Can anyone tell me how to determine the date on the inside of the batting helmets manufactured by ABC? No one has been able to explain how to read the dial in the roof of the helmet. Please advise.
I think you will find that the number refers to the last digit of the year of manufacture and the arrow points to the month in which it was made that year..
The above is the way to determine the month and year that the helmet was manufactured that doesn't mean it was issued or used in that particular year. Some clubs order a number of helmets and issue them, in some cases up to two years after the manufactured date. I recently came across a helmet that was manufactured in 1992 but it had the 125th MLB tag on the back. That would make it a 1994 helmet. What happened in this case the shell was manufactured in October 1992, the hemet wasn't issued until the 1994 season. The helmet was from a common player, not a superstar, so the value would be lower and there would be less chance of tampering (turning a common helmet into a "Bonds" or McGwire helmet. After, speaking to the equipment manager, I found out that it wouldn't be too uncommon for the club to issue a helmet 2 or even three years after the manufactured date. I hope this is helpful. Happy Collecting!
Phil brings up a good point regarding helmets that are issued years after they were made. I have Jason Larue's rookie helmet and it was made 8 years before he finally wore it. Last year I had a chance to look at a ton of gamers the Braves were selling and some of them were actually made in the 1980s. Unfortunately, ABC clocks in 1980s gamers are, as far as I'm concerned, impossible to read. If anyone knows how to do it please let us know.
While we're on the subject of ABC helmets, I'd like to inquire about a Dodgers helmet I recently picked up on eBay. This one is a pre-dial job from the 70s, with the old Pro-Celd sticker inside.
Do any helmet experts know when this label was phased out? Thanks - r4f
I have a pdf file archived somewhere (from SCD I believe) that makes a galant attempt to decifer the dot patterns on the date wheel on ABC helmets. I'll try to dig it up and post it here for all.
P.S. After reading the article I was just as confused!
Fellow collectors-don't waste your time trying to figue out the pre 1990 ABC "pie" code. This cirle with the quarter marks and "dots" is a mystery, ven to those at ABC. Back in the early '90s, I spoke with the president of ABC (same last name as mine, Wolf), and even he said it was used for production purposes, only. I too remember the story in SCD, and it was outlandish! It made no sense, and appeared to be some sort of made-up story from the author. I remember taking a half dozen older helmets, using the story to determine the years, and fell flat on determining the date of manufacture. Curious to know if anyone REALLY has the inside scoop on this.
On a related note, how about the bogus helmets in the hobby from the recent "superstars" that have the size tag on the undeside of the bill, as opposed to the inside of the shell (as it should have)? These are retail helmets, doctored up to look like gamers. Oh, I forgot, they have the all important letter of authenticity so they must be real!
I'm assuming the article you're referring to in SCD is the one I wrote, which appeared about a year ago. If there was another one that came out before that, please forgive my assumption and strike the following comments:
Howard, I'm sorry that you felt my attempt at getting to the bottom of the pre-1990 code was "outlandish." Let me readdress the topic of the pre-1990s code. As I mentioned in the article, it is a cryptic dial and one that no one, as far as I knew then and now, categorically knows how to read. I tried to contact Mr. Wolf at ABC many times before writing the piece but he never returned my calls or emails. As you might recall, the article was also not centered on deciphering number clocks. SCD has a tendency to recycle the same topics over and over. Personally, I like reading new material.
Now that someone is saying the codes were used for production purposes only and may not reflect an actual manufacturing date, that’s great for all of us. It’s the type of response I was hoping to get a year ago. Did I query other experienced industry sources regarding their interpretations of the code? Of course. Should've called you Howard. And that's no joke. Several pieces in my collection have come from you and I look forward to obtaining more. By all accounts, you seem like a good guy. But be careful about categorizing my attempt as outlandish or made up. Remember, we’re all members of a relatively small community.
I was very up front about the fact that, despite my attempts to break the code, the best I could do was propose a theory, which several other people supported, and submit to you folks for review. I believe the code I used as an example that sent you rifling through all of your helmets, Howard, was inside a late-1980s, Braves Dale Murphy example. The explanation that appeared in SCD makes sense if you're looking at that particular helmet and, as I said in the article, I wasn't the only one who thought that my guess made sense. Did I think every helmet made before 1990 could be read the same way? Absolutely not. But it was a start. And that’s what every solution needs to begin with.
For all of you who could care less about the above topic, I completely understand. Math and game used stuff shouldn’t be mixed. I guess you’ve probably realized by now that I enjoy collecting batting helmets. In fact, they’re pretty much the only g/u items I go after these days. That said, I have no motivation to misrepresent any attempt on my part to help other helmet collectors. It’s all about sharing knowledge.
Jason-
No harm intended. After listening to the so called "experts" (the same ones who write the $125. letters of authenticity) TRY and explain the pre-1990 code until I am sick of it, I guess my frustration is coming out. I apprecie you at least trying to break the code, however, have been told by these "EXPERTS" that "2 dots in the upper right represents 1-3, 1 dot in the bottom left represents 7-9, as it conforms to a clock face" etc, I can not stomach it any longer. My point in responding in the previous email was that I am not aware of any conclusive info on this that actually can stand on its own. Even the folks at ABC could not help. Again, sorry for any negative vibes you felt-A for effort on trying to break the helmet code.
Collectors need to wake up and understand the "letter of authenticity" sham. If it has the letter, it must be good! I need a game used Michael Jordan White Sox helmet to go with my game used 1994 Jordan game used jersey/pants, and was offered an autographed "game used" helmet. It looked good, until I looked inside and saw the manufacturing wheel read 7/95. how can this be? Jordan was back in the NBA in July, 1995. The dealer indicated he obtained the helmet froma great Jordan contact and could get a letter if I nededed it. Collectors, beware of this helmet and likewise, a piece of paper does not make for a legit item.
Howard Wolf
I finally dug out and found the article from SCD which attempt to decifer the ABC code "logic" on pre 1990 helmets. Unfortunately the pdf file I have is very poor quality and hard to read. I'm hoping some readers out there can provide me a copy of this edition. I'd be willing to pay for the copy. Here are the details:
SCD
December 26,1997
Section: The Equipment Manager
Article: Collecting game-used balls....and an ABC helmet update
Author: Tim Lee
