Indian Clubs from long ago

I increased my collection of Indian clubs by about 1/3 a couple of weekends ago. These came in pairs and were swung during either a gymnastic workout or a weight training session. These were all about 2 lbs each. I'm not sure what woods are used. The middle one's stripes are painted on over what looks like could be maple?

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Rick Prevett

Registered: November 2004
Location: lincoln nebraska
Posts: 446

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Date: Fri January 28, 2005
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Keywords: indian clubs from long ago

Comments

Chris Wright

Those are pretty cool Rick. Do you know the age of them? Have you tried turning your own yet?

#1 Fri January 28, 2005 7:34pm

Rick Prevett

Well, all I have found out is that the use of these basically stopped after the '30's. So anything manufactured for the sport would be, I'm guessing, 1890 to 1910. The tall one (I also have a smaller pair that are marked the same) has 'Spaulding' engraved on the clubs, but no date. There's a coffee-table book on these that came out a few years back, I'll have to get to B&N and see if its on the sale rack.

I haven't turned anything like these, but I did purchase a modern one, very nicely done. I'll post it.

#2 Sat January 29, 2005 12:29am

cfuller

Are the "Indian clubs" used for juggling? I've seen them at antique shows before and wondered what they were.

#3 Mon January 31, 2005 2:34am

Rick Prevett

The clubs were sold in pairs and were used, one in each hand, as part of either a weight training routine or for a general workout. Most weighed between 2 and 10 lbs. If you ever see a really old movie with a shot of a gym in it, you may see these lined up against one wall. For a while, they were as common as a free weight set is today.

#4 Mon January 31, 2005 2:13pm