The Table Tennis
Collector
58
Autumn
2010
First Youth Olympic Games
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Cover story: page 17
The Table Tennis
From the Editor
Hello Friends, and welcome to the Fall 2010 issue, 30
pages packed with historic information about our sport. I
want to begin with a big salute to the first Youth Olympic
Games, held in beautiful Singapore in August. What a great
opportunity for young athletes to experience the Olympic
ideals ! Page 17 shows the medals and Table Tennis pins
from these Games.
Collector
We are fortunate that master researchers Steve Grant and Alan Duke have
continued their newspaper investigations, with some excellent discoveries.
In the Summer issue Gerald Gurney asks about vintage tournament score
sheets, and remarkably 2 more from the same era of his sheet were found on
eBay. In this issue our distinguished colleague reports on his exhibits and
events connected with England’s Ping! program for London 2012 Olympics.
Our New Discoveries, Old Treasures looks at 2 original watercolors recently
found on ebay, by the same artist of a featured work in the ITTF Museum.
Your editor found an interesting article by legendary Victor Barna, published
in 1950, containing an insightful prophecy that would occur soon afterwards.
Jan and Jos of the Netherlands continue their outstanding series of philatelic
updates - check out their new personalized stamp! Our auction and racket
reports are full of interesting items, most at reasonable prices, so it seems the
bidding wars have subsided. Hope the other collectors can benefit from this.
No. 58
We have some new Table Tennis books to report, including 3 by the ITTF,
agreat book from Spain, and a biography of the late Lou Pagliaro (USA).
Autumn 2010
The issue would not be complete without a Mystery Photo to challenge the
Readers. As always, constructive feedback is welcome. Hope you enjoy the
issue!
Editor and Publisher:
Chuck Hoey, Curator
ITTF Museum, Switzerland
www.ittf.com/museum
museum@ittf.com
Publishing schedule:
Spring issue:
May 1
Summer issue: Aug. 1
Fall issue:
Nov. 1
Winter issue:
Feb. 1
Submit articles by April 15
Submit articles by July 15
Submit articles by Oct. 15
Submit articles by Jan. 15
In this issue ...
Great
Shots
3
New
Discoveries
Old
Treasures
4-5
6-9
Jos & Jan
Philatelic
Update
Youth
Olympic
Games
17
Steve
Grant
New
Research
Auction Action
24-25
Gerald
Gurney
Exhibits
12-13
Alan Duke
New
Research
14-16,
18-19
New
Books
Heavy
Metal
26-27
30
20-23
2
Great Shots: Historic Photographs
Great Shots features legendary Bohumil Vana. We are more accustomed to
seeing Bo in the finals of the World Championships, using his relentless attacking
smashes. Here we see him in the street using a classic chop stroke!
Mystery Photo
Our Mystery Photo asks the Reader to identify this amazingly thin player, playing before an
appreciative gallery packed with spectators. Answerws by e-mail to: museum@ittf.com
3
New Discoveries
Old Treasures
This time the New Discoveries, Old Treasures
come in pairs. Two original watercolors, each 12 x
7.5 inches, signed by S. Morgan Bryan, Copyright
applied for, William Reuter, NY, have surfaced.
These are reminiscent of an example in the ITTF
Museum, housed in a pyrographed frame with
Table Tennis motif. I checked its signature, and it
was also done by S. Morgan Bryan. Note the similar unusual perspective with the positioning of the
net.
Our distinguished colleague Gerald Gurney told an
interesting story in the previous issue about a
Christmas tournament in 1919, beautifully documented with a hand drawn scoresheet. He asks if
anyone has seen other such scoresheets, and
voila, two more have been located, also hand
drawn, and with the same players. Quite a remarkable coincidence, and these dated 1921 and 1924
provide further evidence that Table Tennis was
indeed making a comeback in the early 1920s.
4
5
When Ping Pong Came to Asia - Part 1
by Steve Grant
Asia has produced table tennis champions for
decades, while leading the way in innovation and dedication.
Yet our knowledge of early ping pong in Asia is sketchy
at best. When did this Western game catch on in the East?
Among other sources, I turned to archives of Englishlanguage newspapers, particularly those based in Asian
countries, to see if we could gain new insight.
In Part I of this two-part article, we find that by
mid-1901 the Westerners in China had already caught ping
pong fever, and soon were playing the Westerners in Japan.
By 1902-03, native-born Chinese and Japanese had taken
up the game.
CHINA
The North-China Herald was the weekly version of
North-China Daily News, an English-language newspaper
that published for 100 years before closing in 1951. Many
expatriates of English-speaking countries were in China
during that century, mainly for trade, diplomacy, or missionary
work. They were centered in Shanghai, where this paper
kept them apprised of world business news, local social and
sporting events, and doings from back home.
Correspondence from England appeared in the May 1,
1901 issue, headlined “A New Game.” The item itself was
dated March 22: “I wonder has Ping-Pong made its appearance
yet in Shanghai; if not, remain sane as long as possible, for
once the fever attacks you, all hope is gone. Anything like the
rage for it in London has never been known...”
It wasn't long before Shanghai did indeed catch the
fever, at least among Westerners. On July 17, 1901, the Herald
stated, “Ping-pong has undoubtedly 'caught on' in this part of
the world with much the same virulence which has characterised
its catching qualities in other parts of the globe.”
Expatriates in Tientsin were not immune either.
The summer 2007 issue of Table Tennis Collector showed
a postcard sent from that city on January 22, 1902, that said
(translated from French), “Around here in every European
home we play a small game of parlor tennis that is very fun...”
It went on to describe ping pong.
Costume parties are an opportunity to be playful with
popular themes of the day, and among the expats in Shanghai,
that included ping pong. At the Marine Engineer's Fancy-Dress
Ball, described in the Herald of March 5, 1902, one partier
came dressed as “Count de Ping-pong.” At the Customs Club
Fancy Dress Ball a month later, a Miss Buyers came dressed
as “Ping Pong.”
Horse racing was popular among the British, and the
Herald carried all the news of the Shanghai Spring Meeting
opening day, May 6, 1902, where one of the horses was
named Ping Pong. Judging by owners' names, entries came
exclusively from Westerners.
The same issue (May 7) gave results of an April
athletic meet among the British and American children who
attended the Boys' School of the China Inland Mission at
Chefoo. Second prize in the 100-yard run was “a set of table
tennis,” and a similar prize was awarded in the half-mile.
6
Since 1871, foreign settlements (primarily British
and American) in China, Japan and Hong Kong had carried
on what they called “interport” athletic competitions against
one another. In June 1902, the Shanghai Mercury reported
one such meeting among teams from Shanghai, Kobe and
Yokohama. Headlined “The Interport Sports at Kobe,” it
listed results for lawn bowls, tennis and rowing, and then
said, under “Pingpong,” “The ping-pong match was not
finished.”
All these references have involved only foreigners.
Surely the Chinese native-born in contact with foreigners
knew about the game, but where is the evidence that they
actually played it?
Chinese officials traveling abroad played ping pong
in August 1902---on a ship. Prince Tsai-Chen, 27, China's
Special Envoy to the coronation of Edward VII, traveled to
New York from England aboard the American liner St. Paul,
on his way to see President Roosevelt. From the New York
Times, August 10: “The prince and his party…managed
to make themselves popular with all hands on board. They
mingled freely with the passengers, made many acquaintances among them, and indulged in a number of games of
ping-pong. As one passenger expressed it, 'They were the
most polite and polished set of gentlemen I ever saw.'” It
was the first Ping Pong Diplomacy! The Washington Times
said the prince “spent a great deal of his time playing
ping-pong with the ladies” on the ship. He “is a devotee of
ping-pong,” said
the NY World.
