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Table Tennis 86
History Journal
Excellent research for Historians, Collectors October
and all Lovers of our Great Sport 2018
Chinese Poster, 1975. The same message applies
today: youth involvement in our sport! Page 2.
From the Editor
Table Tennis Dear Friends,
History Welcome to issue 86 of the Table Tennis History Journal, for
historians, writers, collectors, and all lovers of our sport.
Journal We begin with a fascinating mystery centered around a medal
from the 1929 Swaythling Cup, found in the grounds of northern
Utah (USA) by a metal detector enthusiast. I invite our readers
to help solve this mystery.
Fabio Marcotulli (VEN) shares a letter from Victor Barna
mentioning the declining health of Richard Bergmann. Steve
Grant (USA) reports a rare find of a polyphon disc with the Ping
Pong Song by Edward Lauri (1901).
Delighted to hear from Bruno Lancon (FRA) and his fine selection
of French Barna bats. Thanks for sharing these beautiful bats.
Alan Duke (ENG) continues his research into early magazine and
newspaper articles, and Jorge Arango (COL) sends his 5��
installment on early pirated images. Gerald Gurney (ENG)
reports on a French Tennis Table set with Ping Pong battledores.
No. 86 Auction Action, features some surprises and amazing bargains.
Our Philatelic Update features a postal cancel from Nanjing, in
honor of the 2018 World Championships in Halmstad. Hans-
October 2018 Peter Trautmann (GER) sends a fine article showing rare
philatelic varieties.
Hope you enjoy the new issue. Feedback always welcomed. Next
edition scheduled for Feb. 1, 2019.
Editor and Publisher:
Chuck Hoey, Honorary Curator Table Tennis. For All. For Life. Chuck
ITTF Museum & China TT Museum
museum@ittf.com On the Cover … A vivid and colorful Chinese poster from 1975,
impressive in size at 30 inches (76.2cm) height. Such posters were
used to encourage the young to play sports for good health. Many
Publishing Schedule: examples were printed for Table Tennis, this one by HeBei Peoples
Art Factory Printing, with text: Development of Sports - Enhance
June 1 Submit articles by May 15
People’s Health. Note that both the pen-hold and shake-hand grips
Oct 1 Submit articles by Sep 15
are shown. I am pleased to donate this fine poster to the China
Feb 1 Submit articles by Jan 15 Table Tennis Museum.
In this issue …
Bruno
Chinese
Poster
Steve Grant 1929 Swaythling Fabio Marcotulli: Lancon
Polyphon Cup Mystery Barna Letter 8 Barna bats
1-2
3 4-5 Pim-Pam 9 10-11
Research Pirated French Philatelic Philatelic Back Page:
12-13 Images ‘Tennis
Varieties Update Auction
24-35 Part 5 Table’ Olympic Day
37-42 43-46 47 Action Lausanne
15-23 36
Alan Duke Hans-Peter 48-63 66
Jorge Arango Gerald Gurney
Trautmann
2
New Discoveries - Old Treasures
Steve Grant (USA), author of Ping Pong
Fever, sends news of a fine old treasure, a
Polyphon metal disc with the Ping Pong
Song, by Edward Luari (1901). A Polyphon
is a large music box with comb-like
mechanisms that pluck the punched holes
in the disc as it rotates, powered by a
hand-wound clockwork motor.
Below are photos of an actual Polyphon
device (c.1900+), and the original sheet
music (ITTF Museum).
Check out Steve’s youtube video!
Polyphon metal disc, the Ping Pong Song, by Edward
Lauri, 1901. £222 Steve sends this link to a youtube
demonstration playing this disc:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hyprvwChmY
3
New Discoveries - Old Treasures
The 1929 Swaythling Cup Mystery
I have received many inquiries from around the world in my work at the ITTF Museum. People
have asked about results, rankings, tracking the record of a relative from generations ago, or
asking the value of this or that, or a donation of old equipment or trophies … But a recent e-mail
really left me in jaw-dropped amazement.
They wrote about enjoying exploring using a metal detector, and found the most surprising item
buried 5 inches (12.7cm) underground in northern Utah in the USA, near the Great Salt Lake. A
little cleaning revealed the clues: it is a medal from the 1929 World Championships in Budapest,
specifically the Swaythling Cup Men’s team, 3�� place. An extraordinary find!
The original Swaythling
Cup, donated in 1926 by
Lady Baroness Swaythling,
mother of the first ITTF
President, Hon. Ivor
Montagu. Since then
many tiers have been Modern metal detector,
added to record the ever which uses magnetic
growing list of Men’s team field technology. Many
winners at the World amazing treasures have
Championships been found by metal
detector enthusiasts.
The metal detectorist describes his experience:
“I try to get out and metal detect at least one or two nights each week and if possible a few hours over the
weekend. I am not sure what the draw to the Metal Detecting for me is, other than I love the historical
aspects of recovering coins and other artifacts from the ground and trying to piece together the story of
how they ended up in the ground.
One day I had been at it for over two hours and was starting to lose steam, as my hopes for finding
anything of historical value were diminishing quickly. I had almost decided to give up when suddenly my
metal detector hit a signal that lit up my headphones as a solid dollar hit. The detector said the metal in
the ground was approximately 5 inches deep, which told me that it was something that had been lost a
long time ago and worked its way down into the soil. I scanned it again and again, trying to be sure to
locate the precise point where the target lay. Once I pinpointed it's location, I began to dig.
I sank my shovel in the ground on all four side of the center of the target and removed the soil. What I
saw initially was a rounded edge, which appeared to be about two inches in diameter. Excitement
coursed through my body to where I was literally shaking, as these are the types of finds that we as
detectorist and relic recovery specialists live for. I reached down into the hole with my gloved hand and
slowly rolled the dirt from around the round object back away from it.”
4
“ I couldn't initially discern what it was and I was having trouble removing it from where it was
lodged firmly in the dirt. I began to work the dirt away from around the edges of the object
using a plastic hand shovel that I use for just these types of finds. It ensures that no damage to
the metal object occurs while removing the dirt from around it. Suddenly it popped free and I
was holding it in my hand, fist clenched around it firmly and I was almost afraid to open my
hand to look at it closer. It was so heavy, and it was as if I was afraid that opening my hand I
would have to face the truth of what it was.
I slid the coin into my pouch, returned to fill my hole and then immediately got in my vehicle
and drove home. When I reached my home, I took a tooth brush and started removing more
and more of the dirt, to which the rest of the words became apparent and the key identifier a
date of 1929 appeared. I immediately set off on a research journey that would quickly take on a
life of it's own.”
The table tennis scene(left) is very familiar - I’ve seen several medals
with this scene; the reverse shows a lady in flowing gown holding a
shield with the Roman number III. The text to the right of the lady
reads: Budapest A.T., Vilablajnokzag (= World Championships),
Swaythling Cup, 1929. A.T. Is Asztalitenisz, Hungarian for Table Tennis.
According to the record books, England won 3�� place in the 1929 Swaythling Cup competition,
behind the winners, Hungary, and runner-up Austria. The English team consisted of: Fred Perry
(1909-1995) (who also won the Men’s Singles title in 1929), Adrian Haydon (1911-1973), Charles Bull
(1909-1939), Frank Burls (1902-1976), Frank Wilde (1911-1982). Fred Perry emigrated to the US and
became a naturalized citizen in 1938. But we know this was not his medal, as a private collector
won it in an English auction in 1997. Another possibility is that Ivor Montagu might also have
received a bronze medal as non-playing team captain.
So now we have a mystery to solve: which team member had this particular medal, and how did it
end up buried in the grounds of northern Utah, many thousands of miles away? I invite our readers
to help solve this mystery. Any information will be helpful.
As a result of this amazing story I am now interested to do some metal detector exploring, not of
course with any hopes of miraculously finding old Table Tennis medals, but perhaps some other
historic artifacts - as all collectors know well, it’s the thrill of the hunt!
Chuck
5
Elizabeth Taylor Ping Pong
Diamond Rings - Chapter 2
In edition 63 of the Table Tennis
Collector I related the story of famous
actress Elizabeth Taylor and her bet
with famous actor husband Richard
Burton. Richard offered her diamond
rings if she could beat him in Ping
Pong. She did manage to win a few
games, but Richard got the last laugh:
he gave her small diamond rings,
when the notorious actress was
accustomed to the best and biggest
jewels in the world.
After her death in 2011, Elizabeth’s fabulous
jewelry collection was auctioned at Christie’s
New York. The 3 Ping Pong rings, estimated
at 5 to 7000 USD, sold for an impressive USD
128,000. The total auction of her jewelry
collection was a record USD 156,700,000.
Years later we have Chapter 2 of the Ping
Pong diamond rings: I recently found a set
of exact reproductions, using cubic zirconia
instead of diamonds, with round, square and
oval stones. I am pleased to donate this set
to the ITTF Museum in Shanghai, where they
had already included the story in their audio
guide.
Richard & Elizabeth, one of her 8
marriages, twice to Richard Burton
Chuck
6
New Discoveries - Old Treasures
1902 Foley Ping Pong Porcelains
English Foley porcelains with early Table
Tennis motif are very rare. The ITTF Museum
has only 2 pieces, shown above. I’ve always
felt there must be more, but until recently,
have never seen any after many years of
searching. Now a third piece is known after an
online auction, a plate with the same scene
positioned on the upper edge. The Foley mark
and Registration number are shown below.
This new discovery, old treasure, strengthens
the likelihood of more such pieces, perhaps a
full tea set, with a creamer, sugar, tea cup …
Can our readers help add to our knowledge?
Please contact the Editor if you can help!
7
New Discoveries - Old Treasures
Letter from a Legend
Master collector Fabio Marcotulli of Caracas always finds interesting old
treasures. Above is a letter from legendary Victor Barna on Dunlop London
letterhead, announcing a planned visit to Caracas. Barna also mentions the
declining health of Richard Bergmann: “… not much time left for him”. The
letter is dated 6 March 1970, and the 4-time World Men’s Singles champion
died a month later on 5 April.
8
New Discoveries - Old Treasures
Fabio also found this early French Pim-Pam set, with a pair of
vellum drum rackets, and a large engraving print, ‘Le Jeu a la
Mode Le Pim-Pam’
9
New Discoveries - Old Treasures
French Barna Bats from Bruno Lancon (FRA)
Fine example of a Barna picture decal
bat by Ludarva. Seldom seen with the
full ‘L’ logo at the throat.
Classic Barna bat well-preserved in original box, by Ludarva (FRA)
10French Barna boxed set
Barna photo with rules in French
In the boxed set, two superb bats in mint
condition, with white Barna signature inlay.
Handle of the French Barna bats
with white signature inlay.
Handle of French Barna bat with ‘LUDARVA’ hammered logo
11INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: UPDATES (Part 8)
by Alan Duke
This update features further information on two Trade Marks that have cropped up in recent research.
TRADE MARKS
This name has been encountered previously in a 1900 Application [TTC 81/3], and it was thus a bit of a
surprise to find the same name, in the same Class of Goods, appearing again a couple of years later [above].
I did make the comment in the previous article that I had no evidence that Pom-Pom was “actually
registered” at that time, and now we can be fairly confident that the earlier Application wasn’t followed up
after the initial approach. This left the way clear for the above Application (which was registered, as
confirmed in the UK Trade Marks Journal of 1st October 1902), for a Table Game.
So was this Application, received from the United States, connected in any way with the previously-
mentioned American firm of Wright & Ditson, who marketed a game under that name? Was the Applicant,
Marie Wright, related? And whether she was or not, why from her? After discovering much about Marie
and her eventful life, I’m afraid that I still don’t have answers to those questions! But I can confirm that the
Wright of the company name (George) was descended from immigrants from Sheffield, England, whilst the
ancestors of Marie’s husband were all from Georgia (and I have found no later links between the two).
Although it has absolutely no connection with table tennis, it is worth relating
briefly some of Marie’s story and adventures. She was born on 4th May 1853 in
Newnan, Georgia, to parents John Evans Robinson and his second wife Sarah
Ann Ramey, a wealthy plantation family, and she received her education at
College Temple, Newnan. She was described as a precocious girl, mature in body
and mind at 16, but it all started to go wrong in 1870 when on 31st March she
ran off to Coweta with her boy-friend, promising lawyer Hinton P Wright (b. 14
October 1849), to get married. This led to her disinheritance from her family,
who didn’t approve of the relationship. This may not have been just because of
her tender age, but could have had a lot to do with the events in May the
previous year when, in an argument between Wright and Marie’s elder brother
Edwin, shots were exchanged and Edwin fell dying. Wright was arrested, but made his escape. Despite his
qualifying as a lawyer in 1871 (and being described as a man of splendid intellect and physical strength, one
of Georgia’s finest lawyers, and the youngest judge on the Georgia Supreme
Court), he had started drinking, which eventually led to his decline and fall
from grace. In the late 80s, after a number of arrests and with his friends
falling away, he eventually repented and took up evangelical work. He died
suddenly at a religious camp in August 1892.
