LOT OF 4: 1880S BOGARDUS, PAINE & GREENE GLASS TARGET BALLS

The era of the glass target shooting balls was very short lived. The earliest examples date to the late 1860s and were made in England. All glass balls were obsolete by the late 1880s after the introduction of the clay pigeons similar to those used today. Captain Adam Bogardus patented a round ball thrower in 1877 as well as redesigning the balls adding embossed texture which improved on the earlier smooth balls in which the shot often deflected. The golden age of glass ball production and shooting really only was in fashion for about 10 years. This lot consists of four balls, each about 2 - 5/8" in diameter and hand blown with a neck. (A) Embossed "GREEN LONDON". Ball is a bit smaller than American made balls. It is in the rare light aqua blue. One side was produced with a concave area. Neck is cracked and chipped. (B) "IRA PAINES FILLED BALL PAT. OCT.23 1877" embossed around the circumference. Color is dark amber and the neck is cleanly shaved. (C) "BOGARDUS GLASS PATD APRIL 10, 1877". Embossed around the rim with a diamond and dot overall pattern. Color is olive green. (D) "BOGARDUS GLASS PATD. APRIL 10, 1877" along circumference with diamond overall pattern. Very rare light to medium pink amethyst. Neck is fairly clean cut. CONDITION: Fine. A very scarce grouping.

Item Dimensions: Largest: 2 - 3/4" Dia.