Chapter I: Front Matter

BLOCKING MACHINE

“CARRE VIVE BROCHIER”

Inventors and Makers of other special adjusting, dressing and
pressing machines and accessories for the manufacture of
STRAW BOATERS of perfect and correct shape

SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME DES ETABLISSEMENTS

J. B. BROCHIER, 8 Rue de la Viabert, LYON

COMFORT IN HATS

Amongst the allied trades associated with the Straw Hat Industry must be included the production of the Pneumatic or Easy-Fitting Sweats or Leathers, which during the last 25 years have been the chief means of establishing the Straw Boater as the most popular Summer Head-wear.

THE HAT MANUFACTURERS’ SUPPLY CO., LTD., of Stockport, England, make claim to be the producers of the _best_ of these kind, and many of their patent productions have a place in the History of the Straw Hat Industry; the following have stood out prominently: “IVY” and “MARVEL,” but apparently the zenith was reached with the production of the World-famed--

=Patent=
“BON-TON IVY”

This patent Comfort Leather is acknowledged as the “LANDMARK” in Head-comfort for any Hat. And considerably over _twenty millions_ have been sold for Straw Hats alone, which fact must undoubtedly prove that this Leather has been greatly instrumental in aiding the progress of the Straw Boater; so much so, that the Patentees have appointed manufacturing agents in various parts of the World to cope with the increasing demand.

The latest production in these Easy-fitting Leathers is the--

(=Patent=)
“NEW BON-TON IVY”
(_introduced 1921_)
which is suitable for any kind of hats and, like its well-known parent
patent, guarantees _Perfect Fit, Comfort, and Ventilation_.

It is worth bearing in mind that all genuine “Bon-Ton Ivy” leathers have adjustable _Elastic Fitting_, also see name Stamp on the leather.

_Patentees and Sole Manufacturers, at the_
HEADQUARTERS FOR HATTERS’ SPECIALITIES.
_Gold Printers_, _etc._

THE
HAT MANUFACTURERS SUPPLY Co., Ltd.
PRETORIA WORKS, STOCKPORT, ENGLAND

Samples on Application.

Téléphone:
No. 829

Télégrammes:
BURGISSER, FLORENCE

* * * * *

Soc. An. Burgisser

* * * * *

ITALIAN

Milans and Fancy Braids
Men’s and Ladies’ Leghorns

Fancy Bodies Novelties

BLEACHING and DYEING

FLORENCE
VIA MASACCIO 149

_SOLE REPRESENTATIVES_--
E. T. RABAN & SONS
3-6 Australian Avenue, London, E.C.1

ESTABLISHED OVER 100 YEARS

Benjamin Bennett
_LTD._

_Manufacturers of_
Ladies’ and Children’s Hats,
Trimmed and Untrimmed--Velours,
Felts, Straws, and Fancies,
also all kinds of Strawboard and
Leatherboard Boxes

* * * * *

_Factories_:
Connaught House, Upper George
Street, Luton
17 & 22 High Street, Dunstable

_Showrooms & Offices_:
61 George Street, Luton

_Telegrams_: Beebee Luton
_Telephones_: Luton 921 (2 lines); Dunstable 3

H. GODFREY & CO.
ENGINEERS TO THE HAT TRADE

Makers of the Keston Blocking Machines

14a STUART STREET, LUTON

The London Varnish
and Enamel Co., Ltd.

Successors to Conrad Wm. Schmidt (F. A. Glaeser), Ltd.

City Works
Carpenters Road, Stratford
London, E.15, England

THE ORIGINAL AND LARGEST
----MANUFACTURERS OF----
STRAW HAT POLISHES
IN ALL COLOURS

LUTON BRAND

These Spirit Hat Polishes were introduced
in 1878 and have been extensively used ever
since in Luton, London, and all Hat
Making Centres throughout
----the World----

_A.B.C. CODE 4th and 5th EDITION USED
CABLE ADDRESS: “LOVARNAMEL, LONDON”_

H. Spratley
(Late H. SPRATLEY & SON)
16, 18 & 20 Barber’s Lane, Luton

The Oldest Established Firm in the Trade
for the making of

Ladies’, Gent’s,
and
Children’s Shapes
for
Straws and Felts
in
Wood, Plaster, Iron, Spelter and
Aluminium Pans and Dishes.
All Accessories for the Trade

