. Nearlyall the golf clubs have taken it up,and it is played in the Ulster andCliftonville Pavilions, as well asthat of the N.I.C.C. …..RecentlyI slipped into the Bar Room atthe County Courthouse duringthe progress of the assizes, andfound two learned counselengrossed in the game––theynaturally affected the parchmentkind of racquet. The “Ping” soprano and the “Pong”contralto may be heard in their staccato duet as onepasses through any residential part of the city. For a longtime to come the game will be an indispensable feature ofbazaars and parties, a necessary part of club furniture, anda treasured home possession; it is more than likely to leadto the formation of Leagues, and perhaps in the future wemay have professional “Pongers” and internationalcontests. FRANC. [* See also 20 December.]

Western Daily Press 2 December 1901

43


The Globe 3 December 1901

If all the manufacturers tell us be true, Ping Pong hasalready passed the Rubicon of the craze, and has settleddown into the security of a scientific game, hedged roundwith all the pains and penalties of match rules. A newgame is something like a fever; it has its well-definedstages. Ping Pong has successfully run the gauntlet ofridicule, although the superior and corpulent person stillreceives the name with a sneer. “Punch” has joked it invain, and it will even survive the fun which Dan Lenoand Herbert Campbell may be expected to extract from a“set” with the celluloid balls on the roof of Blue Beard’sPalace at pantomime time. Some one has said that whatSuburbia does to-day Belgravia will do to-morrow. It is,as a matter of fact, generally the other way about, but inthe case of Ping Pong, it is difficult to decide whencecame the inspiration.

There is no doubt the game has reached a stage when ithas to be reckoned with among the serious pastimes of aserious people. In the words of the advertisement, it“appeals to all classes and pockets,” and this is true, for aPing Pong set can be obtained at prices varying fromsomething under eighteenpence to over £7. And then,too, it is an easy game––up to a point. The majority ofpeople possess a table; those who do not can now besupplied with one specially made for the game, “with legscomplete,” at the modest price of £4 18s. 6d. Thequestion of the control of the ball has become the burningquestion of the game––indeed, there are those whodeclare that on its solution depends its very existence.Here, again, the manufacturer has sought to come to theassistance of the Ping Pong player, but, unfortunately,with but poor success. He has produced an implementjointed like a fishing rod, and having at the end a smallnet somewhat suggestive of the receptacle aggressivelydisplayed at our front windows when the FriendlySocieties go in collection procession on Sundayafternoons. “An easy means of collecting balls off thefloor without stooping to the ground,” is its attractivedescription, but, as has been very pertinently remarked, itreveals no capacity to grope under couches or searchbehind coal-scuttles. An arrangement has now beenmade which fixes with rubber suction discs to theundersides of a table carrying a little net to hold the ballsnot in use. But, of course, this is a convenience for a ballnot in play; but the man who can devise some means ofmaking Ping Pong playable without the back-breakingstoops and undignified grovellings incidental to therecovery of missing balls will have done as much for thegame as the man who discovered it.

And this leads to the vexed point as to who really diddiscover it. We have heard that it came from India, thatthe “ennui,” or ingenuity, of the officers’ mess isresponsible for it, and that champagne corks for balls,with photographs for bats, constituted the wherewithal ofthe players, who at that early stage did not consider theintervening net a necessity. That may be true as far as“table tennis” is concerned, but table tennis is not Ping

Pong, although it is exactly the same thing in all butname. The well-known firm of toy manufacturers, whohave registered the name, which, of course, wassuggested by the sound of the celluloid ball as it passedfrom wood to parchment and back again, declare thatPing Pong was suggested entirely by lawn tennis; thatsome folk on a winter’s evening took down their racquetsand passed the time in sending the balls over a barrier ofbooks set up in the centre of the table. The ideasuggested possibilities (the first nets were fixed onbroom-handles and battledores were used as racquets), itwas brought to the firm’s notice, and gradually the gamedeveloped until it reached its present stage. Nothing likefinality has yet been attained in respect of racquets andballs, although the makers claim that the vellum-coveredform maintains its position over the gut-strung racquet,which is an attempt to approach more nearly to lawntennis conditions, as is also the introduction of thecovered ball.

An indication of the unsettled condition as to a standardform of racquet may be gathered from the fact that at theAll-England tournament to be held at Westminster in aweek or so, any kind of racquet will be allowed, and aplayer with vellum may find himself opposed to a localchampion wielding a gut-strung weapon. Certainly thelatter has this great advantage that the “ping” or the“pong,” whichever the vellum bat is responsible for, iseliminated, and that means a reduction of more than halfthe irritating noise associated with the game. Manyplayers hold the racquet quite near to the drum, andalready the handle has been shortened by more than one-half and made considerably thicker. As we have said,Ping Pong is easily learned––up to a point. A fewminutes will suffice to get an idea of distances andstrength of hit, but that the game may be played with truescientific skill, only to be acquired after long practice, is atruth which any who doubt will see demonstrated at theWestminster tournament.

Hackney Gazette 4 December 1901

INDOOR AMUSEMENT.–––––––––––♦––––––––––––

The new and popular game of table tennis has evidentlycome to stay, and improvements are already beingdevised by which it may be rendered more enjoyable.One of these is a new patent net, in the use of which tablecramps, clamps and poles are entirely dispensed with.Some of the advantages of the new arrangement are thatit can be erected in a moment; it is firm and rigid and willnot injure the table, whilst it can be adjusted to any width.The net may be obtained from the sole agent for theCounty of London, John Piggott, Cheapside and Milk-street, E.C., the retail price being only 3s. 6d.

And from the Pall Mall Gazette of 6th December:A NEW “PING-PONG” NET.

…..John Piggott, of Cheapside, has invented a net.….. Itis made of wire, and stands on the table without the helpof screws or strings. When not in use it can be folded upquite flat. A white tape is worked in the top of the net,giving a direct line of sight.[Once again, I could find no references under this name, thus itmight also be one of the Abandoned applications listed in Part 3for Buchanan. See also 21st December.]

44


The Globe 5 December 1901

A preview of the Royal Aquarium tournament includedthe following details:A very large entry has been received, including the namesof such well-known players of lawn tennis as H. RoperBarrett, George Greville, C. H. Martin, C. G. Eames, C.P. Dixon, C. J. Glenny, J. E. Kingsley, A. H. Greening, T.H. Oyler, and E. D. Robinson. A large number of entrieshas also been received from ladies, and LauncestonElliott, the well-known athlete and winner of the GreekGames at Athens, and his wife, are among thecompetitors. The tables in use [eight, on trestles,] will be9ft. by 5ft., unmarked except for a [¾in.] white line roundthe edge. The balls will be uncovered celluloid––anyracquet, gut, vellum or wood, will be available providingthe playing surface does not exceed 6in. by 7in. Thegames will be probably 20 points up, except in the finals,when 30 points will be the game.

Portsmouth Evening News 5 December 1901

Bexhill-on-Sea Observer 7 December 1901

All players of PING-PONG will findthe ‘BUNTY’ DETACHABLE TABLE

TENNIS POCKET indispensable.Instantly Attached to any Table.

Price 1/6 the Set of Two, post free,Direct from

F. J. PARSONS, Ltd.,57, Devonshire Road,

Bexhill.

East and South Devon Advertiser 7 December 1901

CHRISTMAS AT THE SHOPS.–––––––––

Among items on display at Mr Greenwood’s shops at 35and 37 Queen Street, Newton Abbot, was: “Ping pong,”which game is the rage of society, is to the front––not

only as a game but as an ornament, the latter being twocute little terriers having a game all to themselves.

Dundee Evening Telegraph 7 December 1901

Sunderland Daily Echo 11 December 1901“Ping-Pong” Rules Should Be Formulated.

If a name ever made a game, “Ping-Pong” certainlycaused the success of the indoor pastime more soberlyknown as “Table-Tennis.” The latter term, says theWorld, is better suited, therefore, for championshippurposes. A body should be formed to regulate the game,as to methods of scoring, whether as in tennis or in the“Cavendish” twenty points method, and also with respectto the racquets to be used. At present the ingenuity ofathletic outfitters has produced a weird collection ofvellum, string, cane, wooden, and aluminium weaponsvery different from the original warming-pan pattern.


