F. & A. Carrick

1840

F. & A. Carrick, Musselburgh. Francis and Archibald Carrick of Musselburgh were among the earliest makers of golf irons. Sons of a blacksmith, they first established themselves as toolmakers in the 1840s. Like several craftsmen of their time, forging irons was a sideline to their primary trade of toolmaking. The Carricks' earliest irons were typically unmarked or simply stamped "Carrick." Later examples were marked "F. & A. Carrick, Musselburgh" and sometimes accompanied by their distinctive cleek mark-a simple "X" or "cross." Although unregistered, this was the first known trademark used on golf clubs, a practice soon adopted by other makers across Scotland. Following the deaths of Francis and Archibald in the late 1850s or 1860s, their sons-Alex and Archibald Jr.-continued the business under the name F. & A. Carrick. Though clubmaking remained secondary to their toolmaking trade, Carrick irons earned a strong reputation for quality. Today, irons stamped simply "Carrick" without the "X" are considered among the earliest known marked examples of Scottish golf clubs. Later models bearing the "X" cleek mark alongside "F. & A. Carrick, Musselburgh" are also highly regarded and sought after by collectors.

1 ITEM