original late 19th or early 20th century antique american lignum vitae wood bowling and/or "box" game ball. the rock hard wood ball contains a double finger hole configuration. possibly fabricated by the american box ball co., indianapolis, ind. the first bowling balls used in the united states were made of wood, especially oak, and lignum vitae wood. around 1906, the first hard rubber balls were produced, such as the brunswick "mineralite" ball, and these remained the standard until the 1970's. measures approximately 7 1/2 inches.