Fred Varney Varco Baseball Bat

The Varco brand Baseball bats were manufactured for Fred Varney & Co. of St Louis Mo. Fred Varney was a distributor of Electric supplies, equipment, and Sporting Goods, located at 2300 Olive street, in St Louis. The company would accept items on consignment that was flown in to be distributed to retailers across Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky. Products included; Radios, televisions, outboard motors, "sidewalk bicycles," golf balls, bait castings, baseball gloves, bats, and "Play Ground baseballs." Baseball bat models included the No. 7 Professional, and the No. 27.

Varco was the company's private brand. Usually companies like this would have sporting goods such as baseballs, bats, and gloves made by one of the major manufactures and then have the store brand stamped onto the items. The baseballs they sold were hand-sewn by women & girls, hired by Fred Varney, earning .50¢ an hour while in training, then on a piece work basis, there rafter. The baseball gloves were imported from Mexico.

The St. Louis based company seems to have been short lived, operating from the mid to late 1940's, early 1950's. The Varney company also maintained business facilities on the west coast, Mexico City, and Clayton Georgia. In 1945, Navy LT. (jg) Fred Varney, purchased the property in Clayton while on furlough, then returned to active duty.

Fred Varney & Co. Varco Brand Baseball Bats

1947 Newspaper Ad

Fred Varney & Co. Varco No. 27 Baseball Bat

KEYMAN COLLECTIBLES RELATED RESOURCES

	KeyMan Collectibles Baseball Memorabilia Facebook Group - Post Questions and comments relating to Baseball Collectibles and Memorabilia. Interact with other collectors or show off your collection.
	KeyMan Collectibles Forum - A great option for those that "Don't do facebook" Post Questions and comments relating to Baseball Collectibles and Memorabilia

The most comprehensive Glossary of baseball Bat collectible terms on the internet. Complete with pictures, and cross reference links. Links that are available will lead to another section of this page or open in a new window. Use the Visual Glossary if you know what it looks like but don't know what it's called.