Offered here is an extremely rare Auchterlonie Flyer golf ball with a unique linked elongated bramble pattern. But it’s what you don't see that is truly amazing. This is not a normal rubber core ball, not at all. There is second smaller ball that was designed to revolve inside the larger ball!
The genesis of the Aucterlonie Flyer began when Mr. C.T. Kingzett, a well known scientist who invented the Ortogo ball, joined forces with H.M Singer who invented the Singer ball. These two men combined the features of the two balls into one, the "Ortogo–Singer."
According to Golf Illustrated in 1903, “The ball which is the invention of Mr H.M. Singer is quite a novel idea. It consists of a small hollow globe in which is placed a ball which revolves freely without rattling around. The globe is covered with a gutta-percha covering in much the same manner as the American patent rubber-filled balls. He has arranged with the well known firm of ball makers (Henley] to manufacture the ball and it is hoped to be placed on the market within the next few months. Messrs D. and W. Auchterlonie are now booking orders for this ball”
More information followed in the Feb 6, 1903, issue of Golf Illustrated, "To fully understand the composition of this new ball, a short description of the Ortogo [ball] is necessary. It was a rubbered (not rubber-cored) ball of absolutely novel construction, consisting of many alternate layers of gutta-percha and rubber from the surface to the very interior of the ball. This idea has now been combined with that of Mr. Singer, which, though it 'has been described before, we may remind our readers, consisted of a small hollow globe with a revolving ball inside, and cased with a solid gutta-percha covering….
"The combination of the patents is effected thus—the hollow globe of the original “Singer” ball, instead of being covered with plain gutta-percha, is encased in the Kingzett invention, consisting, as stated above, of alternating layers of rubber, chemically prepared (not wound, as is the case of the rubber-cored balls) and gutta percha.
"When the Ortogo balls were first placed on the market, it was found that many of them split or cracked--an unfortunate circumstance largely due to the use of too elastic rubber; but this has now been entirely rectified. Another of their faults was the tendency to go out of shape, resulting from the softness and elasticity of the rubber at the centre of the ball, but by the application of the “Singer" globe, this has been rectified, as the latter helps the “Ortogo" ball to retain its shape, besides giving it its advantages, these being especially noticeable while playing in wind and in the short game.”
The March 6, 1903, issue of Golf Illustrated reports the Willie Auchterlonie joined forces with Kingzetet and Singer to produce the Auchterlonie Flyer. According to the report, the Auchterlonie Flyer possesses all the features of the Ortogo-Singer plus a new, unique cover pattern: “The newest ball on the market is the “Auchterlonie Flyer,” from St. Andrews. It is a rubber-cored ball, embodying all the latest improvements on the Ortogo-Singer, and made in a mould of very pretty and quite original design. The ball has been registered in the joint names of Willie Auchterlonie and the Ortogo-Singer patentees. The name the ball bears is sufficient guarantee of its excellent qualities.”
As Golf Illustrated reported above, British Patent 15,856 applied for on July 16, 1902, was issued to H.M. Singer and Willie and David Auchterlonie for a golf ball with a freely rotating metal ball located in its center.
The unique chain link bramble cover pattern is shown in the March 20, 1903 issue of Golf Illustrated, a copy of that image accompanies the images with this lot.
The Auchterlonie Flyer is one of the most amazing golf balls ever made. And this one is unused and was once part of the famed Frank Hardison golf ball collection.