PING-PONG TOURNAMENT.There are over 250 entries for the ping-pong

tournament at the Royal Aquarium.“Until this tournament was organised,” said Mr. Ritchie

to an ‘Express’ representative, “I had no idea the gamehad such a hold on the public, nor that there were somany ‘champions.’

“The very first lady who sent in her entry was declaredby her father to be a ‘champion,’ and one impossible tobeat.

“Since then we have received entries from a largenumber of invincible ladies.

“The work entailed has been tremendous, and I feelsure it will be impossible to get through to the final tiesby next Saturday; but we shall have to go on till they arepolished off.”

Experts consider Miss V. Eames to be the best player inthe country, but she will find some difficulty in beatingMrs Elliott, Mrs Vesey, and Mrs Glenny.

Mrs Elliott is the wife of Mr Launceston Elliott, theamateur strong man.

Mrs Glenny is the wife of the well-known lawn tennisplayer.

Daily Express 12 December 1901

PING-PONG TOURNEY.––––––––––––––––––

WOOD RACKETS PROMINENT IN THEAQUARIUM BATTLE.

–––––––

45


The table-tennis tournament promises to be aninstitution. The first ever held opened yesterday at theRoyal Aquarium, and the number of people who stoodround the green tables ranged in the north-west galleryand applauded a smart stroke whenever it came alongsufficiently attested the popularity of the exhibition. ….

It was interesting to note the wide variety of styles.This variety is, of course, natural in a new game, where

no professionals have yet arisen to strain downindividualism to method, and reduce ping-pong to ascience. No doubt we shall have them later.

But yesterday there were budding champions, who“served” from every point of the compass, and others,whose untiring efforts to impart screw to the ball wouldhave been admirable if there had been any visible resultother than missing the ball.

Most of the play, however, was good and interesting.Some of the contestants used wooden rackets with

excellent results. Vellum was more seen, but the gutracket was only conspicuous by its absence.

Play will continue to-day.

The Sportsman 13 December 1901

TABLE TENNIS OR PING PONG.A meeting of the leading ping pong players and

representatives of prominent clubs will be held in Londonin the course of next week for the purpose of establishinga Ping Pong Association, which will have for its objectsthe revision and adoption of a uniform set of rules, theaffiliation of existing clubs, and the arranging of anannual championship.


PINGING-PONGING.–––––––––

EXTRAORDINARY GRAVITY OF ANAMAZING PERFORMANCE.

The ping-pong tournament now going on at the LondonAquarium presents a vivid illustration of how deep a mancan sink into the slough of terrific earnestness, and howhis spirit can be irrevocably intertwined with theirresponsible and jerky wanderings of the ghost of a golfball. It is astonishing.

Ping-pong has already produced a monument of itself.And that, says the “Star,” is

THE PING-PONG FACE.This fearsome Face glared from under the gaslights at

the Aquarium with a horrid Bedlamatic glaze, while thegentleman’s tourney was being waged. You could seethat a face, here and there, had once borne traces of gentlebirth and amiability––even beauty. But the pains of ping-pong had racked it into a pale squint. After you havelearned to contest you learn to cuss. It is sad, when oneconsiders how eagerly the suburbs have taken up thepastime. But last night several young gentlemen fromBrixton

SAID NAUGHTY WORDSwhen they were beaten by other young gentlemen fromPeckham.

The ping-pong costume has not become definite yet.Combatants turned up last night in all sorts of garments.One gentleman was in a complete set of flannels, veryopen at the neck. He, by the way, played the safest––if

not the fastest––game of the evening; and if he becomeschampion no doubt flannels (very open at the neck) willbecome the costume de rigueur de ping-pong. There wasa gentleman who actually played in evening dress, with ahigh collar and a real white tie, tied all by himself. At thenext table a puffy little man performed in a shirt ofincome-tax paper blue. Then there was the frock coat,the claw-hammer of commerce (and the StockExchange), the cycle pants, and the dancing pumps(together); sand shoes and an American shirt-waist.

THE CORRECT REMARKamong the knowing ones appeared to be––“I say, thatchap in the cork-soled slippers has got a serve that ispositively O.T.”

And the correct reply to that was––“Warm, me boy––very warm.”

It was all very interesting as they pinged and theyponged as if the fate of nations hung on a single stroke.But it was saddening, for the pale squint of the celluloidsoul was in evidence everywhere.

Brighton Gazette 14 December 1901

PING-PONG is undoubtedly the latest craze. Whether itwill supersede bridge or poker in the drawing room Icannot say; but there is every sign that it is thefashionable amusement of the hour. Just as I have knownmen who once scoffed at golf as the sport of foolsbecome themselves its most enthusiastic patrons, so theyoung dandies of the drawing room, who were at firstinclined to treat Ping-Pong as the amusement of babiesand little girls, are now devoting themselves to tabletennis with all the ardour of willing converts. I mustconfess that Ping-Pong is very pretty as now being playedin the tournament at the Royal Aquarium. To begin with,the room is bare of furniture, and there is no perpetualdiving after the balls under chairs and sofas, withoccasional intervals for flirtation behind the curtains, etc.,etc. It is a smartly contested game, in which gracefulposturing and very neat wrist action are features worthyof admiration. In order to put the game on a thoroughsportsmanlike basis, a Ping-Pong Association is in courseof formation, which will regulate all competitions.

TABLES may be Engaged for this fashionable Game,1/- each Person, including TEA.

A PING PONG CLUB is in Course of Formation;

Oxford Times 14 December 1901“Ping Pong” enthusiasts will hail with delight the

invention of “The Bunty Detachable Ping Pong Pocket”for holding the balls. A dozen or less balls may be placedin each pocket to commence play with, and by this meansit will be found that from four to six games can be playedwithout stooping. The balls usually collect together invarious corners, and so may be picked up together whennecessary with the one stoop. At the great table tennistournament at the Aquarium these pockets are being used;they are made to fit any table. Messrs. Parsons and Co.,34, Cumberland-market, London, N.W., are the patentees,and the pockets can be obtained from them for the smallsum of 1s. 6d. the pair. [See 7th December advert above.]

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A lengthy review of the unlimited stock of materials atthe “Civet Cat” toy establishment included “table tennisin all its latest developments, including a new racquetwith a short, round handle, for handicap tournamentplayers and such experts, and new ball-pickers, lookinglike telescopes”.

The Daily Graphic 14 December 1901

THE HISTORY OF PING PONG.No one appears to know who really invented Ping

Pong. Ten years ago Messrs. Jaques and Son, Limited,the well known manufacturers of games, adapted lawntennis for indoor use. A little net was made to fix on adining-room table, and vellum racquets and celluloidballs completed the set. Then the game was called“Gossima,” and the public would have none of it. After atime Messrs. Hamley suggested the name Ping Pong, andthe original game is now known as Ping Pong orGossima. At one time the whole game was registered,but the registration was allowed to run out, and nowmanufacturers copy Ping Pong, and call the copy TableTennis. The two names “Ping Pong and Gossima” are,however, still registered, and the original game has beendeveloped in various ways. This is the result of theenormous popularity of the game. Ping Pong began to“catch on” rather more than a year ago, and since then thesets have sold by the hundred thousand. Messrs. Jaques,who make the Ping Pong sets, told a representative of theDAILY GRAPHIC yesterday that just now the sales hadfallen off slightly, but they were still selling an average of1,500 sets of Ping Pong every day; three weeks ago thesales were 1,800 a day. These sets are of various kinds—to suit all pockets. You may buy a set for a shilling, oryou may get a first-class set in a mahogany case for twoguineas. If you do not wish to play on the dining-roomtable you may buy a portable table specially made forPing Pong—price ninety shillings. The surface of thistable has been specially prepared, the idea being to getthe balls to “play” better than they do on a plain woodentable.

Wooden racquets are being introduced for two or threereasons. With a wooden racquet you have to use moreexertion than you do with a vellum racquet, but you get abetter command over the ball. The playing surface of thewooden racquet is sandpaper, so that the balls may “bite.”Then there is the question of noise. When the game wasfirst introduced players seemed to enjoy the “ping pong”of the celluloid ball on the vellum racquet. Now thereseems to be a general desire to deaden that sound ifpossible––hence the introduction of the wooden racquet—which changes the “ping pong” to “tip tap.”

Sunderland Daily Echo 14 December 1901The Serious Side of Ping-Pong.

