Ralph and Albert Slazenger

Slazenger was established in the early 1880s and today is one of the oldest surviving sporting brand names. It was founded by two brothers Ralph and Albert Slazenger and quickly became a leading supplier and manufacture of sporting goods. Around 1940 because of the Second World War Slazenger merged with other sporting manufactures to help in the war effort. During heavy bombing in London the Slazenger factory along with the Gradidge factory was damaged. The two manufactures managed to continue production at other plants but the big four (Slazenger Sykes Gradidge and Ayres) decided to combine their resources. After the war they all stayed together and the company known as Slazengers Sykes Gradidge and Ayres was created in its heyday they operated across the world.