Crofut & Knapp Tales

[delectans]

Josh: Thank you for your very kind remarks. The derby exhibits a delicacy in materials and execution that I find very appealing. As you noted, the brim flanging and curl are quite flat, which I think complements the light and thin felt very well. It would be fantastic to find a dated illustration of this particular style in the annals of 'The American Hatter '.


buler: Thanks for your compliment, and keen observation. I was thinking along the same lines. I recall coming across several sweatbands scattered throughout different forum threads which have the same pattern, and were referred to as having "orange peel" finish.

 

[bowlerman]

WOW, Al. unreal! Is that a wax stamped "B" on the orange peel?

 

[delectans]

Thanks, Jeff. That "B" is a piece of stamped aluminum, clipped to the sweatband. I can only guess that it was the surname initial of the original owner.

 

[alanfgag]

Orange Peel sheepskin marked on a Stetson western sweatband.

Al, what is the weight of this lovely derby?

 

[delectans]

Thank you for posting your beautiful sweatband, Alan. Yours is one I had in mind, and is one of probably only a handful of surviving sweats which provide definitive documentation of the "orange peel" finish. I believe Josh also posted an example.

As for the above C & K derby, it weighs in at 4.6 ounces. By comparison, my other C & K derby, which is two sizes larger at 7-1/2 and has a significantly taller crown, but which utilizes even thinner and lighter felt, tips the scale at 4.3 ounces! As further reference, my Knox Superfine long hair beaver finish derby, also unlined, weighs 6.1 ounces, and my unlined Stetson Select Quality comes in at 5.8 ounces.

 

[Rodkins]

Here is the new Crofut & Knapp I just fished out of the bay form a lounger auction. It's a lot like a gay prince. The felt is amazing.

 

[dlvh]

Nice Rodkins.

Here is the one I purchased a bit ago from the bay also:

The hat looks almost like it was never worn. Other than a few minor moth nibbles, it's in great shape.

The i.d. tag identifying the hat was produced in the 40's. Thanks Brad!

The beautifully stitched overwelt edge.

The un-reeded sweatband, in all-but perfect shape. Clarke's was located in Tulsa, OK according to member "alanfgag" Thanks again Alan!

Another inside view, this one of the $5.00 price tag.

A good frontal view of this fine hat. It has a 5 & 7/8" crown, with a 2 & 5/8" brim.

The hat feels wonderful to the touch, and is easy to shape. The un-reeded sweatband allows the hat to form to my head like no other hat I own. It's a pure pleasure to wear.

dlvh (David)

 

[dogrocketp]

I love the whip stitching on the C&K, Mike. I have the same style in the Gay Prince, which I collect. Not everyone is comfortable wearing such an exceptional style.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Photos of the Crofut and Knapp Factory in East Norwalk. These are from Pictorial Norwalk 1939, a book published by The Norwalk Hour newspaper. The building in the first photo sets a couple of blocks apart from the building in the other photos. Both are still in existence. I find it interesting that they still have a large Crofut & Knapp sign at ground level as well as the C&K Hats sign on top of the building, even though the company had been Hat Corporation of America for seven years. I wonder how long they held onto that heritage?

Compare to these images from an earlier decade:

Brad

 

[randooch]

Oh my, the cars, the Cars, the CARS!

 

[Brad Bowers]

Crofut & Knapp cap. C&K added cloth caps and hats to their product line in 1919, so this dates 1919 to about 1941, essentially narrowing it down to the '20s or '30s. lol It's really nice to have added one of these rarities to my collection.

It's about a size 7, though there is no tag at all in the cap.

Only thing on the sweatband is "Real Russia," whatever the heck that is. No C&K stamp at all.

Too small for me to wear, plus the sweatband stitching is coming out.

Brad

 

[EggHead]

Sweatband must've been made before 1917.

 

[rlk]

1912

just before WWI

 

[rlk]

1917 C & K Straws

 

[rlk]

James Knapp obituary

 

[TipTop]

Photos of the Crofut and Knapp Factory in East Norwalk. These are from Pictorial Norwalk 1939, a book published by The Norwalk Hour newspaper. The building in the first photo sets a couple of blocks apart from the building in the other photos. Both are still in existence. I find it interesting that they still have a large Crofut & Knapp sign at ground level as well as the C&K Hats sign on top of the building, even though the company had been Hat Corporation of America for seven years. I wonder how long they held onto that heritage?









Compare to these images from an earlier decade:

Brad

Ah, every proper 19th and early 20th Century factory had a monogrammed water tower, belching coal-fired boiler and stack, appropriately captured and engraved at the top of their stationery and stock certificates. But this: venting steam to boot. A hat trick!

 

[rlk]

1923 Knapp Felt ad

 

[rlk]

C&K Knapp-Felt Homburg

Stitched over-welt "turned-edge" without binding.

 

[Chepstow]

Robert, sharp Hat, looks wonderful the old Homburger! My Congrats!

 

[buler]

April 1924:

Nov 1926: