Antique Martins Bramble 'Zodiac' Golf Ball

Antique Martins Bramble 'Zodiac' Golf Ball

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Reference

26529

Martins Bramble 'Zodiac' Golf Ball.
A good example of a 'Zodiac' bramble patterned rubber core golf ball. The golf ball is in fair condition and is manufactured by Martins, England, circa 1906. The ball is marked 'Zodiac' on one pole and 'ZBZ ENG' on the other with the classic bramble pattern, raised dimples. Martins from Birmingham (England) were founded in early 1900's by Patrick Alphonsus Martin and they were one of the first ball companies to make a seamless golf ball.

The ball is approximately 1 5/8 inch in diameter (4 cm).

The rubber core ball (the ancestor of the modern ball) began its life in the late 1890's. The first mass produced rubber core ball was by Coburn Haskell of Cleveland, Ohio. The first core balls were hand wound with elastic thread with a Gutta-percha cover, moulded with the raised square mesh pattern of their predecessor. The slight irregularities in the early wound balls made them quite lively, it was not until the invention of the automatic winding machine by John Gammeter (an engineer at Goodrich) and the change of pattern from mesh to bramble that the balls became more consistent and predictable.

Period

1900-1949

Year

C. 1900

Country

United Kingdom

Condition

Very good for it's age

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