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When Everyone Wore A Hat...
- Thread starter oldMohawk
- Start date
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Probably a hundred flat caps in this pic but a few youngsters starting a trend of not wearing hats unless they forgot!
The view down Arden Rd shows workers leaving the Woseley Works with Ash Rd on the right. Looking at the shadows it could be mid-day.
This 1934 aerial view shows the area with Ash Rd going to the centre top and Arden Rd across the view. The 'blue shaded' house is one which is there today and actually painted blue. The red marker shows where the cameraman may have stood.
A similar view today.
Have a look round on streetview ... not as interesting as it was in the old days...
The view down Arden Rd shows workers leaving the Woseley Works with Ash Rd on the right. Looking at the shadows it could be mid-day.
This 1934 aerial view shows the area with Ash Rd going to the centre top and Arden Rd across the view. The 'blue shaded' house is one which is there today and actually painted blue. The red marker shows where the cameraman may have stood.
A similar view today.
Have a look round on streetview ... not as interesting as it was in the old days...
Radiorails
master brummie
I think he is getting his view from a signal post 
A closer look reveals two women in floral decorated straw hats. Another with a straw boater ,a baby and an apron. One with a straw hat with band. Two women with no hat at all and a baby in a bonnet.
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Looking at these pictures of workers walking out of the main gate of Tangyes Engineering works in 1901 makes me wonder whether someone could only get a job there provided they owned a hat. Maybe worse still if someone arrived wearing the wrong type of hat for the job type they were after.
The images are from the following website.
player.bfi.org.uk
The images are from the following website.
Watch Employees Leaving Tangyes Engineering Works, Smethwick (1901) - BFI Player
Exuberant scenes of engineers and machinists at the famous Cornwall works near Birmingham.
player.bfi.org.uk
paul stacey
master brummie
having a hat was essential in this era.
Richard Dye
master brummie
oldMohawk, I read a couple of books on Tangyes in the summer and looking at the pictures thought the same thing!Looking at these pictures of workers walking out of the main gate of Tangyes Engineering works in 1901 makes me wonder whether someone could only get a job there provided they owned a hat. Maybe worse still if someone arrived wearing the wrong type of hat for the job type they were after.
View attachment 166669 View attachment 166670 View attachment 166671 View attachment 166672
The images are from the following website.
Watch Employees Leaving Tangyes Engineering Works, Smethwick (1901) - BFI Player
Exuberant scenes of engineers and machinists at the famous Cornwall works near Birmingham.
Richard Dye
master brummie
I can't fight but don't wear a hat. Although the skin Dr told me stay out of the sun then or give up fishing! He also said I would see the fish better
so I wear a hat when I fish!
Lady Penelope
master brummie
I went to the library in Birmingham yesterday and wished I had worn a hat. Unfortunately I don't have the face for a hat but even that being the case I will definitely wear one next time. The winds between the high blocks and the lack of sunshine make it a very cold place. Bring back the hat!
devonjim
master brummie
My grandad, born 1893 was rarely to be seen without a hat. If he was going to work, GWR, it was a cap, but if it was a social occasion it would be a trilby. Don't remember seeing my dad, b1917, in a hat whatever the event apart as an item of his WW2 uniform. I, b1940, now only wear a hat if it is too cold or too hot as my hair is rather sparse but a cap was a part of school uniform 1951-58.
Janet Hunt
master brummie
Thank you Old Mo really enjoyed that bit of film, there was clearly a lot of interest in the camera. It must of been huge for everyone to have noticed it going along...great stuffIf you like to look at Britain when everyone wore a hat, here is a fascinating film clip digitally enhanced to play at the right speed. About 41sec in a dandy looking man realises he is on camera and brushes his moustache upwards in a military manner while pushing children out of the way.
As often happens with Youtube links the above video has been withdrawn. Will investigate if it is available from elsewhere. Meanwhile an altenative below showing hat wearing folk from long ago. Some scenes were in the original ... see the man swinging his umbrella ...
