Table Tennis History Journal 89 Excellent research for Historians, Collectors October and all Lovers of our Great Sport 2019

The first advertisement for Barna bats, France 1933. Pages 15-19 From the Editor Table Tennis Dear Friends,

Welcome to issue 89 of the Table Tennis History Journal, for History historians, writers, collectors, and all lovers of our sport. This is Journal my 50�� issue! Great to have more new discoveries, old treasures from the very resourceful Fabio Marcotulli (VEN), who also sends a very interesting article about his experiments with ball pick-up devices. Bruno Lancon (FRA) sends our cover story, proof of the debut of the first Barna brand bat in 1933.

Alan Duke (ENG) reports part 2 of his research into Hamleys, and continues his research into early newspaper articles. Jorge Arango (COL) sends his 8�� installment on early pirated images, and Gerald Gurney (ENG) reports on a fine marquetry bat.

We also re-visit the artist Gustav Rehberger and learn about a donation he made to the People’s Republic of China in 1972.

Our Philatelic Update includes some new postmarks, and postcards from the 2019 World Championships, with grateful thanks to our contributors. Auction Action, usually slow in the No. 89 summer months, features some surprises and amazing bargains. Hope you enjoy the new issue. Feedback always welcomed. Next October 2019 edition scheduled for February 1, 2020. For our sport … Table Tennis. For all. For Life. Chuck Editor and Publisher: Cover Story Barna bats are very popular among collectors and the Chuck Hoey, Honorary Curator subject of continuous research. Bruno Lancon (FRA) found some ITTF Museum & China TT Museum important evidence in old issues of the French Ping-Pong journal. [email protected] Bruno sends the earliest known advertisement of Barna rackets, as well as an excellent interview with Victor Barna himself.

Publishing Schedule: It may interest our readers to know that the Ping-Pong journals are June 1 Submit articles by May 15 now available online: Oct 1 Submit articles by Sep 15 https://fr.calameo.com/books/004224089f7be7dca089c Feb 1 Submit articles by Jan 15 A big thank you to Bruno for adding to our collective knowledge about the Barna racket. In this issue …

New Ball Gustav Research Discoveries 3-7 Barna Bats Rehberger 8-14 Pick-ups Old 1,15-19 20-22 Revisited Treasures 36-47 23-25 Alan Duke Bruno Lancon Fabio Marcotulli Back Page: Pirated Auction Philatelic 1933 French Images Champions Update Action Ping-Pong Part 8 54-55 56-63 Journals 26-35 48-52 66 Jorge Arango Günther Angenendt 2 New Discoveries - Old Treasures Marquetry Bat, by Gerald Gurney

Marquetry is the art and craft of applying thin pieces of wood or other materials to a structure to form decorative patterns and designs. Gerald Gurney (ENG) shares a superb example of an early table tennis bat decorated with fine marquetry.

This Art Nouveau bat (c. 1900) is - according to an expert whom I consulted - an example of marquetry, inlaid decorative work in a stylized tulip design. It is clearly the product of a highly-skilled artist/craftsman and I cannot distinguish even the slightest difference between the image and the repeat on the other side. The bat has, apparently, never been used in play and is itself of the highest quality with a fine patina.

There is no maker’s name to be found on the bat but I think it may well have originated from The House of Ayres, and the images were perhaps added by the owner, making this a unique item? Or do you have one? Gerald

3 New Discoveries - Old Treasures Pyrography Set

This is a fabulous example of Table Tennis pyrography, with design on the lid, and 2 pyro rackets, plus 2 extra vellum drum rackets. Note the hinged wood ball compartment inside the box. Heavy pair of netposts in the style of lawn tennis. Probably made by Horsman c.1902. 4 Interesting pyrographic bat from c. 1902. Side 2 is quite nice with those simulated strings, but on side 1 the lady looks sad and has a scar or stain across her face. Perhaps a change of heart by the gentleman in a Ping Pong romance?

Two early celluloid balls in decorative multi-colors, one with metal pieces inside to cause a rattling sound when struck or bounced. Found in an early boxed set, The Royal Game by Milton Bradley.

5 New Discoveries, Old Treasures Pillow-Dex Tennis

This is a well preserved and very rare early racket motif parlor game made by Parker Brothers (USA) in 1897. The set has a large net which was secured between two pieces of furniture, then the strung rackets were used to hit and odd-shaped balloon back and forth over the net. The odd shape made the balloon’s path hard to anticipate. The predecessor of this game was made in 1896, named Pillow-Dex, when a cord with wooden cubes was stretched across the length of a table, and the seated players could bat the balloon using their hands.

Fabio 6 New Discoveries - Old Treasures by Fabio Marcotulli (VEN)

This fine racket bears the name ‘World Champion M. Szabados’, an ITTF Hall of Famer from Hungary who won the 1931 World Singles title, defeating Victor Barna in the final 13, 22, 14. Miklos later emigrated to Australia.

7 Part Two (by Alan Duke)

The next example of Hamley’s involvement is an undated leaflet, although we can be fairly confident that it was issued in the latter part of 1901. Clues for this come from the inclusion in the leaflet of a quote and two photos from the April 1901 article in The Royal Magazine, the reference to the Winter Season, and the similarity of the equipment (e.g. the Gut Rackets) and prices to those in other advertisements of the time. The leaflet includes the statement that “Each appliance has been carefully thought out by ourselves who are, in conjunction with Messrs. Jaques & Son, the original introducers of the game of Ping-Pong in its present perfect form.” The image shown at top right in the header to this article is also from this leaflet (with thanks to Michael Thomson) [TTC 52/6-7]. An article in the Wigan Observer of 8th January 1902 included the following: “Everybody now plays Ping-Pong, so there is no need to apologise for quoting the following :–– “Who invented Ping-Pong? Why (with conscious pride), we did !” said the secretary of Messrs. Jaques, who seem to be jointly responsible with Mr. Hamley, of Noah’s Ark fame, for booming the word.”

On 21st December 1901, Jaques and Hamley together applied to register copyright (No. 36419) for ‘The Official Laws of Ping Pong’, first published on 19th December. Then early in 1902 ‘Makers: J Jaques and Son, Ltd., and Hamley Bros., London’ published advertisements for Ping-Pong (“genuine games now contain the official laws of the Ping- Pong Association”), e.g. Daily Express (4th January), The Referee (5th January), The Sporting Life (6th January). These were followed about a week later with versions referring to the above two firms as Sole Makers and The Publishers of the Game, and including a Caution regarding ‘imitations’ (Daily Express, 10th, and The Referee, 12th) [left and TTC 81/46 respectively].

January and February 1902 saw a few advertisements for Ping-Pong from just Hamley Bros, London, but still naming themselves and Jaques & Son as Sole Makers. The Daily Mail version of 23rd January [right] differs from the later versions by listing ‘Hamley’s Match Balls’, as opposed to ‘Jaques’s Match Balls’. Examples of the latter are The Globe of 12th [below], 14th, 19th and 28th February, and the Pall Mall Gazette of 13th, 18th and 20th (the last-dated of each also having a Caution added regarding imitations) [TTH 90].

8 HAMLEY BROTHERS

On February 8th 1902, writing in Our Home magazine, Beatrice Lewis stated: “Messrs. Hamley Bros., of 512, Oxford Street, to whom belongs the registered title of “Ping-pong,” highly recommend their vellum “tournament” bats, which are very tight and hard, and are the correct size—that is, 6½in. by 5½in.—for match play. At this firm’s various depots are to be seen many ingenious inventions for still further popularising the fascinating game. Pickers-up of different patterns may be obtained to avoid the discomfort of grovelling after balls.” [TTH 84/16] On the same day, The Games Gazette [left] published a full-page Hamley Bros advertisement on the occasion of the introduction of their latest game, Bangslaphang, which also highlighted the huge variety of their Ping-Pong items available, such as tables, sets, bats, balls, posts, etc [TTH 85/47]. The shop at 512 Oxford Street was referred to as The Court Toy Warehouse; there was no mention of Jaques. Hamleys continued their occasional advertisements in Country Life for a couple of years (sometimes accompanied by the extra free publicity provided by its correspondents!):

The advert of 31 May (above right) includes the well-known reference to the joint concern with Jaques. On 14 June 1902, Hermione wrote: “The seriousness of Ping-Pong is no longer to be smiled at, now that it has finally settled down into one of our national games, and as such is bound to grow in popularity every day. Albeit the non-Ping-Pongist is already very few and far between. Unfortunately the rapidly increased demand for requisites has contrived to throw in the market a certain percentage of badly made and badly finished goods. Goods only really capable of taking in the inexperienced––for the professed Ping-Pongist is the veriest faddist over every detail—whom we

9 HAMLEY BROTHERS honestly advise to buy direct from Hamley, 64, Regent Street, the real pioneer of Ping-Pong. A new table has recently been produced by this firm, built of a patent composition known only to themselves, and painted a dull green with white borders. These tables fold up into a surprisingly small compass, and are consequently greatly in request for steamers, the game being perfectly ideal for whiling away long hours in mid-ocean. Acceptedly the best club balls are now covered with flannel, the cost 5s. per dozen. And Hamley furthermore has brought out a new ball picker-up entitled “The Demon.” While “The Scout” should prove itself a veritable boon in rooms containing a superfluity of furniture, this last [is] a simple contrivance composed of four spiral forks. And one other admirable accessory, is a service practising net consisting of a back and two side pieces, the balls hitting the former falling directly into a trough placed at the end of table. Then at the suggestion of a well-known tennis player, Hamley has introduced a racket made of rubber, which is warranted to do deadly things in the matter of screwing the ball. The other addresses in addition to 64, Regent Street, be it known, are 512, Oxford Street, and 86, High Holborn.” On 5 July, Hermione featured an illustration of the table and accessories (as first shown in the advert of 31 May, above), captioned ‘PING-PONG ACCORDING TO MESSRS. HAMLEY.’ She also included the claim that it wasn’t just ocean liners that had taken up the game, but also “even yachts”, and furthermore that Hamley were “booking orders with significant briskness”. Hamley’s advert in that edition contained just a brief reference to Ping-Pong (below), but strongly featured Jaques’ Croquet (the latter repeated on 2 August, but with the return of the table illustration, below left).

On 25th October, another new game, Pipto, was the subject of an advertisement in Country Life [TTC 33/16]. This advert, now by Hamley Bros. Ltd (incorporated in 1902 as a Limited Company, styled as Importers and Manufacturers), also introduced a couple of new Ping- Pong bats and a Practice Net (without any Jaques’ reference). But the table illustration on 17 January 1903 (above right) once again included the “jointly concerned” reference. The company’s advert on 9 May included just a reference to their ‘Ping-Pong catalogue’, with the return of the table illustration on 4 July 1903 (left). By 1904, Ping-Pong had been relegated to a much lower profile in the company’s continued series of advertisements in Country Life. On 16 January this consisted of just a reference to the Ping-Pong

10 HAMLEY BROTHERS catalogue (plus notice of a “new branch” at 59 Knightsbridge), and on 7 May and 4 June to the single phrase ‘PING-PONG FOR THE GARDEN’ (with Jaques’ Croquet a major feature). Their advert on 5 November 1904 did at least include the claim: The Bystander of 21st December 1904, under the heading ‘Toyland at Hamley Bros.’ made the point that Christmas would not be quite the same without a new game at Hamley Bros. Ltd. “For we have learnt to look to this far-famed European Toy Emporium to provide all the best games in the land, and this before they struck their great Ping Pong boom.” In 1907, the latest craze, imported from the Continent, was Diavolo (working a “top” along a piece of string with two sticks) [TTC 56/6-7]. “Mr Frank Hamley, of the well-known firm of toy manufacturers, yesterday informed a representative that he was selling the games as fast as he received them from France, where the better class game is made. ….. I have never known a game to be such a rage. It is worse than ‘Ping-Pong’.” (It was also explained that the game could be played on an ordinary tennis court, under the rules of tennis, with the proviso that the top must always be taken on the volley.)

A year later the London Evening Standard of 28th May reported on the proceedings of an action brought at the High Court (Chancery Division) by Gustave Philippart in order to restrain William Whiteley (Limited) from infringing his trade mark “Diabolo” [No. 274557; 22 July 1905, for ‘Tops included in Class 49’]. Whiteley in turn applied to have the trade mark removed from the register. In cross-examination by Mr Buckmaster, K.C. (counsel for the defendants), Mr F J Hamley, of Hamley Bros., toy dealers, spoke of games called “The Happy Devil” and “The Devil on Two Sticks”. He stated that he “at first regarded ‘diabolo’ as a fancy word worked up from the French for devil. The counsel.––And applied to a top?––Yes. Mr. T. Terrell, K.C. (the plaintiff’s counsel), in re-examination, asked the witness if he had any experience of fancy words. Mr. Hamley said that he registered ‘Ping-pong’ as a fancy word, and had a lot of trouble over it.”

