Did they really punch out their straw hats at the end of the season?

[scotrace]

From Shorpy, exhibit A:

 

[RBH]

I can remember my grand father telling of throwing the straw hats into the threshing machine [and later the combine] when farming was done for the fall.

 

[feltfan]

That gives HarpPlayerGene another couple of months before
he is obligated to do the right thing.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Why did folks hate their straw hats so much?


.

 

[Fletch]

Maybe they were so el flimso they were already coming apart by late August.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

Or filthy dirty.

 

[RBH]

This commentary tells it from a farming standpoint.
Pretty neat story.

http://whatsundermyhat.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/wheat-harvest-09/

 

[thunderw21]

The changing times...

Perhaps a ceremony to mark the changing of time and season?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have a story in my February 1929 National Retail Clothier Magazine of men 'sacrificing' their felt hats on a fiery alter before parading through town for National Straw Hat Day. Retire the old, bring in the new.

Could it be the same thing only with straws?

 

[Dewhurst]

What, were these people rich or something?

I willingly revolt against "traditions" like this.

 

[johnnycanuck]

If the Boater hat (I take it we are talking about boaters) was as cheep as the new straw fedoras Wal-mart offers I could not see why anyone wouldn't punch a hole in it and buy a new one the next year. Just a thought.
Johnny

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

That gives HarpPlayerGene another couple of months before
he is obligated to do the right thing.

lol

 

[Mr. Lucky]

This commentary tells it from a farming standpoint.
Pretty neat story.

http://whatsundermyhat.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/wheat-harvest-09/

What a GREAT story! Thanks, Rusty.

 

[Dewhurst]

If the Boater hat (I take it we are talking about boaters) was as cheep as the new straw fedoras Wal-mart offers I could not see why anyone wouldn't punch a hole in it and buy a new one the next year. Just a thought.
Johnny

So, they weren't rich, they were masochists who were only too happy to destroy the object of their pain!

 

[Doctor Strange]

My dad, who grew up in NYC in the 20s (he turns 90 next month!), told me about this many times. It was a tradition on Felt Hat Day, September 15, to put your fist through your straw hat and break out your cool-weather felt. He saw it done plenty.

Of course, you could buy a decent new hat for a dollar or two then - a very different situation than today, even accounting for inflation!

 

[winston]

These people worked hard in their hats. I doubt if they were fit for use come next spring/summer, and I doubt if they cost much to begin with.

 

[Feraud]

I applaud the marketing guy who made up that "tradition".

 

[Carlisle Blues]

Looks like it was run over.....[huh] [huh] [huh]

 

[Lefty]

Sometimes, they kicked through the crown.

There were, of course, other options.

 

[Feraud]

It is interesting to see a jet black coloring product for straw hats.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Man, those Giant Boaters were everywhere back then!

Brad