We couldn’t find a lightweight waxed cotton baseball cap that was readily available and made in the USA, so we’ve produced one ourselves. Classic five panel design with leather tab back adjustment. Made of a 5.5 ounce waxed cotton/nylon that’s both durable and lightweight. Ideal for all-weather walking, fishing, and hunting. One size fits most. If you have a larger head (sizes 7 3/4 and above), this cap might feel a bit small. Waxed fabric: 80% cotton, 20% nylon Now available in tan and navy
| By Lesli Larson | 2 Comments | Share:
|
| Tags: archival caps, Caps, shopping from the present, trail caps, waxed cotton |
The Tyne and Wear Archives & Museum has just released a terrific set of mug shots from a 1930s. According to the TWAM site, the photos come from an identification book originally sourced from a junk shop. What I love about these photos are the split view poses struck by the disheveled yet handsomely dressed perps. Adding a touch of high art, several of the secondary views are out of focus or feel gratuitous – like school retake photos showing us the perp’s better half. Out of context, the mug shots read like casting photos for Fritz Lang’s M or the latest Engineered Garments lookbook.
Examine the cards closely and you’ll see evidence of a downbeat, Raymond Chandleresque portrait of crime and criminal behavior in the 30s (one that feels oblique and victimless). Targets include a depopulated sphere of clubs, warehouses, offices, and shops. My favorite M.O. (revealing a full character portrait in a few phrases) can be found on the final mug shot for William Jones (DEAD): “Shopbreaking. Uses various method of entry. Works alone. Plays violin outside public houses. Convicition in America for shooting a man.”
| By Lesli Larson | No Comments | Share:
|
| Tags: Caps, flickr commons, from the archives, hats |
We couldn’t find a lightweight waxed cotton baseball cap that was readily available and made in the USA, so we’ve produced one ourselves. Classic five panel design with leather tab back adjustment. Made of a 5.5 ounce waxed cotton/nylon that’s both durable and lightweight. Ideal for all-weather walking, fishing, and hunting. Available via our Archival web shop.
One size fits most. If you have a larger head (sizes 7 3/4 and above), this cap might feel a bit small.
Made in USA
| By Lesli Larson | 2 Comments | Share:
|
| Tags: archival caps, archival trail caps, Caps, shopping from the present, trail caps, waxed cotton |
We’re updating the AC web shop with Fall items from Rising Sun, Leather Head Sports, Saint James and Columbiaknit. Check out our Columbiaknit cotton caps in new colorways. And by popular demand, we’re bringing in a new logo-neutral Cooperstown Ball Cap in our favorite color, navy blue. Stay tuned for updates on more items coming to the AC shop including Individualized shirts and a from-the-archives, machine knit wool scarf.
Saint James Wool Matelot (new colorway)
| By Lesli Larson | 3 Comments | Share:
|
| Tags: archival restock, archival update, Caps, Cooperstown Ball Cap Co, cotton, football, knitwear, leather head sports, Rising Sun and Co., saint james, Wool |
OK, if you want to really learn the Carhartt ropes you should be over at 10engines right now (above image lifted from there). James has an almost worrisomely complete Optic.
| By Tom Bonamici | No Comments | Share:
|
| Tags: archival jackets, bicycles, Caps, Carhartt, Jason McKenzie, made in USA, work pants |
Original Filson duckbill offeringsA duckbill cap was the first item I ever purchased from CC Filson. A decade ago, you could buy a Filson duckbill cap in tin cloth, shelter cloth, cotton poplin or wool. Filson even offered a short billed model (my personal favorite). The original duckbill version was fitted and came with a leather sweatband. Filson has dropped the wool and poplin models and switched over to a one size fits all model with a cotton sweatband.
I have a small collection of caps that I rotate through the seasons: poplin for summer, tin cloth for fall, wool for winter and shelter cloth cloth for spring. The duckbill cap makes for an ideal cycling cap. The long bill keeps the sun and rain out of your eyes and the low profile, four panel crowd closely hugs the head (making it possible to tuck the hat under a bike helmet).
I’m unclear on the origin of the duckbill style but there may be a military connection. A gent at the Pacific Aviation Museum in Honolulu once mistook mine for a WWII military reissue.
A few sample duckbill caps from my archives:
Original Filson duckbill in tin cloth
Filson duckbill in cotton poplin
Filson short duckbill
Filson wool duckbill
| By Lesli Larson | 13 Comments | Share:
|
| Tags: archival commerce, Caps, duckbill caps, Filson, hats, hunting clothing, shopping from David Mamet, shopping from the past, waxed cotton |
Sometimes I get so fixated on the past that I forget to mail order from the present. A quick web check on one of my favorite contemporary brands, Cooperstown Ball Cap Co., produced this depressing news:
Regrettably, after twenty-three years of making fine historic replica ball caps, Cooperstown Ball Cap Company has discontinued operations. Commercial, financial and legal difficulties; and the complexity of sewing one-of-a-kind caps in the U.S, make this decision inevitable. We thank all our customers for whom, over the years, we have been pleased to make a true vintage ball cap.
For reference, Cooperstown Ball Cap Co. manufactured custom caps for historical teams and individuals. One could order a cap in any historical style or in any combination of styles, logos or colors. The illustrated Cooperstown catalogs featured examples of nearly every known historical baseball team including company teams, military teams and even a hat from the Eastern Washington Hospital for the Mentally Insane. All caps were handmade from 13 oz. athletic flannel, horsehide leather bands and highest grade peak stiffeners. Whenever possible, caps were sewn on original machines in Cooperstown, NY.
For reference, I’m reprinting a few pages from two of my 1990s era catalogs. At some point, the company moved to an online ordering format. But I always loved the colorful illustrations, hand scripted captions, arcane keycode system and personal notations of these early catalogs.
Small sampling of minor league caps
Shopping from A League of Their Own
Caps could be ordered in any combination of colors or historical styles
| By Lesli Larson | 27 Comments | Share:
|
| Tags: 1994, 1999, archival lament, baseball, Caps, extinct brands, hats, shopping from the present, Wool |