_The Noted Blockmaker for High-Class
Work_

Tel. 778

ESTABLISHED 1866
Colling & Company
PROPRIETOR: CHAS F. COLLING

_Plain and Fancy
Silk, Satin and
Cotton Goods_

* * * * *

_Manufacturers of
all kinds of
Hat Linings_

39 King Street, Luton
TELEGRAMS: “COLLING, KING ST., LUTON”
TELEPHONE: LUTON 17

PITMAN’S
COMMON COMMODITIES
AND INDUSTRIES SERIES

Each book in crown 8vo, illustrated, 3/- net

=TEA.= By A. Ibbetson
=COFFEE.= By B. B. Keable
=SUGAR.= By Geo. Martineau
=OILS.= By C. Ainsworth Mitchell
=WHEAT.= By Andrew Millar
=RUBBER.= By C. Beadle and H. P. Stevens
=IRON AND STEEL.= By C. Hood
=COPPER.= By H. K. Picard
=COAL.= By F. H. Wilson
=TIMBER.= By W. Bullock
=COTTON.= By R. J. Peake
=SILK.= By Luther Hooper
=WOOL.= By J. A. Hunter
=LINEN.= By Alfred S. Moore
=TOBACCO.= By A. E. Tanner
=LEATHER.= By K. J. Adcock
=KNITTED FABRICS.= By J. Chamberlain and J. H. Quilter
=CLAYS.= By Alfred S. Searle
=PAPER.= By Harry A. Maddox
=SOAP.= By W. A. Simmons
=THE MOTOR INDUSTRY.= By Horace Wyatt
=GLASS.= By Percival Marson
=GUMS AND RESINS.= By E. J. Parry
=THE BOOT AND SHOE INDUSTRY.= By J. S. Harding
=GAS.= By W. H. Y. Webber
=FURNITURE.= By H. E. Binstead
=COAL TAR.= By A. R. Warnes
=PETROLEUM.= By A. Lidgett
=SALT.= By A. F. Calvert
=ZINC.= By T. E. Lones
=PHOTOGRAPHY.= By Wm. Gamble
=ASBESTOS.= By A. L. Summers
=SILVER.= By Benjamin White
=CARPETS.= By Reginald S. Brinton
=PAINTS AND VARNISHES.= By A. S. Jennings
=CORDAGE AND CORDAGE HEMP.= By T. Woodhouse and P. Kilgour
=ACIDS AND ALKALIS.= By G. H. J. Adlam
=ELECTRICITY.= By R. E. Neale
=ALUMINIUM.= By G. Mortimer
=GOLD.= By Benjamin White
=BUTTER AND CHEESE.= By C. W. Walker-Tisdale and Jean Jones
=THE BRITISH CORN TRADE.= By A. Barker
=LEAD.= By J. A. Smythe
=ENGRAVING.= By T. W. Lascelles
=STONES AND QUARRIES.= By J. Allen Howe
=EXPLOSIVES.= By S. I. Levy
=THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY.= By B. W. Poole
=TELEGRAPHY, TELEPHONY, AND WIRELESS.= By J. Poole
=PERFUMERY.= By E. J. Parry
=THE ELECTRIC LAMP INDUSTRY.= By G. Arncliffe Percival
=ICE AND COLD STORAGE.= By B. H. Springett
=GLOVES.= By B. E. Ellis
=JUTE.= By T. Woodhouse and P. Kilgour
=DRUGS IN COMMERCE.= By J. Humphrey
=THE FILM INDUSTRY.= By Davidson Boughey
=CYCLE INDUSTRY.= By W. Grew
=SULPHUR.= By Harold A. Auden
=TEXTILE BLEACHING.= By Alec B. Steven
=WINE.= By Andre L. Simon
=IRONFOUNDING.= By B. Whiteley
=COTTON SPINNING.= By A. S. Wade
=ALCOHOL.= By C. Simmonds
=CONCRETE AND REINFORCED CONCRETE.= By W. N. Twelvetrees
=SPONGES.= By E. J. J. Cresswell
=WALL PAPER.= By G. Whiteley Ward
=CLOCKS AND WATCHES.= By G. L. Overton
=ANTHRACITE.= By A. L. Summers
=INCANDESCENT LIGHTING.= By S. I. Levy
=THE FISHING INDUSTRY.= By W. E. Gibbs
=OIL FOR POWER PURPOSES.= By S. H. North
=STARCH.= By H. A. Auden
=TALKING MACHINES.= By O. Mitchell
=NICKEL.= By B. H. White
=PLAYER PIANO.= By D. M. Wilson
=INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.= By J. Okill
=DYES.= By A. J. Hall
=MOTOR BOATS.= By F. Strickland
=VELVET.= By J. H. Cooke
=THE STRAW HAT INDUSTRY.= By H. Inwards
=BRUSHES.= By W. Kiddier
=PATENT FUELS.= By J. A. Greene and F. Mollwo Perkin
=FURS.= By J. C. Sachs

=STRAW HATS=

_Always leading for Style and Quality_

Frank Harden, Ltd.

_Manufacturers of_
LADIES’ HATS
_of all descriptions_

WHOLESALE AND SHIPPING ONLY

58-62 Bute Street
Luton

[Illustrated: Model as worn 1922 season
MANUFACTURED BY
FRANK HARDEN, LTD.]

_Telegrams_: Harden, Luton
_Codes_: Marconi and A.B.C. 5th edition

PITMAN’S COMMON COMMODITIES
AND INDUSTRIES

STRAW HATS
THEIR HISTORY
AND MANUFACTURE

BY

HARRY INWARDS
EX-PRESIDENT LUTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

LONDON

SIR ISAAC PITMAN & SONS, LTD.
PARKER STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C.2
BATH, MELBOURNE, TORONTO, NEW YORK

PRINTED IN BATH, ENGLAND
BY SIR ISAAC PITMAN AND SONS, LTD.

TO
MY WIFE
EMILY INWARDS

A
LOVING TRIBUTE

_Cable Address_: _Codes_: _A B C_ (_4th, 5th & 6th Editions_)
“_Attention, Luton._” _A1_, _Bentley’s, & Marconi_

Henry Durler
and Son, Ltd.

* * * * *

_Importers_, _Exporters_,
_Bleachers & Dyers_

* * * * *

_of all kinds of_
_Chinese and Japanese_
_Straw Plaits_
_for_
_Hat Manufacture_

* * * * *

Luton, Bedfordshire
ENGLAND