by BretMan » August 25th, 2009, 12:14 am
While patent numbers can be one tool to nail down the date on a glove, there are some drawbacks. The patent is usually for some specific feature of the glove, like a style of web, a lacing pattern or a manufacturing technique, rather than for a specific glove model. That means that the patent number could appear on a broad range of glove models and appear on gloves for many years after the date the patent was granted.
This definitely isn't a 1941 glove. Prior to 1949, Wilson used a three-digit model number on all of their gloves. Beginning in 1949, they started with their familiar "A" prefix model numbers (A2000, A2800, A2400, etc.) and since then have sold, literally, hundreds of different models using that numbering system.
After a quick glance through the Wilson catalogs I didn't find an A2912, but then again there are hundreds of different model numbers to sort through! Not all gloves sold by Wilson appeared in the catalogs distributed to sporting goods stores. Some were produced for sale through other retail outlets, like department stores and those aren't in the catalogs.
I do know from looking at lots of gloves that it was common for Wilson to add the digit "2" at the end of the the model number to signify a left-handed glove. For instance, the A2002 was an exact mirror image of the right-hand throw A2000. They sold various A2910 model gloves throughtout the 50's, 60's and 70's so perhaps this is the left-handed version of that glove.
Okay, that is a little vague as far as giving you an exact date for your glove. When all else fails...post a picture! The guys on this board are sharp enough that just by looking at the glove and it's design, they can probably date it within a few years one way or the other.