The Fur Trade Hat Catalog

Clearwater Hat Company

Page One of Four

The Longhunter - $ 85

Styled in the classic tradition of the early American woodsrunner, Clearwater Hats proudly offers The Longhunter. The crown of The Longhunter is extremely low (about 3 1/2 inches)--as these hats were in the eighteenth century--with a four-inch wide brim. This is the hat seen in many paintings of the period. The Longhunter offers a period-correct alternative to the tricorn. Responding to the needs of those who go the extra primitive mile, this style is a Clearwater Hat exclusive. The brim can be cocked to your specification, side or back, at no extra charge. Linen lined. Black, coffee, and pecan. The image to the right is a German drawing from the Revolutionary war era showing an American rifleman.

Ann S.K. Brown Millitary Collection, Brown University Library

Cocked Hats

The term tricorn actually came into use after these hats were quite out of fashion. During the time tricorns were in widespread use, they were referred to as cocked hats because they were cocked up in order to show off the wig. From about 1680, the cocked hat was supreme for just over one hundred years.

Showing off and protecting the powdered curls of ruffled and bewigged gents, the cocked hat later became symbolic of American patriots when worn wigless in the colonies. You'll like our high brimmed tricorns! Each of these hats has the sides hooked up just like the originals so the sides can be pulled down for protection and then hooked up again. The 1707 illustration to the right shows a tricorn on the right that has been folded down and the one on the left appears to be folded up. Please notice the flat or sugarloaf crowns.

Vander Aa. Dickinson's party struggles into St. Augustine

from Johann L. Gottfried, De Aamerkenswaadigste... Landreisen, ix, 26, 1707.

Fancy Tricorn - call for a quote

For the gentleman who wants the very best we offer a tricorn trimmed in antique gold galloon and knots, just like the originals.

French Style - $ 90

Hand sewn brim ribbon $25

For those who desire all aspects of correctness, Clearwater Hat Company offers hand sewing of the brim ribbon (after all, the sewing machine wasn't used to sew brim ribbon until the 1850's). This "extra" is well worth your consideration as the tiny stitches give this hat incredible cachet.

The image to the below left is of Colonel Bouquet (1764) by William Smith, An historical account of the expedition against the Ohio Indians, 1766. It is folded about midway between the French and English styles. The image to the right shows the American General Stark wearing a French style during the Revolutionary War.

One interesting aspect of these two styles was that over a period of one hundred years both countries wore each style, much like wide ties going in or out of fashion or hems going up or down.

Modern Eloquence copyright 1900 by The University Association

Courtesy The Clearwater Hat Collection

The Quakers preferred to leave the brims of their hats flaring out in order to shade the man and show the inner light. Here William Penn is signing a treaty with the indians.

Penn's Treaty with the Indians by Edward Hicks-Halladay-Thomas Collection

English Style - $ 90

Hand sewn brim ribbon $25

I once heard an Irishman say, "Every man loves his native land, whether he was born there or not."  Thomas Fitch.

All original material copyright©1998 Clearwater Hat Company