Rafra glove - Ferris Fain model

[PEETHOOK]

Howdy, - I'm a new member and I'm looking forward to picking some brains and learning more about the world of vintage gloves. Years ago I helped out with a local town softball team and somehow I inherited an old bag of equipment that had been around for quite awhile. Time moved on, and I've moved a few times, but I did hang onto the old gloves that were in that bag. (I've have never thrown out any glove no matter how ratty or useless!) I hope to post in the future about some of the other gloves, but my favorite of these old gloves is a Rafra BM2 , which is a Ferris Fain model 1st baseman's mitt. I would say the mitt dates from the late 40's to the early 50's, and is rust colored and in pretty decent condition. My favorite thing about the glove is the silver colored stamping, which is incredibly clear and seemingly unfazed by wear and tear. Has anyone ever heard of a Rafra? I'm assuming it is an off-brand line of gloves, but I can't find anything about it anywhere on the internet. I wish I could post a picture, but my daughter is my "official" photographer, and she is in Germany right now, studying abroad. I'll appreciate any feedback any of you can give me. Thanks.

[BretMan]

"Rafra" is a new one on me. Fain was an endorser on MacGregor gloves and quite possibly this glove was made by them to be sold through another retailer.

[ScottWNJ]

On the internet, I found a reference to the "now defunct Rafra Sporting Goods Store", in an article from 1959, about the arrest of 3 men for writing bad checks. The tiny article appeared in the Utica Observer (NY?) in January of 1959. So BretMan may be right. Could have been a store brand/private label glove.

Scott

[PEETHOOK]

The Utica, NY reference makes a lot of sense. I grew up 25 miles south of Utica. I bet the glove was purchased at that store. Thanks for the help! When my daughter gets home at the end of the year I'll post some pictures.

[Kenny Wel]

I did a search of New York State historical newspapers, hoping to come across an advertisement for Rafra Sporting Goods, but I only found two articles in the Utica, NY paper concerning the stolen checks that Scott has already referenced. I can't wait to see the photos of the glove. Maybe we can all chip in to have your daughter fly home for a weekend!

Ken

[vintagebrett]

It could have been made by Sonnett. They made some Ferris Fain models and did manufacture for many independent retail stores. If the endorsement is in all capital letters, it's a good bet it was made by them.

[PEETHOOK]

I just checked, and the endorsement is in all capital letters. Thanks for the help! Within one day of my initial posting,I learned where the glove was probably purchased, and who the manufacturer most likely was. I'm impressed!