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Author Topic: Question for Old Timers/Pro Shoppers on Manhattan Sample Ball  (Read 8470 times)

DukeHarding

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Question for Old Timers/Pro Shoppers on Manhattan Sample Ball
« on: January 08, 2005, 01:21:49 PM »
I'm looking for some info on Manhattan Rubber Bowling Balls.
I just bought this Manhattan Salesman Sample Ball on eBay.
The ball and box measure about 2-1/4". Are in mint condition.

Trying to put an approximate date on it. Seller was an estate liquidator.
I'd imagine pre-1960, maybe pre-1950, by package, which was printed letterpress.


http://homepage.mac.com/dukeharding/.Pictures/Duke's/Manhattan.jpg

Thanks,
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Duke Harding

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baiki

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Re: Question for Old Timers/Pro Shoppers on Manhattan Sample Ball
« Reply #1 on: January 08, 2005, 10:38:52 PM »

I had one new in '69 or 70. It was in Malaysia so it could have been out in US much earlier. '71 I bought another one that green coloured.
(FYI. cost me about US $18.00 then.)



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baiki
"Faulty mechanics makes all balls bad."  Bill Hall, BTM Dec. '98
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DukeHarding

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Re: Question for Old Timers/Pro Shoppers on Manhattan Sample Ball
« Reply #2 on: January 08, 2005, 10:50:51 PM »
baiki,
The Manhattan Rubber was my first ball, drilled up in 1959 (I was 12). It was the identical box in the picture. Funny, I still remember that ball, and how different it felt than a house ball.
It's going to be a lot of fun dating this salesman sample.


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Duke Harding

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MI 2 AZ

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Re: Question for Old Timers/Pro Shoppers on Manhattan Sample Ball
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2005, 11:10:45 PM »
I could be very wrong after 30 years, but I had a Manhattan back about 69-71 and I think the box was different for mine.  I think it was blue and white.  If I am correct, that could help you in dating that box.
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I just want 2C was'zzub.
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I am the SGT Schultz of bowling.
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Six decades of league bowling and still learning.

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DukeHarding

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Re: Question for Old Timers/Pro Shoppers on Manhattan Sample Ball
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2005, 11:26:22 PM »
MI 2 AZ,
kfrog, over on PBA.com, recalls that they were given out as showpieces in bowling centers (oops, alleys), and pro shops. Last time he saw one was in 1964.

I paid $30 for it, which was a good deal. It's really a neat collectible.
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Duke Harding

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RandyO

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Re: Question for Old Timers/Pro Shoppers on Manhattan Sample Ball
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2005, 12:01:21 AM »
That box design looks pretty typical of late 50’s and early 60’s. I have a NIB 15# Black Manhattan Rubber tucked away in the garage. I’ll take a look at the box  after I get off from work and see what it looks like. I have no idea when mine was manufactured. I know at one point in time they stopped producing bowling balls. Ebonite bought the rights to the name, and produced a Green Manhattan “Pro-Maker”, followed by the butt-ugly beige/tan Manhattan Urethane. That one looked like it was squeezed out of a Clearasil bottle. Manhattan Rubber was always a popular ball. I know everbody I knew wanted one, but trying to get your parents to spend $$ for one was always difficult. $20 to $30 was a LOT of money back in the early 60's. That was around 2 days pay for my Dad back then.

Edited on 1/9/2005 3:33 AM
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DukeHarding

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Re: Question for Old Timers/Pro Shoppers on Manhattan Sample Ball
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2005, 09:22:53 AM »
quote:
That box design looks pretty typical of late 50’s and early 60’s. I have a NIB 15# Black Manhattan Rubber tucked away in the garage. I’ll take a look at the box after I get off from work and see what it looks like.


I'd appreciate any info, thanks.

quote:
I know at one point in time they stopped producing bowling balls.


Doing some deep googling, I found that Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc. made the Manhattan ball. They stopped manufacturing bowling balls and contracted with the U.S. government's space program, manufacturing parts for the ptogram.
Probably a lot more lucrative than making bowling balls.




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Duke Harding

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baiki

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Re: Question for Old Timers/Pro Shoppers on Manhattan Sample Ball
« Reply #7 on: January 09, 2005, 09:33:46 AM »
quote:
baiki,
The Manhattan Rubber was my first ball, drilled up in 1959 (I was 12). It was the identical box in the picture. Funny, I still remember that ball, and how different it felt than a house ball.
It's going to be a lot of fun dating this salesman sample.


Wow!
I know Malaysia is a backward 3 rd world country then and lag time is normal for new products to reach us but 12 years seemed a long time. One could reach Malaysia from the US on foot in the time.

 


--------------------
baiki
"Faulty mechanics makes all balls bad."  Bill Hall, BTM Dec. '98
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RandyO

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Re: Question for Old Timers/Pro Shoppers on Manhattan Sample Ball
« Reply #8 on: January 12, 2005, 11:43:42 AM »
Now that my new computer is up and running and I am able to upload stuff to the server, I can show you mine:

Box View 1:
http://www.pipeline.com/~randyo/arsenal/mr-box1.jpg

Box View 2:
http://www.pipeline.com/~randyo/arsenal/mr-box2.jpg

The Precious Orb:
http://www.pipeline.com/~randyo/arsenal/15mr.jpg

I have no way of knowing what year it was produced, but judging by the box design I would guess that yours is older than mine.
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: Question for Old Timers/Pro Shoppers on Manhattan Sample Ball
« Reply #9 on: January 12, 2005, 12:26:29 PM »
Randy's picture view 2 is the same as I remember mine being.

My Manhattan had no label, just a serial number.  It was specially made for a pro who was under contract with another company and could not use balls with other companies' name on it.
--------------------
I just want 2C was'zzub.
____________________________________

I am the SGT Schultz of bowling.
"I know nothing! I see nothing! NOTHING!"
________________________________________
Logged
_________________________________________
Six decades of league bowling and still learning.

ABC/USBC Lifetime Member since Aug 1995.

RandyO

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Re: Question for Old Timers/Pro Shoppers on Manhattan Sample Ball
« Reply #10 on: January 12, 2005, 12:39:06 PM »
Good - You can possibly date mine? When did you acquire the one that came in this type of box?
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: Question for Old Timers/Pro Shoppers on Manhattan Sample Ball
« Reply #11 on: January 12, 2005, 12:47:29 PM »
Mine would have been around 1969-1971.
--------------------
I just want 2C was'zzub.
____________________________________

I am the SGT Schultz of bowling.
"I know nothing! I see nothing! NOTHING!"
________________________________________
Logged
_________________________________________
Six decades of league bowling and still learning.

ABC/USBC Lifetime Member since Aug 1995.

RandyO

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Re: Question for Old Timers/Pro Shoppers on Manhattan Sample Ball
« Reply #12 on: January 12, 2005, 12:57:58 PM »
When did MR quit making balls? I remember buying a Green Manahattan in 1973 when I was stationed in Japan, but it was stolen
I know that Ebonite bought the rights and eventually produced and marketed a Green Manhattan Pro-Maker, and also the brown Manhattan Urethane. Any idea of when Ebonite starting producing and selling MR balls? It would be nice to know a cut-off date so it could be determined which MR balls are REAL and which are Ebonite.
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