The defendants’ case was that the word “diabolo” was used by Mr Philippart to describe the old game of “The Devil on Two Sticks”, played with better instruments, the devil being the cone, reel, or top (and the change from ‘v’ to ’b’ being a very common phonetic change in Latin). In a lengthy summing-up by Mr Justice Parker at the end of the three-day case, he referred to the well-known cricketer Mr Fry as suggesting the name diabolo to Mr Philippart, and to the latter supplying the game to Mr Hamley in June 1906 (and to Mr Whiteley in July) under the name “diabolo”, invoiced as “diabolo games”. He dismissed the action with costs and ordered that the mark be expunged from the register, with costs to the applicant (The Times, 4 June 1908). There was one further reference in Country Life, on 17 February 1912. This wasn’t an advert, but more free publicity: “At this slack time of year one is apt to feel the need of a vigorous game which can be played regardless of weather, and it is with distinct approval that we welcome the revival of our old friend Ping-pong. Ping-pong has come back as gay as ever but vastly improved as regards appliances. At Messrs. Hamley Brothers’, 202, Regent Street, W., there are sets ranging in price from two shillings and sixpence to a guinea, while extra bats, balls, etc., may be had at various prices. The ordinary wooden or parchment bats with

11 HAMLEY BROTHERS which we used to play an unsophisticated game may still be had; but for putting a scientific screw on the ball there is nothing to equal those with one face of sand-paper or vellum, and the other of rubber; while for pace pure and simple a cork face is recommended. The old horror of groping after lost balls is done away with by the use of a picker-up, an ingenious wire arrangement which will hold half-a- dozen balls at once; and the special folding Ping-pong table with its green ground and white border, which may be had with or without trestles in all sizes and at corresponding prices, does away with the need for annexing the dining-room table, though special nets may still be had for clamping on to that useful old friend if necessary. The great advantage of a special table, of course, lies in the fact that it may be set up anywhere on a verandah on wet summer days, or in the garden itself, and when folded it occupies little room.” On the the death of William Henry Hamley in 1916, the Liverpool Echo of 6 July, under the heading “Gave Us Ping-Pong”, reported: “For more than fifty years Mr. Hamley made toys, as his father and grandfather had done before him. One of his best-known successes was in connection with ping- pong, which, with the assistance of his son, Mr. Hamley made and put on the market.” On 4 September the same paper reported on the “PING PONG” INVENTOR’S WILL: Mr. W. H. Hamley, Hastings, known as the “Toy King,” and the inventor, in conjunction with his son, of “Ping Pong,” left £13,715.”

The Last Will and Testament my decease, my said wife Susannah and my said son William Henry shall desire that my business as Toyman of William Hamley of No. 231 High Holborn and No. shall be carried on my said trustees shall carry on the 19 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury in the County of same ….. at my present place of business”, and until Middlesex, Toyman. This ran to nine pages and was signed and witnessed on 22nd September 1870 at Susannah dies or marries again allow her “to have the Grecian Chambers, Devereux Court, Strand. It was use free from rent, rates and taxes of those portions of proved on 14th March 1874, with Effects listed as ….. No. 231 High Holborn aforesaid not used for “under £6000; Leaseholds”. business as a residence for herself and such of my said sons and daughters as shall for the time being be William referred to the leaseholds as being “No. 30 unmarried and to have the use there and at any other Red Cross Square, Cripplegate, in the City of London, house at which she may choose to reside of my household and all other leasehold estates of which I may be furniture, plate, linen, china, books, pictures, music and possessed or to which I may be entitled at the time of my other articles of domestic use and ornament”. “In decease”. He appointed as trustees and executors carrying on the said business the said trustees shall retired builder John Ward (his wife’s elder brother; employ the stores of the said business … and generally born c.1805) and GPO clerk John Mellor Fogg (his son carry on the said business as I have been used to do and William’s father-in-law; 1805-1885), Gentlemen. His may retain in the said business such part of my personal first direction was that all income (from interest, estate as shall at my death be embarked as capital dividends, investments and securities) should go to therein”. The trustees may “hire and employ such his second wife Susannah, who would maintain his persons to manage and assist in the said business and at named sons under 21 and named daughters under 21 such wages and salaries as they shall think fit and that and unmarried. If Susannah should die, or marry if my said sons William Henry and Francis James or again, it would be placed in trust for “Jane Margaret other of them shall be willing to take part in said Hamley (my only surviving child by my first wife Jane business then they or he may be employed therein in such [d. Dec. 1832, aged 24]) and William Henry, John capacity and at such salary and for such period as the Walter (who was registered by the name of John only), said trustees and my said wife shall think fit”. After Francis James, Edwin Thomas, and Florence Honour, three years or sooner if his wife and the trustees my five children by my said wife Susannah”; then to think fit “the said business and the stores and effects their husbands or wives, then to any lawful issue. thereof shall be offered to my said sons William Henry The remainder of the will went into much detail and Francis James or to the survivor of them or to such regarding his business arrangements, from which it out of them as shall be willing to take the said business would appear that the family succession was not at the value thereof as shown by the last preceding taken for granted. “If within one calendar month from yearly account”.

12 HAMLEY BROTHERS

So who were the Hamley Brothers at the time TIMELINES of the HAMLEY BROTHERS of the Ping-Pong craze? The Westminster Rate William Henry Hamley (the “Toy King”) Book of 1882 records Edwin Thomas, Francis 22.4.1843 Born in Holborn, London James, and William Henry Hamley as Occupiers of 28.4.1844 Baptised at Holy Trinity, Kingsway 1851 Pupil at 2 Albert Terrace, Dulwich Road, Lambeth 64 Regent Street (Rateable value £417). They 1861 Living (and working) at 231 High Holborn (Shopman) were three of the sons of William and his 2nd 2nd Qtr 1866 Married Louisa Jane Anne Fogg (1845-1921) at St Pancras 1871 Living at 34 Cantelowes Road, Kentish Town (Merchant) wife Susannah Honour née Ward (born 6 Oct. 1881 Living at 25 Richmond Villas, Highbury (Gen. Merchant) 1815; married 30 June 1842; died April 1895). 1891 Living at 110 Sinclair Road, Hammersmith (Shipping Father and sons usually described themselves as Merchant) 1899-1911 Living at 101 Oxford Gardens, North Kensington (Retired Toy Merchants or Dealers. Electoral Registers Merchant in 1911); later at Kingley, 52 Maida Vale, W. also record William and Francis at 231 High 1916 Living at 6 Robertson Terrace, Hastings 1.7.1916 Died in Hastings (Effects £13715 12s 6d) Holborn (a dwelling house and shop) in 1892. 6.7.1916 Funeral at Brompton Cemetery There were two other siblings, brother John (b. Francis (Frank) James Hamley 1846) and sister Florence (b. 1857), plus half- 30.12.1849 Born in Brixton, London 7.8.1850 Baptised at Holy Trinity, Kingsway sister Jane (b. 1833), living with the family at 1851 Living at 5 Bowhill Terrace, Lambeth various locations in London, sometimes even 1871 Living at 19 Southampton Row, London (Toy Merchant) “over the shop” at 231 High Holborn. 1881 Living at 37 Wiltshire Road, Lambeth (Toy Merchant) 22.6.1881 Married Florence Matilda Pike (1857-1901) in Lambeth William Henry married in 1866, and had two sons 1891-1899 Living at 37 Royal Crescent, Kensington (Toy Merchant) and two daughters. He was known as the smart, 1901 Living at 184 Holland Road, Kensington (Toy Merchant) 3rd Qtr 1901 Death of Florence silk-hatted figure with a flower (usually a 4th Qtr 1910 Married Alice Maria Stonestreet (c.1859-1949) in carnation) in his button-hole, seen daily in Stockbridge, Hants 1911 Boarding at Hotel Alexander, Brunswick Terrace, Hove Holborn for over 35 years. He was “kindliness and (Retired Toy Merchant and Manufacturer) geniality personified” [Hastings Observer, 8 July 17.5.1922 Died at 15 Hampstead Hill Gardens (Effects £15271 4s 1d) 1916]. Francis married in 1881, and he and his Edwin Thomas Hamley wife also had two daughters and two sons. Sadly April 1855 Born in Brixton, London 1871 Living at 19 Southampton Row, London (Clerk in City) Florence died later that year, aged 44; Francis 1881 Living at 37 Wiltshire Road, Lambeth (Toy Merchant) remarried in 1910. Edwin married in 1889, and in 10.10.1889 Married Ada Melicent Dege (1867-1920) in Brondesbury 1891 Living at Holmlea, Willesden (Toy Merchant) 1891 was living in Willesden with his wife and 1901 Living at Westfield Park, Pinner (Toy Merchant) their daughter of two months, Viva. And again 1911 Living at Sunninghill, Downs Road, Epsom (Toy and Fancy Goods Merchant) they also had two daughters and two sons! 17.3.1919 Died at Red Roofs, Oxshott (Effects £12656 18s 1d) Business Indexes of 1927 record that William’s 21.3.1919 Buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, Stoke D’Abernon, Surrey son John G Hamley was by TIMELINE of John Green Hamley then Chairman of Hamley 4th Qtr.1871 Born in Camden Town, London Brothers Ltd, having been 19.6.1872 Baptised at St Paul, St Pancras connected with the business 1881 Pupil at Thanet Lodge School, St Peter’s Road, Margate his whole life following a 1891 Living at 110 Sinclair Road, Hammersmith 30.10.1895 Sailed Saloon Class from London to Melbourne on the private education. He is clipper “Rodney” st th credited as “the originator of 1 Qtr 1901 Married Lillian Stella Ranger (b. 4 Qtr.1871) in Kensington 1901 Living at 48 St Charles Square, Kensington the popular game of ‘Ping- (Toy Merchant; Worker) Pong’”, and enjoyed riding, 1911 Living at Eaglehurst, Gerrards Cross (Toy & Fancy Goods Merchant; Employer) motoring, tennis and golf. 1937 Living at 10 The Highway, Gerrards Cross, Bucks He remained as Chairman until the company was 15.6.1937 Died, aged 65 (Effects £3223 12s 7d) placed into voluntary liquidation on 16 July 1931.

But there are still loose ends: 1) Not a new question, but still we are asking what exactly (and when) was the ‘joint concern’ between Hamleys and Jaques? We can hypothesise (as I have above and others have before me), but there appear to be no archive records obtainable from either company. All Jaques’ records (apart from the safe and its charred contents) were lost in the Blitz of 1941 when the factory at

13 HAMLEY BROTHERS

Kirby Street was destroyed following a night-bombing raid. Hamleys suggest that their records were either not kept or were destroyed during the war years (or possibly were lost after one of their takeovers?). 2) How did it come about that Hamley Brothers were the ones to register the Ping-Pong name? Again, with evidence of any special relationship not available, we have to form our own theories. And then, why is it that in popular culture (and many publications), it is often thought that Jaques had that honour (something that at times Jaques have not been quick to refute!)? With regard to the latter, it could just be that Jaques continued manufacturing and marketing the game, whilst Hamleys were more low-profile (although they were quoted at the time of the resurgence of interest in the game in the 1920s: “Ping-Pong Again: One of the surprises of the shopping season has been the demand for ping-pong sets. Hamley’s, of London, the originators of ping-pong, say that the boom is as great as that of 20 years ago, when the parlour game first caught on” [Yorkshire Evening Post, 5 January 1921]. But the only other advertisement for table tennis that I have found after the 1912 reference above was one for their Eastbourne branch in 1928 in a local newspaper [Eastbourne Gazette, 31 October, right], in which they were still referring to Ping-Pong as “The greatest of all Indoor Games”, of which they were “the pioneers of this ever- popular pastime”, and holders of “a full range of all accessories as well as complete sets”).

But that doesn’t explain an omission by Arnold Parker from his 1902 book “Ping-Pong - The Game and How to Play It”. Both Jaques and Hamley were acknowledged in the Chapter on the Laws, and the History chapter describes ‘the word “Ping-Pong” … referring to the manufacture of Hamley Brothers, proprietors of the trade-mark’. But in his Preface to the British version Mr Parker thanks only Jaques (Jaques and Parker Brothers in the American version) for permission to “print the official rules in connection with the trade-mark Ping- Pong”. Hamleys were already being side-lined - and it was their Trade Mark!

