1970's Wilson NFL Football (Experts?)

[duane v]

Hi all!!! My name is Duane and I'm a sports head and thanks for having me.

Anywhoo I have these two Wilson footballs, one is a DD code 1971 (re-laced and new bladder install), and the other is an EE code 1972.

The 1972 EE code does not have the typical "MADE IN USA" stamp like my 1971... (See images). I spoke to a Wilson representative where they make the footballs and sent images, and they were as stumped as I was. Wilson stated that all leather footballs were / are made in the USA. But again this is the first time they have ever seen this type and year football without a MADE IN USA stamping.

Without "MADE IN USA"





With "MADE IN USA"

[BrianK]

Re: 1970's Wilson NFL Football (Experts?)

Interesting observation. I've saved photos of a couple dozen balls from this era. Turns out half of my samples show Made is USA and half do not.

[duane v]

Re: 1970's Wilson NFL Football (Experts?)

WOW!!!

Could it be that Wilson just simply forgot to stamp "MADE IN USA"??? Or could it be these balls were made in Korea, because Wilson was making some baseball gloves in that country during the 70's.

I'm also intrigued with the DD date code ball with the stripes. The stripes are positioned like the ball used in the Super Bowl VIII, but that was in 73-74 .... From what I gather Wilson wasnt putting stripes on NFL footballs until until 73-74.

It appears that this isn't a mistake, because the missing "MADE IN USA" is with different date codes. My theory is the leather was imported from a different country, which kept Wilson from legally stamping "MADE IN USA" on those particular footballs

BTW... Thanks your images

[BrianK]

Re: 1970's Wilson NFL Football (Experts?)

Here's a thread with evidence for stripes being present in 1971 and 1972.

http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=42521

[RaiderNationPDX]

Re: 1970's Wilson NFL Football (Experts?)

I've owned and/or handled a fair number of these, and I can honestly say the presence/lack of "Made In USA" is something I haven't noticed before. Which is interesting, since of the three balls of this era I currently have, there are two 1974 balls (one with stripes and one without) that have the "Made In USA" stamp, and a 1971 that doesn't. Looking at my Thorp Duke football, it does have the stamp, so Wilson definitely used the designation in earlier years.

Assuming it was intentional, the use of imported leather is a good guess. I'd believe it was unintentional as well. I work in manufacturing quality control, and while it's ideal to cross all T's and dot all I's, the fact of the matter is that every once in a while, goods leave the factory (any factory) not up to par, even after double and triple checking.

One thing I'll note - the images on Wilson's website for their "Game Balls" Super Bowl timeline (http://www.wilson.com/en-us/football/nfl/game-balls/) don't have the "Made In USA" stamp for Super Bowls V (1970 season), VII (1972 season) and X (1975 season). The other 1970-1975 balls do. Considering the photographic accuracy of this timeline for the early years (questionable, to say the least), I wouldn't read too much into it though.

[RaiderNationPDX]

Re: 1970's Wilson NFL Football (Experts?)

Done some quick looking around, and between my own collection and any photos I can find, I'm seeing a "Made In USA" stamp used consistently after 1973 when Wilson switched to the less legible Pete Rozelle signature. Before that, however, it's very inconsistent - have found it both present and not present on 1971 and 1972 balls. Haven't seen it on late 1970 balls, but that's not to say it doesn't exist. Interesting timeline there.

Another anomaly is the orientation of all the stamping - near as I can tell, there are some balls with a much tighter grouping of the stamps like so:



And there are others with a wider spacing, with "Made In USA" all on one line (neither of these photos are mine, btw; simply using to illustrate):



Looks like the dies for the stampings were all independently placed instead of being a single unit, lending credence to the theory that the "Made In USA" one may have simply been used inconsistently in earlier years - likely, no one was considering the fact we'd all be sitting here 40 years later dissecting their work.

[duane v]

Re: 1970's Wilson NFL Football (Experts?)

Done some quick looking around, and between my own collection and any photos I can find, I'm seeing a "Made In USA" stamp used consistently after 1973 when Wilson switched to the less legible Pete Rozelle signature. Before that, however, it's very inconsistent - have found it both present and not present on 1971 and 1972 balls. Haven't seen it on late 1970 balls, but that's not to say it doesn't exist. Interesting timeline there.

Another anomaly is the orientation of all the stamping - near as I can tell, there are some balls with a much tighter grouping of the stamps like so:



And there are others with a wider spacing, with "Made In USA" all on one line (neither of these photos are mine, btw; simply using to illustrate):



Looks like the dies for the stampings were all independently placed instead of being a single unit, lending credence to the theory that the "Made In USA" one may have simply been used inconsistently in earlier years - likely, no one was considering the fact we'd all be sitting here 40 years later dissecting their work.

I just acquired both of those footballs...LOL.... Mike Ciani re-laced and re-bladdered the lower FF ball (See pic).... He takes care of all my footballs. He does a much better job than Wilson Repair .... I'll never send them any of my footballs ever again.

I'm still waiting for the the striped one to be delivered.


Mike Ciani's work

[NEFAN]

Re: 1970's Wilson NFL Football (Experts?)

I've had several balls fixed by Wilson without any issues.

[BrianK]

Re: 1970's Wilson NFL Football (Experts?)

Interesting that RaiderNationPDX mentions the wider spacing "Made In USA". It looks like this is only on 1973 FF balls. Or has someone seen it on others?

And maybe I'm seeing things, but aren't the air valves on these balls lower (closer to the center of the panel) than other years. Hard to believe Wilson changed the pattern for just one year.

[duane v]

Re: 1970's Wilson NFL Football (Experts?)

So now I'm apprehensive about the whole "Made In USA" vintage football thing, or should I state the lack there of. I recently passed up on an auction on a very nice 1970 football because it didn't have the MADE IN USA stamp (see link)..... All my older gloves have have Made In USA with exception of my World-Win Mizuno's, but I would like my footballs to have it as well... So basically my football is going on eBay

Again thanks for all the info, what a cool place to talk about the ol pig-skin

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Old-Vintage-Wilson-PETE-ROZELLE-Code-C-C-Leather-Football-/200856060312 _trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&nma=true&si=olAIKUW9Wu3v4gK3FSYWbBlf3S0%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

[duane v]

Re: 1970's Wilson NFL Football (Experts?)

Here's an image of the football... The link dont work

[miracleonice80]

Re: 1970's Wilson NFL Football (Experts?)

Hi.....I found another photo of a ball I used to have......seems like FF "BLEM" footballs have the wider spacing so far from what I have seen.......Tony

[miracleonice80]

Re: 1970's Wilson NFL Football (Experts?)

A 1970 CC football......no Made in USA......Tony

[miracleonice80]

Re: 1970's Wilson NFL Football (Experts?)

1970 CC......no Made in Usa....Tony