For our second crafty clue we gave you Fred Trueman, the cricketer, and renowned “bowler”.
Now a “bowler” in hat land is a hard felt hat with a rounded top and a brim which curves slightly the the side. Why it is called that is from its original manufacturers, Thomas and William Bowler of London, and they first made one in 1849. As to why, well they were asked to, by none other than James Lock & Co, who had been commissioned to make something which would stay on the head of the gamekeeper of one of the Earls of Leicester, unlike his present top hat, which was always being blown off by the wind, falling off when the horse shied or stumbled, or being collected in passing by low-hanging branches. And then, of course, the gamekeeper would have to get off his horse, collect his hat, and clamber back aboard. So almost certainly the Earl had seen this, and wanted more work, less time-wasting. ...
This set first appears in our original British Trade Index part two, as part of a group with another set, which became known as "1961 Test Series", and which we featured in our newsletter dated the 10th of August 2024, as the diary date card for Monday the 12th of August.
The group is listed in our original British Trade Index part II, as :
- CRICKETER GROUPING (A) Lg. Nd. ... ABF-5
1. Action pictures. Back with number in blue square, 96 x 67 (48)
2. Portrait in flat circle, vari-coloured surround, Titled "1961 Test Series". (48)
A. 90 x 64
B. 94 x 68
The A and B are today known as the "large border" and the "standard border". I do not know why there were two borders, but maybe you do, and can tell us.