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MANUFACTURER
- Penash
Woodworking Co.
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During the 1930s, Fred Mitchell,
then a rural mail carrier, became
interested in the hobby of a friend,
Rev. McPheters, who carved baseball
bats with an air of perfection. The
minister taught the young mail carrier
all he knew about the art and Mitchell
continued his newly-found hobby
throughout the early 1930's, turning
them out at home on a hand lathe, and
giving away the bats he didn't sell.
Following the end of the war a neighbor
boy, Don Wood, returning from the
service joined Mitchell in an attempt
to start up the small business.
In 1950 Mitchell learned of a bat factory for sale in upstate New York,
and he and a group of friends bought
the equipment and moved it to a
building near Cooperstown,
Pennsylvania. Using the trade name
Penash, the men planned to make three
grades of bats and a junior size.
Articles of incorporation were issued
to the group by the state early in
1950. Mitchell bought out the other
investors in 1956. For many years he
sold bats for $1.00; seconds for 50
cents. Later the price went up to $3.00
for a really fine bat. He also made
miniature bats for the youngsters.
Using high grade ash wood, found chiefly in Pennsylvania, and southern New
York state, the mail carrier found that
the bottom portions of the trees grown
on northern and eastern slopes were
best suited for his bats. As a possible
by-product for the short ends of the
high grade ash wood, the men have
contacted hardware manufacturers in the
market for handles for hammers,
sledges, pick and coal mine axes.
Company officials also patented a new
bat designed to 15 per cent. more
driving power than anything now on the
market.
The open branded "Penash Woodworking Co." center-brand with "Cooperstown
PA" at the top, is the most common
found branding on the baseball bats.
Another "Penash" center brand with
"Inc." added after "Woodworking Co." at
the bottom, enclosed inside an oval was
produced, with "The Jackson" branded on
the barrel, with "Select" above, and
"White Ash" below. This is the only
model identifier found in the hobby.
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Penash Woodworking Co.
Baseball Bats |
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Penash Woodworking Co. Inc, "The
Jackson" Model Baseball Bat |
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KEYMAN COLLECTIBLES
RELATED RESOURCES |
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