Bob Davis
Bob Davis
All either caps or bowlers, but did you notice how young some of the boys were?Looking at these pictures of workers walking out of the main gate of Tangyes Engineering works in 1901 makes me wonder whether someone could only get a job there provided they owned a hat. Maybe worse still if someone arrived wearing the wrong type of hat for the job type they were after.
View attachment 166669 View attachment 166670 View attachment 166671 View attachment 166672
The images are from the following website.
Watch Employees Leaving Tangyes Engineering Works, Smethwick (1901) - BFI Player
Exuberant scenes of engineers and machinists at the famous Cornwall works near Birmingham.
Bob
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
In the 4th photo in post#486 a young boy can be seen holding a basket possibly trying to sell food to workers on their way out out for the mid-day break, but he might have simply been on an errand and got caught up in excitement. I've seen similar in other Mitchell & Kenyon 'factory gate' films. I suppose word got around that filming would take place and most would be in a cheerful mood looking at the camera. Some children also worked in some types of factories.
Have a look at the collection in link below.
Factory Gates
In 1895, at the very dawn of cinema, Louis and Auguste Lumière turned their camera on workers at their Lyon factory. By 1900, Blackburn-based Mitchell & Kenyon, among others, had turned that subject into a genre - even a business model.
player.bfi.org.uk
FNQBRUMMIE
master brummie
Interesting to read these posts about hat wearing. My opinion is that post war and early 50s hat wearing was still common but as the mid to late 50s took hold with Teddy Boys, Elvis etc there was a new breed of youngsters who wanted to dazzle with a hairstyle to show off. Some say it all changed when those 4 mop tops from Liverpool came along and changed not only hairstyles but lots more.
Bob Davis
Bob Davis
Agree, the minute he was demobbed and went back to work dad always wore his trilby, work, Villa, County Ground, political meetings, Boldmere St Michaels and even when we went to the pictures. Then he bought LOB148 his series M Morris Minor in 1957 and never wore the hat again.
Both my wifes grandmother's wore hats all day in and outdoors?
Bob
Bob Davis
Bob Davis
Fascinating thanks.In the 4th photo in post#486 a young boy can be seen holding a basket possibly trying to sell food to workers on their way out out for the mid-day break, but he might have simply been on an errand and got caught up in excitement. I've seen similar in other Mitchell & Kenyon 'factory gate' films. I suppose word got around that filming would take place and most would be in a cheerful mood looking at the camera. Some children also worked in some types of factories.
Have a look at the collection in link below.
Factory Gates
In 1895, at the very dawn of cinema, Louis and Auguste Lumière turned their camera on workers at their Lyon factory. By 1900, Blackburn-based Mitchell & Kenyon, among others, had turned that subject into a genre - even a business model.
Bob
pjmburns
master brummie
That reminded me about my Grandad. His cap always hung on the back of his chair. When he stood up he picked up his cap and put it on. I can't remember seeing him outdoors without his cap.
Lady Penelope
master brummie
You can't wear a hat with a beehive! Our school berets were always attached, flat, to the back of our backcombed heads until we were reprimanded.
pjmburns
master brummie
This is my Grandad - wearing his cap even to go out to out to his beloved greenhouse. Note cigarette in hand (woodbine).
Attachments
Radiorails
master brummie
I have worn many hats during my life. Firstly a school caps, then scouts. then Air Training Corps, various RAF berets and peaked caps, fire service helmets and peaked caps and finally, when retired, a marine style cap when its is windy or a military style cap, continental style, on other outdoor occasions.
As book monitor to our school's headmistress, responsible for disciplining the girls, I was very aware of the time she spent fussing over the hair of the girls. She would tell the tale of the girl who had a headache. It turned out that her laquered beehive was hosting maggots.
Now all the girls using the same buildings, (hardly the same school), have a different heritage and their hair is covered. I wonder what they get disciplined for now?
