- The materials used in the manufacture of bowls, which will be covered in depth.
- Any technological developments, in the process, of designing and making.
- The user and function of bowls will also be researched.
What issues of manufacturing will be covered
The issues of manufacturing that will be covered this study are: -
- The process that the bowls are made from.
- The type of machinery that is used, in the manufacture, of the bowls.
- How are the bowls tested.
- The type of scales of production that the bowls are made from.
- Possible recycling that could be covered.
What methods/sources of investigation will be undertaken in order, to obtain the relevant information
In order to carry out this study, there are many resources of information that are needed; also research is required, in the study. The internet will be a very valuable source of information, for me in this study, as well as using books from my local/college library, and information which has been sent to me, by companies, that I have spoken to.
I can also write, or/and send e-mails, to companies, to help me gather information, and to try and arrange an interview, with processionals, who are in the field of bowls production, if it is possible, to do this.
My proposed research strategy for the completion of my case study
My proposed Time Plan
History of bowls
The game of bowls, according to most evidence, points back to the time, to form of bowling that was played by the ancient Egyptians, before 5000BC. The object of this game, was to try and hit the target, but really the only solid amount of evidence that has been found, points back to the 13th century, in Southampton, where the oldest bowling green is meant to exist, when it was set up in 1299.
In the 14th century, King Edward 3rd, banned all this bowmen, from playing bowls, because it caused the bowman’s skill’s to deteriorate, because the bowmen spent more time playing bowls, then actually practicing on their archery skills.
The popularity of bowls could be seen during the 16th century, by being mentioned, in no less than 3 of William Shakespeare’s plays, “Richard III”, “Loves Labours Lost”, and “The Taming of the Shrew”, which includes a reference that ladies, also played bowls in that era, as well as the men.
One of the most historical events, that have been recorded, was on 15th July, in 1588, when Sir Francis Drake who was playing bowls on Plymouth Hoe, and refused to leave the game of bowls that he was playing, and go into battle, until his game of bowls was finished.
The Scottish Bowls Association, which was founded in 1892, by James P. Simpson, wrote the first official rules, for the game of bowls, in 1903. In 1903 A English cricketer W. G. Grace, helped to form the English Bowls Association, where he became the president for the fist two years.
W. G. Grace also helped to set up the first international game, between England and Scotland.
In the 1998 Commonwealth games that was held in Malaysia, which showed that bowls is now played in over 35 countries, that include some countries such as: - Thailand
South Africa
Japan
Israel
India
Manufacturing Processes
Materials
The materials that are used to manufacture bowls from, this current day are mainly made from composite materials, such as Phenol formaldehyde, which also has trade name which is also known as Bakelite, etc., the properties of Phenol Formaldehyde are: -
As we can see from the table above, that
User
Technological Developments
Since the evidence of the game, was found in the 13th Century, the material that was commonly used, by bowls manufacturers, was Lignum Vitae, the properties of Lignum Vitae are: -
