From Launceston to a global sensation

Image: Visitors exploring Alexander 100 on display at the Queen Victoria Museum at Inveresk. 

This is the story of how a Launceston company changed the tennis world. 

Through a combination of engineering and design brilliance, Launceston brothers Alfred and Douglas Alexander founded the Alexander Patent Racket Company – welcoming a brand-new way of making tennis racquets. 

It wasn’t long before the company was recognised as one of the top racquet manufacturers in the world and used by leading professional tennis athletes – in particular, Australian tennis player and household name of the 1930’s, Jack Crawford. 

In celebration of 100 years since the founding of this iconic Tasmanian company, visitors can now explore the rich innovation and manufacturing history of Launceston's Alexander Racket Company in Alexander 100 on display at the Queen Victoria Museum at Inveresk.  

QVMAG Senior Curator of History, Jon Addison said the inspiration for the Alexander 100 exhibition came from the anniversary of the foundation of the Alexander Patent Racket Company.  

“The company was started by two brothers, Alfred Alexander and his brother Douglas, who patented a brand-new way of making tennis rackets – and it was really, really clever” Jon said.   

“But it wasn't just about this idea. Plenty of people have had brilliant ideas and they never actually managed to make them work.   

“In this case, it was the combination of engineering and design brilliance, then coupled with great marketing and continued innovation that made the company stand out as one of the top racket manufacturers in in the world for quite a number of years.” 

"Prior to Alexander, racquets were generally made using a process called steam bending. This is where you take the wood, and you use steam to soften it and bend it around the mould,” Jon said.   

“Now the problem with that is, it actually weakens the racquet. So, what Alfred and Douglas Alexander came up with was a dry bending process where they dry laminated it.  

“They cut the wood into thinner strips and then bent it dry - without steam - around a mould and laminated it into a place. That meant it could hold a lot more tension while being lighter and more responsive as a racquet.   

“It cut down the manufacturing process time by a huge amount so they could produce far more of them, far more efficiently. So, they produced a better racket in less time."  

Image: Alexander 100 exhibition, on display at the Queen Victoria Museum at Inveresk with free entry.

QVMAG Assistant Curator of History, and curator of Alexander 100, Burcu Keane said the company took the tennis world by storm.  

"One household name that used Alexander racquets was Australian tennis player Jack Crawford - he's best known for winning the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon,” Burcu said.

“He came one set close to winning the US Open – and if he had, he would have been the first person ever to win a Grand Slam, all while using his Alexander racquet.”

“The story of the Alexander Patent Racket Company is just incredible. Their manufacturing innovation truly changed the tennis game.

“Instead of taking months, or sometimes years, for tennis racquets to dry, the company could have racquets produced in around 16 hours, which is almost like moving from dial up internet to the fibreoptic speed.”   

Discover the incredible story of local innovation and global sporting history with Alexander 100 – now showing at the Museum at Inveresk with free entry until 11 January 2026.   

Issued 11 November 2025.