Zenith Brand bats and gloves

[mikesglove]

There was a query in 2009 on the forum about a Zenith bat. I ran into it as I was recently looking into Zenith gloves. First, the bat. What a great, stylish logo on this "Safe Hit" model. Note the M.W.H. Co. around the logo.

The logo is from a brand of goods sold by Marshall-Wells Hardware out of Duluth MN. They were a wholesale hardware distributor founded in 1893. They were know for there cutlery but also carried a line of sporting goods under the Zenith Brand.

This 1925 Marshall-Wells catalog page shows some of the gloves available. Note the "Dave Robertson" model on the far right, A Wilson Sporting Goods endorser. Also, the other glove titles such as "Redy Brok" are identical to some of the Wilson titles for that period.

Below is a Zenith glove from the same era.

below is a later model Zenith glove from http://www.baseballglovecollector.com . Cool looking wrist strap.

[Rickybulldog]

1915 Marshall Wells baseball club.

[ebbets55]

Here's mine. I've had it forever. Got the box from John. It has a Marshall Wells Hardware logo near the heel on the front of the glove.

JD

[mikesglove]

A 1916 catalog page featuring the Duk Fut gloves.


A stylish art deco cover for the 1905 Marshall Wells catalog. Zenith was their major trademark.


In 1934, Marshall Wells added a new trademark for their sporting goods, Ol' Reliable.

[mikesglove]

A 1949 catalog page.

A few unique Ol' Reliable models.
A super Bud Clancy base mitt with finger guard.

A Joe DiMaggio glove with Dubow patented out seams on the finger stalls. Made by OK Mfg.

A Pete Reiser model with the distinctive thumb seam guard. Made by Nokona.

A Bobby Doerr model with unique lacing through third and fourth finger. Made by OK Mfg.

A louis Berger model with double button wrist strap. Made by OK Mfg.