The Portland daily press., 1886-08-28

free meetings. This coming week is an
nounced as the last week of Mr.. and Mrs.
Doutney's stay in Portland.
The Only Hatters-Robert r. SOM
ers g. Co.
Yesterday PRESS reporter visited the
store of Robert F. Somers & Co., 232 Mid
die street. The reporter was very much in
terested in examining the work of this firm.
Mr.. Somers was interviewed and the fol-
lowing, which may prove interesting to those
of our citizens who believe in patronizing
home trade and manufactures, was elici-
ted:
Robert +. Somers was born in Portland in
1856, studied in our public schools, and grad
uated from the Portland High School in the
class of 1872. He was apprenticed to the
hatters trade the same year, learning the
different branches of that business, viz: silk,
stiff, soft and straw hating, being the first
apprentice from Portland for twenty-five
years that was able to master all these kinds
of hats.
In 1876, after serving four years of appren-
ticeship, he started factory of his own in
connection with his brother at 243 Middle
street. AT the time Of his opening the above
factory there were eleven hat factories in the
State of Maine. With this strong competition
Mr.. SomeIs started, and after four years of
steady application to business he succeeded
in getting monopoly of the business. Dur
ing these years he has had all the work
from the stores in the State of Maine, and at
the present time over one-half of his work is
sold in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and
Vermont.
Not alone does he make his stiff, soft and
straw hats, but society caps of every descrip-
ton, viz: conductor, fireman, band, naval
and every. kind of cap worn.
He receives orders from all parts of New
England and New York State for conductor
caps. This year he furnished these caps for
the Boston & Providence railroad company,
also for the Metropolitan horse railroad of
New York City.
in our State, making his own hats. He has
concluded this season to retail his goods at
the same prices that he receives from the
different storessin the State. He has cut
is bound to make prices that suit the pocket
book of everybody. From silk hats down to
cheap wool hats general reduction has been
made.
A firstquality silk hat can now be bought
from this house for less than two-thirds of
what was formerly received for the same.
An order can be given to the firm and the
wearer can have a hat ON his head in six
hours-either, silk, stiff or soft hat.
A hat is very inteSting article to see
made. Every man in Mr.. Somers's employ
has his own particular branch. A silk hat,
to be made properly, should go through five
hands. The first man will make the body
which is composed of very thin cotton
second man puts the silk plush on. The
third man does what is called the "poUtanc
ing" which is to bring up the fine gloss.
The fourth man curls the brim, which is the
most particular branch of the business.
Then the girls do the trimming. The hat
ter's trade is very peculiar one. The jour
neymen have the full government of prices,
&c, and the employer has to acquiesce,
even in the way of taking apprentices. The
employer can hire but one at time. He
must not be over II years of age, and will
have to serve until he is D. If The leaves be-
fore that time he cannot finish his time else
where. On the other hand, if the employer
should discharge his apprentice, he cannot
elapsed. Mr.Somers has an an unusually fine
corps Of help, and the best of feeling pre-
walls. Mr.. Somers works at the bench him
self, and every hat goes through his hands.
The least imperfectlon that is in a hat will
have to be remedied before he will allow it
to pass.
The great advantages our people have in
trading with Mr.. Somers are that he keeps
an immense stock on hand. He has from
twenty to thirty dozen silk hats made I'D at
all times in the different proportions for
men of all sizes. He keeps his stock of stiff
and soft hats full all the season. Just as
many hats as he sells in one day he makes
up the following day. In that way the
able to be fitted is avoided. If person
| wishes to have any contrary or peculiar
shaped hat made all he has to do is to have
the shape of his head taken, and the hat can
be completed is six hours. Until the last
| year it would take three days to complete a
hat 1t must be fully understood that stiff
| or soft hat can be made to order by this
| firm, as well as a silk hat
The railroad, military and fire companies
| of the State should see Mr.. Somers' facilities
| for making caps before they go to Boston
| and New York with their orders. AT the
| present time he is making a large
number of Odd Fellows chapeaux for a
| Lewiston lodge.
| ton, number of these chapeauX. No mat
| ter what is worn as head gear this firm
| will make it, The building occupied by it is
| four stories high and every room is as busy
| as the spindle of a factory. One of the
| features of the establishment is the two
| workmen that are working in the window
| making hats of every description. ALI day
| long a crowd can be seen in front of this
window watching the progress of the hat
| tiers as they WELD their heavy irons.
Mr.. Somers proposes this season to block
all hats that have been. bought in his place
| free of charge. Even if your hat is smashed
as flat as plate he will repair it in his win
dow while you wait. A man in this way can
bi MT Sme syer Claims i" fpd oot bo %
his make can look as well after it has been
worn six months to q year as it did the first
day out of the store, if the customer will
but bring his hat in once in a while. He
never charged anything previously to this
for ironing, so that the blocking is new
departure. We have no doubt that he
| will be kept pretty busy in the future, for
with the above inducement the wearers of
silk hats will feel compelled to buy their hats
of him. How often are we compelled to
pay our halter fifty to seyenty-fve cents for
repairing our hat. He will do the same with
all out Of town customers with the proviso
that the sender of the hat pay the express.
The firm regularly employs twenty-three
people, and at times, during the rush in
spring and fall, employs eighty. One of the
handsome stiff hat, which it is impossible
to break. On this favorite hat the price has
been materially reduced. Mr.. Somers's adj
vertisement in another column shows what
hn i,,fo dc 10 do