On hand to
greet Prince Chen
at the dock was
the Chinese
Minister to the
U.S., Wu Tingfang,
60, who had
played ping pong
in Washington
D.C. a few months
earlier. Mr. Wu
was not the best
ping pong
diplomat. The
NY Times quoted
him on May 9:
“...It's a foolish
game. I saw it at
a reception two weeks ago. The ladies were playing it,
and I tried it for a little while. It is played indoors, in close
atmosphere, and there is no exercise about it...” In his
1914 book, he wrote, “Our national game is the shuttlecock… We have nothing corresponding to tennis and
other Western ball games… Western sports have been
introduced into some mission and other schools in China,
but I much doubt if they will ever be really popular among
my people…”
By 1903, perhaps earlier, Chinese students were
playing ping pong at one or more schools. At Hankow, 600
miles west of Shanghai, was a high school opened by the
London Mission in Central China. Headmaster Rev. A.J.
McFarlane issued a report on the school in April 1903, noting
that its 109 students are mostly boarders. From the NorthChina Herald: “The boys are of all classes, sons of mandarins,
merchants and country farmers; and are from twelve to
twenty years of age...” The article said the school has a wide
curriculum, “but Mr. McFarlane draws attention to one other
task..., that of teaching the boys how to play...'Cricket,
football, hockey and ping pong (!) are well taken up; and
once a year our school meets the two Mission schools in
Wuchang in an athletic competition for a fine silver challenge
shield.'” The exclamation point was apparently added by the
reporter.
We should also note this drawing first shown in
TTC 45 of a woman playing ping pong, said to be from a
1902 Chinese book, “100 Beautiful Women Paintings.” The
scene portrays an affluent, Westernized domestic setting
for the Western game. My Mandarin-fluent friends say the
accompanying poem translates
approximately:
“At the dinner party you
bring in the Spring breeze.
Silk divider separates in the middle,
suddenly it seems far.
Home-made, poplar-wood paddle
is like a fan.
Playfully swings the shooting star,
it spins and floats.
Dan Fu / Bai Cheng”
H O N G KO N G
Turning to Hong Kong, we find an English-language
newspaper called the China Mail. Being a British colony,
Hong Kong had ping pong early on, though little found its
way into this paper. It reprinted a couple of ping pong articles
from British newspapers in 1901 and 1902, and one store
advertised ping pong sets for $1 to $15 in July 1902.
The sport didn't make the paper again until 1928,
when the Hong Kong Ping Pong League held its championships,
where Miss Wong Sui-Lan of the Chung Shen Athletic
Association won the singles over Miss Wong Yeun-lan of the
Rhenish Church Club “in two straight sets---3-1; 3-0.” In July
1929, there was a mainland China connection. The president
of the just-mentioned League, Mr. Ng Tai Ping, sailed to
Canton, “the Kwangtung Provincial Government having
requested to consult him in connection with ping pong
affairs.” Referring to that league again in June 1932: “The
fact that fourteen teams and forty-three individuals have
entered for the League and Singles Ping Pong Tournaments
this year is definite proof of the increasing popularity of this
indoor recreation in the sporting world. No European entries,
however, have so far been received, and it is hoped that
those interested will kindly communicate with Y.C. Ko...”
7
JA PA N ( a n d a l i t t l e R u s s i a )
Above, we mentioned the 1902 Interport ping pong
competition at Kobe. Participants probably included
members of the Kobe Regatta and Athletic Club, founded
by residents of the foreign settlement in 1870.
From the club's website: “Over the years,
many persons and organisations
have laid spurious claim to have
introduced certain sports to
Japan. The fact is that clubs
such as the KR&AC and its
counterpart in Yokohama, the YR&AC,
served as incubators for non- Japanese
sports such as football, rugby, baseball,
rowing and tennis. The clubs would often
organise games against crew members from
visiting warships and other vessels. The Japanese,
students in particular, observed with considerable
interest. In this informal manner western sports were first
introduced to Japan.” One can probably add ping pong to
that list. (One more Yokohama item, Feb. 2, 1903: “The
result of the ping-pong tournament, which has been in
progress at the Boat House, does not seem to be any
longer in doubt. Mr. R. Schwabacher has won all 15 games,
and Mr. D.L. Abbey has won 13 and lost two...” ---London
and China Telegraph.)
But at least one Japanese individual also played a
role. Tsuboi Gendo (1852-1922) was a teacher and author
(“Outdoor Games,” 1886)
who introduced much
physical culture from
the West during Japan's
modernization era.
Returning from a Europe
/U.S. trip in June 1902,
he brought ping pong.
Clubs then quickly formed
at several universities,
according to a very brief
Japanese history provided
in TTC 8, June 1995,
by the Tamasu Co.
A favorite Japan
vacation destination was
Karuizawa. The North-China Herald's correspondent wrote
from that summer mountain resort on September 4, 1903,
that a tennis tournament among the tourists “was followed
by a ping-pong tournament, which was won by quite a
small boy about 14 years old.” He added that about a
quarter of the summer visitors were from China, mostly
missionaries and their families. Missionaries from all over
Japan would have formed much of the tourist list, too, along
with some native Japanese.
A Japanese fan I recently found (first shown in TTC
55) portrays two maiko---teenage apprentice geisha--playing ping pong. My guess is that the fan was made for
export to take advantage of the craze for the new game in
the West in 1901-03, and/or it was made to sell to foreigners
visiting or living in Japan. The style of the fan is consistent
with that dating and that target audience. Also favoring an
early date is that the artist appeared to have little
familiarity with the game. He may simply
have painted an image of an age-old
battledore game and then
inserted the highly unusual
table in the background.
In Japanese-occupied
Manchuria, during the RussoJapanese war in 1905, the Y.M.C.A.
provided recreational facilities to Japanese
soldiers near the front. Quoted in the NorthChina Herald of April 22 was a Mr. Gleason,
writing from Yingkou: “In the reading-room was a
cavalryman playing the little folding organ as if he
were charging a Cossack band, and around him was a
group of admirers some of whom occasionally burst into
the weird strains of the Japanese national anthem. After
playing pingpong a while with some of the fellows who, in
their thick hobnail boots, rough goatskin vests and heavy
coats, find this game a little too lively, I was interrupted by a
friendly voice, 'Gleason, won't you teach me to play “Stand
Up for Jesus” on the organ?’ As I would rather teach hymns
than pingpong, I sat down to the organ...”
That war also saw the Russians playing ping
pong---on their ships. “When war broke out the libraries on
the Japanese ships were cleared of all fiction and illustrated
papers, only technical treatises being allowed to remain,”
reported the Watertown (NY) Herald. “This is in significant
contrast to the Russian ships at Port Arthur [Manchuria],
which were provided with pingpong tables.” (Back in 1902,
the London Express reported, “...Even the more seriously
inclined emperor of
Russia [Nicholas II]
acknowledged that
the game is a
fascinating one,
and in the course
of a conversation
with a very great
ambassador said,
laughingly, 'A
nation's welfare
now depends
upon ping-pong.
A man cannot be
regarded as a
great diplomatist
unless he is also
great at this new
game---position
and ping-pong go
hand in hand.'”)
8
Staying on the topic of teenage royalty, let me briefly
sidetrack back to Russia. Tatiana, 18, the second daughter
of the Tsar, wrote in her 1915 diary, “Then I played pingpong (miniature tennis) with Volodia,” a wounded army
officer she was caring for and falling for. In 1916, her
16-year-old sister Maria wrote to their father that sister
Anastasia, 15, “got a ping pong as a present for her birthday,
that is a table-tennis. And we played it with her. It was very
tiresome as we had to lie on the floor all the time to look for
and pick up the balls...”
Japanese shells crippled two Russian ships in early fighting
at Port Arthur. “...Apparently the ping pong nets were up, all
taut and ready; it was only the torpedo nets that had been
forgotten,” said the London Mirror, February 11, 1904.
Afterward, wrote a reporter in the Los Angeles Times, “...we
saw the Russian battleships throwing beds and other lumber
through the gun ports, and Chinese sampans were busily
engaged in picking up these articles, including ping-pong tables...”
