Caxton cafe

[delectans]

Caxton Beaver Twenty


Received my first Caxton hat today, and thought I would start a thread to gather together examples of hats from this fine maker.

I am very impressed with my Caxton Beaver Twenty. Felt is dense, smooth, substantial, and eminently moldable. The front pinches hold a nearly razor sharp edge without steam. Condition is as new, with no discernible wear or insect damage. It came with an old, unmarked box which is likely not the original, but I have already secured a nice, original Caxton box to store it in.

This is a 'Bold Look' hat with grand proportions. The hat is finished to a very high standard, with interesting and high quality interior appointments. The sweatband, similar to those seen on some Maclachlans and my Trimble, as well as the very fine grade of silk satin liner trimmed with blue piping around the liner tip, distinguish this hat from those of its Stetson and Hat Corporation Of America competitors.

Incredibly comfortable, and with perfect fit at size 7-1/2. It is yet again another vintage hat that fits out of the box as well as my custom VS. I think I need another Caxton...


Crown: 6-1/2" open, and a full 6" as creased.
Ribbon: 2".
Brim: 3", with self-felted, 'Cavanagh' edge.
Sweatband: 2".

 

[Blackthorn]

Nice hat! Wish I'd seen it first (it's my size, too)!

 

[feltfan]

Wow. Nicer than the listing. Does it say "self-felted" or "Cavanagh" anywhere?

 

[feltfan]

Here's a listing I posted in Classifieds for a gray Caxton.
It didn't sell (though the other one I listed did) and I still have it.
Since it's such a nice hat and a friend likes to borrow it, I'm perfectly
glad to have it.

Gray Caxton Ten, Ribbon 1 3/4", brim a hair under 2 3/8".
Brim size edited because a sharp eyed Lounger actually
noticed that the brims on these hats are a touch larger than 2 1/4". Amazing.

Cushionaire sweatband. Note the slight water stain on the
brim binding. I imagine it would come off, but never tried.
Note that you can see the stitching on the brim binding under
the brim.

Purchased in Battle Creek, Michigan. Note the sweat barrier
between the sweatband and felt. Nice quality hat.

Note the contour of the brim binding. Rounded. Note that you can't
see stitching for this side of the binding, but you can see a decorative
line of stitching that is the stitching from the other side.

Brim binding bottom.

Brim binding top.

 

[hatophile]

My light gray Caxton from this winter, sorry for the blurry photo. Will try to get better ones later.

 

[delectans]

Your Caxton is one of my favorites of your collection, Perry, great color and lines. It is just magnificent!

 

[hatophile]

Thanks, Al. I was trying to get a color close to your very light Mallory, that's one of my favorites of yours. I guess we both have great taste, eh?

 

[delectans]

Nice hat! Wish I'd seen it first (it's my size, too)!

Thanks, Blackthorn!

Wow. Nicer than the listing. Does it say "self-felted" or "Cavanagh" anywhere?

Thank you, feltfan, I appreciate the kind remarks. There is no reference to "Cavanagh Edge", "Self-Felted Edge", or a proprietary version thereof anywhere on the hat.

Your Caxton is splendid! Beautiful, with interesting details.

 

[delectans]

Thanks, Al. I was trying to get a color close to your very light Mallory, that's one of my favorites of yours. I guess we both have great taste, eh?

lol Thanks again, Perry. You WILL find one like the Snow Mallory, I just know it!

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Delectans; Thanks for sharing your Caxton hat. The thread caught my eye as I have a "Claxton" custom guitar. That by itself was enough to open the thread. The details that you showcased in your pics and text really pique my eyes to the differences in hats. When I see a fine hat I recognize it, but it only after a bit of time reading the forum (threads like this) that I am understanding what I am seeing. The liner and leather band details are well done and showcased.

The hats, Feltfan's and yours are very "fine" hats. Eric -

 

[hatophile]

Eric, you can throw a pic of your guitar in here for laughs. I'm sure many of us would appreciate a nice guitar!

 

[Short Balding Guy]

A bunch of Claxton guitar pics here; http://www.luthierscollection.com/images.php?id=claxton13

The guitars are "very fine" instruments. This luthier, guitar builder, builds a limited number of instruments each year and for the next couple of years they are spoken for.

Eric -

 

[hatophile]

Beautiful instruments, indeed!

 

[newspapercowboy]

Nice piece of work

 

[DJH]

Delectans; Thanks for sharing your Caxton hat. The thread caught my eye as I have a "Claxton" custom guitar.

Eric, it's quite clear that you are going to have to find yourself a nice Caxton hat to wear when you play your Claxton guitar!

 

[delectans]

Delectans; Thanks for sharing your Caxton hat.

Many thanks, Eric, I appreciate your kind comments.

That Claxton guitar is a work of art, as well as a musical instrument!

 

[EggHead]

Caxton Ten, inside label handwritten "Bold Look"
Has union tag with red number "40"
Ribbon is actually dark purple, but can appear as dark blue in some light.
Crown open is 6.25", brim 2.75".

Notice the edge binding stitching detail. I have not seen modern hatters do this type.

Letters and logo on the sweatband are embossed.

This tag was attached to inside of the sweatband, I removed it. There is a small leftover that is glued to the leather, didn't want to risk removing that.

 

[Rabbit]

Nice catch, EggHead. I was watching that one and thought to myself, "a bold look hat if I ever saw one". They don't come up too often. The backfolded bound brim is perfectly executed.
6 1/4" open crown, that's quite something. Does anyone know whether the exaggerated crown height is also part of the bold look hat? It would make sense, considering that bold look also meant more generous proportions in suits, ties and shoes. Apart from that, it's definitely the highly asymmetrical brim binding, showing lots of ribbon in the rear view, plus the, well, bold felt/ ribbon color combination that constitutes the late 40s bold look in hats.

See also the thread April, 1948: Meet THE BOLD LOOK

 

[Garrett]

Caxton made some good stuff, congrats.

 

[mikespens]

Nice catch EggHead, certainly a bold look and a stunning hat. Love seeing this type of quality in a hat. I need to keep my eye out for one.

P.S. For you owners of the brand noticed this on the bay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MEN-S-HAT-B...399?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ccab4020f