William Gilbert (Rugby)
Encyclopedia
William Gilbert established Gilbert company
, the manufacturer of sports equipment, in 1823. Gilbert had a boot and shoemakers shop in the high street next to Rugby School
and started making balls for the school out of hand stitched, four-panel, leather casings and pig bladder
s.
It is the shape of the pig’s bladder that is reputed to have given the rugby ball its distinctive oval shape although balls of those days were more plum shaped than oval. The balls varied in size in the beginning depending upon how large the pig’s bladder was and in those early days William's nephew James who was famed for his extraordinary lung power, inflated the balls. It was not a job that was sought after, the pig’s bladder would be blown up while still in its very smelly ‘green state’, solely by lungpower, down the stem of a clay pipe which was inserted into the opening of the bladder.
If the pig was diseased, it was possible to develop lung diseases from blowing up the balls. The wife of Richard Lindon
, another man who also made balls for Rugby School, died from an infection caught from an infected pigs bladder. This spurred Lindon in the mid 1860's to pioneer the "rubber bladder", the Brass Hand pump inflator and finally the advent of shape standardisation.
When William died his nephew James succeeded him.
Gilbert (sports equipment)
Gilbert is a sporting goods manufacturing company, specialising in balls for rugby union and netball. The company was established by William Gilbert in 1823, who along with his nephew, James, developed the first rugby balls, having previously made football boots before the game of rugby had been...
, the manufacturer of sports equipment, in 1823. Gilbert had a boot and shoemakers shop in the high street next to Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and started making balls for the school out of hand stitched, four-panel, leather casings and pig bladder
Pig bladder
Pig bladder is the bladder of a domestic pig, similar to the human urinary bladder. Today, this hollow organ has various applications in medicine, and in traditional cuisines and customs...
s.
It is the shape of the pig’s bladder that is reputed to have given the rugby ball its distinctive oval shape although balls of those days were more plum shaped than oval. The balls varied in size in the beginning depending upon how large the pig’s bladder was and in those early days William's nephew James who was famed for his extraordinary lung power, inflated the balls. It was not a job that was sought after, the pig’s bladder would be blown up while still in its very smelly ‘green state’, solely by lungpower, down the stem of a clay pipe which was inserted into the opening of the bladder.
If the pig was diseased, it was possible to develop lung diseases from blowing up the balls. The wife of Richard Lindon
Richard Lindon
Richard Lindon was an English leatherworker who was instrumental in the development of the modern-day rugby ball by advancing the craft for ball, rubber bladder, and air pump.- Life and career :...
, another man who also made balls for Rugby School, died from an infection caught from an infected pigs bladder. This spurred Lindon in the mid 1860's to pioneer the "rubber bladder", the Brass Hand pump inflator and finally the advent of shape standardisation.
When William died his nephew James succeeded him.
See also
- The Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum housed in the property formally owned by James Gilbert.