Kren bats - retail vs. game used

[KrenBats]

Given the lively discussion on the 40K H&B bats, I'd like to share my opinions on Kren bats and hopefully engage in some healthy debate.

I've been collecting Kren bats for about 15 years now and have over 80 bats in my collection, about half being "game used". One of the biggest challenges collecting Krens has been the lack of detailed information (i.e. Factory records, catalogs, photographic evidence, etc) to help in determing retail vs. game used bats. I've always been amazed that some bats I believe to be game used go for very little at auction and bats that I feel are retail go for thousands. I'd like to share my thoughts and hopefully get some comments.

Several "Sytle" bats have been sold and authenicated as "game used". Given that these bats were offered for retail (I've attached a 1940 Kren Catalog), I can't see how these bats can claim to be game used. I've seen photos of Adirandack "Type" bats used by professionals but never photos Kren Style bats.

Same can be said for Kren Klouter/Clouter bats. I stuggle with these being game used, given that they were a step below the Kren's Special model. The Klouter model was described in a late 1930's catalog:

In the Klouter, we offer a fine quality line of bats in slighty lighter weights than the Kren's Special but made from selected second growth ash, thoroughly air seasoned, finished and treated the same as the Kren's Special. Made in the autograph and player style of models. Lengths 33" to 36".

Now, there is proof from the H&B vault that retail bats have been game used. I just can't see calling these bats game used without side writing, mailing labels or other proof.

One of the misconceptions I've found is that "Hand Turned" Kren bats are always game used models, similiar to Spalding bats. I was fortunate enough to acquire about 15 Kren bats from the H&B barn find, with side writting and/or mailing labels, and all but one have the model numbers inside the diamond logo. Also, all of these player's names were block letters, which leads me to my final thought. The one thing I haven't been able to determine is the difference between endorsed retail bats and endorsed game used bats. Given that these players endorsed Krens, it makes sense that they would use endorsed bats with their names on them and not in block letters.

A couple of years ago I did meet someone who claimed to have worked at the Kren Fractory right before they closed shop. He said he was a bat finisher and that they would mix and match models and endorsements and they didn't differentiate retail vs. bats for professional players. (He did also mention how when the factory closed they gave away the crack bats to staff who would cut them in half and used them as fire wood to get through the cold Syracuse winters).

Sorry for the long post, but would love to get some comments and information on these bats.

Mike Hudson