Almost Full Circle - Early Hatmaking

[Lefty]

Viewing JtL's recent Visit to Winchester Hat Company thread, I was struck at how little has changed in the hatmaking process. At first, most work was done in-house and by hand, from separating the fur to tacking the ribbon, but the materials were obtained from others. When Stetson was roaring in the 20s, machines aided production, but everything was still in house. This included the production of most of the materials. Stetson had an entire looming department for making ribbons, a tannery for sweatbands, an entire building for straw hat production, etc. Today, we're back to the separation of supplier and hatter. While Hatco and Akubra may make their own felt, I'm guessing that they buy their leather, ribbons, and liners.

Here are a few old NY Public Library photos to show old fashioned hatting processes. Some don't look all that different from those used today.

 

[carter]

Good stuff, Lefty.

I appreciate your ongoing contributions to the growing body of knowledge to be found on the Fedora Lounge.

 

[Lefty]

Thanks.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

I agree; thanks for the post!

It's not, however, so much "full circle" as it is unchanged. The machines at the Winchester factory are ancient relics still in use in the same manner as always.

 

[jimmy the lid]

Good stuff, Lefty.

I appreciate your ongoing contributions to the growing body of knowledge to be found on the Fedora Lounge.

:arated: Agreed. Thanks for this thread, Lefty. Great stuff. Sure enough, the materials you've posted just underscore how the process in place at Winchester is very much the same as it was decades ago -- and includes, to a large extent, some of the very same original machinery.

I look forward to reading through the materials you have posted here.

Cheers,
JtL

 

[Lefty]

Here are a few more from NYPL.