Meanwhile, although Marie and Hinton had had two children (Ida Dent in
1871, and Albert Spaulding* in 1873), she wasn’t happy in the marriage, and
they eventually divorced in the mid-1880s. (Many accounts claim, possibly
because of the stigma of divorce, that Marie was widowed at this stage, but
Hinton was still alive, and went on to marry again in 1888.) Marie then had
to support her family, and looking round for something appropriate i.e. non-
menial, she decided to turn her hand to writing, firstly in 1886 for the Sunny
South weekly (Atlanta). She worked on the paper for several years, then
12INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
moved to New York, working hard and regularly contributing articles on new parts of the country to the
New York World. She was appointed Special Correspondent, and in that role submitted highly acclaimed
articles from further afield e.g. Mexico. She became an expert on South American countries, travelling
extensively (often with her daughter) in Bolivia and Mexico. They employed any means possible in the wild
terrain (mule, horse, stagecoach, etc), gathering information on the countries and the people for
newspaper articles and a popular series of books. On one occasion, whilst spending a year in Mexico, she
was provided by President Diaz with an itinerary and letters to governors of all states recommending for
her “all courtesy and attention”. She died of tuberculosis on 1st February 1914 and was one of the first in
New York to be cremated. Marie was described as having the beauty, grace and charm of a Georgia woman
with the push and energy of a New Yorker.
*He is not to be confused with the Albert Goodwill Spalding of baseball and sporting goods fame
[TTC69/12]. But, at the funeral of Marie’s son (who died in El Paso in 1894), one of those officiating was a
Rev Dr Albert Spaulding of Atlanta!
Turning now to the United States, on the right is a
recently-discovered ‘advertisement’ for Hamley
Brothers’ Trade Mark Application for ‘Ping-Pong’,
No. 36854 (from the weekly USPO Official Gazette
of 6 August 1901). The Application was filed on 9
July 1901, with use of the word Ping-Pong claimed
since August 1900 [TTC 69/21]. Thanks to Chuck,
we can also present [below] the Statement and
Declaration accompanying the Application, referred
to in Jorge Arango’s articles [TTC 59 and 60].
13EARLY PIRATED IMAGES
By Jorge Arango
Continuation
This is the fifth article of my series about early pirated images.
18. POSTCARD OF A TUCK’S SERIES
Top: Two versions of a Tuck’s six-postcard series with Ping-Pong theme. The other four cards are
pirated images, which in addition to the wording have minor modifications (the dress of the woman at
the left side, the legs of the table, colored articles, etc.) The image at lower right corner seems to be
the first pirated one, as in the other three the lower case letters were corrected. The pirated images
were detected by Chuck Hoey and Rex Haggett.
1419. THE GAME OF PING-PONG.
Image from the Sphere magazine, hand colored.
Left and right: Two sheet music (ITTF museum.) Below: A boxed set (ITTF museum).
15The Evening Bulletin (Honolulu), May 04, 1902. Indianapolis Journal, April 20, 1902.
Topeka State Journal, April 26, 1902. The Courier, April 19, 1902.
Six more images: Top: Another sheet music and an image (ITTF museum.) The other images are from
USA newspapers, in which players use strung rackets. Although in the image at the top right it is not
distinguished the kind of rackets, I think it is the original image, and perhaps there is another one with
the word “craze”. A surprising conclusion: the Sphere image is a pirated one! (Not shown, another
image, Siracuse Post Stranded, April 27, 1902.)
1620. PING-PONG CIGARS
I have presented maker Williams in other pirated image (TTC 82),
and probably it is the same with this ad. However, was the Ping-
Pong cigars the original image or is another pirated one?
21. FRENCH PHOTOGRAPH
Left: French photograph, Femina magazine. Right: A sheet music. The pirated image was detected
by Chuck Hoey, TTC 81.
1722. WHITE’S ARTICLE IMAGES
This article (The National Magazine) was presented in TTC 72.
Five of the images of the White’s article:
Figure 1 Figure 2
Figure 3 Figure 4
The White article was one of the first with ping
pong images, and these images were pirated,
and the text translated (with some
modifications) in several languages (German,
French, and Spanish, in this issue.) Some of
the images were presented in TTH 84 and 85.
Here are the remaining ones. Figures 1 – 5.
Hamley pirated several images of the White’s
article (some of them presented in next
page.). However, in two rules booklets and in
an ad, Jaques/Hamley gave credits to the
sources, some of the few times this action was
made.
Figure 5
18Hamley’s ad. Pirated Figure 3. (Alan Duke presented a copy of the Ping Pong image, in TTC 83.
Left: Hamley’s Pirated Figure 4. Right: Pirated Figure 1, from a German magazine.
19Left and right: Hamley’s pirated images, Figures 2 and 4.
French magazines. Left: Almanach Hachette. Right: Le Journal de la Jeneusse.
20Left: A part of a Spanish 1903 article,
translated from the French (previous page).
I think it is the first time the words “Tenis de
mesa” (Table Tennis) were used. The
translation of the text is the following:
FIG 4. A PING-PONG MATCH. THE
GENTLEMAN IS SERVER AND SENDS
THE BALL. BOTH PLAYERS PLAY WITH
BACKHAND STROKES. ―In order to win
it is necessary to place the balls in such a
way the adversary cannot get them. This is
the principle that you must always have
present.
Generally, it is useless to hit with force. The
whole is to place the ball according the
position of the contrary.
The player who serves the ball is the server
and the contrary, the receiver.
The ball may be returned only after it has
bounced.
FIG. 5. THE CONTENDERS ARE
HARASSED RECIPROCALLY WITH A
TOUGH AND SISTEMATIC GAME. SHE,
WHO HAS HAD TO GO BACK, SEEMS TO
LOSE THE POINT.
If the contrary is placed near the table, it is
necessary to send the ball as far as possible.
If he is far from the table, you must play, to the contrary, gently, in order the ball falls near the net.
If the player is at the right, send the ball to the left, and vice versa.
FIG. 6. A HIGH BALL BOUNCE, IN AN EASY POSITION, PUT THE MISTRESS AT THE MERCY OF
A FEW GALLANT PLAYER WHICH WILL MAKE “THE SMASH” IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IT. OUT OF
THIS CASE, IT IS NOT ADVANTAGEOUS TO MAKE A FORCEFUL HIT.
The smash, an English word, which signifies flattening, defines the stroke needed to execute: vertical,
fast, and forcibly applied, making impossible its devolution.
It is not necessary to try to slice the balls, that is to say, to send the balls in an unforeseen direction.
