Table Badminton:

There is a popular notion that Table Tennis evolved out of desire to bring Lawn Tennis indoors during inclement weather, so it should come as no surprise to learn that at least three manufacturers have made attempts in the past to compress Badminton to a size which can be played on the dining room table.

The sole evidence for two versions of the game is to be found in undated advertisements by sports good manufacturers.

• WHIFF-WAFF: The first is from the well known sports firm of Slazenger & Sons who in a combined advertisement offer for sale the games of "Whiff-Waff or Table Badminton". and "The Game of Table Tennis". The advertisement also includes illustrations of both games being played. It is interesting to note that "Whiff-Waff" was also the name given to a boxed set of Table Tennis. What is not known is, which was the earlier game to bear the registered name. Price per boxed set: 10/6.

• TABLE BADMINTON: The second game is called simply "Table Badminton" and was promoted by a company called B.G.L. It also includes an illustration of the game being played. Price 5/11 per set.

• ARENA BADMINTON: The third, and I suspect, the most recent, is well documented with surviving boxed versions of the game complete with rules, There are also advertisements, newspaper reports with pictures and even a book on the subject.

Strenuous efforts were made in the 1930's to popularise this latter version but like the others it appears to have died a natural death there being no record of it being played today.