| |
| |
 |
|
MANUFACTURING PERIOD
Circa 1887-1928
|
RETAILOR
Schmelzer Arms Co.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
The Schmelzer Arms Company was founded
in 1857 by John F. Schmelzer in
Leavenworth, Kansas. The company was a
manufacturer of firearms, and as time
went on became Importers and Dealers in
Guns, Fishing Tackle, Baseball, Tennis
Goods, Bicycles And Sporting Goods. In
1887 Schmelzer moved the company to
Kansas City, Missouri, at which point
his sons took over the business. In
1896 the company was incorporated and
changed its name to J. F. Schmelzer &
Sons.
The 1920's saw a
steady decline in sales and in 1930,
filed for bankruptcy. George Lowe who was
an employee and worked as a buyer for Schmelzers
during their heyday in the teens, stepped forward during
the bankruptcy and took over some of Schemlzer's sporting goods business for
his present company, Lowe and Campbell
Sporting Goods.
In 1931 along with the Horace Partridge Athletic Goods Co., Lowe &
Campbell merged with the larger, Thomas
E. Wilson Company (Wilson Western
Sporting Goods) These mergers were
common, as large sporting goods
companies such as Wilson, Rawlings, and
Spalding merged with smaller, local or
regional companies to increase their
presence in markets throughout the
country.
Circa 1910 baseball bat model include: The Lajoie; The Jennings; The
Keeler; The Wagner; The Davis. (Exact
models of those used in the games noted
"Stick Artists.") The 1927, and 1928
catalogs lists Schelzer baseball bats
on the same page as Louisville Slugger.
Models include: Professional Model No.
20T; Semi-Pro Model No. 7B; "Fungo"
Model No. 24; Boys size No. 4; and
Youth League Model No. 40C.
|
|
| |
|
Schmelzer Arms Co.
Baseball Bats |
 |
 |
|
Circa 1910 Baseball Bat
Label |
1910s-1920s Baseball
Bat Label |
|
|
 |
 |
| 1910 Newspaper Ad |
1927 Catalog |
|
|
|
KEYMAN COLLECTIBLES
RELATED RESOURCES |
|
|
|
