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I picked up an old trunk full of sports stuff at an estate auction last night. The items of note in it were an old leather sewn laced basketball, 2 old footballs, and 3 older softballs.
The basketball isn't in great shape, but the laces are in good shape. It is marked USA and has other markings that I can't make out.
The footballs both have identical markings:
SPECIAL SERVIES
U.S. ARMY
Youth?
Offical
312?
Both have nice patina to the leather and have nice laces.
Lastly there are 3 softballs. I don't know anything about softballs and if older ones have any value. 2 of them are wilson concealed stich softballs but both are very faded and dont look that nice. The third one is a Rawlings Official Indoor Outdoor "The Protex Sewn"
It is marked:
No 412
12 inch Size
Kapok center
Horsehide Cover.
US patents No 1861.157
No 1980.472.
This third softball is also marked: SPECIAL SERVICES US ARMY
Any idea on age of these items? I was guessing 20's for both the basketball and footballs. I was trying to date the softball by using the patents but no luck there, not really sure I did that right though.
If anyone collects softball stuff let me know, as I don't plan on keeping these.
I will also probably be selling or trading the basketball. The footballs I will probably keep as they fit nicely with my collection.
Thanks
Keith
The basketball isn't in great shape, but the laces are in good shape. It is marked USA and has other markings that I can't make out.
The footballs both have identical markings:
SPECIAL SERVIES
U.S. ARMY
Youth?
Offical
312?
Both have nice patina to the leather and have nice laces.
Lastly there are 3 softballs. I don't know anything about softballs and if older ones have any value. 2 of them are wilson concealed stich softballs but both are very faded and dont look that nice. The third one is a Rawlings Official Indoor Outdoor "The Protex Sewn"
It is marked:
No 412
12 inch Size
Kapok center
Horsehide Cover.
US patents No 1861.157
No 1980.472.
This third softball is also marked: SPECIAL SERVICES US ARMY
Any idea on age of these items? I was guessing 20's for both the basketball and footballs. I was trying to date the softball by using the patents but no luck there, not really sure I did that right though.
If anyone collects softball stuff let me know, as I don't plan on keeping these.
I will also probably be selling or trading the basketball. The footballs I will probably keep as they fit nicely with my collection.
Thanks
Keith