3) And finally that 1760 establishment date (and address)! The date has been claimed since at least 1872, but Hamleys have been unable to provide any supporting evidence, despite the claim being repeated on the Westminster Council Green Plaque, unveiled as recently as 2010 (on the company’s 250th Anniversary). Although such plaques normally require evidence in support of the claims made, neither Westminster Council nor Hamleys are able to provide any details. But I was informed that in this case the manufacture and installation of the plaque was carried out independently of the City Council.

We now have a few Hamleys (brothers William Henry and Frank, and son John) to add to the ever-growing list of ‘inventors’ of the game [joining James Devonshire, John Jaques III, James Gibb, Rev William Simcox, David Foster, the Barker family (and the Cambridge undergraduates), etc, etc!].

With thanks to Steve Grant, Chuck Hoey, Michael Thomson, Graham Trimming, and Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre for their valuable input. And with the hope that I have not strayed too far into Michael Thomson’s Jaques’ story, although some cross-over was always going to be inevitable. Thanks to Chuck Hoey and the ITTF Museum for the photos of the Hamley ball and net post.

14 The Barna Racket Debut in July 1933 by Bruno Lancon (FRA)

Barna racket collector & researcher, Bruno Lancon

Thanks to new technologies (numerisation of old publication and advanced search function) we can date precisely the first Barna Racket.

In French Ping Pong publication of june 1933 Page 2 https://fr.calameo.com/read/004224089702ad1b141ad

Victor Barna gave an interview to this newspaper and said that he was working on the manufacturing of his own racket.

Here is a translation of it :

Rest assured. Mr. Barna, I am not disturbing the world champion.

In this atmosphere of feverish activity, I wouldn't dare.

The Ping-Pong newspaper sees me interviewing the new businessman...

— So you, too, are going to laugh at my new job! It's very serious...

— But I guess so, dear champion.

So I'm coming to ask you if it's true we'll see a Barna racket soon.

— Perfectly accurate.

I've been thinking only about this for fifteen days, I've been dealing only with this.

I spend my time with plywood manufacturers, with lumber importers, with carpenters, with turners, in rubber mills.

It's so much that I desperate my associates.

Consider that I imposed some 50 different models on them before I stopped at the type that I think is closest to perfection.

Believe it, I am not tempted to give my name to a racket that I personally could not use.

The racket that carries my name will be the large-scale reproduction of the racket of my dreams. Ping-Pong, June 1933, p.2 15 — So you're letting me know your choice is made?

— Yes, it's done and manufacturing is already underway.

— How does this racket differ from others, may I ask you?

— My God, she apparently doesn't differ much, no doubt, and she must look, in the eyes of the layman, like most others, In my eyes, there is a world between the good rackets of commerce and the one I designed.

— You'd be nice to explain it to our readers, that this topic is passionate, you don't know.

— Glad. My racket is distinguishable, first of all, from others by its shape.

It alone allows you to adopt even for the beginner, a correct take-up, and this without difficulty.

The difficulty for the person who has this racket in hand would be to hold it down. But shape is not everything.

There is the quality of the plywood, its thickness, its density, its weight.

There is the question of the balance of the racket.

There is above all the quality of the rubber.

This ensemble helps you put a racket in your hand that fits in with yourself, not a washer drum, but an organ that allows you to keep all the qualities of touch intact.

— If I were good enough player to enjoy so many advantages, I would ask you to try it myself.

I have to rely on the judgment of the good players who have already tried your racket.

I admit they're thrilled. — I sincerely believe that my racket will help everyone, good or medium player, improve their game.

Otherwise, I would not have bothered to try a trial for a purely commercial purpose.

— Tell me, Mr. Barna, the sound is that we will soon see a "Barna" ball too.

— That's another story. It's a project.

I will give my name to a bullet, but only if it's made.

I am not yet convinced that we can make a ball that is approaching the desired perfection. However, I am not interested in the matter.

And I'm leaving for the Jura, homeland of celluloid, where I'll be doing a survey of the mountain craftsmen for several days...

You'll know when I get back if there's a "Barna" ball.

— I wish so, as must all players who have passed the stage by about.

Good trip. Mr. Barna! And good luck

16 In Ping Pong publication of august 1933 Last page : https://fr.calameo.com/read/0042240892781ba1fe4a4

We can see the first advertising for the Barna racket

17 In Ping-Pong publication of march 1935 Last page : https://fr.calameo.com/read/004224089075a5840f830 We can see an advertising about Barna mark. It is stated that Bourquin & cie is the only owner of Barna mark in the world. We can see dealers for each country.

18 I think that Bourquin (and Victor) in order to sell more bats had dealers in each country and exclusive agents. So Walter Briggs sold bats for Bourquin at least in 1935. In interview Barna said that he spent his time with carpenters, wood turners so I think that first bats were made by craftsmen. But Constant Bourquin was friend with Robert Parent the owner of Ludarva who had a factory of table tennis table at Reaumur (Paris). So, I guess that Ludarva will be the wholesale distributor after craftsmen who were probably too expensive. In first TT issue in England : https://tabletennisengland.co.uk/etta_website/magazine- archive/1935-36/tt_issue1.pdf

If BARNA is in double quotation, it's perhaps because Barna is a trademark from Bourquin.

Next, I think that was in 1938 that W&B made first Barna bats in two weights as shown in TT issue of december 1938 : https://tabletennisengland.co.uk/etta_website/magazine- archive/1938-39/tt_issue27.pdf

Bruno 19 EARLY BALL PICKERS OR RETRIEVERS – PROTOTYPES by FABIO MARCOTULLI (VEN)

Table Tennis collectors are always looking for “New and Antique Treasures”. This search has become more difficult every time due to the “Old Treasures” are more scarce every day and the number of collectors gets higher. Some pieces have become impossible to find because of its “limited production” or because they never went on the market because they were not commercially viable. But then there are the Patents (early patents) with drawings-designs. That is the case of Ball Pickers or Ball Retrievers. I decided to have them reproduced and to test them in order to understand that they didn’t have good results for being complicated or impractical.

At the early years ball pickers or retrievers were important specially for ladies not to have to stoop in their multilayered evening gowns to pick up ball from the floor. My theory is that it was not so much to not have to make a physical effort because of the uncomfortable of the long dresses they wore, but for not to show parts of their bodies to those present, which was considered very inadequate for the time. Therefore they preferred removing the ball from corners and places where one does not care to use the hands.

British Patent 20452, applied for 19.9.1902

It is curious about this racket that there is a mention of a reproduction in the TTC # 31 Magazine, page 14, about the Gerald Gurney collection: Test: “Why does this bat have a “cup” at the end of the grip?” And page 3: “When the bat is held by the blade it becomes a ball retriever, the ball being picked up by the cup.” This was made in 1980 to the design of Patent 20452 19 September 1902. Registered Eduard Samuel Peck. It may never have been in production. My opinion: It is a very clever device and it is easy to pick up the ball.

20 “These unusual bats are described in a recent auction as “Demon Bats” due no doubt to the ears at the top of the bat face. One can easily imagine the remaining facial features to form a demonic head. In fact Slazengers produced a Demon Tennis racket as well as Demon balls, and their advertising showed a classic devil’s face. But after studying the bats closely, I discover the top features were not intended to suggest a demon at all and instead they were functional…. as a ball pick-up! The ears are just snug enough to grip a Table Tennis ball (38mm)” (Table Tennis Collector # 42) My opinion: It is difficult to pick up the ball. The racket with the cup at the base of the handle is much more practical for easily picking up balls.

Patent Nº 25301 - 1901 - Ball Collector Table Tennis retriever for picking up balls. My opinion: It works well but is a bit heavy.

Patent Nº 387842 - 27-2-1902 – Table Tennis ball pick-up Inventor: Margarita Latham – Duppas House, Craydon My opinion: ingenious and functional.

21 Patent Nº 23793 - 1901 – Ball Collector, David Walker My opinion: Very unusual and uncomfortable for handling

From the popular column science in the April 25 1903: “An English inventor has produced the appliance which we here illustrate which will enable one to pick up the balls, without any exertion, from under furniture, in corners, against a wall or in any other awkward position” My opinion: Beautiful and functional.

Unusual step-by-step ad for a ball picker-up, made by the Gilson Novelty Works, Ottawa. My Opinion: It is not practical and not easy to use.

Patent Nº 23966 - 1901 23 Nov. Ball Collector. Inventor: Frederick R G Yool. “Appliance for picking up ping pong, table tennis, etc, balls from under cupboards, sofas, chairs, or in corners… at any angle. Rod of cane, wood, metal etc, split at end to form prongs.” My opinion: Very practical, lightweight and quickly controlled. Fabio 22 The Table Tennis Art of Gustav Rehberger Revisited - with Thanks to Pamela Demme

In the 88�� edition of our Journal I was pleased to include a salute to Gustav Rehberger and his vivid Table Tennis art. Since then his former wife, Pamela Demme, has contacted us and sent an interesting update. Gustav painted the above scene for the 1972 US Open program, and then donated the painting to the People’s Republic of China. She also sent copies of two important letters thanking Gustav for his wonderful gesture, to which we also add our thanks. A fine addition to the legacy of Ping Pong Diplomacy and a great artist. 23 This letter, from Mort Zakarin, then Corresponding Secretary of the United States Table Tennis Association (USTTA), conveys appreciation for Gustav’s fine donation of the painting appearing on the cover of the 1972 US Open Championships program cover.

The letter also announces that the painting will be exhibited in the Peking Sports Hall in China.

24 This letter from the US States Department’s Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, expresses congratulations to Gustav for the donation of his Table Tennis painting. Note the prestige address at Carnegie Hall !

25 EARLY PIRATED IMAGES By Jorge Arango Continuation This is the eighth article of my series about early pirated images.

The Tatler magazine, Feb 2, 1903. This image is a pirated one because other related images were published in USA newspapers around June or July of 1902.

26 A different image from Steve Grant’s book “Ping Pong Fever.” Fort Wayne News, June 17, 1902.

The Courier, June 14, 1902. Left: The image from the newspaper. Right: The image, horizontally flipped, which shows the first one was a mistake. An intriguing wording: The title is the same as the Grant’s image; perhaps the photographer sent the images with the same wordings.

27 Another image of the Indians (from Internet.).

26. IMAGES FROM THE STEVE GRANT’S BOOK “PING PONG FEVER

Two images from the Steve Grant’s book “Ping Pong Fever.” The sources were not given and it could be they are not pirated images.

28 27. A MISSUNDERSTANDING

. (Scene outside public house. Notice in the window Ping-Pong between 2 and 6 P. M.) First countryman: “Wot’s ping-pong?” Second countryman: “Dunno: ‘spect it’s a noo drink. Let’s go in and have two quarts.” Left: The Tatler, June 18, 1902. Right: The St. Louis Republic, July 27, 1902.

28. HAD GOOD REASON

My dear, whatever made you put on that old-fashioned ‘Kate Greenaway’ frock to-night? Nobody wears a sash under her arm nowadays.” “Oh, but I am going to a ping-pong tournament, and it’s in the official rules that if you don’t ‘serve below the waist’ you’ll be disqualified!” Punch, February12, 1902

29 Left: Topeka State Journal, July 05, 1902. Right: Ottumwa Courier, June 10, 1902.

29. NEW COOK

Above left: The original image. Above right: The dress of the mother has been changed. The Ottumwa Courier, June 10, 1902.

30 Above: These two image were not pirated ones because the credits to The Sketch were given, but the dress of the mother, in the second image, was changed. Evening Star, May 10, 1902 and St. Louis Republic, June 01, 1902.

Below left: The image is the same of the Ottumwa Courier, Topeka State Journal, July 05, 1902. Below right: Another image (colored in computer.)

31 30. TUCKER

Top and middle: Box of balls, rules and boxed set (ITTF museum). Below left: Saint Louis Republic, November 19, 1902. Below right: The Saint Louis Republic, September 24, 1902. The tables of The Saint Louis images have lawn tennis lines, and I think Tucker’s images are pirated! The woman player was changed, and the table is different. It there exists another Simmons’ advertisement image, with a different wording.

32 31. POPULAR SCIENCE

The Chickasha Daily Express, May 01, 1903. The Beaber Herald, May 14, 1903. The Cook County Herald, May 30, 1903. POPULAR SCIENCE

33 32. HOW I PLAY PING-PONG

Above: Daily Mail, January 3, 1902. Image presented by Alan Duke, TTH 88. Below: The Saint Paul Globe, April 06, 1902.

34 33. THE CROUCH SMASH

ABOVE: Another image from the Daily Mail. BELOW: A pirated image from the Spanish magazine “Alrededor del mundo“ (Around the world), January 30, 1902. Perhaps the article is the first one published in Spanish.

