The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-06-01
COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD.
ACTS OF INTEREST ABOUT HATS
FOB MEN.

facture--Extcnt of the Bmsincss--A Hat
Which Costs Seventy-two Dollars.
There are few persons, indeed, who
how what the hats that cover their
lads are made of or how they are
ade. People who can afford it change
+eir hats from two to four and in
me cases six times a year. The
yles go by the season. The wearers
low that they are hats, and can tell
the feeling whether they are fine or
arse in quality, but that is the extent
their knowledge. The manufacture
silk hats is an industry entirely sep
hte from the manufacture of the Or
harry soft and stiff hats. On an av-
hye one person out of twenty-five
wears a silk hat, and the
|ances are that he will have a stiff or
hat for certain kinds of wear. In
much as every person is supposed to
We need Of a hat the magnitude of
p business is apparent. The whole
lie hat trade in New York last year
hounted in round numbers, according
the estimated traIe figures, to $780,
1000. The hating district where
the great houses are situated is
|unded by Broadway, Houston,
Dome and Wooster streets. There
is are sold by the case and hatters'
kterials in manufacturers lots.
hts, except silk hats, are made of fur
wool. The wool hats are the cheap
bdes. Wool is not fine enough for
liking smooth, velvety hats, and con-
ms too much oil. The houses which
hi in fur do net make the hats.
ey prepare the fur and sell it 60 the
lnufacturers. The fur of the mink,
|lirrel and seal is used. Beaver makes
! finest hats, and nutria the next
st. The nutria is a web-footed water
NAL trapped on the banks of rivers
4 streams in South America. Most
the better grades of hats are made
coney's or rabbits fur. The best
the wild rabbits caught in Scot
ID. Rabbits caught in the United
hgdom are preferred to any other.
ose found in the south and west of
gland and in Ireland and Wales are
as good as those trapped in the
re northerly parts. Tame rabbits
raised in France and Belgium for
Dir fur. They are larger than the
d rabbits, but as they are much
riser they are not 50 valuable. Hares
also raised. Russia and Germany
bduce some rabbits, but more hares.
e fur of the hare makes u finer hat
in that of the rabbit. The diuiculty
in obtaining a sufficient quantity
It. Rabbits multiply so rapidly that
demand can be supplied with them
en- it cannot with the fur of any
er kind of animal. Beside the
ntries named, rabbit skins come
m Australia. A great many rabbits
caught in America for their fur,
quality of which is the most in
[or Of any. This is owing to the
valence of hair in the fur, which
st be removed. The skins of the
nix, muskrat, squirrel and seal are
rth more for converting into such
ments as cloaks and trimmings, and
B only the small pieces. which are USE
!, that the fur is removed from to go
D the manufacture of hats. The
ces are called "furriers' waste"
2 better quality of rabbits fur is
nth $2.35 a pound, of nutria twice
t. and of beaver, which mainly
hes from the Rocky mountains,
ce that of nutria. The fur of a rab-
is divided into different parts,
ich distinguish its value-the backs,
bs, tails and cheeks. The backs are
most valuable. Ten dozen of rab-
skins make six and a half pounds
fur, and of this five pounds consist
. backs" The greater value of the
ks is due to the fineness of the fur.
; skin is converted into glue and
ng. In France it is clarified and
de into gelatine an | lozenges. Only
fur can be used for hats. No ma
hery has been devised that will sue
Bfully separate the hair from the
The hair has to be pulled out by
id, which is a slow and expensive
cess. After the hair is remov ID
fur is shaved o I close to the skin
machinery. In Englandthe miners
poorer classes use the hair in max
beds. No use has been found for
ere. The furrier's waste is use |
"flling in" on account of it's fine
lily. 1t works in with the other,
makes the body Of the hat more
pact and finer in texture.
bout $1,000, 900 worth of fur a year
Did in this city alone to matters, and
In converted into hats the value is
teased three-fJld. Fifteen millions
oreign rabbit and hare skins are
in the New York market annually
de 100000 American rabbits.
Europe the number of rabbit skins
is computed to be 10000, 900.
en- the number of people who wear
; is considered these figures do not
so large. There are from two to
be ounces of fur in a hat, an | only
life over third of the average stiff
is fur. The remainder of the
ght is made of shel'a;, which is APP
d to stilfen it, and the trimmings
uding the lining and the band
de. After the hair is pulled from
skin the fur is "carroted." Carrot.
consists of applying silver and
ic acid, which rem ives whatever
nal properties remain in the fur