After the war, the Japanese maintained a presence
in Manchuria for many years. In 1922, “The 'Second Grand
Pingpong Contest for All Manchuria,' held in Mukden,
resulted in a victory for the Tengu Club of Fushun.” The
source is The Japanese Advertiser (Feb. 26), an Englishlanguage publication in Tokyo.
By that time, Japanese table tennis competitions
were nothing new. The history provided by Tamasu Co. said
that the 1st Tokyo Union Ping Pong Games were held at Keio
University in 1909. By 1916 Japan had a national table tennis
league and held national championship tournaments before
standing-room only crowds, as shown by a postcard from
that year discussed in TTC 49. In the early 1920s, three rival
Japanese associations each held their own national tournaments, according to Tamasu.
Princess
Nagako, the future
Empress, enjoyed
ping pong. Born
in 1903, “it was not
until she was
through with the
primary school that
she began to really
grow... She became
a good tennis and
ping pong player.”
That would put the
date around 1917.
The source is a bio
of her that appeared
in The Japan
Advertiser,
June 17, 1922.
Returning now to Princess Nagako: Her future
husband, the future Emperor Hirohito, born 1901, seemingly
also liked the game. “Ping Pong Prince” was the headline
of a one-sentence article on the front page of the London
Express in 1921: “Paris, Tuesday, June 28.---A specially
balanced ping pong table has been installed in the wardroom of the Japanese battleship which is to convey the
Crown Prince of Japan back to Tokyo.” But perhaps the
table was meant more for the ship's officers: “The Yamato
Dynasty” (2001), in describing the early years of Hirohito's
marriage, said Nagako “had a passion for ping-pong, which
he was too awkward to play, but he would watch.”
It was aboard yet another ship, carrying athletes
of several nations heading for international competitions
in Japan and Manila, that an American track star filed a
dispatch to the Los Angeles Times, April 1, 1925. “Chief
among the deck sports was ping-pong,” and several U.S.
tennis stars thought they would challenge the Japanese
athletes. Though the Americans “looked well in action,
with their tennis strokes and keen footwork, they never
had a chance. The youngest Japanese aboard could have
spotted them points and won. For this seems to be the
national sport of Japan and every son of the Orient has
played it from birth...nobody is going to ace them in
ping-pong!”
Next issue, the concluding Part II: Westerners in
South Asia caught the ping pong fever in 1901, too, but it
was that region’s Chinese and other Asian ethnics who kept
the sport very much alive in the 1910s decade.
9
“
A recent donation to the ITTF Museum included 3 original
issues of the first magazine published by the ITTF, edited
by Marcel Corbillon, donor of the Corbillon Cup for the
World Women's Team Championship. The October 1950
issue begins with an article by legendary Victor Barna.
This article is worth another look due to Barna's amazing
prophetic vision that was soon to be realised - the sponge
racket.
Chuck
“
The
Barna
Prophecy
The solution must be found in the
equipment which gives greater
advantage to the attacker than to
the defender.
Time Marches On
by Victor Barna (10.1950)
It is not so long ago (anyhow in my memory) that I began to
play table tennis and soon found myself the youngest member of the Hungarian Swaythling Cup team. Yet nearly 25
years have passed and here I am already in a state of
semi-retirement.
there is little, if any, difference between the game we
played in the early 1930s and the game as it is to-day.
What difference there may be is due rather to changes in
the rules than to anything else. Fundamentally the technique is the same.
During this time I have been able to see table tennis grow
from its infancy, and, now that it has become of age,
emerge fully grown and lusty. This process seems to me to
have been in four phases, during which there have been
different bats, different rules, and - for a long time - an indifferent Press!
It is interesting to note that rubber-faced bats were introduced with the idea of improving attacking strokes and to
baffle the half volleydefence. This, in turn, led naturally to
the counter-measure of long-range defence. A new kind of
spin required an adjustment of the old kind of style. To-day,
however, I realise that rubber, with its capacity for heavy
chop, has improved defence far more than attack, and
therefore it must be held mainly responsible for the menace
of time-limit games which is threatening to ruin table tennis.
If "chiseling" is to be eliminated, I am certain that the timelimit rule will not do the trick. The solution must be found in
equipment which gives greater advantage to the attacker
than to the defender; and by this, I don't mean the lowering
of the net.
I began to play when Dr. Jacobi, Zoltan Mechlovits, Dr.
Pesci, and Maria Mednyanskzy ruled the table tennis world,
their weapon a long-handled wooden bat. It may sound
strange that their attacking strokes were very much the
same as those used in the modern game of to-day. Dr.
Pesci, a left-hander, had a beautiful forehand, and
Mechlovits, too, with his penholder grip, had a very reliable
one. Dr. Jacobi and Mednyanszky both preferred to use
the so-called "forehand backhand" - a backhand executed
from the forehand side, a stroke which Perry, Szabados,
Thum, and others employed frequently and successfully.
Defence, in this Mechlovits era, consisted of the half-volley
only; accordingly the game was played at a sharp pace,
with speedy reflexes and a sense of anticipation as important features.
Then we came along. By "we" I mean chaps like Szabados,
Bellak, Glancz, Kelen, Hazi and Liebster, who were pioneers in developing the art of long-range defence. Our
seniors had taught us ball control, how to score with a hit,
and how to use the half volley for close defence. But on
top of this, we had youth and speed of foot - in a word - the
agility to be able to retrieve the ball further from the table
and still be capable of getting up for the drop shot. Our
game was called the "modern" game, and I believe that
As far as the third phase is concerned, it saw no real
change from the second, except perhaps for an increasing
reluctance to use an offensive backhand. This phase could
well be called the Vana-Bergmann era, as these two men
were, and probably still are, the most outstanding players of
the last 12 years.
The lowering of the net from 6 3/4" to 6" had shown little
effect up to the outbreak of war in 1939. It is now only too
apparent that the youngsters of to-day - my fourth phase are taking full advantage of the lower net. If I had to give
them a name, I would call them "the bashers", because all
too often the blind swiper is able to get the better of a more
scientific player. Old stagers like me take a poor view of
this. We, and many more like us, are just as keen to see
"bashing" checked as to have "chiseling" eliminated.
10
Rare ceramic shop display for Barna rackets, possibly by Ludarva of France, where the
display was found. Your Editor’s gift to the ITTF Museum, where there is an extensive
exhibit about our most decorated World Champion. Did Barna model for the hand?
Special thanks to Jean-Pierre Guedon for his help, and the photograph.
11
Around the World
in 30 Years
by
Gerald Gurney
I have long believed that collections should not be
hidden away but, if possible, displayed for public view,
and I have - so far - exhibited parts of my collections table tennis, tennis, squash, badminton - in Germany,
Japan, Malaysia, Sweden, Holland, Italy, Spain,
Switzerland, Norway and England.
Guernsey
More recently I was delighted to be invited by Mike
Vance (brother of Terry who, as a former collector, is
well-known to members) to set up a display at St. Peter
Port on the Island of Guernsey in the English Channel,
and nearer to France than to England. This was the
occasion of the annual Channel Islands individual tournament - co-inciding with the inter-insular event with the
Island of Jersey.
The Guernsey Press devoted a whole page , with
illustrations from my book Table Tennis, The Early
Years, to my display, and, most importantly, I had a fine
central position. The items were limited to what I could
carry by train and ferry and set up on a table tennis
table, but I had a very friendly response. A quartet of
senior islanders sought out their vintage clothing and I
provided battledores for a reconstruction of ping-pong
c.1900. Table Tennis actually came to Guernsey in
1922 and the GTTA are now looking forward to their
90th anniversary.
I had never visited the Island before and I was
delighted to be taken on a “Grand Tour” of the entire
coastline, with exceptional views, and to explore the
delightfully quiet central area - with several shops selling antiques, but nothing for me.
Soon after my return I was preparing for 3 more
events - at a charity garden party, the launch of Ping!
and, remarkably, in Worcester Cathedral.