It is becoming difficult to decide quite satisfactorilywhether ping-pong is a harmless and innocent pastime ora dangerous and demoralising form of sport. As playedin the drawing-room, when the young gentleman who ischampion of West Brixton and his fair opponent tap thelittle celluloid ball gently to and fro across the net, andtake frequent and prolonged intervals for the alleged

purpose of making a not very exhausting search for ballsthat have strayed, it is table tennis, and perfectlyinnocuous. But when the players wickedly endeavour to“place” the ball on the bevel of the table, or over theinterstice between the wooden sections, or when, as in thetournament at the Royal Aquarium, trained exponentsplay themselves into a condition of physical collapse,then it is ping-pong, and calculated to produce, not onlymoral degeneration, but some disease or other akin to thebicycle-back or the golf-elbow.

Cheltenham Chronicle 14 December 1901


PING-PONG TOURNEY SUCCESS.––––––––––––––––––

ANOTHER ARRANGED FOR AT THE ROYALAQUARIUM.

–––––––

Ping-pong continues to be the star attraction at theRoyal Aquarium, where another series of interestingcontests was completed last evening. Eight differenttables were kept going until after ten o’clock, and thegalleries were well filled with enthusiastic spectators.

A number of old-time tennis players were on the lists,and in the new table game they gave a good account ofthemselves. Possibly the most exciting contest of theevening was between Mr. G. Greville and Mr. E. B.Good, whose table was surrounded by ping-pong experts.Mr. Greville won by a close margin. ….

So great is the interest in ping-pong that a large numberof entries have already been received for a secondtournament, which will be held January 8 to 11 at theAquarium.

The Sportsman 16 December 1901In a letter to the Editor, dated 14th December, from M J GRitchie, Hon. Sec. Table Tennis Association, RoyalAquarium, Westminster, London, he writes:

SIR.––It will be interesting to table tennis votaries toknow that at a meeting of members of numerous table

47


tennis clubs, held with a view to protecting players, theynominated certain members present “The Table TennisAssociation,” and I may mention it is already intimatedthat leading clubs will affiliate. The next meeting of itsmembers will be held here at 7.30 p.m., on Tuesday next,the 17th inst., after which I shall hope to be in a positionto give further information.

Sheffield Daily Independent 17 December 1901THE PROGRESS OF “PING PONG.”

Is the pastime officially known as table tennis, butunofficially and universally called “ping pong,” about totake a definite and permanent place among Englishindoor pastimes? When it was first introduced, socialprophets gave it a few months of popularity. It has nowbeen with us for many months; and, instead of vanishingaway and giving place to some other mild drawing-roomrecreation, it is now establishing itself and settling downfor a long stay. A ping pong association has beenformed, and this association intends to draw up rules anddictate prohibitions in the systematic manner which ischaracteristic of Englishmen in their amusements, but notso characteristic of them in their serious occupations.Moreover, a ping pong tournament on an extensive scalehas been held in London; and ping pong tournaments on asmaller scale are being held in many other places, for thegame has made its way from one end of the country to theother. It looks as if ping pong had come to stay; and thisneed not be particularly regretted, for there are manyworse games. With some of the older indoor recreationsit cannot be compared; but it is harmless, it demands acertain amount of skill, and it provides considerableamusement. Ping pong associations and tournamentsconfer upon the game a dignity which it hardly deserves,and which it wears rather ludicrously; but the ordinaryping pong player will not trouble himself or herself aboutthese elaborations. As a society craze, ping pong willhave its day and cease to be. Circumstances, however,point to its continuance as an agreeable expedient forwhiling away a wet afternoon.

Sheffield Daily Telegraph 17 December 1901It is to be hoped that the great success of the table

tennis tournament at the Royal Aquarium will not havethe effect of multiplying championships, and bringingabout a plethora of other tournaments. That the game hascome to stay the enthusiasm which the displayengendered at the Aquarium made pretty manifest. Thecompetitors themselves emanated from all classes, andthat the spectators included even those of Royal rank wasalso a conclusive factor. Mr. Ritchie has arrangedanother next month, but he is not alone, for Mr. RobertNewmann has now announced a similar tournament at theQueen’s Hall on Boxing Day, with valuable prizes forwinners.

–––––––––––––––––

The tournament demonstrated conclusively that thevellum racquets are much inferior to those of more solidmaterial. Many of those engaged attributed their defeatto the sagging of the vellum of their racquets rather thanto their own deficiencies. The most successful playersused racquets of wooden foundation, and with theseweapons they were able to serve and return with

exceptional rapidity. One lady used a racquet ofaluminium, but the metallic sound which it gave when incontact with the ball was not pleasant, neither did theresults appear to justify the innovation. The mostpractical result of the tournament was the inauguration ofa Table Tennis Association, which will authoritativelysettle the rules and regulations of the game.

The Sportsman 18 December 1901

The Sporting Life 18 December 1901THE PING-PONG ASSOCIATION.

–––––––––

A meeting of ping-pong players, including therepresentatives of several clubs, was held on Mondayevening at 8 and 9, Queen-street, Cheapside [“The GoldenFleece”], to consider the advisability of forming a Ping-Pong Association. Mr. C. Hunter, who was voted to thechair, said that the object of the association which it wasproposed to form would be (1) to adopt uniform rules,and to decide all doubtful and disputed questions; (2) topromote and affiliate all approved Ping Pong Clubs; (3)to elect a managing committee, and appoint suitablereferees and handicappers for tournaments; and (4) tohold an annual championship tournament, at whichaffiliated clubs can compete. In the course of a fewremarks Mr. Hunter referred to the enormous popularityof the game. It was played all over England, and it wasgoing to America, while it had been started in France andAustralia. It was very important that a game so widelyplayed should have a proper Association to conserve theinterests of players, [to] command their confidence, tohold tournaments, and, above all, to have a proper set ofrules. Mr. G. Washington Gray moved that anAssociation, to be called “The Ping Pong Association,”be formed. This was unanimously agreed to. Thefollowing gentlemen were elected a committee, withpower to add to their number: ––Messrs. G. WashingtonGray, F. J. Padgett, F. C. Dixon, H. Cobb, Owen Roberts,and C. Hunter. It was decided that the annualsubscription of the affiliated clubs should be threeshillings, and that, with a view to promoting the interestsof the game, a championship tournament should be heldin London, or some other suitable centre, every year. Mr.O. Roberts was elected hon. secretary [although two dayslater, the Yorkshire Post reported the hon. secretary asMr G Washington Gray, 38 Golden Square, London, W].

––––––––––––––––––––––Laugh at the idea as some may and do, there is no doubt

Ping Pong, or Table Tennis, has come to stay. Already aChampionship Meeting has been held, and it says muchfor the value of the pastime that notable lawn tennisplayers excelled thereat. My attention has been drawn tothe fact that its devotees are so numerous that twoseparate associations––the Ping Pong and Table Tennisditto––have been formed as governing bodies. I agreethat this is a pity; either one or the other, please. PingPong is doubtless the most popular conventional phrase,yet this savours o’er much of an infant’s pastime. Wehave tennis proper and lawn tennis, hence table tennis is

48


by far the most fitting and Euphonic. By the way, oneinvariably hears the new game sneared at in differentways, but ignorance is literally bliss in this connection.The position is not to be defended until the game hasbeen learned; then it defends itself. Let those who doubtthis try one game with an expert as antagonist! Odds onhe will feel and look like an ass.

Yorkshire Evening Post 18 December 1901PING-PONG IN LEEDS.––The Leeds Y.M.C.A. have now

a powerful ping-pong club. They have had some excitingindividual merit competitions. The making of ping-pongrackets has become quite an important local industry. Acertain cricket bat maker who expected to have a dullautumn has just turned out 36 gross of ping-pong rackets,and the demand is still far from being satisfied.Numerous ping-pong parties have been arranged in thecity during the Christmas holidays.

The following day’s paper added the information that:The “latest” baby’s rattle takes the form of a ping pongracquet, with a ball fixed to it.

East Anglian Daily Times 20 December 1901

Will fit any table, no bother with strings or loosenet, does not scratch the table, fixed in a second,

no screws or clamps.WOODEN RACQUETS,

With or without sandpaper.––––––

Once again, see Buchanan (26 November)

Special attention is directed to the Stock of

TABLE TENNIS OUTFITS.The New REGISTERED WOODEN RACQUETincreases the interest of this popular gameimmensely. Hits the ball with unerring

accuracy––cannot get out of order.––––

The racquet referred to is the ‘Vulliamy’ (382481).

