Limited existence of Maurice Tate Limited
The words “Maurice Tate, Brighton” may sound familiar to cricket lovers, and a cue carrying this inscription appeared at Lawrence’s, Bletchingley, on Tuesday, 30th November 2021.
The famous Sussex and England cricketer who lived in Brighton, made his reputation in that sport between the wars, and although this was apparently an unremarkable example of yet another ash cue with a simple hand spliced ebony butt, it was in fact, a rare survivor.
Tate’s venture into the commercial world of sports retailing was sufficiently brief to be attributed to one year, 1928. Indeed, it was limited to the summer of that year!
Sports outfitting was a popular form of external income for a lot of professional sportsmen at this time. The idea was to lend a famous name to a commercial establishment who sold related goods and returned part of the profits for no other effort on the part of the doner. This fine capitalist principle clearly relies on the business acumen of the chosen business partner to generate profits, and in this choice Tate appears to have been unlucky.
The concept first materialised during a game of golf with fellow Brighton resident, W H Osborn, when it was agreed to invest £1,000 in a company which would carry his name and deal in a wide range of sporting goods. A limited company was quickly formed and a shop managed by the said Mr Osborn opened in East Street, Brighton, in March 1928. However, the venture was a spectacular failure, the business being closed after six months trading, and the company wound up in a voluntary liquidation. Tate himself departed on a tour of Australia with the M.C.C. and the subject of sports outfitting was never raised again!
This cue must have been part of the original stock, almost certainly on display at the grand opening of the shop. How many might have been sold over that dismal summer of trading can only be guesswork, but it must have been very few. It is entirely possible that with new cues not normally being in great demand over the summer months, this may have been the only one.
If nothing else, it is certainly an interesting footnote to the career of a brilliant cricketer, and not so brilliant businessman. It’s rarity didn’t go totally unnoticed and it sold to an online bidder, together with its original metal case for a respectable £270 (plus 30% buyer’s premium).
Peter Ainsworth
Originally posted to the Cues n Views facebook page 30th November 2021
