A TOM MORRIS SR. "DRAIN PIPE" CYLINDER HEAD PUTTER, CIRCA 1890s

Cylindrically fashioned iron clubhead



Stamped "T. Morris / St. Andrews" within an oval and with the Stewart clay pipe cleekmark



Hickory shaft stamped "John Wisden & Co. / Cranbourn St. London"



Leather cloth grip

TGC p. 71; TCA p. 247; TCA 2 Vol. 1 p. 289

Overall excellent condition with little wear. Please note that most lots describe a basic overall condition status. Please note that it is the nature of this type of memorabilia to be in excellent or very good condition and still have some age wear. To request individual detailed condition reports, please contact Lisa Ladish or Kevin Schwartz in Sotheby's Collectibles Department.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Cylinder head putters, also called "drain pipe" putters, were introduced during the 1890s by Tom Morris, and his "drain pipe" is the most celebrated example from this family. There are extensive markings on the club that tell us that the putter was developed by Morris, made by Tom Stewart (also of St. Andrews), and retailed by John Wisden & Co., the company that boasted to be the first golf club dealers in London (est. 1874). During the 1890s, Wisden was acclaimed as "London's greatest golf depot" (Golfing, November 23, 1899, p. 11). It is believed that Tom Morris developed his "drain pipe" putter in the early 1890s, a time when he briefly produced two patent clubs: an elliptical face cleek, and a dish face niblick. He did not operate his own forge, hence the presence of Stewart's "clay pipe" cleekmark (trademark) on Morris's iron "drain pipe." For more Morris Sr. clubs, please see lots 2, 4, 5, 10, 28, 348 and 549.