kjjavic
09-21-2006, 01:34 PM
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
http://www.geocities.com/buddyryanisgod/estategroup.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/buddyryanisgod/estategroup2.JPG
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
http://www.geocities.com/buddyryanisgod/estategroup.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/buddyryanisgod/estategroup2.JPG