Part of the display. Photo: Guernsey Press
Gerald Gurney. Photo: Guernsey Press
Charity Garden Party
On the first occasion, I displayed some items from my
collections at a garden party in the next village; the event
attracted over 4000 visitors and, for the second time, I set
up a Sporting Quiz (entry 50p) with questions such as,
“Which former Member of Parliament asserted (wrongly)
to millions of people that Whiff-Waff was the first form of
table tennis?” You, of course, know the answer but only a
few entrants got it right. [Boris Johnson, but did he say
the first? ed.]
PING!
Then, in July, I was off to St. Pancras International
Station for the Grand Launch of PING! - and grand it was
with hundreds of enthusiasts turning up to see some high
quality play. I took only two boxed sets - the immensely
rare GOSSIMA (are there more than 2 of these known
anywhere in the world?) and WHIFF-WAFF, and several
people made the anticipated connection with Boris
Johnson. He was associated with PING! and showed off
his skill at one of the sites - but did not turn up at the
launch. 100 tables were set up all over London at no
fewer than 64 sites including some surprising ones such
as the British Library, the BBC, Heathrow, the Natural
History Museum and Tate Modern. Rackets with the optimistic message “PLEASE RETURN ME” were available,
and anyone could “have a go”. This was a major event
quite unknown, I think, in the history of table tennis but - if
it was intended to boost the memberships of clubs - I
doubt if it had much impact. And, by the very nature of
PING!, it cannot have been possible to discover how
many people took part. I have not yet seen any reports.
No fewer than 9 special events were scheduled, for
example, ping pong bingo, passport to pingland, smash
the city, sing’n’ ping and Whiff Waff “a playful lecture”, but
the speaker for the last event withdrew at a late stage and
I was invited to take his place. However, I was already
engaged - and I have no idea how anyone could talk
about Whiff Waff for more than 5 minutes!
12
Worcester Cathedral
I recently contributed to a major exhibition, British
Sporting Heroes Past and Present, the first to bring
together a variety of sports - cricket, tennis, football,
motor racing, national hunt, rowing, sailing, rugby, golf
and athletics - in one place. The items were displayed
for 3 weeks in Worcester Cathedral, taking up the
whole of the 14th. century nave (and aisles), 255 feet
in length.
I have set up exhibitions at major sporting events in
13 countries, but never in such splendid surroundings,
where the displays made a startling contrast with the
ancient monuments and stained-glass windows. As
well as general tennis items, I provided a racket used
personally by Bunny Austin in the 1930s and the table
tennis World Champion and Swaythling Cup medal
won by Fred Perry in 1929 before he turned to tennis.
This remarkable exhibition will not be surpassed until
the setting-up, possibly in 2012, of the long awaited
national museum of sport.
Part of Gerald Gurney’s exhibit at Worcester Cathedral
Below: Brochure for the great Ping! events in London
The spectacular Worcester Cathedral in the heart
of England. Would King John (d.1216), whose
tomb is in the Cathedral, have approved a multisport antiquities exhibition? Those who were able
to visit certainly approved!
13
Extracts from the years 1901 to 1910
by Alan Duke
The Penny Illustrated Paper (or P.I.P.) was a weekly London
newspaper published, on Saturdays, from 1861 to 1913. The
majority of the extracts featured here are from ‘The World of
Women’ column, usually written by ‘Marguerite’.
16 March 1901:
“Ping-Pong.”
This, the latest indoor game, has taken popular fancy by storm.
Though it has only been out a short time, several ping-pong clubs
have already been started.
It is best described as “table-tennis.” A net about seven inches
high is stretched across a fair-sized table, as sketched by a P.I.P.
Artist. The racquets are similar to battledores, and the ball is
(hence the name), until someone inadvertently glances at the
clock, with a disappointed “Goodness, look at the time!”
Medical students, who are very keen about the game, have had
a special silent gut racquet made, so as not to disturb the patients
in hospital.
6 April 1901:
There was a brief mention that ‘the demand for “Ping-Pong”
was so great that it was difficult to supply the rush of customers.’
4 May 1901:
Another brief reference: ‘To play “Ping-Pong” with their
grandfather is the greatest delight to the two little Princes’
(Princes Eddie and George, so presumably the grandfather
was Edward VII).
30 November 1901:
‘Are there any new games this Christmas, a correspondent asks. I
think not, at least I have not heard of any. “Ping-Pong” is in quite
as great favour as it was last year, and “bridge” still rules the
fashionable world.’
14 December 1901:
Hobbies Limited of Paternoster Square were advertising their
‘Hobbies Table Tennis Outfit’ Post Free 5s. 6d.
made of celluloid. The game is so fast and energetic that only two
players engage at a time. There are no courts marked; the limit
of the table’s size forming a simple court, and the scoring is the
same as in tennis. After dinner the favourite answer to “What
shall we do?” is
“Let’s Play Ping-Pong.”
A hurried clearing of the table, and the game is soon started.
There are few sounds, except applause and laughter, and the
incessant “ping” and “pong” of the racquet striking the ball
14 December 1901:
Afternoon Tea
has become such a fashionable institution, and the number of
prettily decorated rooms in the West-End have increased so fast,
that the proprietors of the same have been at their wits’ end to
invent new ideas for attracting custom. At a tea-shop in
Shaftesbury Avenue
A Ping-Pong Table,
with all accessories, is an attraction to customers and greatly
appreciated by enthusiasts, whose frequent attendance more than
repays the foresight of the management. A club has been formed
to use the table on Thursday evenings, and some of the members
have entered for the great tournament at the Royal Aquarium.
While on the subject of Ping-Pong, I should like to draw attention
to
A New Patent Net
which cannot fail to excite the keenest interest of all lovers of the
game. It is supplied by John Piggott of Cheapside at 3s. 6d. In
using this net, table-cramps, clamps, and poles are entirely
dispensed with. It can be erected in a moment, and being made of
wire is absolutely firm and rigid. It will not injure the table, and
can be adjusted to any width. The one I am using has been
admired by all who have seen it, and the invention should
command a ready sale.
21 December 1901:
Another advertisement for the ‘Hobbies Table Tennis Outfit’.
21 December 1901:
Report of the ‘First Open’ tournament of 11-14 December:
Table-Tennis Tournament
The interest that was evinced in the Ping-Pong Tournament at
the Royal Aquarium last week culminated on Saturday evening
in an exciting finish. Play in the ladies’ finals was singularly close.
In the last game, played between Mrs. Thomas and Miss V.
Eames, and won by the latter with 5 points only to the good, each
lady secured one game and 25 points, upon which it was decided
to play for 5 consecutive points, Miss Eames ultimately scoring,
and winning the ladies’ championship. The game was watched by
numerous spectators during the afternoon, and again in the
evening a large crowd was present to watch the final stages of the
gentlemen’s division. Mr. T. Baker beat Mr. C. W. Vining, and
Mr. R. Ayling beat Mr. G. Greville in the semi-finals. Both games
were close, the former being quite exciting, as the opponents were
well matched. It was impossible for all the spectators to see the
final tie played. Every seat around the enclosure was occupied,
and beyond that the crowd was three and four deep. Standing at
one game of 30 points each, the competitors played splendidly for
the championship. Neither led by more than two points at any
time throughout the deciding set until the close, when Mr. R.
Ayling managed to score rapidly after an excellent rally. The two
players were exponents of entirely opposite styles – the backhand and the “scoop”. Many were inclined to believe the better
player lost. Mr. Baker certainly played the more showy and
brilliant game, of which judicious placing was the strongest
point; but the steady, cautious play of his opponent told in the
end. It is a curious coincidence that neither of the “final” players
is a lawn-tennis player. Until this tournament was organised I
had no idea the game had such a hold on the public. There were
nearly fifty ladies competing, and the Aquarium management are
to be congratulated on the success of the venture. Another
tournament is being arranged at the Aquarium for Jan. 8-11.