A FLAT BALL To be continued

35 “Read All About It” – PART 6 (Mid-January to February 1902) by Alan Duke Hackney Express/Shoreditch Observer 11 Jan 1902 issue, and would prefer a quiet game at Chess with its distant but certain conclusion. ….. As it is we play Ping “PING PONG.” Pong, and next week the grand Tournament will open at ––––♦–––– Westminster. Wax––for the ears––ought to fetch a good Last winter I was asked by a lady whether I had ever price. played at Ping Pong. Upon my replying in the negative, I RALPH RAMBLETON. was told it was “a perfectly delightful game,” and “quite the rage.” She had just made a Ping Pong set, and “they The Era 11 January 1902 played of an evening at home.” — — — A MARVELLOUS SHILLINGSWORTH. FRANCIS AND DAY’S This winter Ping Pong is everywhere. The toy makers TWENTIETH DANCE ALBUM. have gone in for it, and you can purchase a Table Tennis Contents: set at any price from three-halfpence to three guineas. ….. and Polka, “Ping Pong” (Ernest Allan). The three half-penny sets are, of course, designed for very careful players. …. — — — Northern Whig 11 January 1902 It is known that Ping Pong is the “rage,” and therefore [See 18 January for photo] At a very pretty fancy-dress ball, given for children, at must needs come under the purview of a Philosopher of the Mansion House one of the most successful costumes things in general. I tried to put off the evil day. I was that of a little girl who represented ping-pong. She pretended that it could be no concern of mine. I had not wore a white satin frock edged with green gauze net, and played, and a philosopher could not preach without trimmed with many little celluloid balls strung on red practising––philosophers never do! ….. — — — ribbons. I was sorry to see these same little balls, because of the material of which they were made. Any ornament I had to play. It was remarkable how quickly the other side scored. We had gone twenty up before I had had a or decoration made of celluloid is a danger and a snare. It stroke at the ball, though John had been ducking under is one of the most easily inflammable substances in the table and round the legs of the chairs, and in the fire existence, bursting into a flame at a very moderate degree of heat, and therefore ignitible by a fire, gas jet, or oil place for the balls all the time. Indeed he said he had had lamp, without need to be in contact with it. the hardest part of the work, and two or three sets of “fielding” for my play would have given him apoplexy. — — — Dundee Evening Post 11 January 1902 ….. And this brings me to the philosophy of the game. I think I can understand why everybody plays it. First, there is no fear of not scoring. Two duffers––if they can secure the services of someone to scout under the chairs and tables and behind the piano and cheffonier, and in the coal-scuttle and fire place, and among the ornaments on the mantel shelf, and behind the pictures––for the balls, can knock up a score in no time; you have only to hit hard enough or to miss often enough, and the thing is done. The worst of it is, that you always score for your opponent instead of for yourself, but this gives an added enjoyment to the game, for what pleasure can be greater than that of not only seeing another’s mistake, but of profiting thereby. — — — When one comes to think of it, this exactly suits the temper of the times. Everywhere our people are playing Ping Pong. It is commercial Ping Pong, artistic Ping Pong, and political Ping Pong. ….. Bournemouth Daily Echo 11 January 1902 — — — It is just the game for mediocrity, and we are suffering BEHEST OF THE SEASON. [part] now from an abundance of mediocrity which thinks (With apologies to Mr. Kipling.) criticism (fair and unfair) a sign of genius. If life were a It is foolish to field and “deliver,” game of Ping Pong, all this might answer. But in life you To stand at the wickets or slips; must score off your own bat; you must have another It is idle to strive with Australia objective than counting your rival’s misses. In mutual annual trips. — — — But obey the behest of the season, Ping Pong is pleasant as a change, but it gets And know that your past is all wrong, maddening when it lasts too long. Its tricks tire one after And surrender your football and cricket, a dozen or so sets. We want a change with a definite To challenge the world at Ping-Pong.

36 EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES Northants Evening Telegraph 13 January 1902 “New Vagabonds,” however, to give the gentle game of ping-pong a new dignity by including it in a banquet menu. ….. The members want to play ping-pong after coffee has been served. Tables are to be ordered, and the full paraphernalia set up. Madame la Contesse de Copurchic There are many people who will not be surprised at this restera chez elle latest move. Ping-pong is a dangerous mania. Its victims Vendredi, le 9 Janvier. are hopeless, and the disease is worse in some respects Pingue-Pongue. R.S.V.P. than the drink habit. “The only wonder,” remarked a non-playing critic when he heard of the proposition, “is The above is a form of invitation which is becoming all that ping-pong is not played between every course. the rage in Paris (a correspondent in that city writes), and That’s what we’re coming to.” “Pingue-Pongue” is our Peckham acquaintance Table The matter is not officially settled, but George B. Tennis in its French costume. Burgin, joint honorary secretary, has asked for a vote of Ping-pong has become the ultra-chic-est thing in Paris, the members on the question. There are said to be a few and is practised, as the Paris papers tell us, by all the abandoned persons who see no health in ping-pong, and clubmen and sportsmen the most sympathetic. who sternly oppose its introduction into the club dinner Of course it has its costume. Now that British methods functions. They are in the minority, however, and will have become the proper thing in the Gay City, evening probably be cast into outer darkness. dress at dinner parties is looked upon as a necessity, but monsieur, when invited to a Partie de Pinge-Pongue, Surrey Mirror 14 January 1902 wears a smokingue (a dinner jacket, that is) which is full After seventeen years’ existence [dating it to 1884-85], enough to be buttoned across his manly bosom, and by ping-pong, or table tennis, has sprung suddenly into this means he hides his spacious shirt-front and obviates active life, and is invading every section of society. the disappearance of the ball of celluloid against the white background. The Globe 14 January 1902 Madame dresses in a short silk or satin skirt to play le Pingue-Pongue, and some ladies even go the length of Ping-pong continues its devastating course irrespective wearing high laced boots and masks, but this is looked of race or politics. “Parties de pingue-pongue” are now upon as a trifle excessive. being held in Paris, says a morning paper. The fatuity of It is not only in the beau monde and at after-dinner the name does not amend itself in translation. The parties that pingue-pongue is practised in Paris. It has introduction of Pingk Pongk may shortly be expected to caught on in the newspaper offices of the metropolis, and increase the social amenities of the Fatherland. while waiting for the news to be telephoned from Daily Mail 15 January 1902 London, or for the London morning newspapers to be brought in from the Gare de Nord, le confrere X matches himself against le confrere Y, and brandishes his racquette with the most martial air imaginable. In the offices of a contemporary a magnificent pingue-pongue game has lately been installed, and the dear confreres are so proud of it that they have signified the fact to an admiring world in a two-column article on the front page of their paper. So far the bourgeoisie has not gone in for Pingue- pongue, but the tradespeople who sell the game have as much as they can do to meet the demand for it which has sprung up among the monde chic, and are selling thousands of balls, dozens of games, and hundreds of Northwich Guardian 15 January 1902 racquettes every day. TABLE TENNIS OR PING-PONG. Daily Express 13 January 1902 Mr. J. W. Nayler, in the Christmas number of “Household Words” thus describes the above game:–– AFTER DINNER-PONG. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Table tennis, or, as it is more commonly called, ping- NEW VAGABOND CLUB'S NOVEL PROPOSAL. pong, is one of the newest of winter evening games. First –––––––––––– Farewell to the after-dinner speaker of tradition. No played on a very small scale towards the close of last longer will he shine at club banquets and discourse season, it has lain dormant during the summer months, weightily—and prosily—upon questions of the hour. A and now, with the approach of winter, it has sprung with new rival has entered the lists, and ping-pong is its name. startling rapidity into prominence. It is safe to say that at Great has been the advance of ping-pong. Bankers play the present time any bazaar or any other public or private it in the City, ladies discuss it at afternoon teas, and even function without a ping-pong tournament is regarded as the “flannelled fools” and “muddied oafs” have had to being very much behind the times. This development, take second place in popular fancy. It remains to the though rapid, is not without justification. Table tennis

37 EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES fills a great and long-felt want, and has provided or “pick-tong” a compromise that would satisfy the hostesses with a safe indoor game. It demands quickness, contending parties might be arrived at. both of eye and hand, as well as a large amount of bodily There was a young man of Hong Kong activity. Those who have played the game seriously and Who invented a game called ping-pong; appreciate its possibilities believe that the game has come But a Hottentot black sold the game as tick-tack, to stay, and that it will take its place as the recognised So they squared it and called it pick-tong. indoor representative of lawn tennis. …. The article continues by describing the game, its Dundee Evening Telegraph 16 January 1902 equipment (vellum-covered rackets with eight-inch IN PRAISE OF PING-PONG. handles, which play better when “slightly warmed before Who cares to play at cricket? being used”), and the rules as “issued by most makers”. Who cares to kick a ball? ….. Its present popularity is entirely due to the drawing- To suffer hacks at hockey, room, but the tendency of society is to make it a high- Or chance a nasty fall? class club game. In most of the West-End clubs and in Far better don your slippers, nearly all suburban ones, the game is being played. In Enjoy your cigarette, fact, clubs are being formed in nearly all the large towns Play Ping-Pong in the Parlour to play the game either exclusively or with the Across a little net. accompaniment of dancing. Tournaments are being In cycling there are tumbles, arranged at nearly all the bazaars, and inter-club matches And puncturable tyres; are also being fixed up. ….. And if you hunt perhaps you come Belfast News-Letter 15 January 1902 A cropper on the wires. In rowing there are blisters PING PONG TOURNAMENTS. –––––––––– That possibly may chafe, A new Table Tennis Bat, for which there is at present But Ping-Pong in the Parlour an enormous demand, is “The Screw,” for which THE Is absolutely safe. ATHLETIC STORES have applied for a Patent. This bat is The river has its dangers, as much superior to the ordinary wood bat as the latter The picnic has its snares, was to vellum. It has a very fast surface, which gives The motor car may run away control over the ball to greater perfection than any other Or butt you unawares. make. It has completely superseded the ordinary wood It is a consolation bat. The great demand from every district where it has No parent will deny been introduced proves its excellence. The Screw Bat That Ping-Pong in the Parlour will be sent post free on receipt of 1s 9d, which will be Would never hurt a fly. willingly returned, less postage, if desired. Letters addressed to THE ATHLETIC STORES, Belfast, will receive Our prowess in athletics prompt attention. [See also 20-21 December 1901] May pass to other lands, And later generations see Dundee Evening Post 15 January 1902 Our cups in foreign hands; OH, PING-PONG! Yet still the might of England ––––––– Shall everywhere be known–– From her moral height above us, At Ping-Pong in the Parlour Careful of her own renown, Our sons shall hold their own. Germany, who doesn’t love us, Hurls her mimic thunders down. Then twirl your tiny racquets, Buelow’s condemnation sparing And pat your celluloid; Does not check her language strong; Be careful that your quick returns Still but little we are caring The coffee cups avoid. Now the Kaiser plays ping-pong! Flick hard, ye man of sinew, And pirouette in style! Two further verses followed, while on the same day, the The ladies of the parlour Dundee Evening Telegraph reported that there was to be Are watching you all the while! a “ladies ping-pong tournament, announced in a C., in “Westminster Gazette.” Bulawayo newspaper”. [Note: The final verse is taken from the reprint in the Bournemouth Daily Echo of 21st January.] The Tatler 15 January 1902 Yorkshire Evening Post 16 January 1902 “Ping-pong” is making huge strides. It has already “championships” and two rival “associations.” There is THE PING-PONG CAT. A correspondent of a London also a serious discussion whether it should not be called paper announces that his cat is now an expert in the art of “tick-tack,” many holding that these words are more truly finding ping-pong balls. descriptive of the sound made by the ball on the racket Lincolnshire Echo 16 January 1902 than “ping-pong.” Perhaps if it were called “ting-pock” Ping-pong sets are being shipped to West Africa.

