A fine Victorian Browne & Heppell 'The Globe' fishtail lawn tennis racket, with a fine narrow grooved handle, original complete and unbroken thick str

A fine Victorian Browne & Heppell 'The Globe' fishtail lawn tennis racket, with a fine narrow grooved handle, original complete and unbroken thick stringing and 7 rows of trebbling; sold together with a mahogany multiple racket press by Henry Mallings of Woolwich, circa 1890 (2) The company, formed by John Philip Browne, Albert Huggins Heppell and Alfred Last was cricket, football and Athletic goods manufacturers in London. In the 1901 census Heppell (1866-1912) was listed as a 'cycle engineer' but by 1911 he was described as a 'Professor Cyril' of Swimming and Diving. He moved to Brighton in 1907 and began a bicycle diving act. In his first season he broke his arm when he dived into the sea at low tide. On the day of his final dive on 27th. May 1912, the West Pier was packed with spectators. Professor Cyril began his descent but half way down the ramp one of the bicycle wheels wobbled and he fell over the edge of the ramp and dashed his head against the pier decking. 'There was a universal gasp of horror and alarm and many of the bystanders fainted.' He died of his injuries 20 minutes later.