Thursday, March 24, 2016

Pratt Gym Indian Clubs c.1880s

 
We very rarely pick up Indian Clubs, a popular form of exercise in the US starting in the 1860s and dying out in popularity in the 1920s. We did however pick up this pair as they were marked (other than manufacturer), which is very unusual, and related to an earlier posting on this blog.

The pictured pair of clubs, standing 21” in height are stamped “PRATT GYM”. If you refer back to our blog entry of August 17, 2013, The Beginnings of Amherst Football , you will note that Amherst College’s first donated building from an alumni was Pratt Gym, erected in 1883, donated by Charles Millard Pratt.  Pratt, class of ’79 was a member of the 79 Eleven in 1878. This association made adding these clubs to our collection an easy decision.

 

 


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