What to do with your 30 year old Carlton Fisk catchers mitt?

[d4m.test]

Cut that think apart and make a couple Panerai straps!!! I was digging through my storage boxes that came back with my from my fathers house and I found my Carlton Fisk catchers mitt from about 1979-1980. I had played little league baseball from the time I was 7 until 13 and then played in high school until I graduated. I was a catcher the entire time, led the league in hits and stolen bases almost every year BUT never hit a home run until my last year playing. As someone who grew up in Chicago I was THRILLED when Carlton came to the White Sox in 1981.
Anyway, the glove was in pretty rough condition, as I used it from the time I got it in about 1979 until 1988. But the leather is about as soft as you could pray for in a leather watch strap and I was able to salvage enough good clean leather to make 2-3 straps. This is the first...

Please understand that I am in no way/shape/form pretending to be of the talent of the guys making straps for sale on this forum. I do this for myself, and with very basic tools. Everything is done by hand, and because of my missing talent I have learned to enjoy the ROUGH or VINTAGE look! This is not a pre-curser to me selling any of these... I just like to do it, and take some pics and share...

 

[DonBrizzel]

For not being an expert at making these, you sure did one hell of a job sir!

Every part of it is original and very well done. The color works very nicely on the PAM as well.

Well done CBR!

-DJ

 

[BlueRod37]

nicccee !
maybe a bit thick but very nice

 

[R2D4]

T that's awesome! I wouldn't know where to begin. I am not going to comment on the value of that glove only to say it's worth more to you knowing where it came from and who it will remain with.

Many happy wearings my friend.

 

[russtang]

Wow! That is very nice! Great job. I can't imagine the force required to punch a needle through all that leather. :shock:

 

[d4m.test]

Thanks for the comments guys! This leather is from the back side of the glove where cleaning it brought back alot of the original tan color. The palm side of the glove is very dark and even after cleaning is nearly a dark chocolate brown. If I am creative with the cutting, I should be able to get the Carlton Fisk signature in the next one, and since it will be so dark... it will be a completely different look!
R2, I had considered the value... but when I found two identical gloves from 1985 (later than mine) on Ebay for $25-$35 I thought what the hell!!!
Thanks again...
T

 

[golgi]

Wow, man! Just wow! As one former catcher to another (I quit my sophomore year of high school due to my head coach being a deusche), that is an awesome use of an old mitt! Nice record you have there too! I myself never had second base stolen on me in a regular game 8) I now suffer from popping knees every time I stand and will probably need shoulder surgery soon :lol:

BTW, this thing would look bad ass on a PVD PAM!

Nicely Done!

 

[COLDI]

:shock:

man thats awesome. I think if you could incorporate the writing on a strap that would be awesome. I've seen it on some and it just makes it so unique. The thickness is pure awesomeness

 

[d4m.test]

Here are a few more pics with the BEAUTIFUL pen that AHW sent me... These are now two of my favorite possessions!!!

 

[DonBrizzel]

Awwww man, I love hand carved wood pens. I have a couple of them at work and they are, too, my favorite pens of all time. They just feel so absolutely perfect to hold. And since each one looks different, each one is truly one of a kind!

Very nice pen sir, and still a great watch strap!

 

[collector26]

I think it came out pretty damn good CBR. The only old glove I have hanging around is my dads glove from the 40's. I think that if I were to cut up that glove he would rise from the grave and do some damage to my stupid ass. Yours looks great though.

 

[zenmaster]

i like this rugged feel!

 

[d4m.test]

I have been sitting at home the last few days cutting, gluing and stitching away... I am at the point now that I need to buy a couple new watches so that I dont keep swapping straps out on the 1 Panerai that I have 8 times per day.
The latest one is the first that I have tried to stitch the entire strap. It took me a wasted blank to realize that you STITCH first and then cut... When cutting first, you cannot even get it to punch the holes correctly because the holes are too close to the edge.
Anyway, the strap on the 111 is the latest... So far its my favorite (next to the catchers mitt strap).

 

[DonBrizzel]

You have been a busy man!

They all look very nice!

Kudos CBR.

 

[phillycheez]

nicely done cbr.... im guessing those are your initials on the straps?

are you starting a strap making business soon?

 

[ahw676]

Hey! The computer at my new job doesn't let me see pictures so I didn't see the pictures of the straps and pen until now. They look great together, actually, even though I'm not accustomed to being the one to contribute the phallus. But the colors complement each other nicely. You have an artistic eye.

And if I ever get a rep, you have to make me a strap so that we can each have a matched set of strap/pen. Actually, we can start marketing these together. Are you up for it?

 

[Fiddo]

Hey! The computer at my new job doesn't let me see pictures so I didn't see the pictures of the straps and pen until now. They look great together, actually, even though I'm not accustomed to being the one to contribute the phallus. But the colors complement each other nicely. You have an artistic eye.

And if I ever get a rep, you have to make me a strap so that we can each have a matched set of strap/pen. Actually, we can start marketing these together. Are you up for it?

The pen and that strap look great together! I'll be your first customer when y'all start up.

 

[d4m.test]

nicely done cbr.... im guessing those are your initials on the straps?

are you starting a strap making business soon?

No, I wont be starting a business any time soon... But I have been giving a few away here and there.
AHW, definitely let me know when you want one!!! I was just chatting with someone about making one for you the other day. But we could not figure out if you even had a watch to wear it with.

I made a friend of mine a watch strap bracelet the other day. It was a light blond leather with white stitching and a sewn in Pre V buckle. She arrived to quickly and I was not able to get any pictures. I will make another one in the next few days.

 

[ahw676]

I made a friend of mine a watch strap bracelet the other day. It was a light blond leather with white stitching and a sewn in Pre V buckle. She arrived to quickly and I was not able to get any pictures. I will make another one in the next few days.

I believe that the correct response in this case would be "wristshot". Or did she object because she wasn't wearing anything else? Because in that case, I figured on it being your next avatar.

You were right. I do not own a watch that would look in any way appropriate with a strap like yours. I guess you'll have to learn to make a leather thong.

 

[d4m.test]

I was actually asked to make a leather mini-mini-mini skirt the other day. I am actually contemplating buying a sewing machine (go ahead and say that a guy sewing is gay... I dare you!!!) The reason being, I did some quick leather molding the other day (boil the leather for 2 minutes and then form it) and want to make a couple pistol holsters.
I want to make matching holsters and watch straps!!!
And yes, she was wearing the bracelet with nothing else except a necklace that I also made for her! And, I think the rest of the pics are not likely going to be an avatar!