Mr. Robert Newman announces a Ping-Pong Tournament in the
Queen’s Hall on Dec. 26 and following afternoons from 1 till 7
p.m. each day – ladies’ competitions being from 1 till 4 p.m., and
gentlemen’s from 4 till 7 p.m. Entries close on Dec. 24. Full
particulars can be obtained at Queen’s Hall.
4 January 1902:
Amongst the entertainments available at The Crystal Palace
over the holiday period: ‘Then there are a Punch and Judy show,
skating carnivals, and table-tennis tournaments, and a snap-shot
drawing competition. It being the desire of the management to
cater specially for the children in the Christmas programme,
nearly all the entertainments have been designed particularly for
the youngsters.’
11 January 1902:
The Royal Aquarium.
In addition to the Christmas programme, and the attractive
electrical exhibition, there commenced a second table-tennis
tournament on Wednesday, which continues until this evening.
18 January 1902:
Report of the ‘All England Tournament’ of 8-11 January:
Table-Tennis Championships.
Some of the promoters of table-tennis competitions are wisely
making the most of their opportunities. The Aquarium
management have of late shown much wisdom in things of this
kind. They were the first to hold a tournament. And now they
have brought off Championships. For the ladies’ competition
there were fifty entries, for the gentlemen’s 200. Mrs. Garner
won the former, beating Miss Good in the final; and Mr. Greville
won the gentlemen’s championship, his opponent in the final
being Mr. Parker, who won recently at Queen’s Hall.
18 January 1902:
Ping-Pong has invaded the restaurants and is taking the place
of billiards in the affection of the City clerk as an amusement for
the lunch hour. A well-known City Company has established a
ping-pong room in each of its branches, and there
A Swarm of Enthusiasts
surround the tables all day long. Threepence a game is the charge
made, and the green baize covered tables never get a rest.
According to an employé, “it is the most successful thing we
have started from a financial point of view. Dominoes have been
almost deserted, and we are quite unable to provide tables for the
large number of players. For the threepence which they pay they
are supplied with racquets and balls, and we have a marker just
as at billiards. Those who are unable to get a table are so much
attached to the game that they will sit patiently sipping their
coffee while they wait for their turn to come.”
were available from the same address (6 Essex Street, Strand,
London, W.C.)?
29 March 1902:
‘The First Ping-Pong Tournament ever organised and played
out at sea was held on board the Cunarder Campania, on her last
westward voyage. It was called the North Atlantic Ping-Pong
Championship, and was won by Mr. C. W. Allen, a Scotch
merchant, who defeated Mr. H. D. Reed, an American railroad
magnate, in the final.’
3 May 1902:
The following observation was made in an article concerning
the desirability of preparing young girls for marriage: ‘Great
care is taken and much time is spent in becoming proficient in
ping-pong and bridge, and girls now learn hockey and golf, but
how many think of acquiring and fostering the attributes which
make an earthly paradise of the humblest and the poorest home?’
15 December 1906:
‘A few years ago it was ping-pong, now it is pigs. As soon as one
craze dies away another takes its place. The latest is the idea of
drawing pigs when blindfold.’ No comment really necessary!
31 August 1907:
A couple of photos were published showing scenes ‘on the roof
garden of the public school, Clinton Street, New York. This was
the first school to be equipped with a roof garden. … After school
hours the children are allowed to play on the roof. All kinds of
games are indulged in, such as ping-pong, blind-man’s buff, and
other juvenile pastimes.’
1 February 1902:
Ping-Pong Costume.
The rage for the game of Ping-Pong is being followed by the
Ping-Pong costume, but it is really nonsense to have any special
frock for it. It does not answer to have full or long lace ruffles if
the game is being played in the evening, but any dress that allows
free movement of the arms will answer very well. Trains should
not be worn, as they get in the way of the players. I have been
asked if
I Like The Game;
but as I have never played it, I cannot say. I dislike the noise of it
very much; and, in common with many other things in this
country, it is being overdone.
8 February 1902:
An advertisement for ‘next week’s issue’ of Our Home (‘On sale
everywhere today, 1d.’; ‘Fifty-two Pages Richly Illustrated’)
included in the contents ‘Ping-Pong (special article)’.
1 March 1902:
Advertisement for ‘PING-PONG (How to Play). By the Hon.
Secretary, Ping-Pong Association. With Diagrams, Laws, etc.
With full Instructions on How to Conduct Tournaments. Price
4d. in paper covers, or 6d. in cloth; postage 1d. London:’
8 March 1902:
An advertisement for The Lady’s World (‘Ready Today, 3d.’;
‘Richly Illustrated’), also included in the contents ‘Special
Article on Ping-Pong – With Illustrations’. Would this perhaps
be the same article as above (8/2/1902), for both publications
24 April 1909:
THE REIGN OF JIG-SAW
DIABOLO has gone, a new King of Pastime reigns in its stead. It is
a new and fascinating game, which is already out-rivalling in its
popularity the palmy days of ping-pong and diabolo. Jig-saw has
come stealthily from America, and in the space of a few weeks
has invaded England, so that there is scarce a house west or east,
north or south, that has not its family of jig-sawyers.
So that is what replaced Diabolo, after it had (supposedly)
replaced Ping-Pong (not too sure about ‘jig-sawyers’ though!).
19 November 1910:
A letter from A. W. Gamage (presumably from the shop of that
name) was published, addressed to Eustace Miles, the author
of a recent article in the Daily Mail on Pastimes for City
Dwellers. ‘The list was splendid, including as it did: Piladex,
Badminton, Fires, Squash, Ping Pong, Diabolo, and Vigoro.’ It
ended with a plea to write more frequently, and added (tongue
in cheek) ‘Perhaps in your next articles you might mention
where these games can be obtained – ahem!’
Cover Story
The First Youth Olympic Games were
hosted in beautiful Singapore in August.
How great that these young athletes
had the opportunity to experience the
Olympic ideals! Japan won the Team
Gold, featuring future superstar 15-year
old Koki Niwa, who also won the Boy’s
Singles Gold. Bravo to the Organizers,
and for all the young athletes the
Olympic message:
Citius, Altius, Fortius
Official pin
Souvenir badge
Boxed set of the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals from the 1st Youth Olympic Games in August 2010, held in Singapore.
The Winners
Gold medalist Koki Niwa (JPN), center, flanked by
Silver medalist Hung Tzu-Hsiang (TPE), left, & Bronze
medalist Simon Gauzy (FRA), right.
Center: Gu Yuting (CHN), Gold; Left: Isabelle
Siyun Li (SIN), Silver; and Yang Ha Eun (KOR),
Bronze
17
by Alan Duke
This name was registered as a Trade Mark (for Indoor
Games) to John Jaques & Son on 16 July 1891. As no
examples of the game had been discovered by
collectors, for many years it was thought that this
registration was as far as it got, and that it had never
actually been put into production.
Then, whilst continuing research
into old newspapers, I turned my
attention
to
The
Graphic
magazine. This was an illustrated
weekly newspaper, costing 6d and
published on Saturdays in London
from 1869 to 1932. I discovered
the following very brief mention
of Gossima in the edition
published on 3rd December 1892.
But then in 1990, our founder Gerald Gurney
discovered a complete boxed set, amazingly at a local
auction! (see TTC No.13). He has since located a
second set, and one now resides in the ITTF Museum.
This find is important in that it can be accurately dated,
confirming that Gossima was in production within at
least a year of the Trade Mark registration. It is also the
first known linking of Gossima to “table-tennis”. And
whilst not the first known usage of the term ‘table
tennis’ to describe a table game (rather than board
games, etc), it is only pre-dated by the article on 6th
February 1892 in the Summit County Journal,
discovered by Steve Grant (TTC No.44). But its
importance lies in the fact that it is the first known use
of the term to describe a table version of tennis, using
rackets, which can readily be recognised as the
precursor of the game we know today. And in being
used in this way, it confirms that the game has been
known as ‘table tennis’ from its very beginnings: “a
new table-tennis game” above (1892), and “A most
exciting Form of Table Tennis” below (1898 advert).
