Decades and decades before any golfer ever heard the acronym "COR," a few spring-face clubs were produced. This spring-face iron uses six rivets to hold a corrugated steel face in place over a hollow head.  Spalding’s 1903 catalog states that spring face on these clubs was capable of delivering incredible distance AND that the ball will land “dead” when “approaching the green from a distance. “  That’s quite a combination, especially if it were true!

Introduced in 1902, Spalding spring-face irons were offered in Spalding’s American catalog between 1903 and 1919.  This example however, was made in Great Britain, and is so stamped on the back of the head "Spalding & Bros. Made In Gt Britain." The 39 1/2" shaft and sheepskin grip are both original. 

In most instances the head is hollow behind the face, as described in a 1902 Golf(NY) review of this club, but an early UK ad for this club described the head as being filled with gutta percha. The US catalogs and ads for this club never mention gutta percha.  Given that this club was made in Gt Britain, the auctioneer believes this head is filled with gutta percha. 

This entire club is in outstanding original condition!

TCA2 Vol 2 p 415