Lot # 124: Jack Bloxham Samson Face Iron (Ex-Jeff Ellis Collection)

Category: Vintage Golf Clubs

Starting Bid: $150.00

Bids: 3 (Bid History)

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Offered here is an extremely rare Samson Face iron as sold by Jack Bloxham. Featured in The Clubmaker's Art (Volume II) on page 406 and described by Jeff Ellis as the "only one known". The 38 1/2" shaft and grip appear original.

Phillip Edward Samson received a British patent (No. 11,744) dated May 15. 1911, that covered the Samson insert, which could be used on both woods and irons.

According to this patent. Samson’s club would drive the ball farther and reduce: "slicing" and “pulling" caused by the ball slipping on the face, more noticeable in wet weather.

To accomplish this goal, Samson’s initial provisional specification for his patent proposes making an insert from “ferodo fibre,” a composition “sold for the linings of motor car brakes and other purposes by the Herbert Frood Co., Ltd.” 

Two days later Samson filed another provisional specification in order to alter his original patent application “as regards the fibrous textile material" used in facing his club. His second application proposes using “a similarly made material containing asbestos as the sole or principal fibrous clement, woven or plaited ... and treated or impregnated” as described in his original patent application.

Even after filing his second provisional specification. Samson had not settled on his insert material. His complete specification filed on December 13. 1911, was different still. Having had time to experiment, he specifies constructing his insert as follows: “I have found that such fabric solidly woven from cotton strands to a thickness of approximately a quarter of an inch gives satisfactory results. Other materials for example wool, linen, rhea, jute, hemp, hair, or asbestos may be used. Plaited, braided, knitted, or woven strands or strands otherwise closely intertwining may be employed.

"I prefer to impregnate the fabric with the binding material after it is woven or otherwise formed and to use a binding substance which is of the nature of the non vitreous enamels used in enamelling metals and which enamel is dried off by stoving the fabric at a high temperature.”

There is also a wood with a Samson insert in this auction. Great companion pieces!

TCA2 v2 p406