Vintage Baseball Glove Forum

JD posted a history of Wilson Sporting Goods on his site. It is really detailed, interesting and worth checking out in the "Article" section of the Glove Library. http://www.baseballglovecollector.com
Ashland Mfg. was the predecessor to Thomas E. Wilson Sporting Goods and produced a limited amount of sporting equipment in their brief existence. Below is a baseball bearing the Ashland Manufacturing logo and was dubbed the "Nickel Rocket".

Thomas E Wilson was given a sweetheart deal to resurrect the Sulzberger & Sons meat packing firm. Ashland Mfg. Co. was a subsidiary at the time. Wilson had extensive experience and was given an interest in the company and installed as president. The Sulzberger & Sons name was changed to Wilson & Co.


Thomas Wilson was not impressed by the Ashland Mfg. subsidiary and offered to sell it to A.G. Spalding Co. The Spalding offer was so low that WIlson decided to keep Ashland mfg. and infuse more money and direction into that catch-all operation. Wilson eliminated much of the Ashland niche manufacturing. One of his first additions was the purchase of Sell Sporting Goods of Canton, OH. to produce baseball gloves. Wilson's goal was to position the company in the mainstream sporting goods market.


The logos of the two companies are near identical. In 1918, Thomas Wilson hired L.B. Icely, formerly the sales manager of Wright, Ditson & Victor to run Thomas E. Wilson Co. Icely was noted as being a shrewd and innovative businessman. He was credited for several merger/acquisitions that propelled Thomas E. Wilson Co. into the forefront of the sporting goods market. Thomas WIlson left to concentrate on his Wilson & Co. meat packing operation for the next 35 years.

Mike you are spot on with your information. Icely doesn't get as much credit as he should for building one of the biggest Sports companies in the world. Thos. Wilson was more devoted to the meat packing business even though the Sporting goods company still retained his name on all the products. Even unto this day. He was a very smart business man but Icely put all his attention towards the sports line. All the way up to his last days.