c1880 salesman sample outbid...let's see your salesman samples

[springpin]

I have created a nice display professionally mounted in a shadow box. It features a wooden bat (about six inches in length), a mini ball, a catcher's mitt, a first baseman's mitt, and an infielder's mitt. I agree the term "salesman's sample" has been misused. Over the years some people have told me these types of mitts that hang as dangles beneath pinbacks as dangles were salesman's samples. They are just adornments. My mitts run about 5-6 inches and have high quality stitching. The final two items are the scarcest: a home plate (replete with the maker's name and address) and a catcher's mask. The only problem with the display is proportionality. The three different types of mitts are all bigger than the home plate.

It took me about 20 years to find all the pieces. If I ever learn how to connect a picture taken with a camera to an email, I will send it in.

[CarltonHendricks]

Originally Posted by springpin

I have created a nice display professionally mounted in a shadow box. It features a wooden bat (about six inches in length), a mini ball, a catcher's mitt, a first baseman's mitt, and an infielder's mitt. I agree the term "salesman's sample" has been misused. Over the years some people have told me these types of mitts that hang as dangles beneath pinbacks as dangles were salesman's samples. They are just adornments. My mitts run about 5-6 inches and have high quality stitching. The final two items are the scarcest: a home plate (replete with the maker's name and address) and a catcher's mask. The only problem with the display is proportionality. The three different types of mitts are all bigger than the home plate.

It took me about 20 years to find all the pieces. If I ever learn how to connect a picture taken with a camera to an email, I will send it in.

springpin, Well you've got my curiosity up...Would like to see the ensemble...Especially the catchers mask...and the home plate...you say the home plate has a makers name and address...sounds like it could well indeed be a legit salesman sample...which would be very cool...twenty years putting it all together sounds very interesting.

When you say "a picture taken with a camera" are you speaking of a digital camera or old school with actual film? If old school you can take a photo of the photo with a digital camera and it can come out reasonably well...Either way sounds like you need to Google a tutorial on YouTube on how to do it...If I can help you're welcome to email or PM me thru this site...If you get hung up on anything I could even try to help you by phone.

[1880nonsports]

I wasn't saying that either of the items shown aren't salesman samples. It's reasonable to think the basketball might be a salesman sample - but also that it might be a child's toy of some sort. Without something tying the item to the manufacturer it's a stretch. It does appear to replicate all of the original elements of Reach's BB.
The jockey cap is a good deal more problematic for me but still falling under the parameters outlined above. I'm not convinced a cap (it's no stovepipe or beaver hat which I have encountered as samples) would more likely be a sample than a doll hat without attribution. I would figure there would be discernable markings to be found - especially as the actual condition suggests such lettering wouldn't have worn away or been washed out. Additionally I'm not so sure about the excess of overly ornate "fixings" including the tassels would adorn an actual jockey's head. I will admit I'm usually more associated with the horse's ass than the jockey's cap............ I'm about to search the interweb for some pix of caps :-)

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by springpin

I have created a nice display professionally mounted in a shadow box. It features a wooden bat (about six inches in length), a mini ball, a catcher's mitt, a first baseman's mitt, and an infielder's mitt. I agree the term "salesman's sample" has been misused. Over the years some people have told me these types of mitts that hang as dangles beneath pinbacks as dangles were salesman's samples. They are just adornments. My mitts run about 5-6 inches and have high quality stitching. The final two items are the scarcest: a home plate (replete with the maker's name and address) and a catcher's mask. The only problem with the display is proportionality. The three different types of mitts are all bigger than the home plate.

It took me about 20 years to find all the pieces. If I ever learn how to connect a picture taken with a camera to an email, I will send it in.

I'm pretty sure a smart, author and teacher such as yourself could be able to solve the intricacies of posting a picture.