vintage BENLEE swivel - eBay

[paranday]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321106683092

[fedora]

The style is pretty much like the vintage one I bought a while back. This one has more detail in the metal work though. Very classy looking. With the large bell shaped base and the metal on metal, mine sounds like a freight train coming down the tracks. . I'm guessing this one would be the same. Any idea on what it dates to?

fedora

[Dutchman]

Benlee was one of the many New York City sporting goods manufacturers, it's life seems to span from the mid 1920's until the early to mid 1950's. This style swivel I would say dates from at least the late 1930's up through the late 40's. After that their swivels looked like copies of the Everlast ball & hook swivels (much like what the TufWear ones looked like when they were in Brooklyn). They appear to have been active in the 1950's, having been granted a patent for an improved boxing glove in the early 50's, I've not found any evidence so far of them still being in business in the 1960's. Whether they simply folded or were swallowed up by one of the other firms at this time I can't confirm, but it's on the research list.

[Speedbag]

Benlee was one of the many New York City sporting goods manufacturers, it's life seems to span from the mid 1920's until the early to mid 1950's. This style swivel I would say dates from at least the late 1930's up through the late 40's. After that their swivels looked like copies of the Everlast ball & hook swivels (much like what the TufWear ones looked like when they were in Brooklyn). They appear to have been active in the 1950's, having been granted a patent for an improved boxing glove in the early 50's, I've not found any evidence so far of them still being in business in the 1960's. Whether they simply folded or were swallowed up by one of the other firms at this time I can't confirm, but it's on the research list.

Actually, it looks exactly like the Nichols swivel.


But just for fun.....I'll play. Let's see how high it goes.

[Dutchman]

It could very well have been made from the same patterns, as I'm still trying to ascertain when Nichols went out of business (my gut says the 1930's).

[Bag Man]

Benlee was one of the many New York City sporting goods manufacturers, it's life seems to span from the mid 1920's until the early to mid 1950's. This style swivel I would say dates from at least the late 1930's up through the late 40's. After that their swivels looked like copies of the Everlast ball & hook swivels (much like what the TufWear ones looked like when they were in Brooklyn). They appear to have been active in the 1950's, having been granted a patent for an improved boxing glove in the early 50's, I've not found any evidence so far of them still being in business in the 1960's. Whether they simply folded or were swallowed up by one of the other firms at this time I can't confirm, but it's on the research list.

I vaguely recall reading somewhere that Ben Lee was started by a group that split off from Everlast. Both Marciano and Walcott are wearing their equipment in their first fight (1952). I assume that for their equipment to be used in a HW title fight needed to have some fairly well established inroads by the early 1950s.

I purchased the same swivel a year or so back. Other than cosmetics, pretty much the same in terms of quality as similar swivels of that design.

[fedora]

SOLD: $30.00 Not too bad a price. Anyone here get it?

fedora

[Zaza]

not me.... would have been nice, but every spare penny I have is going towards the film!

[Speedbag]

SOLD: $30.00 Not too bad a price. Anyone here get it?

fedora

oh gee.....

looks like it belongs to me. Don't tell my wife.... My "max bid" was more than that....

[Speedbag]

not me.... would have been nice, but every spare penny I have is going towards the film!

Hey Za, if you want to use this an some other old swivels in the film (put 'em up on your board and try them...) it could be arranged.

I'm thinking at the gathering this year we need one set up for "historical equipment",.....setups from days gone by.

[Dutchman]

oh gee.....

looks like it belongs to me. Don't tell my wife.... My "max bid" was more than that....

Your secret is safe with me

[Speedbag]

Your secret is safe with me

I'll send it out to you if you want to inspect it.

[Zaza]

Hey Za, if you want to use this an some other old swivels in the film (put 'em up on your board and try them...) it could be arranged.

I'm thinking at the gathering this year we need one set up for "historical equipment",.....setups from days gone by.

So we were bidding against each other....D'OUGH!
Glad you got it because Lord knows you don't have enough of them!
So...yes, please send a few of the 'old boys' my way when you get a chance. I might even send them back.

[Speedbag]

So we were bidding against each other....D'OUGH!
Glad you got it because Lord knows you don't have enough of them!
So...yes, please send a few of the 'old boys' my way when you get a chance. I might even send them back.

Sorry, didn't know it was you. It can certainly make a pass through your place also. It looked to be in better shape than the one of my old nichols.

Actually, I have two nichols now that I check and one is in pretty good shape and looks exactly like this benlee. I'll put up a few comparison pics when it gets here.

[Speedbag]

Benlee swivel showed up today, in excellent condition. Looks exactly like my Nichols swivel. In fact the only appreciable difference is the base sections, with the nichols swivel having a bit more ornate design. Otherwise they appear in construction and size to be exactly the same.

pictures to follow after I take them.....