38 EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES The Cornishman 16 January 1902 fabric used as protective floor-covering] are offered to save the wear and tear of dining-room carpets, whilst the PING-PONG. boot and shoe dealer draws attention to a particular line in According to trade statistics the sale of ping-pong sets slippers commended as “suitable for ping-pong.” Ladies will, if it lasts only a little longer at the high pressure it may, surely, next expect the ping-pong skirt. has lately attained, exceed very considerably the total sales of all the games together that have taken the town Illust. Sporting & Dramatic News 18 January 1902 by storm at intervals during the past few years. THE semi-finals and finals of the recent Table Tennis Grays and Tilbury Gazette 18 January 1902 Tournament at the Royal Aquarium attracted a very large and appreciative gathering. Perhaps, in a way, it was too It is flatly denied in diplomatic circles that Mr. large. At all events, the management would have been Chamberlain has challenged Mr. Kruger to tournament at wise in providing more accommodation for spectators. Ping-Pong to finally decide the South African question. As regards the play, there was more than an individual The Essex Rubber Company for Ping-Pong. rivalry amongst the competitors. Miss Bantock and Mr. Hampshire Advertiser 18 January 1902 Arnold Parker, the winner of the competition at Queen’s Hall (which was the scene of the “Ping-Pong” LET WELL ALONE! Tournament), were here competing against the pick of the –––––––– Aquarium players; and, in each case, the Queen’s Hall BY A DEVOTED PING-PONGIST. representatives succumbed to their opponents. Miss (Since the institution of the All-England Ping-Pong Bantock fell in the semi-final before Mrs. Garner by 2 Championship Meeting the leading players are said to be games to 1; but Mr. Parker got through to the final heat, dissatisfied with the name of their pastime, and a movement is on foot for calling it “Table Tennis.”) and met Mr. G. Greville, the famous lawn tennis player. Mr. Parker’s strong game is his “serve”; but the fact that he was disqualified several times in his preliminary heats Let others, if they will, despise for bringing his racket above the waist probably The name that first they knew–– accounted, in some measure, for the nervousness which The name that to the game we prize he displayed in the “final.” He lost the first game by Its first disciples drew! But I am bound to it by chains 20–9; but played much more steadily in the second. The Too intimate and strong; scores went from 4 all to 17 all, and the spectators were on the tip-toe of excitement. Mr. Greville, however, won To me it what it was remains–– the next three strokes and the match by 2 games to love. To me ’tis still “Ping-Pong!” The conqueror of Miss Bantock, Mrs. Garner, had to “Ping-Pong it was I long ago meet Miss Good in the final, and after a very hard match, Accepted as my fate; proved victorious by 2 games to 1 (21–22, 22–21, 20–11). ’Twas for “Ping-Pong,” as well I know, –––––––––––––––––––––– I made my dinner wait; THE MANSION HOUSE CHILDREN’S Then shall I churlishly agree FANCY DRESS BALL. To do it grievous wrong? No! As “Ping-Pong” it used to be, Still let it be “Ping-Pong!” The name of “Table Tennis” may Perchance, be more genteel; But who for “Table Tennis,” pray, Would miss the prandial meal? Who could the prim, prosaic name Apostrophise in song? No, no, the Muse knows but one game, The good old game, “Ping-Pong!” And so all those who’ve “ponged” or “pung,” Or still would “pong” and “ping,” I’d pray to strictly keep their tongue From “Table Tennis”-ing: Since for the tricky, trivial game, That’s going now so strong, There could not be another name So fitting as “Ping-Pong!” ––“Truth” –––––––––––– Apropos of the extraordinary popularity of ping-pong in and about Southampton, I may note that several tradesmen have, with characteristic enterprise, turned the craze to commercial advantage. Special druggets [coarse Miss Bennet as a ping-pong player.

39 EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES On the same day, The Illustrated London News reported: These racquets pass through no fewer than eight hands, Not only the children love the annual fancy-dress ball at namely, the sawyer’s, bender’s, turner’s, machinist’s, the Mansion House; it is to their elders one of the fitter’s, polisher’s, coverer’s, and finisher’s. prettiest of sights. Our latest social craze, the all- The bending is the first process. Thin laths of straight pervading “Ping-Pong,” came out well, the white satin ash wood are thrust into a compartment, where they are frock being effectively trimmed with the pink and white heated by steam until they are made pliable. celluloid balls and the green net edging it, while the bat was carried. Daily Express 20 January 1902

LL who play table tennis—and who does not?— would like to know how this extraordinarily popular game is made. It was this reflection which led a representative of “Page Three” to the factory of one of the largest makers of table tennis in this country. Here over 1,000 complete sets of games are turned out every day, and you have ample opportunities for studying the manifold processes through which each separate article passes before it is completed and ready to be placed on the market. Inasmuch as the racquets play the most important part in the game, we will deal with them first. When the game first came in the handles were made just about three times as long as they are now. That is to say, they used to be made a foot long, whereas now they seldom exceed four and a half inches. Then they are taken out, and handed to boys, who are As a matter of fact, the very latest provided with solid wooden blocks the shape of the drum racquet, the “Tom Thumb,” which we of a table-tennis racquet. illustrate, has no handle at all in the Round these the boy bends the pliable strip of wood, proper sense of that term, but a flat securing each end by a staple. As this is done the blocks little piece of wood which the player are piled one on the top of the other, and left thus until the holds between the thumb and bent wood has dried and set. forefinger, the drum with which the The handles come from the sawyers’ department in ball is hit being also of wood. little square blocks of the necessary length. These are There are quite as many kinds of taken by the turner, who puts them on his lathe, and with The “Tom Thumb,” or latest bat racquets as there are days in the week. a few dextrous movements reduces them to the desired The most popular ones are the thickness and roundness. A couple of minutes is the wooden racquets, which are covered longest time taken to work this part of the transformation. either with leather, leatherette But before the handle is ready to receive the hoop two (which is a cheap imitation of peculiar little niches have to be made in it by a skilful leather, really made of paper), cork, machinist, so that the bent ends may be fitted in firmly. canvas, and plush. Others are The two parts are then passed to the fitters, who glue uncovered, the plain mahogany them together. As soon as the glue is set the work-girls, being very popular with tournament of whom there are twenty, sew on the vellum or players. parchment, as the case may be. To get a spin on the ball in order The vellum is put on wet, being first held in position by to manage certain intricate strokes, tacks, which are removed when the process of stitching is however, a new wooden racquet has completed. As the material dries it stretches, so that you been designed which is covered have a taut, perfectly smooth surface to the bat. with a layer of india-rubber. The From this department the racquets are handed over to rubber “bites” the ball without Plain mahogany bat. the polishers, who, in a few quick strokes of the brush injuring it, a gyrating movement thus A favourite sort for put a glazed surface on to the handles. tournament players. being imparted to it. The last process is the finishing, which consists of The ordinary, hollow-made racquets are covered with glueing on the fancy, bright leatherette which hides the vellum, vegetable parchment, or parchment obtained stitching and joining. This work is done by boys. from sheep or calves, the latter being the better, and more Such, then, are the various processes through which a expensive. The gut-strung racquets, which are not very table-tennis racquet, even of the cheapest sort, has to pass popular just now, are exact reproductions in miniature of before it is completed. tennis racquets. Let us now pass on to the clamps which hold the net in position on the table. The metal parts of these are

40 EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES received in the rough state from the casters. The metal In this way half a dozen balls can be picked up, one worker then takes charge of them, filing off all the rough after another, and all held in the cage. protuberances, when the brass-turner affixes the screws We all know what a bother it is to get balls from odd and rings which hold the poles, which have been made by corners of the room, and assuredly the players will be the sawyer and wood-fitter. grateful for this latest boon which has been conferred upon them, and which effectively does away with the only unpleasant part of ping-pong. [TTH 85/49] Daily Express 20 January 1902 PING-PONG AFLOAT. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– A NEW ATTRACTION ON BIG LINERS. ––––––––––––––– Not only has ping-pong captured our dining-rooms, but it is gaining a foothold in the saloons of our passenger steamers. “You’ll find it occupying a prominent place among the amusements advertised on our sailing bills,” said the purser of an ocean greyhound to an “Express” representative yesterday; “and in these days of keen competition, when steamship lines take advantage of every opportunity to increase the popularity of their vessels, managers are wise in not ignoring the ping-pong craze. “We carry a supply of bats and balls, and when the weather is at all decent the one recreation is ping-pong— every other form of amusement is ousted—though how long it will last I wouldn’t like to say. “We run a net, supported at intervals, down the whole length of the dining saloon, and several couples can play simultaneously. It takes even a proficient player some A fitter fixes on the poles, after which the whole goes to time to get accustomed to the motion when the ship is the polishers and painters. Thus even this comparatively rolling badly, but after a little practice the balls can be uninteresting though important part of the apparatus of placed almost as accurately as on a fixed table. the game has to pass through eight processes. “It is rather disconcerting at first when returning a ball The balls are made of many materials, according to to see the opposite side of the table sinking away from their kind, xylonite being one of the most popular you, or find it rising in a line with your head. materials now employed. The method of manufacture, “Practice goes on all day when the table is not in use for like that of making the nets, is not particularly interesting meals, and then each evening a sweepstake tournament is therefore there is no need to describe it here. Suffice it arranged, when the excitement is intense. that Messrs. George G. Bussey and Co., of Peckham (by “Certainly it is by far the best all-round amusement we whose courtesy we were enabled to get materials for have ever had on a sea voyage, for all passengers, young illustrating this article), contrive to turn out 1,000 and old, can participate.” complete sets of table tennis per day—and they say that The game has even found its way into the cabins of our they could sell twice that number if they could make cargo steamers, and more than one weather-beaten old them, such is the extraordinary popularity of the game. sea-dog tries not to look ashamed of his position when In conclusion, we are pleased to be able to introduce to discovered in his shirt-sleeves learning to keep the ball our readers’ notice an entirely new kind of ball collector, low and overcome the terrors of the smash. which will shortly be placed on the market for a moderate Four pages of ping-pong for one penny! If any player sum. It is appropriately called the “Pickquick.” wants more he has only to ask for it, for the proprietor It consists, as you promises that the number of pages of the “Table Tennis will see from our and Pastimes Pioneer” will be increased as required. illustration, of a cage constructed of Evening Star and Daily Herald 22 January 1902 two stout wire Mr. Kipling will no doubt weep tears of blood when he circles, supported sees the first number of the “Table Tennis and Pastimes by two uprights of Pioneer,” which was published on Saturday. The the same material “Flannelled fools and muddied oafs” must be as refined on either side, while gold to the “giddied goats”––or whatever other insulting across the bottom are stretched two metal springs, which, expression he may select to fling at them––who play bending beneath a slight pressure brought to bear from ping-pong. the handle, give sufficiently to allow the ball to slip through.

41 EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES Dundee Evening Telegraph 22 January 1902

Oh, what a night! Indeed it was. Never did pingers pong with keener vigour; never did pongers ping the balls back with more amazing celerity. Imagine the Blyth Hall given over for the night to the latest craze of all. Look down upon it from our superior heights on the platform. Entrenched behind the grand piano, we are secure from the stray shots of the Maryfield Screwer or the Longforgan Smasher. We are out of the way of energetic Secretaries of the gaily be-badged brigade. Down in front of us are 10 green tables––five on each side of the hall. Midway between the tables is a narrow passage–– marked off by forms and thronged with an eager crowd, dense, hot, but happy, eager to know of Tom, Dick, or Harry’s latest success or reverse. A well-filled gallery–– the staid, respectable folk were all aloft. Far from the madding crowd, their sober thoughts never learned to stray beyond a passive, peaceful interest in the game. Those who were more or less busily engaged from half- past five until after eleven o’clock in meeting their opponents will almost unanimously agree that it would have been well to spread the play over at least two nights. A number of the competitors had to scratch as the evening wore on in order to get home. Again, the light was not all that could be desired. Players on the window side of the tables found it very deficient, and undoubtedly the reverse position was the most favourable. Various were the types of rackets favoured by different players. Vellum was most popular, but there were a few stringed rackets also. One or two players brought weird-looking, home-made productions, one of which resembled a slab of asphalt. …..

Tier above tier on the platform was occupied by other spectators, who for reasons of refreshment kept near the admirable tearoom. The gathering was large, composed as it was of all the leaders in the local ping-pong world. As to styles of play, they were as varied as were the ladies’ dresses. Every ponger, however, had one thing in common––the ping-pong face, which is of the pronounced type. Recipe:––Take an ordinary good- looking fellow, make him stiffen his jaw, squint his eyes, and assume an expression of deepest physical agony. Some of the players were men of style, others were merely smart in the sense that they managed always to return the ball somehow. ….. The finest feature of the evening, beit remarked, was the admirable good feeling that prevailed among the entrants. Success and defeat sat equally well on most of the players. ….. In the mixed doubles some really neat play was witnessed. …..

42 EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES Late at night, when the anti-ping-pongers were all illegality of taking the ball before it drops. If they pass safely in bed, the Blyth Hall was still well filled. The the new law the parody of “the Light Brigade” will enthusiasts stayed to the last moment. Dense was the become yet more verbally true:–– atmosphere and thick, but the play was good, and the Ping-pong to right of them, interest keen, so the fact that another day was close at Ping-pong to left of them, hand mattered not in the least. Finally about midnight the “Volleyed” and thundered. closure was applied, and one or two matches were held Quite the last victory of the game is the making of its over. The winning lady is now the happy possessor of a way into the workhouses, where now, as at Wanstead, the gold necklet, and the next in turn of a gold brooch. Cigar staff wile away their off hours in the gentle art of pat- cabinets are reserved for the male victors. balling. It ought next to be introduced into the prisons. As a punishment picking oakum would be nothing to Arbroath Herald 23 January 1902 compulsory ping-pong, handicap according to the degree Ping-pong is now generally accepted as having come to of the crime. The worst offenders might be made to play stay, and judging from the numerous tournaments with a faceless racquet. The game has probably already presently being engaged in, it is likely to still further got people into the asylums. increase its claim to be ranked as a permanent pastime. Sheffield Weekly Telegraph 25 January 1902 Quite the latest thing in costumes, we learn from “The Lady,” is the ping-pong gown [TTH 84/14]. Some very charming designs for these frocks are given in this week’s issue of that magazine. One of these, which is carried out in red silk with white “ping-pong” spots, would no doubt prove sufficiently exasperating to the other contestant T has been scoffed at, sneered at, derided, discounted, and abused; but for all that Ping-Pong has become during the heat and excitement of the game. Viewed in I this light, ladies have decidedly the advantage of their established among the games of the new century. As is gentlemen opponents. the case with all novelties, both votaries and opponents are apt to indulge in excessive adjectives on the subject. Daily Express 24 January 1902 Whatever be the merits or faults of the latest craze, it can claim to have afforded an immense amount of most innocent amusement to healthy minded people of both sexes, and so far as appearances can be trusted the zenith of its popularity has not yet been attained. The obvious jeer is that it has succeeded Pigs in Clover. Well, even Pigs in Clover needed at least elementary aptitude; and if any one thinks that ping-pong can at once be brilliantly played by any novice, ten minutes of painful humiliation will speedily enlighten him. Possibly one indication of the intrinsic merit of ping- pong is that it has at least survived the ridicule excited by its absurd nomenclature. It seemed as though any game called by such a name as ping-pong could not be played beyond the regions of the nursery. Now the wideness of the vogue of the game is of universal notoriety. Hence a Suggested pastime for Boers on the veldt who are anxious to presumptive deduction that at least there is something give Lord Kitchener’s columns and blockhouses a wide berth. attractive about it. The title is really derived from the Daily Express 22 and 25 January 1902 sound which the parchment racquets make in striking the xylonite ball. To appreciate adequately the suitability of Ping-pong contests were part of the players’ training at the name you should be a literary man endeavouring to both Tottenham and Southampton Football Clubs. write an abstruse article while the game is being played to The Sporting Times 25 January 1902 an obbligato of shrieks of laughter by your next-door neighbours. The intermittent and regular percussion heard under such circumstances has an excruciating effect on the nerves. Try as you will, your mind wanders from any other topic, and insensibly you find your ear listening for the next ping. Probably similar circumstances have bred half the bitter opposition to the novelty. The next- door neighbours of the present writer not only play it [See 4 February] every afternoon and evening, but have been known–– under what circumstances it is impossible to surmise—to The Globe 25 January 1902 begin ping-pong after midnight in their bedroom. This is the martyrdom of the game. Such enthusiasm on inquiry One of the ping-pong or table-tennis associations has does not seem to be unique, though the writer believes appointed a committee to inquire into the subject of himself to be located adjacent to a remarkably bad pair of volleying. The idea is that the game would be much victims of the mania. improved by withdrawing all restrictions, such as the

43 EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES Sir Edward Clarke, K.C., in his witty speech at Queen’s Greenock Telegraph 25 January 1902 Hall, suggested that ping-pong had its origin among the Romans. A cynic of my acquaintance offers a different Gray––slightly altered :–– derivation. He asserts that primeval apes played ping- For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn, pong with nuts on prehistoric glades, with a hedge or a Or busy housewife ply her evening care; horizontal bough as the net. Thence he derives ping- What fire need they who to ping-pong return, pong, not from the noise, but from Pongo, which seems And crawl for balls beneath the easy chair! to be one of the cosmopolitan names for a monkey. But, as has been observed, this man is a cynic. He is a man of Evening Star (London) 25 January 1902 quiet disposition, suffering from two grown-up daughters Illustrated ping-pong postcards have appeared. Each is and one at school, all badly smitten with the fashionable adorned with a quotation from Shakespeare, who seems plague. So his caustic sarcasm has at least a large to have known the game. measure of provocation. The votaries of the game desire that it shall be known Daily Mail 25 January 1902 as table tennis. This it emphatically is not, and such nomenclature could only arise from our national The Ponger and the Pingstress. indifference to accuracy in language. In hundreds of The word “ponger,” indicating an exponent of the art or suburban homes they will in summer talk of a game of science of ping-pong, has lately sprung into existence. tennis when a game of lawn-tennis is meant. Lawn- Do the users of this euphonious but backboneless noun tennis is a bastard and vulgarised version of the historical realise what they are responsible for? Witness the result:– and splendid game of tennis, which has been the sport of If a man who plays at ping-pong is a “ponger,” a few wealthy adepts since mediæval times. Anyone Then a singer at a “sing­song” is a “songer”; interested in it can see real tennis played at Lord’s, If the “songer” is a singer, Prince’s, Queen’s Club, or Hampton Court; whilst there Then the “ponger” is a “pinger,” are about a couple of dozen courts in the country, chiefly And the man who says it’s wrong must be a “wronger.” at historical seats, such as Hatfield. Even the suburban If your charming partner at the game’s a “pingstress,” girl might be stimulated by learning that Sir Edward Grey Then an operatic nightingale’s a “singstress”; and Mr. Alfred Lyttelton, K.C., M.P., are masters of the If the song she sings is sung, game at which Charles II and Sir Philip Sidney were both Is a game of ping-pong “pung”? adepts. The scoring at it baffles the majority of amateurs, And is the girl who lingers called a “lingstress”? and the easy system adopted for lawn-tennis is much more simple. It may seem insulting to a capital game, but Daily Express 27 January 1902 the fact remains that lawn-tennis is admirably fitted for a PING-PONG IN THE WORKHOUSE. good-sized back garden. Owing to its perfection as a –––––––––––––––– bright athletic pastime for the youth of either sex, some The ping-pong craze is spreading like an epidemic. It one conceived the brilliant idea of adapting it to the seems likely to enter even the gloomy portals of the dining-room table as a winter amusement, and this workhouse. adaptation has been penalised with the name of ping- The nurses of the Wandsworth workhouse and pong. infirmary have just applied to the Guardians’ Committee If it were called table lawn-tennis it would better fit the for permission to play ping-pong in their leisure hours. game, though the two qualifying adjectives do counteract So that no difficulty may arise with overburdened one another. Yet whatever efforts are made to obtain a ratepayers, the nurses say they are perfectly willing to reputable appellation, so long as the diversion is popular provide, at their own expense, the necessary nets, rackets, it will be known under the title of ping-pong. Indoor and balls. adaptations of fresh-air pastimes have been generally a The board will deal with this momentous question at failure. Parlour cricket cannot even amuse a lower boy at their next meeting. a public school. The Race Game is only tolerated as a The nurses have already received permission to dance method of gambling, and petits chevaux played for love on special occasions to the accompaniment of a would send everybody to sleep. Table croquet was about pianoforte, and there seems no reason to doubt that they the most imbecile folly ever perpetrated, for you knocked will be now allowed to engage in the delights of ping- a marble through rather wide and solid hoops with a pong. [I am pleased to report that the board agreed.] miniature auctioneer’s hammer. Yet, in the face of all these fiascos, ping-pong has succeeded, and it must be The Globe 27 January 1902 heralded as the exception if it is accepted as the indoor Ping-pong madness still grows. A poor traveller sends version of lawn-tennis. us the latest and saddest example :––One of the third- class carriages with open compartments and very low Hampshire Advertiser 25 January 1902 backs on a suburban railway is boarded every morning by a band of P.P. “enthusiasts,” who smite a piece of paper, USEFUL HINTS FOR THE HOME. crushed up to resemble a ball, backwards and forwards To remove dents from Ping-pong balls.––Hold the over the partition with books in place of racquets, amid a dented part in hot water (not boiling), and wipe dry. chorus of backers.

44 EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES Sunderland Daily Echo 27 January 1902 months old baby awake for hours six doors off. This is probably very near a record. An innovation has been made at the Liberal Club, Fawcett Street, which seems likely to win a considerable The Globe 29 January 1902 measure of popularity. The handsome private drawing- SOCIAL QUALIFICATIONS. room has been fitted up for ping-pong, about which (“Two books of instruction in Ping-pong have everybody is more or less crazy just now. Between the been issued.”) hours of three and six in the afternoon members are at –––––– liberty to bring ladies into the institution, and afternoon Bend both your knees, keep moving––so, tea is provided. During the afternoons of the past week Stand rather to the left, bend low; or so a large number of both sexes has attended, and Upon the ball keep both your eyes; some exciting contests have been witnessed. Mark where your enemy’s weakness lies; Arrangements are being made for a ping-pong Be patient, do not try to kill, tournament for ladies and gentlemen. And when you play, play with a will. Belfast News-Letter 28 January 1902 Read all the books and daily get A pro. to coach you at the net. PING PONG TOURNAMENTS. Learn all the arts to drive, to spin, –––––––––– Players are now convinced of the value of our Patent Half-volleying, and placing in “Screw” Table Tennis Bat, our sales having increased The farthest corner––if you’ll be enormously. Customers at a distance can have bat sent Half worthy new Society. on approval on receipt of 1s 9d each, or for a pair 3s 3d If you will all these ’hests obey, post free. Cash will be refunded if returned at once. We And practise every night and day, wish to clear all our Stock of wood bats, and have You may be asked to dinner then reduced 1s polished bats to 6d, 9d unpolished to 4½d. A With quite the smartest “set” of men, few dozen 7s 6d Sets of Table Tennis at 3s 6d, 5s Sets for And feed on training fare, and play 2s 3d. The Athletic Stores have introduced a new This Ping-pong till the break of day. portable compo board table for which there is an enormous demand. They are cheap, but even superior to Northants Evening Telegraph 29 January 1902 expensive tables for play.––THE ATHLETIC STORES, An effort to vary the recreations permitted to wearied Bridge Street; Branch, Bedford Street, Belfast. [see 15 Jan] legislators in the House of Commons has failed. At Belfast Telegraph 28 January 1902 present they are allowed to indulge in chess, draughts, and smoking. It was suggested that ping-pong should be added. The Sergeant-at-Arms gasped. As he mentioned the games and recreations at present allowed, he implied that a man could not want for more. Yet there is no reason at all why ping-pong should not be allowed to share the popularity of that imposing function called tea on the Terrace. Indeed it would not be going too far to say that the dignity of Parliament would not suffer much if the young Tory bloods were to devote themselves Bournemouth Daily Echo 28 January 1902 entirely to ping-pong. THE PING-PONG INFLICTION. Lincolnshire Echo [and others] 29 January 1902 A ping-pong victim relates his experiences :––Every evening as soon as I settled down to a pipe and a book Ping-pong has become a popular society amusement in there came to my ears the sound, faint-heard through wall Vienna, where a Table Tennis Association has just been or ceiling, but wearisome and pitiless as the dropping of formed. water upon a stone––ping-pong, ping-pong, ping-pong. I Shields Daily News 30 January 1902 tried to read, and found myself waiting anxiously for the next stroke, and actually scoring the game with The fearful responsibility of having brought “Ping- reasonable accuracy. There was no peace left. If the man Pong” into the world is said to rest upon the Rev. W. A. overhead gave his carpet a rest, the man below was Simcox, a Congregational minister. [TTC 80/8-9] always ready to slip off his coat and play for an hour or two to prevent me from feeling neglected. Brighton Gazette 30 January 1902 A RECORD. GRAND OPEN PING-PONG Regarded as a matter of acoustics, he says :––Ping- TOURNAMENT. pong at best can only claim to rival the music of the tom- –––––––– tom, whose chief merit lies in its lack of complexity. The development of ping-pong bids fair to be one of the But, in penetrating power, ping-pong can give points to most striking things of the year. The interest it has most noises. There is on record a well-authenticated evoked is truly phenomenal, and it has become far more instance of the sound of a hard-fought game passing than a “household word.” The latest development is the through five houses in a terrace and keeping a seven- tournament played in a public hall to the delight of hosts

