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Making Cricket Bats

1957 , Little Baddow (Essex)

Cat no. 424

A demonstration as to how cricket bats are crafted.

This film begins with shots of a blue willow tree, the only type of willow suitable in the manufacture of cricket bats. Two men crop down the tree using a chain saw. The trunk is sawn into logs of a particular length and then split into clefts, ensuring that cuts follow the grain of the wood. The commentary explains that only the trunk is used in the manufacture of cricket bats. One cleft is used to make one bat blade. At the works the clefts are trimmed with a circular saw. They are piled up and left to season for four to six months. After seasoning, the clefts are cut to shape using a band saw. In the workshop they are smoothed using a plane and draw knife. The bat is then 'compressed' in a hand operated machine. This prevents denting when used to hit cricket balls. The neck of the bat is rounded on a lathe and then cut to receive the handle. The composition of the handle is demonstrated. This involved glue strips of wood, with layers of rubber between them. The handles are turned on a lathe for shaping and then glued and inserted into the bat. After drying, the bat is finished, using a draw knife a plane and a spokeshave. It is sanded and finally polished.

Other Places

Little Baddow

  • Maker : Essex County Council Education Committee

Manifestations

Making Cricket Bats

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