Narragansett Platform frame - $50 - Elmhurst NY

[topfist]

NGE Antique Platform

I have one of these platforms, & I am inclined to sell mine.
The story on it was it was donated to the Bridgeport, CT YMCA by a professional fighter in the 50's. I can't prove it, but I believe it because I did get it from the Y. If you would like to buy it, shoot me an offer. It breaks my heart to sell it.

... I'm tempted......hummmmm.... not too far from me....

(lets see....5.5 hour drive oneway....gas is about $4.00 a gallon and I'd need to take the truck...maybe this isn't a good idea?)

[Bag Man]

I'd Like to Take a Look

Topfist,

I'd be interested. Sent you an e-mail with my direct contact info.

Bag Man

[Zaza]

Topfist,

I'd be interested. Sent you an e-mail with my direct contact info.

Bag Man

I PM'd him the same day he posted... no response...don't get your hopes up.

[Bag Man]

Roger that. Maybe he sold it locally. Thanks for the head's up.

[smidar]

Narragansett platform

FYI,
there is now a Narragansett platform on Ebay, starting bid of $1000 with a buy it now option of $32,000, possibly the same one.

[Dutchman]

Now that's ridiculous. This is what I'm talking about. There might be someone out there that will shell out a grand for that, but 32k? Come on........

[Bag Man]

BTW: I posted a few pics on April 19th of a old school platform. Not sure anyone was able to give a definitive answer on the maker. (It's not marked.) Mind taking a second look. I'm thinking it might be a custom build.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Bag Man

[Dutchman]

I've taken a really close look at the pic of the support and elevation drive and it doesn't match any of the major suppliers that I've seen. To me, it looks someone had a local machine shop fabricate it from stock components. The only custom part is the center section which was welded together. Still a very impressive unit.

[Bag Man]

Appreciate you taking a second look.

That's my read on it as well. Where I'm a bit puzzled is why someone would go through the effort to have it made. I'm guessing that it dates somewhere in the 1940s-1950s. It looks like a "copy" of the commercial units of the era, so, why not just buy one? I'm guessing they were readily available, and given the amount of work that went into this unit (hard to see in the pics, but, the rail lock is quite intricate; even more so than on the NMW platforms) perhaps less expensive.

That being said, the pics of the training camps and iconic gyms of the era to me look to contain various pieces of custom made equipment, so maybe it was the practice of the day to build it yourself.

Enjoy the holiday season.

Bag Man

[Dutchman]

Bear in mind that back in the day a local shop could build you this stuff for less than what a commercially built one. Boxing gyms have been (and a lot still) not exactly rolling in dough. I've seen in person and in pictures striking bag "allys" built out of steel pipe. Necessity is mother of invention in many walks of life,

[Bag Man]

Interestingly, NMW made pipe versions as well. Basically black iron pipe with the striking board affixed. Ran into one in a YMCA and at first thought it was a local jerry rig. Turns out it is in their catalogue. Solid as a rock. Great design assuming you have a sturdy enough wall to affix it to and don't need to adjust (although the Y took care of the adjusting problem by hanging it a bit high and then building a moveable platform).

[SirMalikCobra]

It looks as if it has some good weight to it. Nice solid piece!

[Bag Man]

It looks as if it has some good weight to it. Nice solid piece!

Indeed it does, and I have the hiatal hernia to prove it.