Caps

9-1

Civilian cap, unlined wool cap typical of homemade cap just coming into style in the late 1850s, this style would be widely seen in the 1860s. Greenish tan wool and brown leather visor, size is about 23 1/2" and fits me very comfortably and I wear a slightly smaller size. The reluctant model wears an even smaller hat so the brim did not take the proper curve that it will when worn by somebody with a head that will fill the cap. (It will be a few more years until his melon is ripe but he is almost there) . I will smash this cap into a $5.00 flat rate box or envelop as it won't mind, as long as the leather can stay unbent the wool cap will look good as new after shipping across country or being crushed by the rest of your stuff when you pack for an event. Wear it around town for a unique look everyday. So if you are tired of looking like a refugee from the 1840s and want to look a bit more up to date on fashion you can have this cap for the amazingly low price of $45 + $6 shipping.

Paypal is the best way to pay for this cap and as always email me first.

10-2 SOLD

This is based on Lt.. Burgwyns cap as seen in Echoes of Glory CS. a civilian cap made of cotton corduroy. A transitional style cap with elements of designs seen before and after the period. This basic style would be worn in Europe well into the 20th century and is reminiscent of military caps from the late 19th century onwards. The original cap was homemade as a gift to a soldier. A very comfortable cap and with the ear flaps turned down is very warm but not a cap that is too hot to wear when it isn't cold. You can stuff this in your pocket or pack and it won't care.

Size is about 7 3/8 but can be worn by a head a bit larger or smaller, this style is very size tolerant.

So a nice comfortable cap with some flare can be yours for just $40 + $6 shipping (smashed into a flat rage bag or small box but this cap can take it)

Cap introduction

The mid 19th century in the United States was a time of change. Revolutions and famine in Europe caused an influx of immigration and much of it was poor. The industrial revolution and an increased urban population saw a movement from an apprentice master relationship to one of disposable workers. A new labor class living in a level of poverty not seen today in the US. Fashions responded by creating simpler and lower quality goods for the working class rather than the hand-me-downs from the wealthier master craftsman or used clothing purchased from the rag pickers. To meet the demand of a growing poor population new goods were cheaply made in factories, these low quality goods were what most people in the lower classes could afford. Forget tailoring, too expensive, fit was looser, (or too tight as it had to last even if you grew or the garment shrank) you even see pant legs rolled on adult men in the streets. Home made goods were of course the mainstay in the countryside but in the cities the new concept of jobs had man, woman and child working long hours just to afford food and shelter. little time was left for needlework. Sewing for many women among the urban poor had devolved to knowing how to do repairs rather than create whole garments and the shoddy goods they could afford took a lot of repairing.

Cloth caps were an exception as they could be made at home for the boys and men of the household. They took only scraps of cloth and by pooling resources and skills a group of neighbors could make a batch of caps for their families. Leather brims were bought from the harness shop or cobbler who was happy to sell some scraps with his “boy” having the skill to cut and pre-punch the holes for sewing. Armed with a bag of brims and fabric scraps a group of women could have a cap making party and all the males in their families could cover their heads with the results. These were not professional hatter made quality caps as worn by the middle class and very far from the hunting and sporting caps worn by the wealthy during leisure pursuits. These were rough and practical caps, no sweatbands or linings and a short life expectancy among rough and tumble boys who were apt to pull off the brims.

The caps here are of the working class urban poor, country boys wore hats, wealthy folks had high quality hats and caps with proper linings, sweatbands and better brims, they would also look better for longer, then and now those would be far more expensive. These caps are affordable and time period correct for the right impression. Urban poor are a universal, all cities had them and they were prime fodder for any army.

Rich man’s war; poor man’s fight. Here are the caps the poor men wore.

CC-1

Wool wheel hat, common style of the late 50s and the 60s. This cap shows the smaller crown as was the newer fashion getting away from the very wide crown of the 40s. The wheel hat dates back to at least the teens as a variation of the shako and survives today in some military caps, bus drivers, airline pilots and police. Size7 1/2 more or less, being wool it has some give and will fit a range above and below the size stated, fits me comfortably and I wear a size 7 3/8

It can be on your head for only $45 + 6 shipping smashed into a flat rate bag, you want it unsmashed it will be $10 shipping but it can handle the smashing and you will do worse packing up in the dark one night.

10-9,10

Based on the cap seen in EoG worn by Lt. Charlaron. This is a newer style cap and would soon appear in catalogs as a baseball cap. By the end of the century it will evolve into the newsboy cap and as fashion dictates will be larger and smaller crowned but always flatter than it was when it started. I like transitional forms of items that have elements of both before and after styles, this cap has that. $45 each with $6 shipping for one or $12 shipping for all three (in fact any four caps on this page could go in one flat rate $10 box) Sizes: 10-9 & 10 are 7 7/8, more or less, being wool they have some wiggle room so they fit a good range of heads, the main problem with wearing any of these too big is the brim will not take the proper curve and wearing one that is too small will give you a headache. ,10-9&10 are a very dark charcoal grey almost black.

CC-2 SOLD