45 EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES of spectators. [Reference was made to a recent event Aberdeen Daily Journal 1 February 1902 organised on behalf of St Bartholomew’s charities, and of a forthcoming tournament to be held in the Great Hall of ALEXANDER MURRAY, York Place School, on February 4th, 6th and 8th.] The BOOKSELLER, STATIONER, AND events will comprise the Championship of Brighton, open LIBRARIAN, to ladies and gentlemen residing in Brighton, Hove, and Preston; also one for ladies exclusively, one for 261 UNION STREET, gentlemen, and one for players under seventeen years of ABERDEEN, age. ….. The hall is splendidly adapted for the begs to intimate that he has opened a Large tournament; tea and other light refreshments wll be Saloon in connection with his shop for the obtainable; and non-players, who will find excellent most popular of all games, namely, accommodation for watching the competitions, will be PING-PONG charged only one shilling admission. OR Yorkshire Telegraph and Star 31 January 1902 TABLE TENNIS. A Song of Ping-Pong. The tables are regulation size, and can be The praises of Ping-Pong are now, it seems, to be sung played on from 9 o’clock in the Morning till in Board Schools, and Mr. Herbert Botting has written a 10.30 Evening. unison song for the school children with this refrain PRICE 2D PER SET [second verse of “Ping-Pong (Choruses for Equal N.B.––For the convenience of Ladies, no Voices)”; TTC 29, page 4]: Smoking allowed until after 6 o’clock Evening. Ping! pong! a monotonous song, But the ball is merrily bounding along, All cares now forgotten, all hearts become light, Daily Express 3 February 1902 And all irritations are soon put to flight The uniform which the Marquis When the resonant rackets say “Ping! pong!” of Anglesey has himself designed But irritation is, it is suggested, by no means “put to for the members of the Anglesey flight” when the ball rolls under the sofa, and a young Ping-Pong Club. lady sweetly asks a plethoric gentleman to find it for her. Daily Express 31 January 1902 At the recent ping-pong tournament the coat designed by IN PRAISE OF PING-PONG. the Marquis was quite a creation. ––––––––––– “Express” Correspondent. It is of turquoise blue, with white FRANKFURT, Wednesday, Jan. 29. silk twill, and another has been In praise of ping-pong a writer in the “Frankfurter ordered with silk embroidery and Zeitung” eulogises to the extent of three columns, urging strappings. his compatriots to introduce the charms of the celluloid into the Fatherland. [TTC 81/46-7, TTH 85/44] “Cards,” says the writer, “make one tired, and often the game costs much money! Billiards requires much Sheffield Independent 3 February 1902 practice, and is practically a luxury. Skating comes but Amongst once a year” (these, presumably, are the only pastimes the [From a review of the pantomime “Aladdin”]: German can indulge in, for cricket and football are the specialities of the show a lively ping-pong game takes unknown joys to him), “therefore one requires a game place, and the principals and members of the ballet hit the that the husband can play with his wife and children, balls into the auditory. without undue expenditure, that will exercise both brain Londonderry Sentinel 4 February 1902 and body.” And here follows a Germanised description of ping-pong, the author proceeding to explain gravely HOW TO MEND PING-PONG BALLS. that however hard one may hit the ball neither noses nor The cost of ping-pong may be minimised by an windows will be damaged! ingenious method of restoring damaged balls which an enthusiast in the game has discovered and made public Dundee Evening Telegraph 3 February 1902 property. The celluloid balls commonly used are often As to the effect of constantly repeated stimuli on the bulged in and then thrown away as useless. Instead of throwing them away they should be dipped into very hot face, Professor Weymouth Reid [in a talk on “Nerves” at water, when the bulge will immediately disappear, and University College] reproduced among his limelight slides the ball can be returned to play as good as ever. It is not two illustrations from the “Evening Telegraph” [22 necessary to immerse the whole ball. It is sufficient if the January] of the Newport ping-pong tournament, and bulged part be dipped, and this can be done without demonstrated from them the ping-pong face and the ping- scalding the fingers. pong back. [See earlier.]

46 EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES Daily Express 4 February 1902 One tie only was played in the four-handed ping- pong—at the Aquarium it is table tennis mixed doubles. “PING-PONG COLLEGE.” Miss Bantock and Mr. Williams beat Mr. and Mrs. Yates –––––––––––––––––––––––––––– WHERE PEOPLE ARE TAUGHT BY AN EXPERT. Bainbridge (6–2, 6–0). In the four-handed game the –––––––––––– The nice conduct of the celluloid has become a cult. tennis method of scoring obtains. “Professors” we have already, and now comes the “school,” where beginners are coached in the subtleties Evening Standard 4 February 1902 of our latest form of amusement. As befits the high rank of “ping-pong,” the teaching-class is an academy, and its location is the balcony at Niagara Hall [left]1. There, half a dozen full- sized tables (9ft. by 5ft.) are open to students. They absorb the rudiments and go forward to excellence under the skilful tuition of Mr. P. Fleming, son of old Tom Fleming2, known as the father of lawn tennis. [TTC 80/20] Around these tables stand day by day scores of men, young and middle-aged, maidens and matrons, eager to qualify for proficiency in the dining-room. Half-a-crown is the fee per lesson, and when the “ping-pongers” have picked up some mastery of the game a shilling secures the table for a set. Frequently a really good player strolls in and takes a turn. It is as if Stevenson3 descended on a pool-room and casually “took a cue,” or MacLaren4 played as “Mr. NOTES A. N. Other” on a village cricket-ground. Thursday brings its special diversion. Men and 1. Niagara Ice Rink, located in York Street (now Petty France), women from the ice-rink below come up and play “ping- near St James’s Park underground station [see 25 Jan. advert]. pong” on skates. 2. ‘Old Tom Fleming’ is also referred to in ‘The Complete Lawn Of course, there are no sofas nor cosy corners in this Tennis Player’, as the father of Tom Fleming, the lawn tennis academy, and hence no easy hiding-place for the errant professional and coach. This makes it most likely that he was ball. Players do not grovel on dusty floors. Ingenuity Thomas Rocliffe Fleming, born in London around 1828. In 1871, has evolved a “scoop” with a long handle to entrap the listed as a Billiard Room Proprietor, he was living at 1 Walgrave wanderer in meshes of elastic. Terrace, Kensington, with his wife Elizabeth and their 3 sons The game prospers all round. Mr. Fleming has always (one, Thomas G, later a lawn tennis player and coach!). By 1881, with a further son and a daughter, he was at 88 plenty of calls on his teaching ability from private houses. Cambridge Road, Willesden, and Manager of a Skating Rink On Thursday week his Majesty is to visit Niagara and (another possible connection?). 1891 found the family at 147 watch the skating champions on the ice. It is not beyond Kilburn Park Road, Paddington, with Thomas now Manager of a the dreams of “ping-pongers” that the King may ascend Lawn Tennis Court. ‘Old Tom’ may well have been a name the balcony and look on at a game. used, perhaps a little disrepectfully, to distinguish him from his Nay, the fluttering hope is that Edward VII will himself son of the same name, by then becoming well-known in tennis take a racquet and his first (public) essay in what circles. But it does still leave one small point to explain, as the somebody in “Measure for Measure” long ago foretold as Express article refers to the tutor as P Fleming! None of ‘old’ 5 “the game of tick-tack .” Tom’s surviving sons had names beginning with P (Edward, ––––––––––––––––––––––––– born 1871; Alfred, born 1875; and Richard, born 1877). It “FOURS” AT THE AQUARIUM. –––––––––––– therefore seems probable that the tutor was his tennis coach Four-handed “ping-pong” made its bow to a London son, Thomas (i.e. with initial T, rather than the sound-alike P). audience at the Royal Aquarium last night, and gave 3. H W (‘Harry’) Stevenson (1874-1944): Professional billiards those who saw it the impression that ping-pong is a game player, who in fact made his professional debut in 1894 at the to be played by two persons. Royal Aquarium! Billiard Association Champion in 1901. In the new game the table is marked out into service 4. Archie MacLaren (1871-1944): Lancashire and England courts, and the server has to change places with his cricketer, an immaculate batsman with a long career. partner, just as in lawn tennis fashion, after each point. 5. The term is used by Lucio in Act I Scene II. This was not an Only in lawn tennis the court is more than 5ft. wide, early reference by Shakespeare to ping-pong, but a kind of and there is not the same sense that four people constitute backgammon. a crowd on a tennis court as there is that they are a positive mass-meeting at a ping-pong table.

47 Philatelic Update

Postmark & cachet from the LIEBHERR 2019 World TT Championships In ITTF World Tour China Budapest, where China won all 5 Singles Open, 2019.5.28-6.2 & Doubles events. City is Nanjing, Jiangsu

Fine Registered cover featuring the set of 4 stamps from the 1961 World Championships, Peking, and thematic cachet. Congratulations to Hans-Peter Trautmann (GER)

48 Above: Women’s Singles Winner Liu Shiwen Right: Mixed Doubles winners Xu Xin & Liu Shiwen

Chinese picture postcards from a set of 12 published to honor the winners of the 2019 World Table Tennis Championships in Budapest

Podium scene: Ma Long with the St. Bride Vase for winning the Men’s Singles

49 Above: Men’s Doubles winners Ma Long & Wang Chuqin Below left: Women’s Doubles winners Sun Yingsha & Wang Manyu Below right: Ma Long & Wang Chuqin defeat Ionescu & Robles 4-1 in Men’s Doubles

50 Above left: Ma Long defeats Mattias Falck (SWE) 4-1 to win the Men’s Singles. Above right: Liu Shiwen defeats Chen Meng (CHN) 4-2 to win the Women’s Singles.

Above left: Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen defeat Kasumi Ishikawa & Maharu Yosimura (JPN) to win the Mixed Above right: Sun Yingsha & Wang Manyu defeat Mima Ito & Hina Hayata (JPN) to win Women’s Doubles 51 Podium scene, Men’s Doubles. Winners Ma Long and Wang Chuqin hold the trophy (second from the left)

Podium scene: Women’s Doubles winners Sun Yingsha & Wang Manyu, second from the left. The mascot holds the trophy!

52 Japanese Manga

This draft manga was kindly sent by Mr Jota Ito (JPN), well known from his work for the World Table Tennis magazine in Japan. We look forward to more such manga with Table Tennis history themes.

53 CHAMPIONS

Anna Sipos (HUN) World Singles Bohumil Vana (TCH) World Gizi Farkas (HUN), World Champion: 1932-1933 Singles Champion 1938, 1947 Singles Champ 1947-48-49

Hilde Bussmann (GER) World Ichiro Ogimura (JPN) 1954 & Toshiaki Tanaka (JPN) 1955 & Team & Doubles Champ 1939 1956 World Singles Champion 1957 World Singles Champion

Angelica Rozeanu (ROM, ISR) Fujie Eguchi (JPN) 1957 Johnny Leach (ENG), World World Singles Champion 1950-55 World Singles Champion Singles Champion, 1949, 1951 54 Ivor Montagu (ENG), founding Marie Kettnerova, 1934-35 S. Kolar (TCH) 1936 president of the ITTF World Singles Champion World Singles Champion

Richard Bergmann (AUT, ENG), Tomie Okawa (JPN) 1956 V. Depetrisova (TCH) 1939 4-time World Singles Champion World Singles Champion World Singles Champion

with thanks to:

Günther Angenendt (GER)

A. Ehrlich (POL, FRA) Conny Freundorfer (GER) 3x World Singles Vice Ch. 9-time German Singles Champ 55 Auction Action

Boxed set by Curnock of London, with pair of ‘Moorgate’ rackets with long handles. The racket Registry number is 376168 (June 1901, with thanks to Alan Duke (ENG)). Striking surface is made of Xylonite.

56 Royal Bayreuth porcelain trinket dish or ashtray. $75 I’m seeking the same piece with pair of crossed bats design. Can anyone help?

Wood bat with satin wood handle

57 Superb wood box with gorgeous color lithograph label, for Spalding’s Table Tennis, c. 1902. $349 This set usually had 4 bamboo rackets with single vellum, and long or short handles, as shown below.