Over the last year, a small number of advertisements
for the game have also surfaced. One, pictured in TTC
No.46, was attached to the
bottom of the box of
another Jaques’ game.
This cannot be dated
exactly, but Jaques expert
Michael Thomson is of
the opinion that the ‘Just
Out’ on the label means
exactly that, and that the
game
went
into
production fairly soon
after the granting of the
Trade Mark i.e. circa
1891-92. Another example was shown in TTC No.47,
this time from the back of a Rules leaflet for another
Jaques’ game. Again, it cannot be dated precisely, but
was probably in use during a
slightly later period, circa
1895.
Two further examples, also
from Rules leaflets, are
shown, and probably date
from about 1892 (left) and
1898 (next page), illustrating
that Jaques did appear to
publicise
the
game
throughout this period.
18
Continuing to look through The Graphic, I found no
other mention, despite frequent advertisements for an
assortment of Jaques’ games (Croquet, League Football
Game, Ascot, Automaton Cricket Board), until the halfpage advert on 10th December 1898 (reproduced in
reduced form on right, with a full-size extract of the
Gossima portion on previous page). This features the
only known sketch of a game of Gossima.
c. 1898
But what is this I spotted in a December 1901 issue of
Country Life magazine? It is an advertisement for
James Schoolbred & Co featuring a selection of
battledores, tables, balls, etc, for use in Table Tennis
and Jaques’ “Ping-Pong”. But doesn’t that illustration
in the middle look slightly familiar?! If you have
commissioned artwork, then obviously make sure you
get good use out of it (even if the name of the game has
changed!).
With thanks to Michael Thomson for his many constructive comments.
19
Auction Action
Sold!
The featured find is our cover story - a
rare ceramic shop display for Barna
rackets. A racket can slide into the
hand - a great exhibit piece.
Another interesting find was a bargain,
the 50-year anniversary card for the
Hungarian TT Association, filled with
autographs, only $10 !
Two fine empty TT boxes surfaced, also
for bargain prices, one with a beautiful
color litho by A.Sala. These can be
easily restored with original equipment
to make complete sets.
Another Dick Merrill ball was found, with
its mailing box, from the famed transAtlantic flight, carrying the first airmail
from the USA to UK. The empty areas
of the plane were filled with TT balls in
case the flight ended in the ocean. I
wonder how they tested this method !
$10 An amazing bargain for this Hungarian card, issued in celebration of the 50th anniversary of their Association. So many
autographs it is difficult to decypher all of them!
P.R.China 1961 souvenir sheet, mint, $1326
Strong interest from general China collectors
$45 for this empty box with fine lithograph by Sala of Berlin.
Great bargain, & the set can be restored with battledores, etc.
Japanese ‘Right Ball’ box $61
$30, fine McLoughlin Bros, empty box
20
Dick Merrill signed ball, $51, from the historic transAtlantic flight. The plane was filled with TT balls for
floatation in case of having to ditch into the ocean. A
movie was made about this flight.
$29, based on the Walker series of postcards, c.1902
Original program for the 1936 World Championships,
unsold at $149. A ticket for this event also failed to
attract any bids at $149 Both items twice listed !
Single card from a deck of art deco style cards, $7.57
The image is full of movement, color ... and TT fun !
$11 for this c.1902 picture postcard. Prices for early cards
have dropped dramatically now that new collectors have
most of the cards. Patience is a wallet saving virtue!
21
Racket
N
Report
Star of the show in this edition of the Racket Report is a
large ceramic shop display for Barna rackets - p.11. In 40
years of scouring the globe for Table Tennis items I have
never seen one of these. As legendary Victor Barna is
the most decorated World Champion, I felt it appropriate
to donate this rare item to the ITTF Museum, where it is
now part of the Barna exhibit. During a recent visit ITTF
President Adham Sharara personally positioned a mint
condition Barna racket in the display hand. I wonder if
Barna himself modeled for the ceramic hand.
Rare Parker Bros. drum racket, handle wrapped
in woven bamboo, $123
Slazenger Whiff-Waff drum rackets, $350
Handsome hardbats with playing card symbols hammered
into their throats, a club (921 SEK), and spade (110 SEK).
Probably exist with heart and diamond symbols as well..
22
Boxed Stiga Expert, thick waffled sponge, only 1370 SEK
BRAL hardbat, only £12
Set with 4 pyrographed rackets. Art uninspiring, damage to
one blade (taped over), a surprise at $693
Pair of Broadman rackets in custom fitted case, $100
There are 2 separated surfaces such that the racket is
worn like a glove. The hand is inserted and there is a
hole for the thumb.
Stiga Ehrlich ‘Jap’ 2790 SEK
Stiga Yasaka cork penhold
1205SEK
Butterfly ‘Tamasu’ $51
Stiga Stellan European Champ
$349
23
Philatelic Pages
Please send your contribution
for the philatelic pages to:
Jos Zinkstok
Jan Nusteleijn and Jos Zinkstok continue the regular
contribution about table-tennis stamps, post-marks
and other of philatelic interest
Neckarstraat 8
NL-9406 VN ASSEN
The Netherlands
E-mail: j.zinkstok@poveia.nl
STAMPS, BOOKLETS and SHEETS
China: 2008 29th Olympic Games Beijing booklet with inside 4 indentical stamps and tabs
of Fuwa Ying Ying and 3 ancient Greek Olympic stamps of 1896.
Left pictured the frontside (of the booklet) and right the backside with TT-pictogramme
Great Britain: 27.07.2010 30th Olympic and Paralympic Games London 2012.
Issued are several souvenir sheets, self-adhesive booklets, strips of 5 different sport
stamps and gutter-pairs
24
France: 14.06.2010 50th anniversary
of the Table-Tennis Section of Salbris
Sportsclub designer: Didier Andre
The Netherlands: 14.09.2010 Set of 3 personalised stamps 'Jos en Jan in actie 2010'
- indeed we are still the authors of this pages with the same pleasure like in 2007
( see TTC 45 ), so beware: The Boys are back in town.....
CANCELLATIONS
Macedonia :16.06.2000
25 jubilee Sport Games of
Postal workers City: Resen
China: 24.09.2009
11th National Games
City: Qingdao
Croatia: 27.08.2005
80th anniversary of the first
Croatian TT-club in Cakovec
N. Corea: 10.05.2010
First Day Cancellation for
TT-issues see TTC 57
China: 14.08.2010 1st Youth Olympic
Games in Singapore City: Nanjing
Singapore: 12.08.2008
OLYMPEX Olympic
Expo in Beijing
France:14.06.2010 anniversary
cancellation Salbris (see above)
China: 18.08.2010
China Table-Tennis Open
City: Suzhou
China: 30.06.2009
16th Asian Games
City: Wenzou
Great Britain: 27.07.2010
FDC 30th Olympic and
Paralympic Games London
China: 03.09.2010 Guangzhou 100-day
countdown to the Asian Games for the
Disabled City of Jiyuan, Henan
Stamps and sheets showed at about 35 to 100% and cancellations showed at about 100%
For their help we want to thank Tang Ganxian, Winfried Engelbrecht, Hans-Peter Trautmann,
Gao Yi-bin, Anton Zwiebel, Didier André and Leo van der Sommen
25
Our Book Corner features 3 new books published by
the ITTF: Results 2008, the 5th edition in the photographic series Table Tennis Fascination, and a book
about the 2010 World Championships in Moscow.
Another welcome addition to Table Tennis literature is
about American star Lou Pagliaro, who passed away at
age 90 in 2009, lovingly written by his daughter Lois.
Jose Ramon Cabanelas Comesana has prepared a
fine book about Table Tennis history in the Galicia
region of Spain, with many excellent photos.
