THE FAN AND MOTOR MAKERS PLAY BALL IN 1919

Well, if you are reading this outside of Texas we understand that this is probably not a big deal to you, but we'll tell you anyway, the Texas Rangers are going to the 2010 World Series! This is really a huge deal around the Lone Star because the Rangers have never been this far during their four decade span. I remember going to the old ball park nearly 20 years ago and watching Nolan Ryan pitch. It's been a long time since those days and a long time coming for the Rangers, so all of us at VintageFans.com are excited about the prospect of the Rangers possibly winning the 2010 World Series.(Sam has even been spotted more than once wearing his Rangers baseball cap as part of his official work uniform at Vintage Fans). Through out the weeks our eyes have been glued to the games and the Rangers have lifted spirits across Texas as the tale of the former underdog MLB team has risen through the league beating the New York Yankees, allowing the Rangers their first chance to bring the title home to Texas.  

As baseball fever has spread across Texas like Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer" spread across the airwaves in 1984, it eventually infected our shop in Fort Worth and we thought that this antique photo from the Robbins and Myers Company newsletter would be an appropriate blog entry at this time. This photo became part of the VintageFans.com archives when we purchase 55 old newsletters from a picker who had purchased them at the Springfield, Ohio estate sale of a former R&M employee. The newsletters are full of interesting information about daily life working at a major fan and motor manufacturer during the first half of the 20th century. The newsletters are a rare glimpse into the individual worker's lives, something you seldom have the opportunity to learn about from original literature. The accompanying text states that " Preceding the (opening) game, there will be a parade in which all the shops in the league will be represented. The R&M band has been promised for the parade and opening game. An admission of 25 cents will be charged for this double header, the object being to provide funds for the hiring of competent umpires and score keepers and the meeting of some incidental expenses, such as the supplying of balls, whych must come from the league funds. " Enjoy the photo as we salute these Robbins and Myers employees for participating in the great American past time in their spare time from building some of the greatest fans and motors ever manufactured!