Tryon, oldest sporting goods company in America

[mikesglove]

As Edwark K. Tryon Co. Sporting Goods was celebrating their 100 year anniversary in 1911, a venerable company like Wilson Sporting Goods was still a few years away from even beginning business. The Tryon Co. was started by George Tryon in 1811. He was a gunsmith by trade and sold his own firearms for hunting. As the company grew, it became apparent that becoming an importer and retailer for other manufacturers was a more lucrative way of doing business. Tryon Co. expanded their line of merchandise to include not only firearms but fish & game and all sorts of outdoorsman gear. By 1906 , Tryon had been through eight different name changes reflecting different family members being involved in the business.

In the 1880's Tryon added baseball equipment to their merchandise line. They developed relationships with different baseball glove manufacturers through the years and sold a variety of gloves and mitts under the Tryon label. The mitt below, model 88 from the Tryon 1911 catalog is such an example.

It was tough to pinpoint the manufacturer, but I think this mitt was made by Stall & Dean. Notice the similarity of the buckle strap design, even to the detail of the metal roller sleeve in the buckle itself.

Of course, there were some easy gloves to identify. This "Bucky Harris" model is easily identified as a Ken-Wel.

Tryon came under hard times in the 1930's, possibly due to the Great Depression and closed its doors in 1936. Edward Tryon wrote a book celebrating his company called "The Oldest Sporting Goods Company in America 1816-1936".

[mikesglove]

Here is a real nice Tryon crescent catchers mitt from ebay recently. The seller ended the auction early. Someone probably wanted it pretty badly and made an offer. Despite the rip in the pocket the mitt presents well and there are definitely not a lot of these around. The blue and gold patch is really desirable too.

[ohiofraun]

I have found the Edw K Tryon label on a couple of softball mitts in my collection.

[mikesglove]

Here is a 1962 catalog from Edw. K. Tryon Co. and a 1960's basemitt. Apparently the company survived the Great Depression in some form or another and continued to sell sporting goods. Note the "151st anniversary" at the bottom of the catalog.

[mikesglove]

1962 was a fateful year for the Edw. K. Tryon Co. Banner Industries of St. Louis acquired Tryon for $2,000,000. Banner Industries ran retail departments in discount stores and the sale was meant to benefit both companies by expanding the market, but it was the end of an era of the Tryon family ownership of the company. Notice the change in the cloth patch logo above. In 1964 Banner Industries merged Tryon with the Supplee-Biddle hardware Co. Banner Industries is not to be confused with the Banner brand of gloves that one sees from time to time. Peerless Sporting Goods of New York distributed the Banner brand of gloves.

[mikesglove]

Here are some pics from a 1929 Tryon catalog. Interesting in the variety of manufacturers under the Tryon label. Besides the Ken-Wel shown above , there are Wilson Geo.Connally extended pocket model and Red Ruffing three finger glove. There is the Rawlings Art Fletcher adjustable web model and the Goldsmith Geo. Grantham basemitt. Tryon chose some top models for their brand. In addition there are actual Rawlings and Reach gloves advertised. Tryon seemed to want to cover all the bases to fill a customers wants. Interesting that there is no mention of the TruSport house brand of Tryon. it may be that TruSport was used only in their General Merchandise and Hardware catalog and not the Sporting Goods edition. Just a theory.

Geo. Connally and Red Ruffing, top row

Art Fletcher, top left

Vance, Ruel and Gehrig zipper back

Bubbles Hargrave, top left

Geo. Grantham, top left

[mikesglove]

From a 1908 Edw. Tryon catalog. What looks to be the extended wrist protector invented by Arthur Ferry in 1906 and also seen on some Wm. Read mitts. One can make out the tip of the trademark arrow head wrist strap. Cool!.

[vintagebrett]

Great find Mike! Thanks for sharing