Book
Corner
26
Lou Pagliaro USA internationalist, made
the singles semifinals at the 1947 World
Championships, won the USA Championships 4 times over a span of 13 years.
He was small in physical stature, but had
great footwork and agility, and his eye
contact with the ball was closer than the
other players.
Right: Cork faced rackets “Styled By Lou
Pagliaro”
27
Col lector Dir ectory
Carlos Acevedo, Venezuela
early Table Tennis items
carlosacevedo69@cantv.net
Günther Angenendt ebay ID: thorin2001
Langacker 10a 44869 Bochum, Germany
/Fax: +49-2327-77117 ttanpp@gmx.de
Pre-war World Ch. programs; all TT items
German boxed sets & bats; TT pins
Jorge Arango jharango@epm.net.co
Cl. 10 No. 25 - 103 Ap. 116 Medellin, Colombia
Philatelic & general TT items ebay ID: nofrah37
Michael L. Babuin, PhD
P.O.Box 3401, Cary N.C. 27519 USA
mike.babuin@townofcary.org
pre-1905 books (any language), copies of old films,
programmes ebay ID: sircules
Oliver Born Germany
born4TT@freenet.de www.old-butterfly.de
Old Butterfly rackets, especially Korpa
Keith Bowler
14 Ewell Street, Balmain, N.S.W.
2041 Australia
(02) 98104128
Old magazines, publications up to 1961
Fabrice Chantriaux
Alan Duke
alan-duke2@talktalk.net
2 Shapwick Close Swindon WILTS.
ENGLAND SN3 3RQ UK
+44-(0) 1793 531234
History, music & photo record of TT items
Sergio Durazzano
Via Girardini 8, 33100 Udine ITALY
0432-21105 e-mail: durazzano@aruba.it
stamps and historical books
Winfried Engelbrecht
Virgiliastr. 21, D-45131 Essen Germany
+49 201 78 6795
winfried.engelbrecht@imail.de
Philately: Stamps, FDCs, Sheets Postmarks,
Phonecards, Books, tickets, stickers, W.C. Programs
Esko Heikkinen
Vainamoisenkatu 9 B 17, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
+358 50 62532 esko.heikkinen@diacor.fi
TT history, Stiga bats
Chuck Hoey Curator, ITTF Museum
Chemin de la Roche 11 RENENS 1020, Switzerland
museum@ittf.com Art bats, unusual bats, historic
photos, museum quality items
Martin Holland
44 Victoria Road Barrow-in-Furness
Cumbria ENGLAND BA14 5JU
mjh44now@yahoo.co.uk Postcards, trade cards
Gao Yi-bin
Rolf Jaeger USA tennisheritage@aol.com
Lithuania
gaoybd@yahoo.com.cn
2-202 Lakeside Apartment, Jiangning,
Nanjing. P.R.China 211100
+8625-5212 3334 TT stamps, FDCs, postcards,
phonecards, coins, medals, pins, cancellations
Roman Gelman
Rgpinman@aol.com
24 Taverngreen Court, Baltimore, MD 21209 USA
410-602-0267 TT pins,badges,medals
David George
Colin Clemett colin@clemett.demon.co.uk
7 Brookmead Way, Havant PO9 1RT UK
Historical documents
David Good
drfabioc@gmail.com
http://drfabiocolombo.ilbello.com/
Table Tennis books, World Rankings. Author
Seeking STIGA Stipancic rackets
27 Meadow Close, Stratford-upon-Avon
Warwickshire, CV37 9PJ, England
+44 (0) 1789 269352 rex.haggett@ntlworld.com
Interests: Philately ebay ID:
e-mail: rfranckaitis@gmail.com
Romualdas Franckaitis
10 Rue des Chevrefeuilles F-45130 Saint-Ay
FRANCE
02.38.88.82.11 Fax: 02.38.46.94.29
f.chantriaux@wanadoo.fr Stamps, cancels, postcards, posters (major events) old papers on TT
Fabio Colombo Italy
Rex Haggett
+ 44-01236 872350
No.1 Kingshill Cottages, Coatbridge Rd.
Gartcosh GT69-8DS SCOTLAND UK
Badges, keyrings, medals, olympics, pins
710 N.Waverly, Dearborn, MI 48128 USA
+1 313 278 5271 dgood42@yahoo.com
c.1900 sets, equipment, ephemera, memorabilia
Scott Gordon
Tennis & Table Tennis items
Custom jewelry: www.tennisboutique.com
Dean Johnson
3404 Holly Road Virginia Beach, VA 23451 USA
(757) 478-3605 E-mail: djab2b@aol.com
Jean-Francois Kahn
49 rue Léonardo da Vinci
77330 OZOIR LA FERRIERE France
+33 1 40779762 jean-francois.kahn@upmc.fr
TT philately : imperforated stamps, sheets, colour
proofs, minister / artist sheets, errors, postmarks,
red/blue meters, FDCs, specimens, etc.
Christian Klaus Möllersdorf Austria
43.664.8546343
christian.klaus@agum.net
TT-stamps, cancels, postcards, FDCs, autograph
cards, historic photos, score-lists, magazines, newspapers, books, posters & memorabilia
Jan Kleeven
Ron Crayden (ENG) in Memoriam
5340 Shelato Way, Carmichael, CA USA 95608
+1 916 457 8482 www.hardbat.com
sgordon@hardbat.com Acquire: films
historic films; classic-era hardbats, old books
Andre Demeure
Gordan Gotal mim-borovo@zg.htnet.hr
Matti Kolppanen
B-1200 Brussels BELGIUM
02/770.55.29
a.m.demeure@skynet.be Cancellations, red
meter, stationaries, stamps (perf+imperf), color
proofs, artist sheets, postcards, phonecards, coins
Meduliceva 23 Zagreb 10000 Croatia
+3851 4848 687 Exch: TT pins, medals, postcards Acquire: Official badges from WC & EC (guest,
organizer, player, press, etc.)
Kollekannaksent 12E, FI-02720 Espoo, FInland
matti.kolppanen@kolumbus.fi
TT history, TT postcards
Jean Devys
Steve Grant NY, NY USA
Place de Mai, 10
Residence La petite vigne
20 rue Edgar Quinet A/16 F-59100 Roubaix
FRANCE
33.320828444 Fax: 33.320660849
TT Philately, Cycling
jean.devys@orange.fr
Axel Dickhaus
Atzlenbacherf Str. 88
D-51381 Leverkusen GERMANY
+49 (0)2171 32108 Fax: +49(0)2171.731478
axel.dickhaus@freenet.de TT balls, phone cards
nyman455@yahoo.com
Ping Pong Diplomacy
Gerald Gurney
ebay ID: prompt101
Early 1900s Table Tennis
/Fax: +44-1206-230330
Guildhall Orchard, Great Bromley
Colchester, ESSEX CO7 7TU England
All racket games, Table Tennis, Tennis, Badminton.
All equipment, ephemera. Historian & author.
Worldwide exhibitions. Also swimming items.