58 Jaques Ping Pong - the Game of Table Tennis, with 4 plain wood bats and Laws pamphlet. c. 1930 in Mullock’s sporting auction, £10 to 20

The Juvenile set by Abbey. £21. Ordinary contents, but good graphics. c. 1930s

59 Victor Barna looking very elegant in 1938

Classic Barna hardbat with red teardrop logo, overlaid on one side by large white logo, c.1964-66, sold for £250

60 £85

£277

61 Dunlop Barna Super in original box, £28 Diane Rowe hardbat with leather covered grip. $50

French rules booklet published in 1946, Blütenkirche hardbat, advertised as a one year before the ITTF resumed replacement for Barna hardbat that is ITTF activities. Found in a French boxed set. approved. £60 Friendship Dr Evil (ox) short pips on both sides, or just the blade at £30

62 Autographed program for a 1950 exhibition by Victor Barna and Richard Bergmann in England. The scores for each match are hand-annotated, Bergmann won his 4�� World’s Men’s Singles title just a few weeks earlier, and he defeated Barna 13, -21, 17. They both won all their matches against the local players. Interesting that there is an error in The Stars bios, below left: Barna won Five, not four World Singles titles, a record that still stands. The autographs are fairly common, as both Champions were prolific autograph signers, and both gave many exhibitions.

63 Dora Beregi Bat

Dora Beregi was a Hungarian and later an English international player who won 2 World Championship gold medals in 1948 and 1950, as well as 3 bronze medals. She partnered with Richard Bergmann and Helen Elliot. Dora also won 6 English Open titles, eventually emigrating to Australia, where this fine bat originated, in its still supple leather zippered case.

64 Reproduction of the bat style used by legendary Fred Perry to win the World Singles title in Budapest, 1929.

The bat is offset with cork handle, and brown pimpled rubber. The set included a bat holder with Fred Perry’s name, and a testimonial page saluting Fred Perry’s remarkable career.

After he focused on his tennis game, he won 3 consecutive Wimbledon Singles titles, an amazing feat on top of his Table Tennis World Singles Championship!

65 Collector Directory Günther Angenendt Winfried Engelbrecht Germany Barry Hayward UK Langacker 10a 44869 Bochum, Germany Virgiliastr.21 D-45131 Essen 49.201.78.6795 19 Little Hardwick Road, Streetly +49-2327-77117 [email protected] [email protected] Philately: West Midlands WS9 0SD Pre-war World Ch programs; all TT items Stamps, FDCs, Sheets, Postmarks, books, [email protected] German boxed sets & bats; TT pins phonecards, tickets, stickers, W.C. Programs Website: www.tabletennislibrary.co.uk

Jorge Arango [email protected] Romualdas Franckaitis Lithuania Chuck Hoey Honorary Curator, ITTF Museum Cl. 10 No. 25-103 Ap.116 Medellin Columbia [email protected] [email protected] Philatelic & general TT items Art bats, unusual bats, historic photos, Gao Yi-bin [email protected] Important medals, museum quality items Michael L. Babuin, PhD USA No.9 Xin Wen Road 21-905 Phoenix Tree Garden PO Box 3401 Cary NC. 27519 Jiangning, Nanjing, Jiansu P.R.China 211100 Martin Holland [email protected] [email protected] +8625 5212 3334 TT stamps, FDC, postcards 44 Victoria Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria Pre-1905 books, old film copies, programs phonecards, coins, medals, pins, cancels England BA14 5JU TT postcards & trade cards

Oliver Born Germany Roman Gelman [email protected] Rolf Jaeger USA [email protected] [email protected] www.old-butterfly.de 24 Taverngreen Court, Baltimore, MD. USA Tennis and Table Tennis items Old Butterfly rackets, especially Korpa 21209 410 602 0267 Pins,,badges,medals Custom jewelry: www.tennisboutique.com

Keith Bowler In Memoriam David Good [email protected] Dean Johnson USA 710 N.Waverly, Dearborn, MI 48128 USA 3404 Holly Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 Fabrice Chantriaux France +1 313 278 5271 c.1900 sets, equipment, (757) 478 3605 [email protected] 10 Rue des Chevrefeuilles F-45130 Saint-Ay ephemera, memorabilia 02.38.88.82.11 Fax: 02.38.45.94.29 Jean-Francois Kahn France [email protected] Stamps, cancels, Scott Gordon USA [email protected] 49 rue Leonardo da Vinci, 77330 Ozoir la Postcards, posters, old papers on TT 5340 Shelato Way, Carmichael, CA 95608 Ferriere [email protected] +1 916 978 0117 www.hardbat.com films +33 1 40779762 TT philately: imperf stamps, Colin Clemett [email protected] Historic films,classic era hardbats, old books sheets, color proofs, minister/artist sheets, 2 Watermill Court, 10 Springwell, Havant errors, postmarks, meters, FDCs, specimens PO9 1ED UK Historical documents Gordon Gotal [email protected] Meduliceva 23 Zagreb 10000 Croatia Christian Klaus Möllersdorf, Austria Fabio Colombo Italy [email protected] +3851 4848 687 Exch: TT pins, medals, post- [email protected] www.colombofabio.com cards Acquire: WC & EC official badges TT stamps, cancels, postcards, autograph Table Tennis books, World Rankings. Author (Guest, organizer, player, press, etc) cards, FDCs, historic photos, magazines, Seeking STIGA Stipancic rackets Newspapers, score-lists, books, posters … Steve Grant Florida USA author Ron Crayden (ENG) in Memoriam [email protected] Jan Kleeven [email protected] Ping Pong Diplomacy, Early 1900s TT Margrietstraat 63 6373 NN Landgraaf Andre Demeure (BEL) in Memoriam Netherlands Pins, flags, pennants, stamps, Esko Heikkinen [email protected] Phonecards, stickers Jean Devys Residence La petite vigne, Vainamoisenkatu 9 B 17 Helsinki 00100 20 rue Edgar Quinet, A16 F-59100 Roubaix Finland +358 50 62532 TT history, Stiga bats Matti Kolppanen Finland France 33.320828444 Fax: 33.320650849 TT Kollekannaksent 12E, FI-02720 Espco philately, cycling [email protected] Gerald Gurney +44.1206.230330 [email protected] Guildhall Orchard, Great Bromley Colchester TT history, TT postcards Axel Dickhaus Germany ESSEX CO7 7TU England. All racket games, All Atzienbacherf Str. 88 D-51381 Leverkusen equipment, ephemera. Historian, author. Randy Koo Netherlands +49 (0)2171 32108 Fax: 49 (0)2171.731478 Worldwide exhibitions. Swimming items. Torenwacht 37, 2353 DB Leiderdorp [email protected] TT balls, phone cards Exch: boxed sets, postcards, books, rackets +31 071 5417413 [email protected] Stamps mint, postmarks, red meters, FDC Alan Duke [email protected] Rex Haggett [email protected] 2 Shapwick Close, Swindon WILTS. England 27 Meadow Close, Stratford-upon-Avon Hans Kreischer +34965698195 SN3 3RQ UK +44 (0) 1793 531234 Warwickshire, CV37 9PJ England Avenue les Comargues 21, Busot-Allicante History, music & photo record of TT items +44 (0) 1789 269352 Philately 03111 Spain [email protected]

Sergio Durazzano [email protected] Russ Hamilton Arkansas, USA Via Girardini 8, 33100 Udine, Italy [email protected] 214-673-6164 Kevin Lau USA [email protected] 0432.21105 Stamps & historical books C.1890-1902 vintage sets, books & unusual Philatelic, pins, coins, memorabilia, souvenir items & decorative items

66 Collector Directory

Caron Leff Ft. Myers, FL USA Laszlo Polgar Hungary Solazzi Tonino [email protected] [email protected] Table Tennis pins [email protected] Via Millefonti 6 / 5 10126 Torino, Italy Early World Ch items,Barna,Bergmann, 0039 3668744426 Table Tennis pins Francis Leibenguth France +33951966614 Bellak,Szabados,Anna Sipos,Rozeanu,Ehrlich www.tabletennispins.weebly.com 1 résidence des Hauts de Villebon 91140 and Dolinar. Table Tennis plus chess. Villebon-sur-Yvette [email protected] Hans-Peter Trautmann Germany Vintage bats (esp hardbats), vintage sets Alberto Prieto USA Siegfriedstr. 17 64385 Reichelsheim http://raquettes-collection.blog4ever.com [email protected] [email protected] Stamps mint, perf + imperf, sheets, color Jorgen Lindh [email protected] Robin Radford [email protected] proofs, minister/artist sheets, postmarks, Egnahemsgatan 13D S-43242 Varberg 7A Beauchamp St TAWA, Wellington, errors, red/blue meters SWEDEN 5028 NZ Phone: +64 04 232 5672 TT cartoons, comic strips, clip art Graham Trimming 44(0)1628 529609 Steve Luck, 12 Liskey Hill, Perranporth, Rosemount Juniper Lane Cornwall TR6 0ET Phone: 07860 446209 Jose Ransome Wooburn Green, Bucks HP10 0DE England [email protected] racket sports, ”Conifers” Church Lane ORMESBY [email protected] pre-1939 TT rowing, billiards, croquet, archery ... Middleborough TS7 9AU ENGLAND items, esp c.1900s. Acquire: Gossima 1891; 01642 322223 [email protected] early unusual items; early World Ch items. Fabio Marcotulli Venezuela [email protected] Geoff Reed In Memoriam Damir Uzorinac Croatia Barna rackets, TT items from all eras Prilaz Gjure Dezelica 20 10000 Zagreb Helmut Reinhardt [email protected] 38598474982 Hubert Menand Friedrich-Voss-Platz 19, Books, pins, stamps, cancellations [email protected] D-24768 Rendsburg, GERMANY President, AFCTT (French TT Collectors) [email protected] Russ Walker e-mail = ? 4316 Irving Ave N, MPLS MN 55412 USA Eldon Mohler [email protected] Ortwin Schiessl Austria +1-612-522-7905 1820 E.Warm springs Rd. Lascygasse 14-16, A-1170 WIEN Early 1900s equipment & boxed sets Suite 112 Las Vegas. NV 89119 USA [email protected] table tennis Fax: +1-702-453-8472 philately: Stamps, sheets, FDC, postmarks Diane & Harvey Webb England [email protected] Erik Kenneth Muhr England UK Lutz Schoenfeld Germany +44 (0)1424 216342 2 Highgate Hill, Hawkhurst KENT TN18 4LB selling Table Tennis items on ebay: pongiste English related photographs, programmes, 01580 752676 History of Table Tennis e-mail: [email protected] books, post cards. General - pin badges [email protected] Luigi Simeoni [email protected] Yao Zhenxu Rudolf Mueller Germany Via Ponte S.Pancrazio 2/a 37133 Verona Room 401 Unit 1 Building 2 Bahnhofstr. 58 D-57250 Netphen 02738- Italy 0039 045 532033 TT Balls, catalog No. 4 Dongsikuaiyu South Street 1461 Stamps, cancels, letter, error, red Chongwen District, Beijing 100061, China meters [email protected] Harry Sintemaartensdijk Netherlands +86-13911990508 [email protected] Julianastraat 8,2651 DP Berkel en Rodenrijs TT stamps, FDC, postcards, coins, pins, Jan Nusteleyn Netherlands 0031 105114621 [email protected] phonecards, postal material, tickets etc Weserstraat 21, 9406 VP Assen 0592- Tischtennis Aufklebers/stickers 356050 e-mail: [email protected] Jos Zinkstok Netherlands Stamps, mint perforated FDCs red meters, Tang Gan Xian P.R.China Neckarstraat 8 NL9406 VN ASSEN cancels WC, EC, EC-Youth, Top-12 [email protected] +31 592 350486 Fax: 0031 592 355861 Qin Hu 4-35-104, ChangShu 215500 [email protected] www.poveia.nl Robert Op de Beeck In Memoriam +86-512-52722359 TT stamps, FDC, pins TT cancellations, stamps, vignettes, on real postmarks, postcards, phonecards,tickets, used, letters/covers/cards, FDC Florian Pagel Germany [email protected] Older Banda, Stiga, Joola, Butterfly, Imperial Marc Templereau France [email protected] Anton Zwiebel In Memoriam 16 Hameau des cerisiers 38150 Roussillon Park Jeong Kye [email protected] Secretary, AFCTT (French TT Collectors PO Box 555 Busan 48931 KOREA South Assoc) https://afctt.wordpress.com Postmarks, stamps, postcards Collections : stamps, FDC, players postcards, autographs, programs Gregory Pinkhusovich Please update your e-mail address if Apt.10, h.2 Sheshet Ha-Yamim Str Michael Thomson changed Ariel 40700 ISRAEL +972-54-3394739 1 Kinnoull Terrace, PERTH [email protected] PH2 7DJ SCOTLAND UK 01738 622052 TTpins, badges, medals, coins [email protected] Jaques and history of Table Tennis 67 1933 French Ping-Pong journals https://fr.calameo.com/books/004224089f7be7dca089c

Copyright © ITTF Museum 2019 Published by the ITTF: Avenue de Rhodanie 58, CH-1007 Lausanne, SWITZERLAND e-mail: [email protected] No part of this journal may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher