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Antique Golf Clubs from Scotland
Clubmakers
Robert Neilson
Musselburgh
Robert Neilson Born in Musselburgh in 1875 or 1876 according to the various censuses to James, a mechanic/labourer and Elizabeth. I have not found his birth record but it was not in Edinburgh as the northberwick.org site states: that was a quite different Robert Neilson.

It is tempting to think his forebears included George Neilson, bowmaker to the Royal Society of Archers, and his son, another Robert, who moved to Leith, foregoing the bows and making golf clubs, but without the birth record this is impossible to establish.

He served his time as a joiner, and is listed as an apprentice, living with his parents in Dalrymple Terrace, Musselburgh, on the 1891 census. By the time of the 1901 census, his father has died, and he is living with his mother and siblings at 25 Hercus Lane and is described as a golf club and ball maker. I do not know if that was on his own account (Pete Georgiady writes that he worked for Willie Park for a while) but in the Post Office Directory of 1903 he is listed as a clubmaker at Eskside South, and he made an application to the Dean of Guild court in that year for planning permission regarding a change to the building he was leasing from William Brunton and Sons, so certainly was by then.

In October 1913 he advertised that he had obtained the premises previously known as the Links Café and ‘accommodation is provided to suit all Classes of Golfers and teas and other refreshments can be had at the shortest notice’. A cup of tea served without a booking: who says Scotland is not geared up for tourism?

He produced his own brand of golf ball the Royal Mussselburgh and advertised a fibre-face driver, ‘the longest driving club made’ and a ‘socketless mashie’.

A James Neilson worked with him in the clubmaking business before going to Gibson in Kinghorn and, thereafter, to Ranfurly as professional. This is probably his considerably older (15 years) brother.

As a reservist he was called up for active service in 1916 and served with the Royal Garrison Artillery. On demob in 1919 he returned to Musselburgh which is when the advertisement displayed here was used.

Reputedly he was the last active clubmaker in Musselburgh. I do not know when the business closed but he was still going strong in 1926.

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