FIG. 7. HERE, BOTH CONTENDERS OBSERVE AND PROOF THEMSELVES, AND NOT KNOWING
YET THEIR RESPECTIVE DEXTERITY, CAUTIOUSLY PLAY WITH GENTLY STROKES. ―The rules
of the game are easy to learn but one cannot be a good player without a large practice and playing with
better players than he is. It is necessary to observe, specially, with attention, the game of the adversary.
The placement of the balls is so important that to get it are necessary much ability, vivacity and dexterity.
FIG. 8. WITH A GOOD FORHAND STROKE, THE WOMAN PLAYER SENDS THE BALL TOWARD
THE OPPOSITE EXTREME OF THE TABLE. THE ADVERSARY WILL HAVE MUCH LUCKY IF HE
RETURNS IT. Already, five points have been played; the contenders change the turn. Who is the
server will be the receiver. At 10 points, the players change sides of the table, in order to equal the
chances. It must be present, to finish, that all the secret of the game can be summarized in three words:
good sense, speed and precision.
2123. POPULARITY OF PING PONG
Left: Geneva Daily Times. August 22, 1902. Right: The Denison Review, August 26, 1902
The corresponding text, with a surprising prophesy about Ping Pong diplomacy, is the following:
2224. FIRST PING-PONG TOURNAMENT
Above: Photograph from The Tatler magazine (Alan Duke, TTC 80.) Below: The New York Tribune,
January 05, 1902. A pirated copy, although the image was copyrighted!
To be continued
23“Read All About It” – PART 3 (May-November 1901)
by Alan Duke
Another varied selection from all over the world as we move into the second ‘season’ of the craze period.
The Scotsman 7 May 1901 battledores, and now the men cannot make them fast
enough.”
Mr. Jaques said that the ordinary gut lawn tennis
racquets were being introduced. “We have tried them,
and they destroy the whole science of the game.”
TOURNAMENTS.
The craze for “ping-pong” has become so phenomenal
that tournaments are now regularly played every night in
9 May 1901
the suburbs. One district plays another district, and one
One section of this article has been cited before [ TTC 64/4 street another street. Much of the fascination of the game
and TTC 66/11] in connection with the history of the game, is to be found in the skill required to play it.
but here is the article in full:
Gloucester Citizen 9 May 1901
PING PONG.
––––––––––––––––––
FACTS ABOUT SOCIETY’S NEW CRAZE.
––––––––––––––––––
From One Behind the Scenes.
Everybody in Society who boasts of being “smart”
plays “ping-pong.” People who play the game will be
surprised to learn that it is not a new one. So says Mr.
Jaques, of Hatton-garden, the sole manufacturer of ping-
pong. To an “Echo” representative Mr. Jaques gave some
interesting details.
NOT A NEW GAME. The Evening Post (Dundee) 13 May 1901
“It is by no means a new game,” said Mr. Jaques. “Ten DO YOU PLAY PING-PONG?
years ago it was on the market, but it was then called ––––––––––
THE CRAZE IN DUNDEE.
‘Gossima.’ It never took on and until quite recently fewer ––––––––––
than 3,000 were sold. It was a drag, and as time went on [Evening Post Special.]
––––––––––
the game was quite forgotten. A new game has arisen in our midst. Society has taken
“Whilst the game was dying a select few living in it up, and “Ping-Pong” has become a fashionable craze.
Croydon who had become fascinated with the science of
Only a week or two ago [24 April] Punch, ever alive to
the game were playing it regularly. Then some-body
the fads and fancies of the day, had a full-page cartoon
coined a slang expression––‘Ping-Pong.’ From that showing Europe and China “ping-ponging” over a net
moment the game suddenly jumped into fame. ‘Ping-
marked “Diplomacy.” [TTC 1/7] On another page was a
pong’ was just the right description for the click of the
description of the game as played in swell houses, and a
balls on the table and battledores. Since last autumn
poet––for every game has its special poet––sang of it––
many thousands have been sold, and we find we have
orders for thousands more, which we cannot execute. For those of us whose blood is blue
The time it quickly passes;
A KIND OF TENNIS.
It also gives enjoyment to
“Briefly, ‘ping-pong’ is lawn tennis played on an The humbler middle classes.
ordinary dining-room table about 6ft. or 7ft. long. First it
We bolt our meals, it must be feared,
was played with small indiarubber balls, but they did not
So eager is our longing
bounce sufficiently. Then we introduced seamless
To get the table quickly cleared
celluloid.”
And start once more ping-ponging.
WHO INVENTED IT?
Then Mr. Jaques talked about the inventors of the Wondering if the game had “caught on” in Dundee, an
game. “A lot of people are claiming to have invented the “Evening Post” representative called on Messrs D. M.
game, but it was a Mr. James Devonshire, an electrician, Meldrum & Co.
who invented it. Mr. Gibb also claims to have had a hand “Caught on,” said one of the genial partners of the firm;
in it, but he was the first to think about changing the “I should rather think it has. We are quite unable to
indiarubber balls to celluloid. supply the demand for it, and our order book is full of
“The extraordinary part about the game is that it has orders for the game.”
revived what was practically extinct––the battledore. It I asked to have the game described to me, and a
took us a long time to find somebody who could make complete set was at once produced. A net about six
inches high and a yard in length is set up in the middle of
24EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
a dining-room table. The players are provided with a Lincolnshire Echo 25 May 1901
racquet, like the battledore of our juvenile days. The
balls are made of celluloid, and have an astonishing Ping-pong has found its way into the hearts of the
amount of spring. One player hits the ball over the net, ministering angels at “Bart’s.” The new nurses’ sitting-
the other tries to hit it back. That, practically, is the room will be arranged with a view to giving more room
game. It has rules, of course, but I have merely stated the for the game of ping-pong, which the matron has recently
elements of the game. From the brief trial I had of it I presented to the nurses.
could easily see that no little skill is required.
Knaresborough Post 25 May 1901
THE FASCINATION.
“And what is the price of the set?” I asked.
“We have them from 3s 6d to three guineas. Just to-day
I supplied a leading Dundee merchant with one at the
latter price.”
“And has the game suddenly arisen in our midst?”
“It is not a new game by any means. Two years ago we
sold it under the name of ‘Gossima,’ but then there was
practically no demand for it. Now it has been
rechristened ‘ping-pong,’ and London and the provinces
have gone mad over it. “Why, look here!” and Mr
Meldrum showed me a letter from a London
manufacturer stating that he was sorry it would be some Western News, Stevensville, Mont. 29 May 1901
days before he could supply them with more sets so great
was the demand. PING PONG.
––––––––––
“And wherein lies the fascination?” I asked. This Game Is the Latest Form of Amusement.
