Summer Premier Auction 2014
Wed, Aug 6, 2014 08:00PM EDT - Sun, Aug 24, 2014 11:00AM EDT
Timed Auction
Lot 127
PAIR OF C.1890'S MORRILL FOOTBALL NOSE GUARDS (HELMS/LA84 COLLECTION)
Sold for
$639.60
Sold Price includes BP
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $200 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $30,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
With the current standard of football headgear we have today it's easy to forget how silly vintage football "protective" gear used to be. Featured here are two examples of the earliest forms of "cutting edge" gridiron armor dating back to the early 1890s. Each nose guard is simply a rock-hard shield that covers the nose and is held in place by a cloth strap that goes around the back of the head. There are 13 small holes over the nose for breathing. On the reverse is a molded "bite plate" that fits between the teeth with evidence of some bite marks. I hope dentists were ready and waiting to operate on the sideline for whoever used these! Classic embossed lettering reads "MORRILL'S PATENT NOSE MASK" on the front with "PATD SEPT.29 1891" on the inside.
The gray nose guard measures 6 1/2" by 3" at its widest point near the mouth. The cloth strap is perfectly intact. The guard itself is well-preserved with minor fading and rusting on the exterior. Overall it presents in VG/EX condition.
The black nose guard measures 5 1/2" by 3" at its widest point near the mouth. The cloth strap has ripped and is coming apart in two other places. The guard itself is well-preserved with more teeth marks (ouch) on the bite plate and a rough bottom edge. Overall it presents in GD/VG condition.
Includes a Letter of Provenance from the Helms Athletic Foundation/LA84 Collection.
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