Lincoln, Rutland & Stamford Mercury 20 Dec. 01NEW GAMES FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.––Messrs.

Woolley and Co., Ltd., Leonard-street, Finsbury, London,the well-known manufacturers of Christmas games, arewell to the fore this season with their productions. WithPING PONG rapidly assuming the status of one of ournational pastimes it is but natural that the firm should turntheir attention to producing the necessary articles forplaying table tennis, which they inform us has quiteeclipsed everything else during the last 12 months. They

cater for all pockets from the modest shilling to thearistocratic sovereign, and some very handsome sets aresent out.

New York Tribune 20 December 1901

See TTH 83/31-33 for other uses of this sketch.

Belfast News-Letter 20 December 1901

The following day’s edition of the paper contained thisreport:

THE ATHLETIC STORES, BRIDGE STREET.….Besides furnishing requisites for every class of out

and indoor games, they are the special agents for thepatent wood triplex table tennis bat, which is a greatfavourite with tennis players. All the articles enumerated….. are offered at tempting reductions in prices. Thebranch shop in Bedford Street is also stocked in a mannercommensurate with the reputation of the largerestablishment. [See also 15 January 1902.]This is almost certainly patent 26114, for which theapplication was registered on this same day (but laterabandoned). The first clue was given on 30th November,in the article in Ireland’s Saturday Night, where areference was made to Mr Bleakley of the Athletic Stores.

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One of the names on the patent application was Edwin CBlakley of Belfast. His name was often mis-spelt, even byBelfast Directories of the time (Bleakley, Blakely, andonce even as Edward!), but all listed him as a Merchantat 6a Bedford Street and 9 Bridge Street.

Worcestershire Chronicle 21 December 1901“Ping Pong” having been made fashionable and sporty

by the fact that Royalty condescended to be present at theAquarium tournament, it is proposed to drop the nameunder which the game leaped into popularity and to callit by the prosaic title of “table tennis.” People willprobably continue to call the game ping pong simplybecause it is ping pong. Meanwhile prodigious effort isbeing made to throw off the slur cast on the game by theenvious reports that the successful handicaps andtournaments we hear of are promoted by themanufacturers of ping pong tools. A “Table TennisAssociation” has been formed, which will take upon itselfto dogmatically settle the rules and regulations of thegame, and it is understood that it will take thechampionship tournament out of the hands of privatespeculators.

East Anglian Daily Times 21 December 1901

TABLE TENNIS.We were the first to introduce thiswonderful game to Ipswich.

We were the first to make, and sellthe wooden racquets. We are the firstpeople you should visit, to selectcomplete sets, or separate posts, nets,racquets, balls, and every requisite.

OUR REGISTERED RACQUETIs an unprecedented success. Sellingin hundreds. Get one without delay,and secure a place in the front rankof players.

–––––

The Field 21 December 1901(The Country Gentleman’s Newspaper)

NET FOR TABLE TENNIS.A NEW net, which has been submitted to us by Mr JohnPiggott, of 117, Cheapside, has several advantages whichmay commend it to the favour of votaries of the parlourpastime of the hour. Strictly speaking it is hardly a net atall, but rather a miniature hurdle of metallic wire, itsrigidity being sufficient to enable it to stand on feet, sothat its erection is the affair of a moment, and no clampsor poles are required. Being made in two sections, the netmay be adjusted in width by causing one of these tooverlap the other, a hook being provided for the purposeof uniting the two parts. The feet are protected by rubberbands, and cannot therefore injure the table. On the otherhand, it may be objected that a ball striking the rigid topstrand might be deflected to a greater extent than by thetop cord of a flexible net and in a different way. This is asmall matter, but if the game is to be taken seriously itsimplements should in all such respects follow a standard

model. When the projected association proceeds toconsider the rules of the game the new net may well putin its claims to be officially adopted, though its rival hasthe great advantage of being in possession. [See 4 Dec.]

–––––––––––––––––––––THE PING-PONG CRAZE.

T MIGHT BE STRAINING the accepted meaning ofthe word national, as applied to any occupation or

pastime, to give it to ping-pong, although the use of theterm in this connection would be strictly accurate, forunquestioned it is that, for the moment, no game is moreuniversally played throughout the country than this.More than one excellent game has failed to make anyheadway because its adoption would entail theabandonment of some other already firmly establishedfavourite, but in the case of ping-pong no such sacrifice iscalled for. Neither the hour at which it is usually playednor the customary scene of operations has hitherto beendevoted to the practice of any active exercise in thefamily circle, and it is not at all probable that anyoneaccustomed to seek physical relaxation once or twiceeach week in the gymnastic, fencing, or boxing class willallow that routine to be affected. The football, hockey, orlacrosse player, the golfer, the oarsman, and the athletecan all engage in their customary daily exercise withoutbeing disturbed by the fervour for ping-pong with which,as one may judge from the signs of the times, so many ofthem are possessed. In the depth of the winter months,when darkness sets in at an early hour, many, onreturning from the City, will find the ping-pong table toogreat a temptation to resist, and a few games will beplayed before dinner; but the accepted period for theproper enjoyment of the game is between dinner and bed.Thus is carried out the excellent hygienic maxim “aftersupper walk a mile,” for, of course, when the advice wasgiven dinner was a midday affair, and supper what is nowdinner, though possibly less formidable. The publicyearning for billiards is by no means to be gauged by thenumber of people playing, so few are the facilities whichpresent themselves under acceptable conditions to thepopulation of the suburbs of large towns, which containthe great bulk of middle-class workers, and the case ofdwellers in the smaller towns and the country is worse.Given the facilities and billiards would be a widespreadfamily game, but a billiard room in every semi-detachedvilla is as impossible as a private theatre. Withoutsuggesting that ping-pong, as a game, is in the remotestmanner comparable to billiards, it is, nevertheless, thefact that, billiards being impossible to the ordinaryhousehold, the new game steps in to satisfy a long-feltcraving for an evening amusement entailing physicalexercise of an inexacting nature.

There is some suggestion of indecision as to thepermanent name by which the game is to be known, thealternative to ping-pong being table-tennis. Ping-pong isthe title bestowed by Mr James Gibb––in whom athleteswill recognise the celebrated amateur distance runner ofthe seventies––who is credited with the introduction ofthe game, although we believe that a Mr Devonshirepreviously played a game with small indiarubber balls.Priority of title is not invariably a plea to berecommended. If it took precedence of every other claimwe should be calling lawn tennis “sphairistike,” which

I

50


was the name given it by its introducer. But betweenthese two names there is the very important differencethat the one was impossible, whereas the other caught onat once. Whatever the doctors may decide upon as beingclassically correct, certain it is that ping-pong is the termthat will colloquially survive. For table-tennis the claimis made that it is more exact as a definition, the gamebeing lawn-tennis adapted to a table; but in this thepurists are wrong, for tennis is an altogether mis-appliedterm to the lawn game, though becoming general with allbut tennis players. The historian in centuries to come,reading up the loose references to tennis, when lawn-tennis is all the while meant, will be led to make the samefaulty generalisations that are at the present timeperpetrated with reference to the tennis of the MiddleAges, the untenable assumption being that all the fifteeenhundred courts which at one time existed in Paris werefull-sized. In the meantime it is noticeable that theamateur clubs, who are forming themselves into anassociation, are adopting ping-pong for their descriptivetitle, going through the formality of obtaining thepermission of the owners of the name to use it. To someit may appear like a storm in a teacup. What is moreimportant than the title is the fact that the game has seizedupon all classes and very nearly all ages, who will play atit under any name. Wherever human beings assemblethere the ping and the pong of the vellum racket is heard;and no place is now deemed inappropriate for a ping-pong table. No longer is the question asked, “do you playping-pong?” for, not being lame, halt, or blind, you do soas a matter of course––perhaps merely as a self-protectivemeasure in many cases. Earnest bridge players aredelighted with the ping-pong craze, we believe, for it hasrelieved them of much of the butterfly element thataffected bridge merely because it was the fashionablething to do. These play ping-pong with much greaterzest, and certainly with not less skill, because that wouldbe impossible.

