The Cavanagh Club

[rlk]

Fabric Cavanagh

as a snap-brim:

Crown exterior of gros grain fabric. Flanged brim seems to be a fine Baku(?) straw and can be snapped. Satin wrapped leather sweatband.

 

[Aureliano]

How interesting! I've never seen one like it before, gerat catch, Robert!

 

[zetwal]

Crown exterior of gros grain fabric. Flanged brim seems to be a fine Baku(?) straw and can be snapped. Satin wrapped leather sweatband.

Indeed, quirky and interesting.

 

[alanfgag]

Yes indeed.

 

[Chepstow]

Robert, great find and it's definitely rare, I seems.
Is it very floppy?

 

[rlk]

Robert, great find and it's definitely rare, I seems.
Is it very floppy?

No, it is a firm brim and the crown is backed with another fabric--very much like a typical felt, but a bit heavier in total weight.

 

[Chepstow]

Robert, thanks, on the photo It looks a bit floppy. Again, great Hat.

 

[carouselvic]

koool

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Any idea as to date of manufactor?

 

[rlk]

Latter half of 30's.

 

[rlk]

Fine feathered velour Cavanagh Alpine

Hat Corporation of America on sweatband(which cracks when flexed because of some coating).

 

[Joshbru3]

That's incredibly interesting and incredibly cool! Great find, Robert!

 

[rlk]

Cavanagh Homburg

rescue 1
back from cleaning.

5-3/4 crown and curvy big brim with some roll. Another sweatband that didn't survive a dunk despite looking decent. No data on original band anyway. Big, full 7-1/2 so no head shot.

 

[rlk]

Cavanagh 50's

rescue 2
former orphan from Malmstadt's of Minneapolis

2-1/4" brim. Only the felt remains from the original hat.

 

[Chepstow]

Fantastic restoration, Robert. Both Hats are marvelous.

 

[rlk]

Mint Cavanagh

2-1/2" brim. Really dense felt that holds tight. A good bit of dirt and some small-scale scattered moth nibble and a touch of mildew. Color is quite dramatic for a Cavanagh.

 

[carouselvic]

koool

 

[Brad Bowers]

Early Cavanagh Derby

Here's an early example of a dressy, heavyweight Cavanagh Derby, 1928-1936.

The 7 1/4 size label is the early black label.

C. F. McCahill, out of Cleveland, OH, was in publishing and advertising throughout his career. He died in 1969. That's about all I could find out about him during a brief search.

What's curious is that this hat sports a 1930s C&K label, not John Cavanagh, Ltd. Cavanagh Hats had a separate facility at the Norwalk factory. I have a Cavanagh/Carroll John Derby with a Dobbs label, so I know some of their hats came from the other side of the factory, but the Carroll John is a lower-priced hat, and this Cavanagh is not. Note in the photo that the fold on the sweatband is extremely thin and glued down. Highest quality. So, a bit of a mystery.

The box appears to be original to the hat. It is very thick and heavy pasteboard, seems even more substantial than my early Dobbs box. Even with all the damage it's holding together remarkably well.

The label on the underside is puzzling. The "Cavanagh Hats" and Park Avenue address style I would have expected to see on a 1950-1961 era hatbox, except the filigree is the pre-1950 style. Perhaps this is from around 1936.

Brad

 

[Chepstow]

Brad, fantastic looking Derby and in nice condition. Great find!!

 

[randooch]

Thanks for posting your excellent find, Brad. That is indeed a winner. Is the sweat still flexible, and does it fit you well?