The Cavanagh Club

[Brad Bowers]

John,

The reorder tag is one that was used in the '40s and '50s, but it was the liner crest that dated it.

The "Cavanagh Edge" script on the front of the sweatband is a '60s feature, possibly showing up in the late-'50s.

Sweatband initials were done by the store.

Brad

 

[alanfgag]

Baby Cav

An odd Cavanagh... perhaps a lady's style with the ribbon on the man's side? The seller did an interesting job creasing and displaying this hat but it received very little interest... perhaps due to his measurement of 21 1/4" circumference? It turns out to be a 7, but with a 4" domed crown, I can't image how to wear it with a dent and crease? The felt is wonderful and very light... the hat weighs 1.8 ounces. Grosgrain sweatband, impeccable Cavanagh construction.

might have Donna's name written all over it!

 

[monbla256]

might have Donna's name written all over it!

Alan, it's YOU!! Simply darlin'

 

[Brad Bowers]

Fascinating specimen, Alan. I don't think it's a woman's hat, but more likely a casual travel/packable hat. I haven't run across this model before, though, so it really could be anything.

Brad

 

[zetwal]

Now where is that vintage crown height elongator tool when you need it?

 

[alanfgag]

Now where is that vintage crown height elongator tool when you need it?

Yes... wide is so much easier than tall.

Brad, thanks for your thoughts on this one... 1950s?

 

[Garrett]

you could turn it into a buster keaton special [huh]

 

[HatsEnough]

I've been trying to join the Cavanagh club but just can't seem to ever come across any model that has larger than a 2-1/4 brim!! And the one time I saw one, I plum fergot about the auction and it passed me by!

 

[Joshbru3]

you could turn it into a buster keaton special [huh]

That's a cool hat, Alan. It does have a certain Keaton look about it.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Yes... wide is so much easier than tall.

Brad, thanks for your thoughts on this one... 1950s?

Yes, I meant to mention that it's a '50s hat.

Brad

 

[EggHead]

I think it would look just great on a 15 year old girl.
Size, colors, shape. Just the bow on the wrong side - maybe for a tomboy?

 

[alanfgag]

Thanks... good suggestions... and I have such a girl in mind... 8^).

 

[Dr. Tom]

Quick question for you Cavanagh owners. Just bought a Cavanagh 35 on ebay. It has a black sweat band inside (as opposed to a brown one). Does this in any way date the hat? Thanks for your replies.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Yes, probably late-'60s.

Brad

 

[Dr. Tom]

Making it, “Non Vintage” and worth much less than the $150 I paid for it?

 

[alanfgag]

Making it, “Non Vintage” and worth much less than the $150 I paid for it?

Cavanagh hats from this era often have narrower brims than FLers prefer and hence can often be bought at reasonable auction prices. That aside, your win looks like a lovely hat 45-50 years old. Cavanagh felt and construction was top notch. You won't find anything nearly as nice in a contemporary fedora at that price. Wear it and enjoy it!

 

[Dr. Tom]

Thanks Alan.

 

[Rudie]

What do you make of this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170685509470&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123#ht_500wt_1180

Seller claims that the hat was bought by his great granddad in 1922 and cost 22.50 back then (seems pretty expensive to me). Funny thing is I e-mailed him saying that the liner looks like a recent Cavanagh and that to my knowledge there weren't any Cavanaghs in 1922. He said he has a receipt to prove it (and told me to get a life). By now he has changed the auction description to 1927. Looks like a fraud, doesn't it?

Since Cavanaghs tend to not change very much, with some '60s Cavanaghs looking nearly identical to '30s, the best way is from the interior. Sweatbands offer clues, with taped seams until '40/'41, sewn after that. Also, if it says "Cavanagh Edge" at the front of the sweatband, it's late-'50s onward. Interior tags also tell a lot, but the liner crest and address tell you what decade.

The divisions break down like this:
1928 to 1936
1936 to 1950
1950 to 1961
1961 to the present

Earliest version, 1928 to 1936:

1936 to 1950, approximately.

Hat Corporation of America formally made the change from "John Cavanagh, Ltd." to "Cavanagh Hats" on February 28, 1950, when the U.S. Patent Office approved their registration amendment. I don't know the lag time between filing and approval, as I haven't yet found the filing date for the amendment.
This change starts appearing by the late-1940s, so Hat Corp. didn't file immediately. But it's official in 1950.

1950 to 1961

This example is from 1952:

The final change was officially amended February 7, 1961 by the U.S. Patent Office, but again, this seems to start showing up by the late-1950s.

1961 to the present

Brad

 

[rlk]

What do you make of this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170685509470&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123#ht_500wt_1180

Seller claims that the hat was bought by his great granddad in 1922 and cost 22.50 back then (seems pretty expensive to me). Funny thing is I e-mailed him saying that the liner looks like a recent Cavanagh and that to my knowledge there weren't any Cavanaghs in 1922. He said he has a receipt to prove it (and told me to get a life). By now he has changed the auction description to 1927. Looks like a fraud, doesn't it?

May not be purposeful fraud, but he is off by 40+ years or so.

 

[DavidJ]

That sweat looks just like mine, same store. Definitely not from 1922.