Antique Golf Clubs from Scotland: Clubmakers

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Clubmakers

W Calder
Aberdeen
William Shepherd Calder was born in Aberdeen in 1849, growing up on Rosemount, and first appears in the city directory in the 1891-92 edition as a gunmaker in the Gallowgate. The following year ‘fishing tackle maker’ is added to the description in Slater’s Directory.

The business moved to Guild Street in 1893 and took over, I believe, the former premises of Elrick and McPherson. Ernest, William’s son (born 1875), joined him in the shop and the range of sporting goods it sold increased and also included records ‘and the latest in phonographs’. In 1909 they advertised,

‘Irons from 2s; Clubs and Brassies from 2s 9d. Bags, large stock; Canvas, from 3s; Leather, Superior, from 10s. Balls, all kinds.’

They made their own gun mechanisms but I do not know if they made their own clubs though their name is stamped on both woods and irons.

When Buffalo Bill Cody brought his Wild West Show to Aberdeen in 1904 William and Ernest loaded all the cartridges for it.

A new branch of the shop was opened in George Street in 1912 and operated until 1919.

Following an argument Ernest opened a shop in King Street in opposition to his father.

William died in 1918.

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