Inside the "Double Face" mitt

[mikesglove]

Here are two catalog illustrations of the "Double Face" catchers mitt. The first is the 1924 Reach model priced at $22 and the second is the 1917 Spalding "Honor" model priced at $12. The 1917 Reach model was also $12.





Below is the John Gamble "Double Face" patent for A.J. Reach Co. from 1916. This patent created a leather mitt within a mitt, hence the name "Double Face"


The Spalding "Honor" mitt below is from my collection of beaters. You can see the remnants of the buckle web and "Stick-on-the-Hand" wrist opening.


This inside view of the back section shows the attachments for the buckle web and the canvas reinforcing stitching. You can see how well made this mitt was even here. It was their most expensive model.


This is the front view of the "Double Face" inner mitt. The leather cover is molded and stitched to the padding along the perimeter and also in the pocket.


This is a view of the back of the inner mitt and shows the perimeter grommets used to hold in place the whole inner mitt to the outer mitt.


This is an edge view showing both sides of the inner mitt.

[GloveCrazy]

Thanks Mike, that's really interesting. Is the inner front thinner than a normal front shell?

[mikesglove]

Yes, the front of the inner mitt is a bit thinner than the outer face and very soft and pliable. I would like to see the innards of a "Triple Face" mitt. That would be interesting.

[mikesglove]

The "Double Face" patent of 1916 was an improvement of an earlier John Gamble 1906 patent for molded padding. An example is shown below. The 1906 patent called for a tailored felt pad sandwiched between fabric covers attached with stitching.


The picture below shows the stitched fabric cover, in this case it was burlap. The middle of the burlap cover has deteriorated from wear and tear.


The picture below shows the loose arrangement of padding used in many mitts prior to 1906.