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We note a range of headwear illustrated in the Eaton's catalog. Staw hats were especially popular for the summer. Younger boys might wear broad-brimmed sailor hats. Popular hat styles for older boys might include The styles included boaters. One page from the Eaton's Spring-Summer catalog (page 32) offered a varity of straw hats including both sailors and boaters. Many of the styles seem to overlap boys and men who wore essentially the same styles at least in their teenage years. Younger children had different style hats and the styles were sometimes unisex--for boys and girls equally. This was especially true of the "sailor" hats.
This Canadian retailer began publishing mailorder catalogs in 1881, at least that is we begin noticing them. We have catalogs from the 1970s, although we do not know about the company's current status. The 1970s catalgs were full of clothes which look like American styles. Timothy Eaton, founder of the huge all-Canadian department store chain bearing his name, was an Irish immigrant born on a tennant farm in northern Ireland. He was born in 1834 and followed his brothers to Canada in 1854. His brothers had opened a small dty goods store in St. Marys. Timothy Eaton began his business with a small dry goods business in Toronto during 1869. He built a giant retail store in Ontario’s capital city along with a country-wide mail-order business and a big new branch store in Winnipeg, by the time of his death in 1907. The Winnipeg branch was the first of many branches. Eaton Company business establishments eventually spread all across Canada when Timothy’s family successors extended the Eaton empire. Timothy masterminded the company during the crucial period of its early development, spanning nearly 40 years. It was Timothy who implemented the concept of the "Department Store", in Canada, a concept which were already flourishing in London, Paris, and New York.
We note that straw hats were very popular in the 19th century and early 20th century for both children and adults. The two most important staw hats were sailors and boaters. Sailor styles were worn by children and younger women. Boaters were worn by men as well as older boys, girls, and young women.
Eaton's ad several styles of boaters for men and boys. Interestingly, girls and young women also wore boaters. I'm not sure if there was a difference in the boaters based on gender. Images we have seen seem to suggest that they were very similar. Here is the Eaton's ad copy for the various styles. Many of the different selections refer to the band which added a little color to the hats.
The Eaton's ad copy read, "We have made a specialty of one dollar straw boaters. We now offer you an article that shows a marked improvement in style, comfort and durability upon last year's. It possesses the smart snappy style of the higher priced hats. The straw is of fine even pedal braid, and the band is of black silk. It is light weight, fits comfortably and made to retain its shape. There are two styles--high crown, medium brim with medium band as shown in illustration E2-1, or high crown, narrow brim, wide band. Sizes 6 1/2 to 7 1/2. $1.00."
The Eaton's ad copy read, "Men's firm Sennit braid boater illustrated in cut E2-3, also in Canton braid, from latest style block, black silk band, leather sweat band, cool and comfortable. 6 1/2 to 7 3/8. 50 cents. We also have a better quality in either Sennit of Canton braid: 75 cents. Same style and qualities, Sennit or Canton braid, for boys. Sizes 6 1/4 to 7." Sennit is a flat cordage produced by plaiting slender strands of rope or grass.
The Eaton's ad copy read, "This has had a phenomenal "run" in New York last season, and promises even greater popularity for this summer. It is made of fine pedal straw in the soft negligee finish; is cool, light in weight and fits perfectly. There are two shapes--high crown with wide brim and wide band, as shown in cut E2-4, or medium crown with medium brim and narrow band. Sizes 6 1/4 to 7 1/2 $2.00. We also have the same styles in satin finish straw at $2.50."
The Eaton's ad copy read, "Men's and youths' white straw boater, made of fine even Milan
braid from this season's newest styles, finely finished, and as dressy as a derby. Made in two styles--high crown, narrow brim, with wide band, as illlustrated in cut E2-6, or medium crown, wide brim with
narrow band. Sizes 6 3/4 to 7 3/4 $1.50. Same styles in fine split straw $2.00. Sames styles in fine satin finish, split braid $2.50."
The Eaton's ad copy read, "Genuine South American Panama Hats, made in the newest negligee shape and selected by our buyer on account of their special lightness and evenness of weave. Sizes 6 1/4 to 7 1/2. $5.00. The same style in finer weave. $7.00. An extra fine weave in very light weight. $9.00." Panamas was a term commonly used for fine-weave straw hats. This was somewhat of a misnomer. These hats were not made in Panama. They were more likely to come from Ecuador. The term Panama comes from the fact that Americans came in contact with thes hats when traveling to Panama which became common during the 1848 Caifornia gold rush. And the hats were commonly shipped thrrough Panama.
The Eaton's ad copy read, "Men's and youth's white straw boaters, made of Canton braid, as
illustrated in style E2-11; also in Sennit braid in this season's styles. These are dressy and comfortable. Sizes 6 1/4 to 7 3/8. 25 cents. We have the same style in finer braids at 35 cents. Boys' shapes in same styles. Sizes 6 1/4 to 7. 25 cents and 35 cents."
Eaton's offered several children's sailor hats. The same styles were offered for both boys and girls. We note both black and white streamers. The sizes mostly ranged from 5 7/8 to 6 3/4, although there is one hat from for younger children done in a slightly smaller size range. We are not sure yet what the age equivalents were for these sizes.
The Eaton's ad copy read, "Boys and girls plain white straw sailors with navy or white band and streamers; also fancy blue and white with navy bands; even braids, dressy and serviceable. Sizes 5 7/8 to 6 3/4 50 cents.
We show them in finer braids with better trimmings. 75 cents."
The Eaton's ad copy read, " Boys' and girls plain white and fancy colored straw sailors, satin
finished band and streamers. Sizes 5 7/8 to 6 3/4. 25 cents and 35 cents."
The Eaton's ad copy read, "Girls' and boys' plain white straw sailor, made of fine Milan braid with navy or white silk band and streamers. The dome crown fits the head perfectly, and the style is particularly dressy. Sizes 6 6o 6 3/4. $1.50. The same styles with extra fine braid and trimmings $2.00."
The Eaton's ad copy read, " Boys' and girls plain white straw sailor, made of fine pedal
braid, with either plain or lettered navy band, as shown in cut E2-9; or with plain white or navy band and streamers. Sizes 5 7/8 to 6 3/4.
$1.00.
The Eaton's ad copy read, "Fine white Milan braid hats for Infants and young children. Small round shape with full dome crown; plain white silk band and bow. Sizes 5 3/4 to 6 3/8. $1.50. The same style in fine Tuscan braid. $2.00." This is the hat offered for the youngest children. The chief difference seems to be a more sharply upturned brim.
The sizes for each of these hats is indicated in the ad copy. We are not sure just what the numbers represent in actual measuravle units. Nor are we sure what the age equivalents were,
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