My Dad's old cricket bat

 

I'm new to the forum and am after some advice.

 

It's been 16 years since my Dad died and I finally had the courage to open his old leather cricket bag that used to live in our hallway when I was a child, derided by my mother for always being in the way!  Anyway, inside was his old cricket bat, amongst other things.  The bat is a Len Hutton Autograph bat and it looks extremely dry, although not cracked, and I don't know what has happened to the handle!  The bag and contents have been stored in a cold, dry place since my Dad died, yet the handle looks like it's 'melted'.  It made of a red substance and has bubbled and is sticky in places.  I don't think there's much can be done with this but someone may know better    As for the wood, like I said, it's quite dry.  I do have some raw linseed oil.  Should I use this to oil the bat?  There is a sticker on the bat saying it must be oiled every week but I don't know if this would apply after all these years.  Can someone advise me on what to do with this to prevent it getting any worse, please?

 

As a point of interest, my Dad used to umpire at County level and I was always rather proud of him   He was a member of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, too    He used to play a lot of cricket at Warton BAe and I remember sitting on what seemed enormous stools in the clubhouse so I could watch him out of the window 

 

Thank you for any advice.

 

Thank you so much for your quick reply.  Yes, I have a vague recollection of the handle being rubbery with a very slight textured feel to it.  I live on the Lincs / Notts border, so if anyone knows of somewhere I could take the bat with a view to having it restored I'd love to hear from them.  In the meantime, I'll give it a fine coat of oil.  I would like to do what I can with it, just to preserve it.

 

Thanks again.

 

Please do let us know how you get on with it Polly - you could maybe even get some before and after photos if you have the chance.