Mention of an association raises the query whether thegame is one that presents sufficient scope fordevelopment to permit of its becoming the subject ofreally serious competitions. We doubt it. It will bewithin the recollection of metropolitan oarsmen how acertain lawn-tennis court at the back of a rowing clubhouse at Putney was accused of sapping the vitals of theactive members, who were driving the indiarubber ball toand fro instead of perfecting their style on the river.Ping-pong will never offend to that extent. As a game forthe young at country house parties it is bound to bewelcome; indeed, there, as at places of publicassemblage, such as “hydros,” it is already as much athome as in the suburban family circle, but to make it thesubject of championships is to load it with a burdenwhich it cannot bear. As we have said, there is notsufficient scope in the game. Already it has beendiscovered that a bat made of wood is the most efficientweapon wherewith to play the ball. These are beingmanufactured with an infinity of shapes to the handlesaccording to the idea of the player. The bat has therecommendation of being much cheaper than thebattledore and the racket, whilst, so long as the face iskept free from dents, it will play the ball truly and notwith varying strength, as is so often the case with the

battledore. That the parchment implement will die thehardest of deaths we may be sure, and it may be reliedupon to linger on just as the uncovered ball and posts,with guy ropes, survive at lawn-tennis to this day, asthough Mr J. M. Heathcote had never suggested thecovered ball, and Cavendish posts were unheard of.

But an association is none the less needed, because it isonly by a recognised representative body that rules can beformulated which will be universally respected. Theproper size for a match table is understood by mostexperts to be 9ft. by 5ft., standing 2ft. 6in. from theground, with right-angled edges. The net for such a tableis 6¾in. high, and, to prevent players returning ballsround the end of the posts without going over the net, thatobstruction should be extended some distance beyond thetable on either side. These are matters which needconsolidating into rules confirmed by a governing body.At present there is no regulation as to the size of the ballor its colour. Anything but a white ball is the exception;but when a player is opposed by one wearing a whitewaistcoat, as happened at a recent competition, hischance of seeing a white ball is materially reduced, andhe might reasonably claim to play with red ones. It waspossibly with the object of confounding adversaries that aplayer provided himself with a bat made of a mirror.These are matters that can be dealt with only by anassociation. There is already talk of allowing the volley.Perhaps it is thought that by this means protracted rests[rallies] will cease to be. Rests of one hundred and eventwo hundred strokes occur with cautious players, whosomehow triumph over the brilliant ones, and these aredecidedly monotonous to spectators; but this only goes toprove our case as to the limits of the game. The volleymight be effectual, but it is certain to be fatal to the balls,unless some very different material to that employed isintroduced. What the covered ball did for lawn-tennis thecelluloid ball has done for ping-pong. Its adoption madethe game possible. Perhaps some one will learn how togive the celluloid ball a longer life than it is likely toenjoy in its present state if the volley is to be allowed;and the fact is not to be ignored that for some time past acovered ball has been in use.This article contains only the second reference that I haveseen to ‘Mr Devonshire’, quite a while after the first,found by Steve Grant in The Echo of 9 May [TTH 86/24].

Weekly Irish Times 21 December 1901

Ping Pong––The Social Attractions of Ping Pong.Just as by the advent of “bridge” a lady might become a

favourite in the smartest society, provided she was afinished player, says Sketch, so a young man of doubtfulantecedents and a character whose prominent features arechiefly negative, and who is destitute of prospects orinfluence, is fought over by the most reputable hostessesin London if only a consummate master of ping-pong.

St Louis Republic (US) 22 December 1901

Surprises in Toyland.

Games are numerous and include a table tennis thatmight well give delight to hours spent indoors. Thedining-room table would make an ideal court.

51


Yorkshire Evening Post 23 December 1901A POINT IN PING-PONG LAW

At a recent Ping-Pong competition, the winner wore awhite waistcoat, which rendered the ball invisible to hisopponent. Some authoritative ruling is needed to governsuch a case. Again, is it lawful to play with a bat made ofa mirror? What is the minimum of headroom to beallowed under the gasalier?

The Daily Graphic 23 December 1901‘THE PREVAILING EPIDEMIC’ [TTC 65/21]


PING-PONG AT THE SEASIDE.

Clacton has recently opened an up-to-date wintergarden, and not the least of the many attractions providedfor visitors is a room for ping-pong.

––––––––––––––––––––

Mr. Arnold Parker, of the Hendon Ping-Pong Club, hasaddressed a letter to Mr. J. Ritchie, of the WestminsterAquarium, making suggestions for the improvement ofthe rules of the ping-pong championship. Mr. Parkersuggests (a) that the tournament be a knock-out one, eachmatch to be the best of three games of fifty points each;or (b) an American tournament in sections, each game tobe thirty points up, and the differences of points to becounted, not games won and lost; (c) adopt the ordinarysystem of scoring as used in lawn tennis.

Portsmouth Evening News 24 December 1901

The phrase “ping-pong” is by no means new. InChambers’s “Traditions of Edinburgh” (1825), in anaccount of the old Scottish ladies’ costume is thispassage: “A ping-pong––a jewel fixed to a wire, with along pin at the end, worn in front of the cap, and whichshook as the wearer moved.”

The Northern Whig 25 December 1901To the above definition was added the information: “Itwas generally stuck in the cushion, over which the hairwas turned in front. Several were frequently worn atonce. It was sometimes pronounced pom-poon.”Anyone who has been struck in the eye by a ping-pongball (says the “Daily Chronicle”) will see the force ofcalling it sometimes a pom-pom [a type of cannon!].


Gloucester Citizen 26 December 1901

It is safe to say, remarks the “Daily Mail,” that there arewell over a million ping-pong players in England alone.

The owners of the registered title of “ping-pong” statethat during the past week or more they alone havesupplied at least 2,000 ping-pong sets a day. They couldhave sold three times the number if they had had thestock. For months past they have been selling 10,000 setsa week. Probably half a million sets is not beyond themark reached by the sales for the year. The game ispopular in India, Australia, and America.

––––––––––

Complaint is now made that the name of “ping-pong,”which has done so much to popularise the game, isvulgar, and those who take the pastime seriously wantsomething more dignified. “Table-tennis” sounds allright, but “rattle-bat,” which is another suggestion, is noimprovement surely. “Sphairistike,” the name which wasgiven to the game [lawn tennis] by its introducer, is “outof court”; it is ugly and inconvenient.


PING-PONG POLITICS.–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

RIVAL TACTICS AT A BOXING DAYTOURNAMENT.

––––––––––––––

Although there has been no open declaration of warbetween the rival Ping-Pong-Table-Tennis Associations,hostilities of a kind have already broken out, and anycasual observer outside the Queen’s Hall yesterday couldnot fail to have noticed signs of strife.

Outside the building were bold placards announcing toall the world and his wife that “The Ping-PongTournament” (by permission) was being held within thewalls under the “Laws of the Ping-Pong Association.”

The mobilisation of the ping-pong forces was notunobserved by an emissary or spy of the rival association,for, casting discretion to the wind which happened to beblowing at the moment, in Langham-place a perigrinatingfore-and-aft placarded individual might be observeddumbly making known that the “Table-TennisTournament” would commence at the Royal Aquariumon January 3.

Whether the Bank Holiday folk were apathetic orwhether the competing advertisement caused them toabstain from witnessing the manœuvring of theassembled ping-pong forces is not quite certain, but itmust be frankly admitted that the interior of the largeQueen’s Hall did not present a lively appearance. Therewas a very small attendance, and the chilly silence wasonly broken by the familiar “ping-pong” (by permission).

It was the ladies’ turn in the afternoon, and there weresome good games, several ladies (possibly with the ideaof bringing the rival factions together) appearing who hadpreviously played at the “Table-Tennis Tournament” atthe Aquarium.

Northampton Mercury 27 December 1901

The announcement of a Ping Pong tournament for an“All England Championship Challenge Cup andhandsome prizes” was certain to come sooner or later.…..The recent formation … of a National Ping PongAssociation (we trust we have the name of the augustbody right) made something of the sort inevitable. Thepurpose of an association is to regulate really seriouscompetitions, and although the cart seems to have come

52


first, its presence argued the early advent of a horse.Whilst we remain somewhat sceptical as to thepossibilities of development in the new national pastime,we heartily agree with the “Field” in thinking that theassociation will find plenty to do. …..

