REPORT BY
FRED MEDART MANUFACTURING CO.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

% % FOREWORD * *

In October, 1938, we were approached by a local basketball enthusiast
with the suggestion that a convex surface applied to the conventional
4' x 6' backboard would do much to eliminate waste areas, allow maximum
shooting angles from the corners, permit maximum visibility for specta-
tors, eliminate the mental hazard when attempting a short from the side
line directly opposite the edge of the flat backboard, and to open up
the game by reducing the congestion in the immediate vicinity of the
backboard.

A brief but interested investigation of the above claims indicated merit
in the suggestion and two sample backboards were constructed for test

purposes.

Arrangements were made to install and demonstrate these two 4'x 6' square
backboards with the convex surface, in the gymnasium of the High School
in University City, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis.

Inasmuch as we had no previous acquaintance with any member of the Basket-
ball Rules Committee, we selected from the Backetball Rules Book two mem-
bers of the Committee, i.e., Mr. H. V. Porter, Secretary, and

Dr. F. C. Allen, Chairman of the Research Committee, and to these two
gentlemen we extended invitations to visit the demonstration on

March 29, 1939, of the sample boards at the University City High School
before approximately 50 coaches from St. Louis and surrounding suburbs.

Unfortunately, Mr. Porter advised that he was unable to make the trip but
that Dr. Allen, who was in Chicago at that time, would return to Lawrence
via St. Louis and join in the test.

Upon making the acquaintance of Dr. Allen we learned for the first time
that your organization had devoted considerable thought and effort in an
attempt to modernize the backboard and that our efforts in the same direc-
tion were opportune and welcome.

An invitation to exhibit the convex surface backboard before your annual
meeting in New York City followed.

Arrangements were made with the downtown gymnasium of New York University
to exhibit three boards as follows:

1. Standard 4' x 6! square board with convex surface.
2. Same as above but with the four corners rounded.

3. Small, fan shaped board with convex surface. This board
was similar in general appearance to the backboard illus-
trated in the Summer edition of your Rules Book and as is
now exhibited for your inspection at

Continental Hotel