1940-1949 Catchers Mask Dating Guide

Double and triple carbon steel wire, Truss construction masks continue to be developed, and are being made with a broader design. Face padding is commonly laced to the frame using leather tabs. The one piece double bar masks are becoming more common than the previous two decades.

Visual Glossary


1942 Professional Spitter Model Catchers Mask	1930-1940s 5/8" Two Bar catchers mask with Round Spitter	1949 Reach Catchers Mask

The Dating of a catcher's mask could prove to be a difficult task. Construction styles, models, or features could have been used for many years after they were introduced. In some cases you could positively date a mask to after a feature was first introduced but you might have to settle on generalizing the dating to a longer era of use. The 1940's carry on with the mask designs from the 1930's with Double and triple carbon steel wire, Truss construction frames, but made broader. World War II slows the development of new designs. One piece double bar masks are becoming more common after the war and into the 1950's. Lacing used to secure the padding to the frames is more evident.


1940's JC Higgins 1705 Catchers Mask	Triple Wire Two Bar construction with ear protection. Common style from 1930's through 1950's	1930's/40's Kenwel One Piece Cast Magnesium Catchers Mask

Post war mask development takes the direction of the one piece cast constructed frames. This design with the padding lace to the frame, will carry over into the 1950's until manufactures start to use snap on pads. The triple Wire, two bar constructed frames that started out in the 1930's is also made throughout the 1940's and into the 1950's. The 1950's models can be identified by the snap on pads but distinguishing the '40's models from masks made in the 1930's is so slight you need to identify them in trade catalog and ads.

Basically the main features with masks dated to the 1940-1949 manufacturing period are; bulky or broader frames with laced padding. A common feature being used more often are the leather tabs or flaps, that extend from the pads that wrap around the frame and secured by lace. Most models can be easily confused with 1930's or 1950's styles.

Because it is easier to date a mask to the era when a feature was available I have listed a timeline below. You might be able to use unique features on your mask that overlap other features to narrow down the date. I have also included catalog images so you can match styles and construction characteristics like a fingerprint.

Catchers Mask Timeline

1911 D&M introduces Electric Welded steel wire construction.
1912 Reach introduces "Wide Sight" frame construction.
1914 Reach introduces "The Spitter" hole
1914 The first use of chin padding that slowly replaces chin support straps.
1916 Spalding starts to use Truss Support, and double wire construction.
1921 Aluminum one piece frame is patented by umpire James E. Johnstone.
1930 Two, "eye space bars" each constructed with three wires is patented.
1935 One piece molded frame with two "eye bars" affixed to it is patented

1940-1949 Catchers Mask Catalog Samples & Ads


1940 Goldsmith D&M Belknap Catchers Masks	1941 Ken-Wel Catchers Masks	1942 Shapleigh Catalog Catchers Maskss	1943 Rawlings Catchers Mask advertising

1943 Rawlings Catchers Masks	1948 Rawlings Catchers Mask	1948 Rawlings Catchers Masks	1948 MacGregor Goldsmith Catchers Mask advertising

1948 Rawlings Catchers Masks	1948 Reach Catchers Mask	1951 MacGregor Catchers Masks	1950 Goldsmith Catchers Mask Patent