Wagner and Jackson mini decal bats

[minibatsman]

Originally Posted by cliftons8

I have a 12" Burnished Finish mini with a Burnished Finish decal that I think could very well be a Salesman Sample. I have to think that Salesman Sample bats came in different lengths depending on the year and the bat they advertised.
Mike

As I said I have no doubt a salesman could have carried one. I would believe they would carry as many items as they could to make a sale. we discussed this on this site a year ago. the blue burnished decal bat is one of the seven decals purchased by H&S from P&F after the 1914 world series. we no this from the Gowdy decal. there are catalogs from 1914/15 and 16 that offer mini decal bats for sale. for a couple bucks you could get a dozen. in 1915/16 the Burnished with the other decals we are discussing could be bought from a catalog.
A salesman sample they made stoves, ice boxes you name a item they made them. but they weren't offered for sale in catalog's.
Auction houses have listed these bats as salesman samples for years. my opinion they are wrong.
we can prove a 12 inch stove is a sample. we cant prove your bat is?. it could be. start a discussion.
I agree mini bats come in many sizes. I base my opinion on the size of samples by the majority of blank barrel bats I have seen.
H&S and H&B made full size bats. these mini bats came from the left over material of the 48 inch billets?. I think. prior to 1929?.
after the 30s these bats became common.no brand companies tried making just mini bats. 30s world series bats. cheep wood available daily on ebay
In the 40s H&B turned these mini,s into a business by themselves. they would mail your favorite player to your house.
I have spent years trying to date and figure these bats out. sometimes I am asked to give my opinion. right or wrong I have one.
can you post a photo of the bat?.

[cliftons8]

The Burnished Finish decal I have is mostly red and matches the decal on the full size bat I have. Both have a J. F. Hillerich and Son Co center brand. The mini has the number 42 in the center brand while the full size has a 40 B. I think this would date both bats to pre 1916 prior to Hillerich and Bradsby??? Pictures to follow on the mini.

[autograf]

[murphusa]

I have always believed that the term "salesman sample" was made up by the hobby. Mini bats were made as a souvenir and nothing more.

[minibatsman]

How many times do you think this near perfect bat was shown to anyone. not many. it wasn't handed around to the local store keepers. it came from the factory and was put in a drawer for 100 years. it has the usual scuffs from being 100 years old. just handling these bats in a controlled environment.
will cause the minor damage that your bat shows.
I have never seen this bat nice bat. is there a decal makers mark on the decal.

[minibatsman]

This bat is a 12 inch Wagner decal bat. probably 1915?.
there is no center brand. I don't like this bat. I don't hate it. I just wish it had a center brand.
I have no doubt this bat it is a original.1915/16 decal bat. but I also no why there isn't a center brand.

Todays technology makes it important to understand the small details about these bats.
This bat would bring $500 in todays market?.
I could make ten of them today. and how many could to tell the difference.
On your bat I use the center brand to determine its not authentic. my opinion.
as these decals are being reproduced daily. we will have to find other ways to determine there authenticity.


the center brand is just as important as the decal. it dates the bat.
The center brand on your 22 inch bat is wrong for this decal.
it is my opinion H&B did not put your Wagner decal on your bat.