The Collection

A small collection of Lawn & Crown Green Bowls items has been put on display at The E.A. Clare & Son Ltd. building in Liverpool. It includes examples of bowls from different manufacturers. Old Bowls boxes and accessories such as bowls measures and bowls grip waxes etc. There is even a flag signed by the English 2002 Commonwealth Games team plus many club and National pin badges. Old “real” wood Lignum Vitae bowls with silver mounts from the mid to late 1800s, Bowls from Taylor Rolph, Taylors, Henselite and of course Drakes Pride!

A view of part of the display

In the back ground a piece of Lignum Vitae carved with the Drakes Pride original Sir Francis Drake logo

A original “Taylors Toucher” statuette

A display of the stages in producing Lignum Vitae bowls is displayed

L – R

Cylinder cut from log with the trees heart at centre of cylinder – Edges taken of cylinder-

Start of hand turning in lathe – Basic Bowls shape created –

Using a template finished bowl shape turned – Mounts fitted

In the foreground a finished polished Lignum Vitae Lawn Bowl

The “historic” IBB standard bias bowls, an English Bowls Association Standard Bias and the New Zealand Bowls Master Bowl are part of the Collection. The early “Standard” Bowls were 5 inch which relates to a current size 5 bowl. All World Bowls licenced manufactures must test their sets against the Working Reference Bowls (WRB)

This is the oldest “standard” we have in the Collection and is made of Lignum Vitae- Size 5”

The age of this English Bowls Association “Standard” is not known

The wording on the mount reads: English Bowls Association Standard Bias size 5 1/16 inches is the same as a size 6 bowl

IBB Standard dated 1961 made of Lignum Vitae – size 5” (Size 5)

IBB “Standard” dated 1969 – 1^st. made from Composition material – Size 5 (size 5)

Last of the IBB “Standard” dated 1986 Made from Composition material – Size 5 (size 5) It was in 1986 that this IBB “Standard” was accepted throughout all the Bowling Nations. Replacing any National “standards” that may have existed, for example the B.I.B.C in the U.K.

For information date stamps follow the link –Bowls Date Stamp

New Zealand “Master Bowls” prior to 1986 – made from Composition – size 5

Since 2001 the Working Reference Bowl has been made from Composition and is based on a Size 4 bowl as sizes of bowl preferred by Bowlers has steadily been favouring smaller size bowls. The current WRB is made from ‘coloured’ composition material, which again means it is more like the fact that coloured bowls are popular.

The current WRB has an engraving on the running sole so that it can be checked for wear.

If anyone wishes to see the ‘Sport of Bowls’ Collection it does require an appointment to be made.

Maximum number limited to 4 persons and note the room is situated on the top floor of the E.A. Clare & Son Ltd. office building is only accessible via two flights of stairs. All visitors must be guided by a member of staff. Opening hours 10am to 4pm. Closed weekends & Bank Holidays

Please do not hesitate to ask should need any advice on any bowls be in flat or crown green etc. or wish to make a purchase. Thurston has the most comprehensive range accessories available.

Visit our e-shop – www.thurston.co.uk

email – thurston@eaclare.co.uk

Phone – 0151 482 2700