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Antique Golf Clubs from Scotland
Clubmakers
Robert Condie
St Andrews
Robert Condie Robert Condie, born in Cupar, was another of the great cleekmakers who made the transition from blacksmith. He trained under James Anderson in Anstruther and Robert White in St Andrews and opened his first forge and shop in 1890. He visited America in 1897-8 to take a look at drop-forging methods but felt sure that hand-forging produced a better product.

Recognised as one of the finest craftsmen of his era, his early heads can be identified by the cleek mark of a fern. Later heads usually carried his name and the more famous cleek mark of a rose.

He brought a case in 1912 against a retired Blebo Craigs publican who, he claimed, hit him with a gun such that his injuries prevented him cycling from his home in Blebo Craigs and having to board in St Andrews for 10 shillings a week. Also on account of the injuries he had been unable to attend the Open Championship of 1911 and was a further £50 out of pocket. Ultimately he won the case and received £40 damages.

The company became Robert Condie & Sons and continued using the old hand-forging techniques into the 1930s though Robert died, from complications after having his appendix removed, in 1923. In February 1934 a new limited company, Robert Condie & Co, was formed with share capital of £1000. However, by September of the following year there were advertisements for its sale as a going concern, clearly without success as in November, when a sale of stock, machinery and furnishings was announced, it was by order of the liquidators.

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