Spalding in New York/Chicopee, Mass.
Posted: June 8th, 2009, 4:23 pm
Spalding, I believe, was headquartered in New York and Chicopee, Mass.
Reach, of course, made the baseballs in Philadelphia, and Wright and Ditson was in Springfield, Mass and I think made the bats. All were owned by Spalding. And yes, Sears (Higgins) was headquartered in Chicago and seemed to rely on Wilson and Dubow, both Chicago located, for many of
its gloves and mitts. Having close proximity, especially in the early days, with transportation slower, probably made sense to have production close by.
Just a guess. I really don't know where the Spalding gloves were manufactured, in the Reach plant or in the Spalding plant. You can check the location of baseball glove manufacturers in the glove catalog source book pages 3 and 4. At least this was how they were listed in the Sporting Goods Dealer publication annual lists for years.
Reach, of course, made the baseballs in Philadelphia, and Wright and Ditson was in Springfield, Mass and I think made the bats. All were owned by Spalding. And yes, Sears (Higgins) was headquartered in Chicago and seemed to rely on Wilson and Dubow, both Chicago located, for many of
its gloves and mitts. Having close proximity, especially in the early days, with transportation slower, probably made sense to have production close by.
Just a guess. I really don't know where the Spalding gloves were manufactured, in the Reach plant or in the Spalding plant. You can check the location of baseball glove manufacturers in the glove catalog source book pages 3 and 4. At least this was how they were listed in the Sporting Goods Dealer publication annual lists for years.