Collecting Vintage Bowling Trophies

Vintage Bowling Trophies

With the exception of the kitsch factor, I don’t believe bowling trophies to be that collectible but they are fun in a campy sort of way and make a great display for a gym or a game room. They come in all different sizes and styles, from tiny to huge, from wall plaques to clocks. Most can be picked up pretty reasonably however some early ones made out of bakelite plastic can get up there in price. I have found some good ones in antique shops and at yard sales, but keep and eye on ebay and you will find all you could ever want. In general trophies from forties, fifties and early sixties have much more character and substance then most from the seventies and on. While looking for trophies keep an eye out for old bowling team photos which tie in nicely to your display. Happy hunting.

This section of our blog is by no means an authoritative resource for serious collectors. It is more of an introduction or suggestion to collecting and displaying items you may have never considered. I have all kinds of little collections around our retroplanet.com offices. Bowling trophies, world globes, restaurant cups & saucers, Hall tea pots, soda fountain glasses and paper cups, just to name a few.
I am not even sure how or why I started collecting a few of these things. Sometimes collections just happen. I was in an antique store one day and the guy had about a dozen bowling trophies. They where 50’s vintage, kitschy, in great shape and priced right so I bought most of them. So now I start looking on ebay and picking trophies up here and there and before you know it we have about forty on display in the retroplanet.com gym.
If you happen to be a collector of any of the items I write about and would like to contribute please respond to the blog with your tips and advice. Look for other collections coming soon.