A very nice example of a Palakona-shafted club from the inventors, Hardy Brothers of Alnwick. Hardy were well known for their split-cane fly-fishing rods and employed the same technique in making golf club shafts, joining six sheets of cane into the hexagonal 'Palakona', a name they registered and later patented. This must be one of the earliest golf clubs they made as the shaft has inked on it "Brit Pat app no 12623" i.e. it predates the granting of the patent. Also inked on the shaft is "WHPY" (and it is very whippy for a mashie), "Palakona Reg'd Trade Mark Hardy Bros Ltd Alnwick England"

The face of the club has an enclosed dot pattern and the reverse is stamped "Palakona (reg'd)" (in script). The sole is marked "Made in England" and has the numeral "3", this being before the days of standardised numbering for irons so Hardys, possibly uniquely, were using this designation for the mashie. Where the hosel joins the shaft there is are two decorative bands, one black and a narrower red one above.

The grip, in very dark green, is another golfing patent and is stamped "The Original Kinghorn Tacky Grip" which was made by the famous clubmakers, Gibson of Kinghorn. It ends with a lighter band of green and some decorative whipping.

Palakona was an interesting evolutionary sidestep in shaft manufacture between hickory shafts, as the supply of good hickory dwindled, and the steel shafts of 1929 onwards. Talking to the old fellows who used Palakona clubs you hear either that they were wonderful and, had it not been for the approval of steel would have been the norm for many years, or that moisture got into them making the shaft split. In any event, this one has remained in very good nick and would make a good addition to any collection or a fine gift for someone with an interest in the development of the golf club.

Price $295.00 Reference: MA256