Baltimore Hats, Past and Present

It is not impossible that some useful information may be conveyed by this book. Should these pages prove of such service, their cost in labor is most cheerfully donated.

This volume is composed of a series of articles which appeared in a Trade Journal, covering a period of two years from 1887 to 1889. It must be accepted as but a brief history of an industry long identified with Baltimore.

Thanks are due the Librarian of the Maryland Historical Society and Mr. B. R. Sheriff for favors in lending rare and valuable old City directories; also to the many citizens who kindly aided and assisted in the search for needed information.

THE AUTHOR.

BALTIMORE, 1890.

CONTENTS.

1. INTRODUCTORY 2. EARLY DAYS 3. PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTION 4. AFTER THE REVOLUTION 5. EARLY IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY 6. SOME OLD FIRMS 7. PATRIARCHS OF THE TRADE 8. JACOB ROGERS 9. OLD METHODS 10. JOHN PETTICORD 11. MIDDLE OF THE CENTURY 12. FASHIONS 13. NEW DEVELOPMENTS 14. GROWTH OF BUSINESS 15. HISTORY OF THE MACKINAW HAT 16. MODERN IMPROVEMENTS 17. A MODEL ESTABLISHMENT 18. WAYS AND MEANS OF THE PRESENT TIME

Baltimore Hats--Past and Present.

INTRODUCTORY.

No. 1.

Past and present have each their independent significance. The past gives freely to us the experiences of others, the present a suitable opportunity to improve upon what has already occurred. With our observation and acceptance of these privileges so easily obtained, we reap the benefit of their advantages and unconsciously find ourselves the gainers both in capacity and intelligence. A history of the past, giving the record of events and circumstances existing before our own day, bringing to our knowledge the accomplishments, business enterprises and undertakings of our predecessors, is a profitable study, and the reader gratifies his curiosity in observing how differently things were conducted and managed a century ago as compared with the processes of the present day, exciting a sense of wonder at the rapid progress that has been made in a comparatively short period of time. Think of it! quite within the lifetime of many of us have been the most wonderful of inventions--the steam engine, steam vessels, the telegraph and other wonders and triumphs of electricity. The wildest fancy may not be styled visionary in anticipating the appearance of things still more surprising.

[Illustration: THEN.]

[Illustration: NOW.]

Continued familiarity with the present system of making hats has the tendency in a great degree to prevent a recognition, until brought to our notice by comparison of the wide difference existing between the old and new methods, and this common every-day experience assists in making us unappreciative of the remarkable improvements that have been made in this branch of business.