Among the most visual and storied antique golf clubs are Francis Brewster's Simplex clubs.  Brewster's first patent for his center-shafted crosshead creations, the patent that covered this club, was dated April 14, 1897.  He described his clubhead as boat-like, with a sole cambered both heel to toe and front to back, and made from wood. 

In 1897 he produced a booklet that described how to golf with his crosshead clubs and how his clubs superseded irons. Brewster even played in the 1899 British Open using his Simplex clubs. 

In 1904 Brewster formed the Simplex Golf Association, hoping to incorporate new users to his clubs and method of play. Open champ J.H. Taylor experimented with these clubs with good results in three matches.

His 1906 patent called for making simplex clubs from aluminum, as, according to Brewster, it required great quantities of time and highly skilled craftsmanship to produced simplex clubheads from wood. Despite all of Brewster's efforts, Simplex clubs never caught on. But they do strike a great pose!

In doing away with iron cubs, the Crosshead system provided the golfer with a set of six clubs: play club, long spoon, mid-spoon, short spoon, pitcher, putter.  The gorgeous Simplex wooden club offered here has a nice amount of loft and a 39 ½” shaft, the makings of a mid-spoon, and a gorgeous one at that!

The top of the head is stamped “Simplex Patent No. 9514, 1897" and bears a “King of Clubs” playing card stamp!  The shaft is original, and extends all the way through the head. The finish is original as is the leather wrapped grip. This is an outstanding example in all respects, showing minimal use.

Looking for a club with great eye appeal? When hanging on a wall, the most collectible patent clubs can usually be spotted with ease from 10 feet away, with no need to squint eyes and look close or wait for a story.  With this center-shafted-like-a-hammer crosshead club, a person can see that it is unique from across a large room!

The Clubmakers Art, 2nd Edition Vol 1, p 240-242