Mr Meldrum shrugged his shoulders. “There is no
This article reprinted much of that which appeared in the
accounting for the rise and fall of certain games. Of
course, tennis is very popular, but it is dependent to a Daily Mail of 15 March [TTC 85/32] (substituting ‘25
great extent upon the weather. On a wet day, or during cents to $5’ for the price of sets, and ‘$1.50’ for the
the winter evenings, ‘ping-pong’ makes a good substitute. cheapest “regulation” game), and adding an illustration:
In London, I understand, whole evenings are devoted to
it, and it has been suggested that the Universities should
organise matches as they do in cricket and other sports.”
“Is the demand in Dundee confined to ‘society’?”
“Oh, no! Our 3s 6d set is in demand by all classes. Of
course, at three guineas everything pertaining to the game
is of the best. The racquets are perfect miniature tennis
bats, and the balls are made of special material.”
Thanking Mr Meldum, our representative withdrew,
wondering over the sudden crazes that come over society
for any popular new game. Certainly anything that can
break the monotony of the ordinary party ought to be
welcomed, and from what I heard I can easily imagine
that the “ping-pong” fever is to be a regular epidemic in
Dundee for some time.
As the poet quoted before has it––
The Morning Post 15 June 1901
For who would bike, or ride, or row
ABLE TENNIS.–PARKINS and GOTTO have now a
Since anyone is able T good stock of the above popular game; prices 4s. 6d., 5s., 7s. 6d.,
To keep on rushing to and fro 10s. 6d.; very superior sets, with gut racquets, 15s. and 22s. 6d.; also
About the dining table? special tables for outdoor play.––Parkins and Gotto, 54 to 62, Oxford-
The sweat from off your forehead falls, street, W.
When mighty is the tussle,
And merely picking up the balls Hampshire Chronicle 15 June 1901
Develops every muscle.
“THE BAZAAR”
Dundee Evening Telegraph 21 May 1901 STATIONERY STORES
Still Selling that Immensely Popular Indoor
Parlour Game
PING PONG
At all Prices
PAYNE & WATSON,
134 AND 135, HIGH STREET,
WINCHESTER.
25EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
The Sportsman 19 June 1901 Irish News & Belfast Morning News 22 June 1901
PING-PONG PLAYER’S DEATH.–The sudden death of Mr. MY DEAR ANGELA,–Have you played the new game
Alfred Lucas, as the result of a sunstroke, has occurred in yet, “ping-pong,” or table tennis? It is really splendid
West Africa, whither he went on a commercial mission fun. In point of fact I don’t think it can be called “new,”
for a City company. He was one of the best ping-pong as it has been in vogue some months, but I was only
players in London, and was one of the founders of the introduced to it the other night at a friend’s house. Since
popular game. then I have become quite enamoured of it. You asked me
if there were any new ideas in the way of table
Sheffield Weekly Telegraph 22 June 1901 decoration. Our dinner table at present boasts a graceful
garniture of “ping-pong” to the total exclusion of other
Table-Tennis for the Garden. decoration; everything is flung on and off in the shortest
Ping-Pong is not going to desert us, nor are we going to possible space of time, and the house resounds with a
desert it, although the winter is over and gone. People are hideous noise. It is played just like ordinary tennis, only
recognising the fact that it is well-suited for an open-air of course the racquets and balls are of a diminutive size;
game––it has much of the charm, while not entailing so and, being an indoor game, I can certainly recommend it
much exertion as lawn tennis––and that it can be played to pass a wet day at the seaside, which, since June
in gardens much too small for the older game. On hot arrived, hasn’t been at all an uncommon experience.
days, too, the table or tables may be placed in cool and
shady positions. It is thus admirably suited for suburban Goldsboro Weekly Argus (US) 27 June 1901
villa gardens, which are so often tantalisingly small for
any outdoor games. Two kinds of table are to be had for Pingpong, or table tennis, at one time threatened to
ping-pong out of doors, one being a black folding board exorcise the bridge demon, but its popularity with the
which can be placed on any ordinary table; another kind of people who gamble was short lived, and it has
having legs which screw off and on, and may be easily now taken its place as a passion of the middle class.
packed away. The outdoor equipment includes also back The Irish Times 3 July 1901
nets to set up a little distance behind the players to
prevent the balls going too far, and ball baskets to fix on P ING-PONG !
the corners of the table. Thus adapted to the garden, the P ING-PONG !
game is likely to become as popular out of doors in JAQUES GOSSIMA.
summer as it has been in the house during the winter. AYRES’ TABLE TENNIS.
Large Stock Best Quality Vellum Racquets,
Around this time there were many reports of the latest Balls, &c., &c.
craze being included as an added attraction at summer
fetes, etc, as illustrated by the following two examples: L AWRENCE,
19, GRAFTON STREET,
Isle of Wight County Press 22 June 1901 AND
5, 6, AND 7 UPPER SACKVILLE STREET, DUBLIN
A Garden Fete at Yaverland Rectory included “American
ping-pong tournaments––a kind of table tennis––which Dundee Evening Post 1 July 1901
were very popular”.
PING-PONG.
Manchester Courier 22 June 1901 –––––––––––
Have you played Ping-Pong yet? If not you have still
“TABLE TENNIS (Ping Pong)” was one of the many to make acquaintance with one of the most fascinating
attractions promised at the Manchester School of games ever invented. It is, perhaps, a little late in the day
Music’s Garden Party, to be held at the Royal Botanic to set forth its charms, considering that for at least six
Gardens on 29 June, “Admission One Shilling”. months table tennis has been a fashionable amusement;
but it may be that among our readers there are some to
St. Andrews Citizen 22 June 1901
whom the delights of battledore and ball are still
unknown.
I, in common with every Ping-Pong player, became an
enthusiast after the first sett (writes a correspondent).
Not by any means that proficiency is so soon acquired.
On the contrary, one feels the veriest duffer to begin with,
either missing the ball altogether or hitting it wildly
against the opposite wall, into the fireplace, anywhere,
everywhere but on the table. It seems the simplest thing
in the world to return the stroke of your most expert
opponent, and the rapid loss of points, games, and setts
only rouses you to more determined effort.