Exch: boxed sets, postcards, books, rackets
Margrietstraat 63, 6373 NN Landgraaf
Netherlands e-mail: sjang.kleeven@planet.nl
Pins, flags, pennants, stamps, phonecards,stickers
Randy Koo
Torenwacht 37 2353 DB Leiderdorp Netherlands
+31 071 5417413
rkoo@planet.nl
Stamps mint, special postmarks, red meters, FDC
Hans Kreischer Avenue les Comargues 21
03111 Busot_Alicante SPAIN www.ttmuseum.nl
+34965698195 hanskreischer@hotmail.com
Kevin Lau, 7544 N.Claremont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60645 USA Phone: 773-719-0860
Fax:773-338-1831
kevintennis@yahoo.com
Philatelic items, pins, coins, souvenir items,
memorabilia, decorative items
28
Col lector Dir ectory
Caron Leff 9201 LaLique Lane #1602
Jose Ransome
Nikola Turk nikola.turk@zg.t-com.hr
Ft. Myers, FL 33919 USA
csleff@aol.com Interests: pins
”Conifers” Church Lane ORMESBY
Middleborough TS7 9AU ENGLAND
01642 322223 ajransome@aol.com
Ulica Pavla Hatza 26, Zagreb 10000 Croatia
Sport historian, Sport-recreation activist, journalist
Professor of Kinesiology, Philatelic collector
Francis Leibenguth 231 rue du Maréchal
Oudinot 54000 Nancy FRANCE
+33383578422
stanfl54-hardbat@yahoo.fr
Vintage bats (especially hardbats), vintage sets
Site: http://raquettes-collection.blog4ever.com/
Jorgen Lindh
Egnahemsgatan 13D S-43242 Varberg SWEDEN
joli@mbox303.swipnet.se ebay ID: joliswede
Steve Luck,
Essex, U.K.
steve@stevelucktennis.com racket sports,
rowing, billiards, croquet, archery – most sports
Fabio Marcotulli Venezuela
lailagalvez@yahoo.com ebay ID: zappiros
Barna rackets, TT items from all eras
Geoff Reed 21 Beaulieu Park, St Helier.
Jersey JE24RN reedgeo@googlemail.com
44.01534.730132 Table Tennis history
Helmut Reinhardt Lion-Fuchtwanger-Str. 6
Damir Uzorinac
Prilaz Gjure Dezelica 20 10000 Zagreb Croatia
Damir.Uzorinac@pliva.hr
38598474982
Books, pins, stamps, cancellations
Russ Walker
Lutz Schoenfeld Germany
rj_wal@msn.com
4316 Irving Ave N, MPLS MN 55412 USA
+1-612-522-7905
ebay ID: russw58
Early 1900s equipment & boxed sets
selling Table Tennis items on ebay ID: pongiste
e-mail: rulusch@t-online.de
Yao Zhenxu
D-18435 Stralsund, GERMANY
+49-(0)3831-397141 H.Reinhardt-Stral@t-online.de
Martin Senn St. Gallen, Switzerland
e-mail: keys@swissonline.ch
Seeks old Stiga blades & catalogues
Luigi Simeoni
Room 401 Unit 1 Building 2
No. 4 Dongsikuaiyu South Street
Chongwen District, Beijing 100061, China
+86-13911990508 cttayao@china.com
TT stamps, FDC, postcards, coins, phonecards, pins,
postal material, tickets etc.
President, AFCTT (French TT Collectors Assoc)
luigi_simeoni@libero.it
Via Ponte S.Pancrazio 2/a 37133 Verona ITALY
0039 045 532033 TT Balls, catalogue available
Eldon Mohler 3910 Pecos-McLeod, A100
Harry Sintemaartensdijk Julianastraat 8,
Las Vegas. NV 89121 USA
Fax: +1-702-453-8472 eam2@ix.netcom.com
2651 DP Berkel en Rodenrijs The Netherlands.
0031 105114621
harry.smd@kpnmail.nl
Tischtennis Aufklebers/stickers
Neckarstraat 8 NL9406 VN ASSEN Netherlands
+31 592 350486 Fax: 0031 592 355861
j.zinkstok@poveia.nl website: www.poveia.nl
TT cancellations, stamps, vignettes, on real used
letters/covers/cards, FDC
ebay ID: joszi_nl
Tang Gan Xian tangganxian@yahoo.com.cn
Anton Zwiebel
Qing Hu 4-35-104, ChangShu 215500 P.R.China
86-512-52722359 Philately: TT stamps, FDCs,
postmarks, postcards, phonecards,tickets, pins
Kerkweg 30, 9439 PG Witteveen, Netherlands
+31 593 552788 a.zwiebel@hotmail.com
Exch: Stamps, cancellations, postcards
Acquire: postcards
ebay ID: pongist
Marc Templereau
49
Hubert Menand hubert.menand@laposte.net
Erik Kenneth Muhr ENGLAND UK
2 Highgate Hill, Hawkhurst KENT TN18 4LB
01580 752676 kenmuhr@btopenworld.com
History of Table Tennis
Rudolf Muller Bahnhofstr. 58 D-57250
Netphen GERMANY
02738-1461
Stamps, cancels, letter, error, red meter marks
Jan Nusteleyn
Weserstraat 21, 9406 VP Assen The Netherlands
0592-356050 e-mail: nleyn@hotmail.com
Stamps, mint perforated FDCs red meters,
cancels WC, EC, EC-Youth, Top-12
16 Hameau des cerisiers 38150 Roussillon France
Secretary, AFCTT (French TT Collectors Assoc)
website: http://afctt.over-blog.com
Collections : stamps, FDC, players postcards, autographs, programs
e-mail: tpam@free.fr
Dr. Fabio Colombo (ITA), member of the
ITTF Sports Sciences Committee, seeks
Stiga Stipancic rackets. Contact Fabio by
e-mail at: drfabioc@gmail.com Visit his
website: http://drfabiocolombo.ilbello.com
Michael Thomson 1 Kinnoull Terrace, PERTH
Robert Op de Beeck
+03/455.41.59
J.F.Willemstraat 66 2530 Boechout BELGIUM
PH2 7DJ SCOTLAND UK
01738 622052 thomsonmfamily@blueyonder.co.uk
Jaques and history of Table Tennis
Florian Pagel Germany flo.p@gmx.net
Solazzi Tonino solton66@virgilio.it
Via Millefonti 6 / 5
10126 Torino, Italy
00393391870279 Table Tennis pins
Older bats: Banda, Stiga, Joola, Butterfly, Imperial
Jos Zinkstok
Gregory Pinkhusovich
Apt.10, h.2 Sheshet Ha-Yamim Str
Ariel 40700 ISRAEL gpinkhusovich@yahoo.com
+972-54-3394739 TTpins, badges, medals, coins
Jeong-Kye Park fifaball@hanmail.net
P.O.Box 555 BUSAN 600-605 KOREA SOUTH
016 242 2075 Stamps, cancellations, covers
Robin Radford rjradford@xtra.co.nz
16 St Edmund Cr TAWA, Wellington, NZ
+64 04 232 5672
TT cartoons, comic strips, clip art
Hans-Peter Trautmann
Siegfriedstr. 17 64385 Reichelsheim GERMANY
hpt@hptrautmann.de ebay ID: hpt146
Stamps mint, perforated, imperforated, sheets,
color proofs, minister/artist sheets, postmarks,
errors, red/blue meters
Graham Trimming Rosemount Juniper Lane
Wooburn Green, Bucks HP10 0DE England
44 (0) 1628 529609 ebay ID:graham-ttcollector
graham.trimming@virgin.net pre-1939TT items,
esp c.1900s. Acquire: Gossima 1891; early unusual
items; early World Ch items.
Mystery Photo
Issue #57
Many readers identified the players in
this famous photograph of the 1949
World Championship Swaythling Cup
winning team from Hungary:
L-R: J. Koczian, F. Sido, npc Dr G.
Lakatos, F. Soos, L.Varkonyi
29
Heavy Metal
Medals from the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games
Our Heavy Metal comes from the Para
Table Tennis international community,
including Paralympics and medals and
medallions from other major championships for the disabled.
Para-Table Tennis joined the ITTF in
2008. A new gallery for Para-TT is
available on the ITTF Museum website:
www.ittf.com/museum
Click the trophy to reach the Sport
History Galleries, then select:
New: Para-Table Tennis
Above: Framed set of medals from the 2007 Asian & Oceanian
Table Tennis Championships for the Disabled
Below: Medals from the 2007 European Para-TT Championships
Framed set of medals from the 2009 African
Continental Para Table Tennis Championships.
© ITTF Museum 2010 Published by the ITTF Museum: Chemin de la Roche 11, CH-1020 RENENS, SWITZERLAND
e-mail: museum@ittf.com
Website: www.ittf.com/museum
No part of this journal may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher