Australian Tennis Racquets  Function, Form & Fashion  at  www.merindolhall.com

Racquet Manufacturers

Site sponsored by Merindol Hall

Home  |  Ephemera  |  Patents  |  Players  |  Racquets  |  Resources  |  Technology


Early in the 20th century there were many racquet manufacturers in Australia, ranging from small businesses (like Horwood in Geelong) to large concerns such as Spalding Australia. The principal players up to the 1940s were Alexander, Brewer, Hedley, Dunlop, Slazenger, Oliver and Spalding.

Other manufacturers up to 1940 which had small market share as "cameo" players included the Empire Racket Company, Campbells (Brisbane), Chesterfield and Spider Web (Melbourne).

Hedley was still in existence in 1953 although Hedley and Slazenger seemed to be sharing the "Challenge" model name for some time. By 1960 Alexander had apparently been acquired by Spalding as the Cressy Perfect was then produced by Spalding Australia.

Stellar International was a late entry in the 1970s and Fin Sports came onto the scene in the 1980s with ceramic and graphite racquets.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s many wood racquets were "Designed in Australia" but "Made in Taiwan", especially Slazenger.

Some details are provided on Australian manufacturers, and some racquets in the collection are shown.

More information will be provided in due course.

This site and all photographs are Copyright © AJ Keats. All rights reserved.

Version 2    March 2011