How hot you get in your chase after that ridiculously
light little ball! Why, you couldn’t feel more done up if
you had been playing real tennis out of doors. At last you
win a sett, and your delight is unbounded. After this the
26EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
enthusiastic Ping-Pongist advances rapidly in the game. of a distinguished Chinaman. In short, Ping Pong is
Swift shots are exchanged for “lobs,” and the art of nothing more nor less than the name of the newest thing
“placing” is cultivated to its highest point. People tell me in the way of indoor amusements and recreations. [The
that I will soon get tired of Ping-Pong, but as yet it has article suggests the necessity of recreation and
not begun to pall, and when it does some genius will amusement to the happiness of the race and the
doubtless have invented another game to take its place in character of a nation. “The man who invents a scheme
our hearts. of indoor amusement such as will appeal to all the
New Zealand Observer 6 July 1901 members of the family will be entitled to be named as a
great reformer.” It continues by using many extracts
We have got a new game to almost take the place of from Stanley White’s Royal Magazine article (TTC 72).]
tennis for the winter months. It is called ‘Ping-pong,’
because of the sound made when hitting the balls, I The Graphic 27 July 1901
presume, but ‘Table Tennis’ is its classical appellation. I
suppose it is a silly game, but I think it very pleasant -
real good fun, and very warming on a cold night. If you
are asked to a ‘ping-pong’ evening, don’t say, like a
hapless friend of mine did, in miserable ignorance of
what was to come, that he would go with pleasure, but
that he did not know how to play. ‘Never mind,’ was the
smiling answer, ‘don’t let that trouble you. You can pick
up the balls.’ Thinking, perhaps, that picking up the balls
meant something like ringing the bell at a euchre* party,
and not having said anything about a previous
engagement––that very convenient excuse––he went, and
spent the evening grovelling on his hands and knees in all
sorts of odd corners, searching for the ‘ping-pong’ ball,
which is made of celluloid, I think, is very small, and is
one of the most elusive sort imaginable. One good thing,
it is so light and feathery that, sent anywhere, on to the
most fragile ornament, it cannot harm it. The
advertisements relative to ‘ping-pong’ in English papers
say that tennis champions are delighted with the game
and consider it a first-class imitation of the real thing. Of
course, I don’t know how true that may be, but I hear that
Mr Hooper, one of our champions, is already quite an
enthusiast, so there’s a good enough recommendation to
start ‘ping-pong.’
[*A card game, the bell signifying the end of a game.] Wairapara Daily Times (NZ) 30 July 1901
Faringdon Advertiser 13 July 1901 Has Masterton yet fallen to the charms of “ping pong?”
It is a most fascinating game and numbers of people are
playing it in Wellington. Indeed, so absorbing is the
pastime, that evenings are occupied in nothing else, and
people are invited simply to play ping pong. The
Daily Express 16 July 1901 apparatus consists of a miniature net, two vellum-covered
racquets like battledores, and some balls like round egg-
From the theatre reviews: “The Silver Slipper” at the shells. It is simply table tennis with no courts and no
Lyric is going as well as ever. For all that, the pretty volleys. Two experienced players are worth watching,
comedy has been fortified by new introductions. These but at first, to a novice, the game consists mainly of
include a delightful “Ping-Pong” duet by Messrs. Ivan grovelling for balls about the floor, under sideboards and
Caryl and Percy Greenbank, sung by Miss Coralie Blythe chairs. At a recent large At Home, … one of the rooms
and Mr. Louis Bradfield. was given up for the ping pong. A very pleasant
innovation, and a change from the general music and
The Tatler 17 July 1901 fortune-telling.
[On cricketer Dr W G Grace, 53 the next day] His athletic The Sketch 31 July 1901
interests are widening with his years, and he now coquets
with bowls and trifles with ping-pong. In a slight dig at ‘Sport and the New Diplomacy’, a
number of hypothetical examples were suggested, one
Wanganui Chronicle (NZ) 30 July 1901 being “A Duke convicted of breaking a rule in a Ping-
INDOOR RECREATIONS. Pong tournament would demand a full-blown trial in the
PING PONG is not the war cry of a new political party, the Upper House requiring months of preparation”.
designation of a new patent medicine, or the patronymic [Nothing to do with me - not guilty! AD]
27EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Manchester Courier 1 August 1901 The Sportsman 12 August 1901
SEASIDE GAMES. “ ‘All the Way for Tuppence’––a skit on the Tube and the
––––––––
possibilities of communication with the moon” was
There are times when the introducer of a jovial game is
hailed as a hero and deliverer from ennui by the unhappy performed at the theatre in the High Street, Canterbury.
folk kept indoors in seaside boarding-house or lodging by In the sketch, a visiting cricketer from the moon stated
stress of weather. Then it is that the possession of such a that they “play nothing but bridge and ping-pong
capital equipment for table tennis, as the recently nowadays. … Ping-pong, from being a purely suburban
patented* “euchary,” becomes a veritable blessing. game (the players originally bounded as high as the
Those who know anything about yachting or sailing are balls), is now omnipotent.” A table was “fixed up on the
aware that there is a slip-knot adjustment for regulating stage and play indulged in.”
sails or flags, that is known as the “euchary,” and this is Totnes Weekly Times 17 August 1901
the name applied to the newest form of table tennis.
For wet days at the Seaside. “Euchary,” the
New Table Tennis. Aberdeen Daily Journal 16 August 1901
The reason is that the net and posts may be stretched
across any dining or ordinary table, and be made as taut
as possible by means of this simple cord adjustment
passed over and under the table. A child can fix it into
position, and this in only a moment or two. In the
ordinary table tennis games the posts have to be fixed to
the table with metal clamps, which often cause injury to
the veneer or polish. This is where “euchary” comes in.
The game can be packed up into the smallest possible
compass, and can be fixed up to the intense delight of the
little ones without fear of an angry mamma or landlady
afterwards discovering scratches on the parlour or dining-
room table.
RECORDIÆ. Western Morning News 27 August 1901
[* Possible contenders are 12261 and 12304 (June) and
At a very popular concert on Plymouth Pier, performed
15166 (July), but all were Abandoned, leaving no details
by Mr Walter George’s Light Opera Singers, “Mr. Walter
available. I have found no mention of “Euchary”.]
George sings a very humorous song, “Ping Pong,” and
Pall Mall Gazette 1 August 1901 throws small ping pong balls to persons sitting in
different parts of the pavilion.”
Southward Ho! Out into the Unknown––perhaps into
the Unknowable––the Discovery sailed yesterday … For Montrose Review 30 August 1901
two or three years we may know little or nothing of the
fortunes of Commander Scott, and the picked band of
sailors and scientists who are with him. … Happily, there
is every reason to believe that the Discovery is equipped
with every resource that modern science can supply, and
even deck golf and ping-pong will not be lacking to
relieve the monotony of the long night of the Antarctic
winter. [TTC 55/6]
East Anglian Daily Times 5 August 1901
North Devon Journal 5 September 1901
TABLE TENNIS The Implements for this most
popular game manufactured by GEO. G. BUSSEY and
CO., of London, are vastly superior to the foreign toyish
productions usually sold under this name. They make an
extensive range: ask the local Sports Dealer for G.G.B.
28EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
and Co.’s special Table Tennis List. If not procurable, Aberdeen Press 9 September 1901
apply to 36 and 38, Queen Victoria-street, London.
Factory: Peckham, S.E.
This advertisement was published widely in various
local newspapers over the next few days.
Faringdon Advertiser 31 August 1901
The Sphere 21 September 1901
A slightly earlier date for publication of the Spiers &
Ponds’ advertisement for “ABSO” Table Tennis [TTC 2/5
and TTH 82/42]. And doesn’t the net assembly look very
Lincolnshire Chronicle 6 September 1901
similar to the “Euchary” version shown above (both with
a patent applied for!)?
London Evening Standard 27 September 1901
Buckingham Advertiser 28 September 1901
Grantham Journal 7 September 1901
Mr. E. T. Reed’s humorous sketch in Wednesday’s
Punch, “Ping-Pong in the Stone Age,” calls attention to
the fact that once more the houses in the suburbs are
echoing with the ping of the racquet and the pong of the
ball. The humour of Mr. Reed’s sketch, as with others on
the same subject, is mainly confined to the extraordinary
postures of the players who are hunting for missing balls.
To avoid the discomfort which arises from this source, it
is now the custom to place netting around the chairs in
order to prevent the balls from going underneath. The
netting can be purchased for a mere song, and certainly Whitby Gazette 27 September 1901
the adoption of this method increases the pleasure of SOCIETY AND PING-PONG.–An impression has got about
those who have taken up what is really a very fascinating that the game of ping-pong has gone into a decline. A
home game. London representative has been at pains to make
Illust. Sporting & Dramatic News 14 Sept. 1901 enquiries, with a view to verifying or justifying this
belief. Approaching the head of a firm largely interested
LAST Saturday The Silver Slipper reached its 100th in the sale of ping-pong requisites, he asked if it were a
performance at the Lyric Theatre. Several new songs and fact that smart Society was dropping the game. By way
much additional diverting business have made this of reply, the tradesman pointed to shelves, scores of yards
musical comedy a still easier “fit” with the popular taste. long, all stocked with balls and bats and nets. “It is not a
The new “Ping-Pong” song, sung by Louis Bradfield and question of society dropping ping-pong,” he said. “The
Miss Coralie Blythe, finds special favour with the game has too firm a hold to be shaken off. Improvements
audience. have been made in every direction, and ping-pong is now
29EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
highly scientific. There is always something to learn, Dundee Evening Telegraph 9 October 1901
some new shot to master. Like lawn tennis, the longer
you play the greater the fascination.” The Ladies’ Column featured extracts from the “Windsor
Magazine”, adding its support to the recommendation
St. James’s Gazette 30 September 1901 that net supports should extend beyond the sides of the
The first and last paragraphs of Walter Harrison’s article table: …. for with tables rigged up in amateur fashion,
from the October issue of “Windsor Magazine” were re- where the net is supported by a book or any other
printed, under the title THE FUTURE TABLE TENNIS. contrivance a serious obstacle to play is interposed.
Gloucester Citizen 1 October 1901 Dundee Evening Telegraph 12 October 1901
ABLE Tennis, the Popular Society Game, for the table,
T 5s., 7s. 6d. Set.––Matthews and Company, Limited, South-
THE GAME OF THE SEASON.
Gate, Gloucester. PING-PONG
OR
Swindon Advertiser 4 October 1901 TABLE TENNIS.
Another plug for the “Windsor Magazine”: Other The Finest Game for a Winter’s Evening. Can be
literature is of an interesting nature, an illustrated article played by Old or Young with equal enjoyment and
on “Ping-Pong,” the table tennis game that sent London benefit from the exhilarating exercise.
into a fever of excitement during the early part of the Any Size of Table is suitable.
year, appearing. Sixpence will be well expended on an I have a Large Stock, and can Forward per return
October “Windsor.” [TTC 23/3-6] any of the following, Carriage Paid, in Strong Box, each
containing Set of Rules:––
Shipley Times 5 October 1901 THE TOY SETS, COMPRISING––
No. 1. 2 BATS, 2 BALLS, NET, and POSTS, at 1s.
No. 2. The Same, but Stronger, at 2s.
THE TRIAL SETS, COMPRISING––
No. 1. 2 VELLUM BATS, 3 BALLS, NET,
and POSTS, at 3s 6d.
No. 2. Better Quality, at 4s 6d.
No. 3. Better Quality, at 5s 6d.
THE PLAYER’S SETS.
No. 1. 2 VELLUM BATS, 4 BALLS,
POSTS, and NETS, at 7s 6d.
No. 2. The Same, Better Quality, at 10s 6d.
No. 3. With Best VELLUM BATS, at 13s 6d.
PRESENTATION SETS.
The Very Best Selected VELLUM or GUT
Dundee Evening Telegraph 7 October 1901 STRING BATS and Best FITTINGS,
6 Balls and 12 Balls, at 18s 6d, 21s, 25s.
LIFE PHOTOGRAM. VELLUM BATS, at 1s 6d, 2s, and 2s. 6d each.
* * * BALLS, at 1s per Dozen.
––––
We play Ping-Pong in a big, sunny chamber, looking W. DAVIDSON,
out to a wide autumn landscape, lit by the late afternoon 6 REFORM STREET, DUNDEE.
sun. Grave portraits look at us from the wall, while the
game waxes merry, and the balls pop hither and thither, The Globe 23 October 1901
and the non-combatants dart under chairs, or reach arms
into inaccessible corners. Ping-pong, ping-pong, now a A story is told by the “Chronicle” of an old lady who
good rally, next a hurried score, the play punctuated by heard noises by night in her top floor flat. Being prosaic,
laughter and lightsome sallies. The reverend, painted she did not attribute the sounds to a ghostly origin, but to
faces on the walls, growing dimmer as the light fails and the chimney cowl. Five times a workman was called in
the dusk draws on, seem to follow the madcap to repair it without success, and after the fifth he said that
movements of the new century game. Past and present he could do no more, and that the cowl was as perfect as
are contrasted. That amiable gentleman hung beside the cowls could be. So the old lady invited him to spend the
window indulged in quieter pastimes when he was young. evening in the flat [a different world!!] and hear the noise
Very likely he foregathered with his folks around the for himself. He solved the mystery at once. The family
ample hearth, while his sire, maybe, recounted dim downstairs was playing ping-pong.
recollections of the days of Waterloo. It may be fancy,
but his not unfriendly eyes appear to follow the vivacious
Cambridge Daily News 31 October 1901
young player, fresh from her Edinburgh boarding-school, MUSIC.–The well-known music publisher, W. H.
as her deft racquet meets the tuneful spheres. Ping-pong, Broome, of 15, Holborn, London, has recently added to
ping-pong, the firelight flames ruddier as the shadows his attractive list several tuneful pieces. These include …
deepen on the walls. Without the sunlight has left the Ping Pong Polka, by Fabian Scott, cleverly illustrative of
long, level lands, and the maid enters to lay tea. society’s latest game.
30EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Derby Daily Telegraph 24 October 1901 Dartmouth Chronicle 1 November 1901
A box containing ½lb. of this delicious Cake, sent on
receipt of 3d. in stamps to cover postage. Please mention
Ping Pong and the name of your Grocer when applying. East Anglian Daily Times 5 November 1901
ALL the Rage.––PING PONG, TABLE TENNIS; complete
Sets from 10½d.; Balls 10½d. per dozen; special quotations
to Clubs.––Wootton and Son, Tavern Street, Ipswich and at
Felixstowe and Clacton-on-Sea. Telephone 149.
This is the same company that just a few days earlier had
Ballymena Observer 1 November 1901 registered a Design for the Vulliamy racket, and would
follow in January with Trade Marks for Winova and Coila.
SEASON 1901-02
––––– Dundee Evening Telegraph 11 November 1901
Ping Pong & Table Tennis
THE GAME FOR WINTER EVENINGS. PING-PONG.
–––––– ––––––––
A Large Stock of Parlour Games A DUNDEE GHOST STORY.
AT (FOUNDED ON FACT.)
Wier’s Bazaar. “George!”
The old lady dropped her knitting; her husband laid
Aberdeen Daily Journal 7 November 1901 down his book. Then they looked at each other.
Not a sound came from the Terrace outside. The
November darkness shrouded the genteel west-end
region, as, with a mantle of peace, the hum of the West
Park car came faintly from the hidden distance.
“Do you hear that?” the old lady asked, in that awe-
struck sort of whisper which makes the hearer’s flesh
creep. The old gentleman remained silent. A glowing
cinder leapt to the hearth as if possessed. The light of the
lamp seemed dimming. In a flash the erstwhile glowing
room had become full of strange shadows. A sense of
weirdness, of impending trouble, oppressed its occupants.
Ping-pong, ping-pong, ping-pong!
It sounded like spirit rappings on the wall. Ghostly and
hollow the sounds fell like sepulchral hammerings.
Never had such a ghastly stillness lain over the Terrace.
Ping-pong, ping-pong. ping-pong!
Now it seemed as though faint mocking laughter
followed, like ghosts enjoying a fresh joke.
“It’s a warning,” said the old lady solemnly. The old
gentleman rose from his chair.
“I knew something was going to happen,” she
continued. “I dreamed of rats. When James fell ill the
same thing——”
“Hush!” said the old gentleman.
Ping-pong, ping-pong, ping-pong!
The weird rappings came faster and faster. They
Meanwhile, in the same edition, The International sounded clearer and nearer than before. It seemed as if
Emporium, on the corner of Union Street and Bridge the spirit-rapper would step into the room.
Street, were informing readers that they had “Just “It all comes of those green curtains. I never liked
received over 200 sets of the popular games PING-PONG them. Peggy or some of the boys must be ill. Hadn’t
and TABLE TENNIS, at Prices to Suit Everybody.” you better send a wire, George?”
But the old gentleman had his ear to the wall.
Dundee Evening Telegraph 4 November 1901 “It’s there,” he said.
Preview of the “People’s Friend”, published that day, The old lady scurried to the other side of the room.
which included an article “How to Play Ping-Pong”. Voices mingled with the rappings. Wild, uncanny
merriment was heard. The dining-room door opened.
31EARLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Darby and Joan turned expectant of some grisly Gloucester Citizen 14 November 1901
apparition.
“If you please, m’m,” said Jane, the maid, “there’s the
queerest noise––––”
Ping-pong, ping-pong, ping-pong. The room filled with
sound.
“Hadn’t we better do something?" said the old lady. Daily Express 16 November 1901
“Jane,” said the old gentleman,” go round next door and
ask if there’s anything wrong. It’s either Mr —— PING-PONG IN A TEASHOP.
learning to play the fiddle, or ——;” but Jane was gone. –––––––
The fire spluttered cheerily; the postman’s steps A regulation “ping-pong” table has been put up in a
sounded along the Terrace; a new brightness radiated certain café in Fleet-street as a rival to billiards.
from the lamp. The rappings ceased. For the sum of 4d. one can play six games––a set––
“Every weird experience,” began the old gentleman while the worries of searching for the lost balls are
sententiously, “is capable of ordinary explanation. relieved by the introduction of a “caddie.”
Coolness and courage——” Yorkshire Post 16 November 1901
Jane tapped and entered.
“If you please, m’m,” she said briskly, “it’s Mr and Mrs
––— playing pim-pom.”
“Ah!” dryly observed the old gentleman, picking up his
book.
“Well, well!” remarked the old lady, resuming her
knitting.
Then silence reigned at No. 14.
Sheffield Daily Telegraph 13 November 1901
Aberdeen Press & Journal 13 November 1901
The Servant Difficulty
With reference to the statement made by the Rev. D.
Addison, at the Ripon Diocesan Conference––which, by
the way, has been widely quoted––about playing
“dominoes and other games” with his servants, a lady,
writing in a Newcastle paper, says––I would like to know
what other games he (Mr. Addison) played with them to
make them so comfortable and happy, as I do not play the
game of dominoes. I am married, and have very great
difficulty in keeping servants. If by allowing their
sweethearts to come into the home and play a game of
ping-pong in the kitchen, and my husband and I to join Sheffield Weekly Telegraph 16 November 1901
them, would secure me a good cook and housemaid for
10 years, I might forego theatres, concerts, dinners, This article, as advertised above, is an update by Walter
dances, and all other social pleasures for such a boon. Harrison of parts of his Windsor Magazine article:
Herts. and Cambs. Reporter 15 November 1901
F all indoor games Table Tennis, or Ping Pong as
it is sometimes called, is at the present time
undoubtedly the most popular. One finds it
played not only in every drawing-room, but in
the schoolroom, the public hall, and, in primitive form, in
the nursery. The game is unique as regards the rapidity
with which it has rushed into public favour; but little
more than a year ago it was unknown, and to-day no
bazaar or other public or private social function would be
considered complete without its Ping Pong table. Though
this rapid development is certainly wonderful, yet the
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