Nocona Pix at Plant

[softball66]

man with a hot hand. here's where Nocona forms the fingers with the metal hands heated to set the finger channels.
Below is Bobby Storey, who has wonderful memories of Nocona shipping out ball gloves to the military personnel during World War II when all gloves made at Nocona had to be sent to military bases, no retail gloves. Bob said that they would ship them in 1000 units, all packed to government specifications. Every third or fourth order would be for all left handed gloves.
"It was a busy time for us. We had teams beg us for new ball gloves, but we couldn't accommodate them much."

[mudman]

Great pix thanks for sharing.

[glorydays]

i don't really "get" how the hot hand works.. is it like steaming the leather?
just curious...
-Junior

[softball66]

The heated "finger" smooth out the finger channel as the lining is wadded up after being turned outside in after the sewing is completed. This takes out the wrinkles as the heat and the pressure from the finger form straightens out the leather. A time honored technique in the glove making industry.