Wood Exercise Clubs by Spalding

Thank you to Mary Warner of http://morrisoncountyhistory.org/?page_id=4771 for the valuable information on these clubs. She writes about her experience of discovering that these clubs were not juggling pins as she first thought. She'd met a couple who were collectors of these clubs:


The bowling pin-like artifacts were called Indian clubs and were used for weight training. The man continued, with periodic interjections from his wife, and told me that Indian clubs came in various weights, just like barbells. Unlike barbells, however, they were swung in complex circular motions to build the body. The clubs originated in India and traveled west after Britain colonized the country. America eventually picked up on the craze and the Spalding sporting goods company produced the clubs in this country. The British version of the clubs had rounded bottoms because they were hung up when not in use. The American version had flat bottoms.

She also cited another source concerning these clubs:

One site, called The Secret World of Indian Clubs by Tom Black, says, “Sadly, clubs are sometimes sold and mislabeled as “juggling” pins, which is odd considering that they are usually in pairs of two, but jugglers prefer at least three pins.”

Another site with valuable information on these clubs is: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-05-18-9705180014-story.html. They write that clubs like these were manufactured from 1870 through 1930 so I am conservatively dating these clubs as being circa 1930. The clubs were also sold in pairs.

These two solid wooden clubs weigh 1 1/2 pounds each and measure 18" in length. Both clubs have considerable wear- staining, scratches, nicks, gouges, scrapes, cracks. (Please see the second photo. While this is indeed a crack, it is not splitting further and appears to be stationary.) One club also has grip tape close to the neck where one would hold the club.

The price is for the set of two clubs.

Thank you for looking.