Crosley Field Seats-What am I Missing?

[Dave Grob]

Scott,

Part of the reason I have posted this information here is to subject it to public scrutiny for evaluation and consideration. I have already been informed that this seat end is probably best described as “Heywood-Wakefield figural” and this is helpful information.

From a research/logic standpoint, it is a fact that the seats in these pictures feature a design not previously associated or commonly accepted as being installed in Redland/Crosley Field. The question to be asked and answered to dispute my findings is “these photographs are not from Crosley Field and could not have been taken in Crosley Field because…..”

This would support the counter position because then it could be objectively offered that “these are not Crosley Field seats because the photographs are not from Crosley Field.” This goes back to what I provided about the value of using multiple images, from multiple sources, over various points in time. In this way you are not relying on a single data point which also creates the possibility for a single point of failure in the research or argument.

This the seminal issue, and it has nothing to do with how long someone has been in the business or that no one has ever seen on of these and attributed it to Redland Field/Crosley Field. On the contrary, they may have been seen, but simply identified as being a Comiskey Park seat instead based on the information being proffered at the time.

Dave Grob
DaveGrob1@aol.com

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Dave Grob

Scott,

Part of the reason I have posted this information here is to subject it to public scrutiny for evaluation and consideration. I have already been informed that this seat end is probably best described as “Heywood-Wakefield figural” and this is helpful information.

From a research/logic standpoint, it is a fact that the seats in these pictures feature a design not previously associated or commonly accepted as being installed in Redland/Crosley Field. The question to be asked and answered to dispute my findings is “these photographs are not from Crosley Field and could not have been taken in Crosley Field because…..”

This would support the counter position because then it could be objectively offered that “these are not Crosley Field seats because the photographs are not from Crosley Field.” This goes back to what I provided about the value of using multiple images, from multiple sources, over various points in time. In this way you are not relying on a single data point which also creates the possibility for a single point of failure in the research or argument.

This the seminal issue, and it has nothing to do with how long someone has been in the business or that no one has ever seen on of these and attributed it to Redland Field/Crosley Field. On the contrary, they may have been seen, but simply identified as being a Comiskey Park seat instead based on the information being proffered at the time.

Dave Grob
DaveGrob1@aol.com

Dave,
Good explanation and understood. Good luck finding your answers.
We have some smart people on net54 that can possibly help...

[RTK]

I found this on a metal detecting forum, the photo had an interesting story to go with it. metaldetecting.com

[mrozie21]

Haywood-Wakefield was the manufacturer of the seat as well as quite a few of the stadium in the early 1900's. I've always called this figural an "art deco" style over the years and I know that Comiskey Park, Tiger Stadium and Boston Gardens have all had the exact same figural end.

[Dave Grob]

I believe these “Haywood-Wakefield” style aisle seats were phased out gradually and not replaced all at once, but rather as renovations were being made at Crolsey Field. I suspect the first place this was done were the field boxes behind the home plate area and then radiating out along the left and right field lines. I would also offer that these seats, given the time frame we are looking at, were probably last painted green as opposed the reddish-orange seats you see by the time of the 1940 World Series.

This has been a long term project for me, and one I wish I had more time to devote to on a continuous basis. Regrettably, there are always competing demands on my research time and my personal interest items always seem to have to take a back seat (no pun intended).

Dave Grob
DaveGrob1@aol.com

[Dave Grob]

Found another great image from the 1940 World Series showing this same style if aisle seat at Crosley Field. Source is the University of Cincinnati Archives and Rare Books Library. Image depicts Reds coach/catcher Jimmy Wilson in a home Cincinnati Reds uniform at the rail at Crosley Field speaking with Leo Durocher and actor George Raft. Will post the image when I get back into town on Tuesday.


Dave Grob
DaveGrob1@aol.com