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

[1880nonsports]

but I don't think the hat or the basketball are salesman's samples. I think one would need to see the manufacturer's full sized cap and attribution or other evidence to make such a leap. I thought doll's hat the moment I opened the thread. As for the basketball - typically the piece duplicates ALL of the originals characteristics - for one the lines/groves look to be applied on the surface. Maybe you were kidding. Just putting a couple thoughts out here - not an expert - just thinking out loud.............

[bwild22]

Originally Posted by 1880nonsports

but I don't think the hat or the basketball are salesman's samples. I think one would need to see the manufacturer's full sized cap and attribution or other evidence to make such a leap. I thought doll's hat the moment I opened the thread. As for the basketball - typically the piece duplicates ALL of the originals characteristics - for one the lines/groves look to be applied on the surface. Maybe you were kidding. Just putting a couple thoughts out here - not an expert - just thinking out loud.............

I agree, Salesman Sample is WAYYY overused. Typically Salesman Samples were for items large and heavy that were tough to transport - so hats etc would not need a "smaller" version to carry out. They may be promotional items or miniatures, but I just feel salesman sample tends to be used wrong and many times gets attributed to anything thats smaller or miniature with the original intended purpose of a salesman sample lost in the meantime...

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by bwild22

I agree, Salesman Sample is WAYYY overused. Typically Salesman Samples were for items large and heavy that were tough to transport - so hats etc would not need a "smaller" version to carry out. They may be promotional items or miniatures, but I just feel salesman sample tends to be used wrong and many times gets attributed to anything thats smaller or miniature with the original intended purpose of a salesman sample lost in the meantime...

I saw a salesman sample road grader on Antiques Roadshow. Now, that's a salesman sample!

[ksfarmboy]

Well I guess it's took long enough to respond to this thread but I misplaced my basketball and just found it today.

What does salesmen sample mean? Something a salesman carried around to hawk their wares that was not necessarily duplicated in size. Does it have to be heavy or large to make transportation difficult? Imagine hauling around a bunch of full size basketballs, uniforms, shoes, and everything else you need to play basketball. Heck you probably are selling other sporting goods items too. It wouldn't take long to fill up your car. It would be much easier to have a case that had mini basketballs, a swatch catalog and even mini sneakers.

Yes there are souvenir mini bats, gloves and so on that are just that miniatures. But I have seen salesmen sample boxes that contained mini bats and baseballs sell at auctions so I don't think you can rule all of them out completely either.

As for my basketball I only showed one picture but will include a few others. The lines are actually grooves you can feel and should be able to pick up in the additional pictures. You can also make out the inflation hole and wording. I don't think I would inflate it to 7-9 pounds though. This was probably one of the first generation all rubber basketballs too.

Not everybody sold road graders, cars or stoves. I think applying the all samples need to be like these is crazy. Either way this is probably my favorite basketball item I own.

[CarltonHendricks]

Nice ball Clint...I think most salesman samples originally came in a custom box that protected it and kept it in pristine condition. I would imagine when a product like the jockey cap or your basketball or what ever was retired and discarded it could have ended up anywhere...such as a junk shop for instance...I can imagine a scenario where someone would buy it in a junk shop for their child...the child would play with it and eventually it would get separated from the box...The seller of the jockey cap also auctioned two other hats and some black rubber boots listed as salesman samples and none had a box, see below..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1870s-WIDE-B...item2ecf6e29ee

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1870s-FANTAS...item2ecf6e29d8

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ca1880-FANTA...item4d19f1beaf

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ca1900-PAIR-...item2ecf6e29b3

[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.

[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.