Calling all Vintage Bat Experts

[ooo-ribay]

Where is the “Oil Tempered” in relation to the center label?

[sicollector1954]

Figure you can guys can flip if you need to...Thanks you for any opinions.

[bnorth]

I would agree on cool conversation piece. I know I have seen that ME symbol before but can't remember when or what it is. Do you know any of the history of the bat?

[sicollector1954]

I have owned the bat for about 25 years. It was orginally purchased off Ebay many years ago with no thoughts regarding the center label....just knew it was a nice old bat....before the Malta book was published. No other history.

[sicollector1954]

John Taube looked at this bat in person last Sunday. He described it as a "conversation piece". Using a light and scope, he said that the center label was done all at the same time. He stated that he had no opinion in regards to whether the ME/5 was also done at the same time or at a later date. He remarked that the 5 made no sense in regards to the length of the bat seeing how the bat is only 33 inches in length. He also stated he had never seen the ME arrow symbol on a bat before and did not know what it could be for.

[JoeDfan]

Cool bat. Looks to me like the "ME" part was added after the fact. I have some bats in my collection with extra added marks.

Regarding the center label, I have a couple around here that don't quite match Malta's book. I presume those are transition bats or one offs.

Is that a "6" on the knob? If yes, did Taube have a comment on that?

The mark reminds me of the old Wilson bats. But I do not think it serves the same purpose.

[sicollector1954]

Good catch on what appears to be a "6"...He did not mention seeing this and I did not as well! My issue with it being a transition bat is that the 125 stamping was used according to Maltas book from 1922-25 where as the & SON CO. was only until around 1916-17 and the Dash Dot Dash from 1917ish until 1921 or 22 when the Made in USA came into being. Awful long transition. The ME I will address after I have heard from other people...I only have a theory on it...

Great catch on the 6!!!!!