J.A. Peach Co.

[mikesglove]

John Peach invented a new type of reinforcement to the wrist opening of catchers mitts called the "bifurcated patch". The usual reinforcement was through extra stitching or a rivet. The Reach mitt below shows the two rivets on either side of the wrist opening. This particular example is in great shape but many mitts rip at this point even with the reinforcing rivets.

The "bifurcated patch" was simply a circular leather patch sliced part way forming a slot to both surround and overlap the end of the wrist opening. It was an interesting and clever idea since the patch provided and extra layer of leather to stitch and eased the stress point at the end of the wrist opening.

description from a J.A.Peach ad below

J. A. Peach Ad_page001baa1.jpg (11.67 KiB) Viewed 47528 times

[mikesglove]

As elegant as the 1912 Peach bifurcated patch was, John Gamble's earlier 1909 patent for A.J. Reach was a more effective solution to reinforcing the wrist opening and proved to be more influential in glove development moving forward. The main problem with both the Peach design and a riveted reinforcement was the single attachment point on the back of the mitt. John Gamble correctly surmised that by extending the wrist opening to the perimeter lacing grommets and reinforcing that extension with a leather band, the stress on the attachments would be spread over a greater area.

The 1912 Spalding catalog ad below illustrates the patented reinforced wrist opening.

[mikesglove]

An interesting mitt closed recently on ebay. It was an early 1900's Peach catchers mitt.


John A. Peach was from Gloversville, NY. and owned a sporting goods business there, J.A. Peach Co. at the turn of the century. One of his most interesting patents was in 1905 for a glove with a replaceable inner lining held in place with metal snaps. The great looking glove below may be the only known example.

In 1909 He reissued that patent and was the assignor to Consolidated Sporting Goods Mfg. of New Jersey. I found a few listings for that company between 1905 and 1912 and they seemed to be fairly well financed manufacturing concern. The most curious bit of information I found were references to the Peach-Tober Sporting Goods of Hartford CT, one in 1921 and the other in 1932. Hartford was also the home of Bon-Tober Sporting Goods.

[vintagebrett]

Here is some additional information on the Peach and Consolidated Sporting Goods. The small snippets discuss the removable lining as Mike referenced above. These articles/ads come from 1905 and 1906.

[mikesglove]

Really interesting to see that particular glove advertized since only one is known to exist now. Consolidated Sporting Goods sold all sorts of sporting goods for team sports, gymnasium equipment, fishing and outdoor gear. Amazingly enough, they are still in business after 108 years and still have a mailing address in Gloversville although I think they are an international company now with headquarters elsewhere.

[orangekrate]

Fascinating design for removeable lining - guess they didn't want to infringe on the King Patent! (laced around the opening)

Bruce

[softball66]

The image of Peach that sticks in my mind is the railroad car with the sign of "Peach Gloves".

[mikesglove]

1911 J.A. Peach gloves and mitts from a Boston Hardware Co. catalog. No removable liner models in this group, darn!

[mikesglove]

From a 1911 advertisement.

[mikesglove]

the close-up below of the 1911 Peach fielders gloves shows a unique feature of reinforcing tabs at the base of the thumb and fingers. I couldn't find a specific patent for that from J.A.Peach or anyone else but still pretty cool.



The glove below was in Brett's collection at one time and is a superior example of the features just mentioned. This is a Schmelzer Arms glove.

[mikesglove]

Below is a promotional ad from 1907 for gloves and uniforms from Consolidated Sporting Goods of Philadelphia.



John Peach went to work for Consolidated Sporting Goods around 1906. It was a large company that was incorporated in New Jersey in 1906, had a factory if Gloversville, NY. and headquarters in Philadelphia. Peach was the plant manager of the Gloversville factory. Consolidated Sports wanted the Peach removable liner patent in their name so the patent was reissued in 1909 with John Peach acting as the assignor for Consolidated Sports. Before the patent was reissued, Charles King of A.J. Reach filed a patent application for his own removable liner design. A.J. Reach subsequently sued Consolidated Sports for patent infringement and won a decision in the Philadelphia courts. This may be a reason why the 1911 Peach catalog doesn't list a removable liner glove.

[mikesglove]

Below is an interesting Peach brand glove. It is stamped "United States Army" in an oval on the front.

[mikesglove]

An interesting story from the Sporting Goods Dealer of 1909

[mikesglove]

An early J.A. Peach mitt featuring the bifurcated patches at the wrist opening. The mitt also features the Peach trademark wrist strap design.


This is the layered felt padding inside the mitt. It was very well done and features a thick leather band sewn to the outer edge of the padding. It may have been a combination stiffener and finger guard.

[mikesglove]

the close-up below of the 1911 Peach fielders gloves shows a unique feature of reinforcing tabs at the base of the thumb and fingers. I couldn't find a specific patent for that from J.A.Peach or anyone else but still pretty cool.



The glove below was in Brett's collection at one time and is a superior example of the features just mentioned. This is a Schmelzer Arms glove.

Here is another example. This one's an Edw. Tryon full web glove.