This original sepia-toned photograph captures the Hart Mirror Plate Company basketball team of Grand Rapids, Michigan, during the 1922–1923 season. The image shows six proud players posing in a studio setting, each wearing sleeveless jerseys bearing the bold heart-shaped “HMP Co” insignia — the distinctive logo of the company that sponsored their team. The player at center holds a basketball inscribed “1922–3,” documenting the season. Founded in 1899 by Joseph S. Hart, the Hart Mirror Plate Company (HMPC) became one of Grand Rapids’ leading manufacturers of mirrors and display glass. The firm contributed to the city’s reputation as “Furniture City,” producing the glass used in fine furniture and architectural interiors throughout the Midwest. The company remained a local mainstay until it was sold in 1962, closing a chapter in Michigan’s proud industrial history. Company-sponsored athletic teams such as this one reflected the social fabric of early 20th-century American life, when factory floors and basketball courts often shared the same workforce. Sports leagues helped foster company pride, teamwork, and morale in an era before large professional leagues dominated the national scene. This photograph also connects to the broader story of Michigan basketball heritage. Seven decades after this image was taken, the state would celebrate the rise of the “Fab Five” at Michigan State University — the celebrated team remembered for its unity, talent, and pioneering style. The Hart Mirror Plate Company team stands as an early example of that same competitive Midwestern spirit that helped shape the state’s basketball identity. (SOLD)
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