portrait-photo

The Wunderkammer of the Mild Colonial Boy, Esq., a Reactionary Tory Gentleman, who armed only with a Steampowered Babbage Engine and Pure Intentions, wanders the Time Streams and Aetheric Plane gathering an Eccentric Hodgepodge of Curiousities, Frivolities, Whimsicalities and Nonsense.

Q. Why is your Tumblelog called "My Ear-Trumpet Has Been Struck by Lightning"?

A. Because "My Grandmother's Ear-Trumpet Has Been Struck by Lightning" wouldn't fit in the available space.

ragbag: the allahakbarries if you were like me growing up and populated all of your fantasy sports teams not with famous athletes but famous writers, then you will derive a modest amount of non-sexual arousal from the allahakbarries—a super group of edwardian literary cricketeers. j. m. barrie founded the sports club in 1890, naming it a bizarre portmanteau of his surname + allāhu akbar. its membership consisted of: arthur conan doyle, a character in several sherlock holmes stories jerome k. jerome, a person notable for his his name a. a. milne, who was obsessed with pooh p. g. wodehouse, [p. g. stands for pussy gangster] paul du chaillu, the “discover of gorillas*” charles tennyson, a lesser tennyson as well as a bunch of editors from punch, a humor magazine acquired by rupert murdoch in 1919 barry wrote a book on the team (allahakbarries c.c.) which was published via vanity press in 1899. there is also this recommended account by modern author, kevin telfer. in conclusion: the allahakbarries were the rock bottom remainders of the literary cricket set.

ragbag:

the allahakbarries

if you were like me growing up and populated all of your fantasy sports teams not with famous athletes but famous writers, then you will derive a modest amount of non-sexual arousal from the allahakbarries—a super group of edwardian literary cricketeers.

j. m. barrie founded the sports club in 1890, naming it a bizarre portmanteau of his surname + allāhu akbar. its membership consisted of:

  • arthur conan doyle, a character in several sherlock holmes stories
  • jerome k. jerome, a person notable for his his name
  • a. a. milne, who was obsessed with pooh
  • p. g. wodehouse, [p. g. stands for pussy gangster]
  • paul du chaillu, the “discover of gorillas*”
  • charles tennyson, a lesser tennyson
  • as well as a bunch of editors from punch, a humor magazine acquired by rupert murdoch in 1919

barry wrote a book on the team (allahakbarries c.c.) which was published via vanity press in 1899. there is also this recommended account by modern author, kevin telfer.

in conclusion: the allahakbarries were the rock bottom remainders of the literary cricket set.

andrewstuntpilot: West Hartlepool cricket team pictured at Park Drive grounds, 1937 (via Museum of Hartlepool Flickr).

andrewstuntpilot:

West Hartlepool cricket team pictured at Park Drive grounds, 1937 (via Museum of Hartlepool Flickr).

savage-america: I really like cricket bats. I might get one, just to play with Ah cricket, formerly the game of gentlemen.

savage-america:

I really like cricket bats. I might get one, just to play with

Ah cricket, formerly the game of gentlemen.

(Source: neoretro)

treselegant: “Harry Elmtree here rushed in and dragged me out.” Cassell’s Family Magazine, 1881.  They desperately needed another fielder for their cricket game.

treselegant:

“Harry Elmtree here rushed in and dragged me out.”

Cassell’s Family Magazine, 1881. 

They desperately needed another fielder for their cricket game.

nypl: The A. G. Spalding Baseball Collection is just full of men with mustaches. Seems like the rise of professional baseball corresponded with a fashion for facial hair.  A little research determines that this fellow, Mr. A.M. Wood, actually played cricket. You can read stats from several 1897 matches his team (the Philadelphians) played versus various teams in England if you are the type of person who likes reading old cricket scores. We say, that’s a cracking good mustache, sir! Happy Mustache Monday!

nypl:

The A. G. Spalding Baseball Collection is just full of men with mustaches. Seems like the rise of professional baseball corresponded with a fashion for facial hair. 

A little research determines that this fellow, Mr. A.M. Wood, actually played cricket. You can read stats from several 1897 matches his team (the Philadelphians) played versus various teams in England if you are the type of person who likes reading old cricket scores.

We say, that’s a cracking good mustache, sir!

Happy Mustache Monday!

nypl:

We can’t get enough of the boys in white, courtesy of our Digital Gallery. The Imperial Cricket Conference, now known as the International Cricket Council,  with representatives from England, Australia and South Africa was formed today in 1909. We couldn’t help but dig through our files and find some amazing images of cricket days gone by.

We do have to wonder though… how do they keep their whites so white - especially while cricketing in the grass?

Enjoy!

cricketlegends: Sir Leonard Hutton

cricketlegends:

Sir Leonard Hutton

(Source: )

thegildedrage: Cricketers ready to hit the pitch. Hamilton early 1910’s.

thegildedrage:

Cricketers ready to hit the pitch. Hamilton early 1910’s.

vicfangirlguide: An illustration of a ladies cricket match held in 1889. In the 19th century cricket was considered an appropriate sport for upper class women to play as it was not too physically taxing. Legend has it that overarm bowling was first invented by a woman when she was playing cricket with her brother. She could not bowl the ball underarm as her crinoline got in the way and so she bowled overarm.

vicfangirlguide:

An illustration of a ladies cricket match held in 1889. In the 19th century cricket was considered an appropriate sport for upper class women to play as it was not too physically taxing. Legend has it that overarm bowling was first invented by a woman when she was playing cricket with her brother. She could not bowl the ball underarm as her crinoline got in the way and so she bowled overarm.

(via victorianfanguide)

[Image of “The Don” (Donald Bradman)] THE AFFECTED PROVINCIAL | Sticky Wickets, Googlies, and Silly-Mid-Offs: The Philadelphia International Cricket Festival is an annual sporting charity event staged during the first weekend in May. Philadelphia is the cradle of American cricket: the first American Cricket Club was founded at Haverford College in 1834. Haverford College is also home to the United States Cricket Museum.

[Image of “The Don” (Donald Bradman)]

THE AFFECTED PROVINCIAL | Sticky Wickets, Googlies, and Silly-Mid-Offs:

The Philadelphia International Cricket Festival is an annual sporting charity event staged during the first weekend in May.

Philadelphia is the cradle of American cricket: the first American Cricket Club was founded at Haverford College in 1834. Haverford College is also home to the United States Cricket Museum.