Herts. and Cambs. Reporter 27 December 1901

….. Up to within twenty-four hours of Christmas wewere under the spell of Jack Frost and everything pointedto an old-fashioned Christmas. Christmas Eve had notrun its course before a depressing rain set in whichthreatened to drive away all outward signs of the reign ofFather Christmas, and yet, within half-an-hour of this thecountry all round was covered with snow, and a blizzardalmost cleared the streets of the late shoppers. The resultof the partial thaw on Christmas Day was that thepleasures of the festive season were almost universallyconfined to the family circle and out-door recreationswere reserved for the bright sunny conditions of BoxingDay. Socially, 1901 will perhaps be best remembered asthe Ping-Pong Christmas, and that fashionable game nodoubt yielded in a large measure the compensationswhich a fireside Christmas has to set off against the lossof out-door pleasures.


Evening Post (London) 28 December 1901

During the past week or more the two London firmswhich own the registered title have supplied at least 2000ping-pong sets a day. They could have sold three timesthe number if they had had the stock.

Worcestershire Chronicle 28 December 1901

Attempts to substitute table tennis as the name for thepopular game of ping-pong have failed. The matter hasbeen definitely decided by the newly-formed associationof clubs, which has assumed the title of the Ping-PongAssociation. Only superior persons object to ping-pongas a name. They say it is frivolous and no longer correct,because as wooden rackets are now being used both theping and the pong have gone. The Princess Victoria, whois fond of the game, adheres to ping-pong. H.R.H. haspurchased a table specially made for the game, and it hasbeen sent down to Sandringham.

Isle of Wight Observer 28 December 1901

The fact that a Ping-Pong Association is in course offormation leaves no doubt as to the position which thegame holds, while the recent tournament has proved thattable-tennis is of very considerable interest to a largenumber of persons. The careful spectator at both privateand public exhibitions of the game must be struck by itsvery obvious limitations under existing conditions.Played with attempted fastness ping-pong is a prettygame, to say no more of it; but when the policy of play isadopted which is equivalent to persistent lobbing at lawn-tennis, the game loses all its attraction from the point of

view of the spectator. The present enthusiasts, however,belonging to the class which regards games with severeseriousness, it is possible that some scheme will beevolved by means of which ping-pong will be freed froma threatening monotony which deprives it of interest as aspectators’ game.

Cheltenham Looker-on 28 December 1901

I was not struck with any great novelty in themechanical toys which were exhibited this year. In fact, Iformed the impression, after visiting one or two bazaars,that the distinguishing feature of the season, far andaway, and above all its competitors, is the absoluteeminence of Ping-Pong. There are, or have been, two orthree ping-pong tournaments in progress, and I have beentold the crush for admission has been enormous. I knowthat at the toyshops everyone has been inquiring for ping-pong bats, or ping-pong nets, or the little white celluloidballs which a pair of skilful players set vibrating in sobewildering a manner from end to end of the table. Atone shop in Cheapside a ping-pong net elaboratelydecorated with holly and ivy had practically a wholewindow to itself. It was a fitting homage to the indoorgame of the time, the deserved apotheosis of ping-pong.

Western Times (Exeter) 30 December 1901

During the past three days the walls of the Queen’s Hallhave echoed to other music than that of Mr. Newman’sorchestra––to wit the sharp percussion of racket and ballwhich has given an imitative name to the game of ping-pong. The tournament, which came to a close yesterdayafternoon, has drawn crowds of holiday-makers who havewatched the play with the keenest interest. So successfulhas this novel competition been that it has been decidedto open another tournament at the same place towards theclose of next month. Twenty-eight ladies and sixty-fivegentlemen entered for the contest, among the latter beinga clergyman, a medical man, a lieutenant, and a smallschoolboy. The ladies showed some very graceful play,the clever service of Miss Bantock, winner of the firstprize, and Miss Franklin, winner of the third prize, beingespecially admired. In the final competitions, which werebrought to a breathless conclusion yesterday, the ladies“by request” wore dark blouses, and the men ordinarymorning dress, the light costumes and dazzling shirtfronts so conspicuous in the earlier stages of the game,tending to eclipse the transit of the ball. …..

Aberdeen Press 30 December 1901

“Ping-pong” has cast as potent a spell over Christmasparties as ever the pied piper over Hamelin city.Everybody plays “ping-pong.” “Table tennis,” doubtless,is the more dignified name for the game, and the rules oflawn tennis regulate it. But everybody calls it ping-pong, from the sound the ball makes when it strikes thetable, ping! and the sound when the racket strikes theball, pong! ……


The ping-pong fever seems to have made its way intohouseholds too numerous to estimate. There was anopening for some simple amusement among friends in

53


dull times. Dancing holds its own at children’s partieswhere games are voted out of date, but society as a wholedoes not patronise it as in times past. The residential flatsin which people live, which enables them to dispensewith many servants, have no room to use as a ballroom,even if the other occupants of the building were tolerantof the disturbance. Bridge has a bad name as a gamblinggame, and Monte Carlo itself has not a worse reputationfor ruining hundreds of infatuated women.

When first ping-pong came out a few years ago it wasaccepted as a game for children, something to helpthrough a wet day or fill up a holiday. But in course oftime the game came under the notice of tennis players,who suddenly found themselves with a new field onwhich to struggle for champion’s honours. Table tennisis a more descriptive name for the game, and since it hasceased to be looked upon as a childish form ofamusement it has attracted the most scientific players,who find themselves furnished with a new winterpastime.

A difficulty presents itself to residents in flats withspace limited, as a nine-foot table is absolutely essential.This has led to the formation of ping-pong clubs on thelines of ordinary tennis clubs, with the right to use a club-room as a tennis-court. It is obvious that clubs must berestricted in the number of members, and this is a cryinggrievance of the recent votaries, who cannot find a club totake them in. At several West End clubs, especially thoseof which ladies as well as gentlemen are members, it hasbeen seriously proposed to disestablish the billiard table,and set up table tennis; but this would be more than theelderly gentlemen who never learned tennis would allow.

Dundee Evening Post 30 December 1901

FOR VICTIMS OF THE NEW “CRAZE.”––––––––––

Rules of Ping-Pong.––––––––––

“Ping-pong,” alias “pom-pom,” alias “wiff-waff,” alias“table tennis,” has spread from London to Pretoria, fromNew York to San Francisco, from Bombay to Sydney, infact, wherever British people do congregate there youwill find it. For years there has not been such a “craze”on an indoor game, and the patentee of ping-pong isblessing “this happy day.”

In hardly a house one visits is not found the game ofping-pong in full swing any evening. ….. So the newscomes from South Africa that ping-pong is being playedby the officers camped on the veldt. …..

In some places the game has been made one exactly ofminiature lawn tennis, green baize cloth being stretchedtightly over the table, and the lines marked on it as on alawn tennis court. The name “ping-pong” comes fromthe sound made by the collision of the ball with theracquet.

The game, like many others, owes much of itspopularity to the fact that it can be played and played wellby women. A well-known athlete recently visited ahouse, and took down to dinner a young lady who wasapparently interested in no subject. She never vouchsafedan answer except in a mono-syllable. After dinner came“Ping-Pong.” “I will deal gently with this charmingcreature,” thought the young man, as she prepared to

serve. The ball came swiftly just over the net with aterrible cut on it. The man fanned the air. It was onlyafter the girl had won three sets love that he tumbled tothe situation. The man went home, and practised for amonth before he tackled her again, and––let us whisperit––she beat him again.[There followed an explanation of the Rules, using tennisscoring, but otherwise not too dissimilar to those still inuse today.]


PlNG-PONG, ONE PENNY.–––––––––––––––––––––––

THE GAME FROM CONCERT HALLTO DOORSTEP.

––––––––––––

A small, spectacled boy of fourteen was the hero of theafternoon at Queen’s Hall on Saturday. …..

Master Muir Stephens, of the Hendon Club, was thecentre of interest. Handicapped by his size, about halfthat of the other players, he reduced the handicap almostto nil by his wonderful quickness and agility, and carriedoff third prize in the men’s section, value £10.

Some of his strokes were really remarkable. Baffled byone ball, which bounced high out of his not veryextensive reach, he ran round and actually hit it over hisshoulder on to the table, to which his back was turned—astroke seen fairly often in lawn tennis, but in ping-pongworthy to be chronicled.A BOY PHENOMENON.

