The American Touch - Horsman Maker 1884

The Horsman Maker model represents an early stage of American lawn-tennis production. The company was founded by Edward Imeson Horsman around 1865 and originally manufactured toys before expanding into sporting goods. During this first phase, racquets were not assigned individual product names. Frames left the workshop with the simple imprint Horsman Maker, a practice that matched contemporary branding habits and reflected the attempt to establish a national presence in a market still dominated by British imports.

Horsman Maker, 1884

The present example dates to the early eighteen eighties and shows several typical features of the period. It carries a solid wood frame with a flat top that leans slightly toward the box-shaped outlines of the decade. The wedge is lightly convex, and the handle is produced without a butt strap - details that correspond to construction methods used by American makers as they developed their own approach to frame design.

The model stands as an example of how US manufacturers positioned themselves in the evolving equipment landscape of the time. With its straightforward imprint, restrained design and characteristic shaping, the racquet marks a step in the technical and commercial development of American lawn-tennis production.

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About the Author:

Andreas Fixemer

Berlin Tennis Gallery

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