Need Some Help From The Vintage Bat Experts

[slidekellyslide]

Found this unusual bat yesterday and was wondering what the thoughts are on what the age may be....it is unmarked as far as I can tell. I am not sure what kind of wood it is, but it is very heavy - 40+ oz easily (maybe my heaviest bat) and measures 34" long.

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8909/vintageball007smallwv3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/2303/vintageball008smalljn3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/7779/vintageball009smalljg9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[mjkm90]

Definately Ash. The styling is turn of the century on the barrel end, but the other has the more modern thicker rounded knob, it's homemade, not a lot of patina. It could be old, but it's tough to say for sure. The lathe marks in the end can be telling. I am not saying your bat isn't old, but simply pointing out things to consider.
These are very tricky to date because a person could turn one today in a home workshop, distress it, and call it old. I have a few similar in my collection. I only buy them with nice vintage patina then leave them as they are, or add a little lemon oil and paste wax. They are usually inexpensive unless there is little question as the dating.
Thanks for posting.

Mike H.

[slidekellyslide]

No lathe markings at all....may have been sanded out. I think it's definitely old -the wood is checking and I got it cheap ($14) so the person selling it wasn't trying to scam anyone. I also picked up the following mitt from the same person -Not sure of this one's age either...It's a Yale brand Champion mitt and you can still read the stampings on the inside of the glove.

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/9438/vintageball002smallun4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/5673/vintageball003smallzj0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I know that Yale was a cheaper brand and usually made gloves for kids, but I couldn't pass the deal up on this one in such nice shape for $22. I had another good day antique shopping as I also picked up a nice short billed, eight panel cap in excellent condition and a cabinet photo of a baseball team with an African American gentleman on it. Not sure what I did, but my Karma is on the rise. :)

[mjkm90]

Nice job on both counts. You can't pass up a glove that nice regardless. I would love to see the cap. Is it available for purchase?

[slidekellyslide]

Here's the cap...I'm going to hold onto it for now.
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/8673/vintageball004smallir6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/3353/vintageball005smallln5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Got this nice Diamond Ball bat from the Indiana Bat Company too.
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/5122/vintageball006smalldz7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[vintagesportscollector]

Very nice pick ups Dan. The cap is not baseball. It's a kids or class or fraternity cap - more recent than then the "short billed" baseball cap era. 1940's I would guess. I come across these caps quite often in shops and usually buy them if its just a couple bucks because they might come in handy for display at some point They look like they could be baseball caps and most people wouldn't know the difference. Regardless this one has a nice look.

[slidekellyslide]

How do you tell the difference? I don't see these types of caps often enough to know the difference. It does look an awful lot like the hat that Flounder wore in Animal House. :D

[mjkm90]

Big button, too short a bill. color sceam.

[vintagesportscollector]

yes those that Mike said plus..

- All felt like material in construction
- No air holes on top
- skull cap shape

Hard to tell exactly but it does look like all felt like material (is it Dan?) which is typical of these class beanies - not durable enough to stand up to an athletic use. Turn of the century caps were usually wool or a blend, much like the same material as the jerseys and pants.

[slidekellyslide]

Yep, it's all a felt-like material....nothing solid inside the brim either. I hadn't even noticed that their were no "airholes" in the cap. Oh well live and learn - I paid $20 for it so it's not like a killer mistake, but I've done so well over the last week I can't complain....plus it still looks nice in a vintage display.

[b.heagy]

Yep, it's all a felt-like material....nothing solid inside the brim either. I hadn't even noticed that their were no "airholes" in the cap. Oh well live and learn - I paid $20 for it so it's not like a killer mistake, but I've done so well over the last week I can't complain....plus it still looks nice in a vintage display.


I sold one a couple months ago for $40 because it had a neat look. The person knew it was a fraternity cap but just liked to eye appeal. Still neat caps.