And before the applause had time to start he hadwhisked round ready for the return, and took it too. ….

Another picture. Two little match-sellers crouchingin the deep doorway of a closed shop, two more ill-cladforms bending over them. Their stocks lay in a cornerunsold and unheeded.NOT QUITE ORTHODOX.

Has it come to this? Ping-pong played by match-sellerson a doorstep!

Not the regulation size by any means, this ball. Neitherwas it the orthodox celluloid, though it was a fairimitation in varnine.

A bit of stiffened green gauze about 6ins. long and 2ins.high was the net. The post were bits of wire twisted atthe bottom to form feet, stable enough to resist the impactof the tiny ball. Two cardboard rackets completed the set.

“Where did you get them?” “At Missis Jones’ in ––––street.” The search for a cheap ping-pong set did notcarry the explorer so far. In several sweet-shop windowswas the article displayed.

“The latest and best of games, parlour tennis. Twobats, ball, net and stand, with rules of game, one penny”—who could resist such a bargain?

The rules are on the other side of the bag. Rule 5:“Decide before you commence how many points wins thegame.” Rule 7: “If the ball bounces on the table and thenhit with the bat and returned over the net, that playerclaims two points; but if returned over the net withouttouching the table, the player only claims one point.”

[With thanks to Sarah Steenson of Belfast Heritage forthe article from Ireland’s Saturday Night.]

54

Auction Action

55

Rare Table Tennis candybox, c. 1902 $246.50

Fine pair of stylish early wood bats sold for a strong £149

Wright & Ditson set with short handle bamboo single vellum rackets, c.1902 $200

56

Ping Pong sheet music, ScherzoCharacteristic, 1902. $13

1902 4-page article by Beatrice Lewis £10.5

57

J.W. Spear set with rare ball basket, 3 bats with textured surface andbulbous grips, ball pick-up stick, missing the metal pick-up prongs. £21

Ticket for the 1936 World Championships in Prague. $99

58

1917 postcard $25

Lithograph poster 1932 from the portfolio LesJoies du Sport, by the Yugoslav artist MilivoyUzelac. Plate 28 42x35cm Euro 150

1932 press photo, with caption: “Representatives of 25 countries who will compete for places on theInternational Team which will receive seeded places in the National Ping Pong Tournament for theParker Cup, are seen here with the trophy in the hotel Waldorf Astoria in New York where the tourneywill be held.” The rackets are all Parker Brothers Ping Pong brand, no doubt required for participation.The US Table Tennis Association was formed in 1933, and this commercial connection was ended. $20

59

1934 advertisement for Krazy Table Tennis £3

601947 Austrian ChampionshipsWomen’s Doubles 2ⁿ pl. $35

1935 French medal Euro 60

1937 Czech Open $90 Chinese medal $99

Heavy Metal

61

‘Commemorative Coin of the‘88 Olympics’ in originalpresentation box.. The coin isinset into the stadium, seldomseen in this format. $75

1991 World Championships, Chiba, Japan. Corbillon Cup 4 pl. $140

Swedish referee pin $40 Austria Kärnten TTV pin $40

South Yemen pin $100 Croatia pin 1950-75 $11

DBTU Denmark pin Polish Honorary pin $8

62

Pins - not so heavy

Probably a military (Air Force) pin for a tournament $10

63

Mini-bat signed by two WorldSingles Champions: Shigeo Ito(1969) and Nobuhiko Hasegawa(1967) $115

Porcelain figure, early 1970s,30cm, by Lladro $308

64

Page featuring autographs of top stars Johnny Leach (ENG),Gizi Farkas (HUN), Richard Bergmann (AUT, ENG) and BohumilVana (TCH) £50

French newspaper clipping from the 1936 World Championships,Prague. Vladone (ROU) v Liebster (AUT) Euro 5.50

Souvenir sheet, MNH, from the 1961 World Championships, Beijing $799Careful - there are many fakes of this scarce item.

Postcards from the 1961 WorldChampionships, Beijing $18 each

65

Official program for the 1963 World Championships,Prague, with pairings for all events, player lists … $90

66

German DTTB pennant from the1962 Europe ChampionshipsBerlin $10

Recording for the Asian-Afro Friendship Invitational, China 1971. $160

67

‘Tension Mounts’, oil on board by Jerzey Marek. £190

Modern folding pop-up card with envelope. $9 on etsy.com

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Paul Niszczak, mixed media, 30x20 inches (76x50cm) £50

Label from the 1959 WorldChampionships, Dortmund.$12.70Vignettes from the 1952 World Ch

in Bombay $15 each

1947 Goofy comic book $57.60 1955 Woody Woodpecker comic book $8

1950 Tom & Jerry comic book $6 1955 Looney Tunes comic book, Bugs Bunny $3

69

Günther AngenendtLangacker 10a 44869 Bochum, Germany+49-2327-77117 [email protected] World Ch programs; all TT itemsGerman boxed sets & bats; TT pins

Jorge Arango [email protected]. 10 No. 25-103 Ap.116 Medellin ColumbiaPhilatelic & general TT items

Michael L. Babuin, PhD USAPO Box 3401 Cary NC. [email protected] books, old film copies, programs

Oliver Born [email protected] www.old-butterfly.deOld Butterfly rackets, especially Korpa

Keith Bowler (AUS) In Memoriam

Fabrice Chantriaux France10 Rue des Chevrefeuilles F-45130 Saint-Ay02.38.88.82.11 Fax: [email protected] Stamps, cancels,Postcards, posters, old papers on TT

Colin Clemett [email protected] Watermill Court, 10 Springwell, HavantPO9 1ED UK Historical documents

Fabio Colombo Italy [email protected] Tennis books, World Rankings. AuthorSeeking STIGA Stipancic rackets

Ron Crayden (ENG) in Memoriam

Andre Demeure (BEL) in Memoriam

Jean Devys Residence La petite vigne,20 rue Edgar Quinet, A16 F-59100 RoubaixFrance 33.320828444 Fax: 33.320650849 TTphilately, cycling [email protected]

Axel Dickhaus GermanyAtzienbacherf Str. 88 D-51381 Leverkusen+49 (0)2171 32108 Fax: 49 (0)[email protected] TT balls, phone cards

Alan Duke [email protected] Shapwick Close, Swindon WILTS. EnglandSN3 3RQ UK +44 (0) 1793 531234History, music & photo record of TT items

Sergio Durazzano [email protected] Girardini 8, 33100 Udine, Italy0432.21105 Stamps & historical books

Winfried Engelbrecht GermanyVirgiliastr.21 D-45131 Essen [email protected] Philately:Stamps, FDCs, Sheets, Postmarks, books,phonecards, tickets, stickers, W.C. Programs

Romualdas Franckaitis [email protected]

Gao Yi-bin [email protected] Xin Wen Road 21-905 Phoenix Tree GardenJiangning, Nanjing, Jiansu P.R.China 211100+8625 5212 3334 TT stamps, FDC, postcardsphonecards, coins, medals, pins, cancels

Roman Gelman [email protected] Taverngreen Court, Baltimore, MD. USA21209 410 602 0267 Pins,,badges,medals

David Good [email protected] N.Waverly, Dearborn, MI 48128 USA+1 313 278 5271 c.1900 sets, equipment,ephemera, memorabilia

Scott Gordon USA [email protected] Shelato Way, Carmichael, CA 95608+1 916 978 0117 www.hardbat.com filmsHistoric films,classic era hardbats, old books

Gordon Gotal [email protected] 23 Zagreb 10000 Croatia+3851 4848 687 Exch: TT pins, medals, post-cards Acquire: WC & EC official badges(Guest, organizer, player, press, etc)

Steve Grant Florida USA [email protected] Pong Diplomacy, Early 1900s TT

Esko Heikkinen [email protected] 9 B 17 Helsinki 00100Finland +358 50 62532 TT history, Stiga bats

Gerald Gurney +44.1206.230330Guildhall Orchard, Great Bromley ColchesterESSEX CO7 7TU England. All racket games, Allequipment, ephemera. Historian, author.Worldwide exhibitions. Swimming items.Exch: boxed sets, postcards, books, rackets

Rex Haggett [email protected] Meadow Close, Stratford-upon-AvonWarwickshire, CV37 9PJ England+44 (0) 1789 269352 Philately

Russ Hamilton Arkansas, [email protected] 214-673-6164C.1890-1902 vintage sets, books & unusualitems

Barry Hayward UK19 Little Hardwick Road, StreetlyWest Midlands WS9 [email protected]

Chuck Hoey Honorary Curator, ITTF [email protected] bats, unusual bats, historic photos,Important medals, museum quality items

Martin Holland [email protected] Victoria Road, Barrow-in-Furness, CumbriaEngland BA14 5JU TT postcards & trade cards

Rolf Jaeger USA [email protected] and Table Tennis itemsCustom jewelry: www.tennisboutique.com

Dean Johnson USA3404 Holly Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23451(757) 478 3605 [email protected]

Jean-Francois Kahn France49 rue Leonardo da Vinci, 77330 Ozoir laFerriere [email protected]+33 1 40779762 TT philately: imperf stamps,sheets, color proofs, minister/artist sheets,errors, postmarks, meters, FDCs, specimens

Christian Klaus Möllersdorf, [email protected] stamps, cancels, postcards, autographcards, FDCs, historic photos, magazines,Newspapers, score-lists, books, posters …

Jan Kleeven [email protected] 63 6373 NN LandgraafNetherlands Pins, flags, pennants, stamps,Phonecards, stickers

Matti Kolppanen FinlandKollekannaksent 12E, FI-02720 Espco [email protected] history, TT postcards

Randy Koo NetherlandsTorenwacht 37, 2353 DB Leiderdorp+31 071 5417413 [email protected] mint, postmarks, red meters, FDC

Hans Kreischer +34965698195Avenue les Comargues 21, Busot-Allicante03111 Spain [email protected]

Bruno Lancon (FRA)Barna bats

Kevin Lau USA [email protected], pins, coins, memorabilia, souvenir& decorative items

Collector Directory

70

Caron Leff Ft. Myers, FL [email protected] Table Tennis pins

Francis Leibenguth France +339519666141 résidence des Hauts de Villebon 91140Villebon-sur-Yvette [email protected]

Vintage bats (esp hardbats), vintage setshttp://raquettes-collection.blog4ever.com

Jorgen Lindh [email protected] 13D S-43242 VarbergSWEDEN

Steve Luck, 12 Liskey Hill, Perranporth,Cornwall TR6 0ET Phone: 07860 [email protected] racket sports,rowing, billiards, croquet, archery ...

Fabio Marcotulli [email protected] rackets, TT items from all eras

Hubert [email protected], AFCTT (French TT Collectors)

Eldon Mohler [email protected] E.Warm springs Rd.Suite 112 Las Vegas. NV 89119 USAFax: +1-702-453-8472

Erik Kenneth Muhr England UK2 Highgate Hill, Hawkhurst KENT TN18 4LB01580 752676 History of Table [email protected]

Rudolf Mueller GermanyBahnhofstr. 58 D-57250 Netphen 02738-1461 Stamps, cancels, letter, error, redmeters [email protected]

Jan Nusteleyn NetherlandsWeserstraat 21, 9406 VP Assen 0592-356050 e-mail: [email protected], mint perforated FDCs red meters,cancels WC, EC, EC-Youth, Top-12

Robert Op de Beeck (BEL) In Memoriam

Florian Pagel Germany [email protected] Banda, Stiga, Joola, Butterfly, Imperial

Park Jeong Kye [email protected] Box 555 Busan 48931 KOREA SouthPostmarks, stamps, postcards

Gregory PinkhusovichApt.10, h.2 Sheshet Ha-Yamim StrAriel 40700 ISRAEL [email protected] TTpins, badges, medals, coins

Laszlo Polgar [email protected] World Ch items,Barna,Bergmann,Bellak,Szabados,Anna Sipos,Rozeanu,Ehrlichand Dolinar. Table Tennis plus chess.

Alberto Prieto [email protected]

Robin Radford [email protected] St Edmund Cr TAWA, Wellington, NZ+64 04 232 5672TT cartoons, comic strips, clip art

Jose Ransome”Conifers” Church Lane ORMESBYMiddleborough TS7 9AU ENGLAND01642 322223 [email protected]

Geoff Reed In Memoriam

Helmut ReinhardtFriedrich-Voss-Platz 19,D-24768 Rendsburg, [email protected]

Ortwin Schiessl AustriaLascygasse 14-16, A-1170 [email protected] table tennisphilately: Stamps, sheets, FDC, postmarks

Lutz Schoenfeld Germanyselling Table Tennis items on ebay: pongistee-mail: [email protected]

Martin Senn St. Gallen, Switzerlande-mail: [email protected] old Stiga blades & catalogues

Luigi Simeoni [email protected] Ponte S.Pancrazio 2/a 37133 VeronaItaly 0039 045 532033 TT Balls, catalog

Harry Sintemaartensdijk NetherlandsJulianastraat 8,2651 DP Berkel en Rodenrijs0031 105114621 [email protected] Aufklebers/stickers

Tang Gan Xian [email protected] Hu 4-35-104, ChangShu 215500+86-512-52722359 TT stamps, FDC, pinspostmarks, postcards, phonecards,tickets,

Marc Templereau France [email protected] Hameau des cerisiers 38150 RoussillonSecretary, AFCTT (French TT CollectorsAssoc) https://afctt.wordpress.comCollections : stamps, FDC, players postcards,autographs, programs

Michael Thomson1 Kinnoull Terrace, PERTHPH2 7DJ SCOTLAND UK 01738 [email protected] and history of Table Tennis

Solazzi Tonino [email protected] Millefonti 6 / 5 10126 Torino, Italy0039 3668744426 Table Tennis pinswww.tabletennispins.weebly.com

Hans-Peter Trautmann GermanySiegfriedstr. 17 64385 [email protected] mint, perf + imperf, sheets, colorproofs, minister/artist sheets, postmarks,errors, red/blue meters

Graham Trimming 44(0)1628 529609Rosemount Juniper LaneWooburn Green, Bucks HP10 0DE England [email protected] pre-1939 TTitems, esp c.1900s. Acquire: Gossima 1891;early unusual items; early World Ch items.

Damir Uzorinac CroatiaPrilaz Gjure Dezelica 20 10000 [email protected] 38598474982Books, pins, stamps, cancellations

Russ Walker e-mail = ?4316 Irving Ave N, MPLS MN 55412 USA+1-612-522-7905Early 1900s equipment & boxed sets

Diane & Harvey Webb [email protected]+44 (0)1424 216342English related photographs, programmes,books, post cards. General - pin badges

Yao ZhenxuRoom 401 Unit 1 Building 2No. 4 Dongsikuaiyu South StreetChongwen District, Beijing 100061, China+86-13911990508 [email protected] stamps, FDC, postcards, coins, pins,phonecards, postal material, tickets etc

Jos Zinkstok NetherlandsNeckarstraat 8 NL9406 VN ASSEN+31 592 350486 Fax: 0031 592 [email protected] www.poveia.nlTT cancellations, stamps, vignettes, on realused, letters/covers/cards, FDC

Anton Zwiebel In Memoriam

71

Collector Directory

Copyright © ITTF Museum 2019 Published by the ITTF: Avenue de Rhodanie 58, CH-1007 Lausanne,SWITZERLAND e-mail: [email protected]

No part of this journal may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher

2019 World ChampionshipsBudapest

April 21-28 at the Hungexpo, BudapestBudapest also hosted the World Championships

In 1929, 1931 and 1950

World No. 1 (as of 1.2019) Fan Zhendong(CHN) will be a favorite to capture his firstWorld Singles title. Others in the hunt areNo. 2 Xu Xin, 3 Japanese stars: 3 Harimoto, 9Koki Niwa & 10 Jun Mizutani, 4 Lin Gaoyuan5 Timo Boll 6 Hugo Calderano …

ITTF Hall of Famer Ding Ning, World No.1 will be a favorite to win her 4 WorldSingles title, followed closely by No. 2Zhu Yuling, 4 Chen Meng, 5 Liu Shiwen& 3 Japanese stars: 3 Ishikawa, 7 MimaIto & 9 Miu Hirano …

Table Tennis 87 History Journal - ittf.cdnomega.com · Tennis posters, and the usual Auction...

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