Offered here is a circa 1904 Brown's Patent Perforated Cleek Rake Iron. Though less famous than the Brown's Patent rake irons with "teeth," this perforated cleek rake iron is no less rare. The club was created by the Montrose blacksmith James Brown, and features an iron head with five empty slots. According to Jeff Ellis, the perforated cleek was initially promoted as "reducing the wind pressure on the club and adding distance to the stroke."
This club originates from the famed Jeff Ellis Collection, and was featured in his books, The Golf Club (p. 94) and The Clubmaker's Art (TCA 1, p. 224; TCA 2, p. 262). This club has not reached the collector market since its sale at the 2007 Sotheby's auction of the Jeff Ellis Collection.