I am looking for a source of the genuine candy-striped article willing to ship to England, and payment by Credit Card. Not the multi-size adjustable type with elastic or baseball cap type 'pop' adjusters. Size 7-1/4 or 23" head circumference wanted.
Any suggestions welcome.
There used to be a line of Kromer caps made by a company in Milwaukee. I don't know if they're still in business, but I just Googled "Kromer Cap Company" and got a lot of listings. The first listing is for a company in Maryland, so maybe they have moved? I had a couple many years ago and they were good.
Don't know what they wear in England, but over here a lot of welders and iron workers like to wear the non-adjustible cloth caps undertheir hard hats and welding hoods, so they are sometimes sold at welding supply outlets.
Come to think of it, within the last year I saw the conductor on an Amtrak work train wearing one of those blue and white hats that all the railroaders used to wear back in the 1960s. They must still be available.
Hope this helps.
In Kaukauna, Wisconsin, at the turn of the century, George Kromer, an engineer for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, decided that there wasn't a single cap of quality materials and manufacture which suited the needs of railroad men. So he made one.
Kromer drew up the design and specifications. His wife, Ida, did the cutting and sewing. The cap had to be one-hundred percent cloth with a soft flexible visor. It had to cling to the head despite strong gusts of wind that plagued rail hands everywhere. Ida Kromer added her own touches: a sweatband of absorbent cloth; and an outside band which could be pulled down over the ears. The Kromer cap was born.
Over the years, demand for Kromer caps increased many times over throughout the world. The original railroad cap was joined by plain colored, polka-dot and multicolored designs for indoor and outdoor workmen, welders and sportsmen.
Today, Kromer Caps are still made in the USA using updated manufacturing techniques and modern facilities. However, one practice remains the same from the days George and Ida Kromer worked in their Kaukauna home. Each cap is still individually inspected.
Kromer CapA Mutual Industries Company2709 Frederick AvenueBaltimore, MD 21223Tel: 215-924-1885 or 800-558-5810Fax: 215-924-4430 or 888-257-6637Email Us
BTW I think what you're referring to is "hickory stripe" not "candy stripe".
Bought one last year in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania from the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. They had a car set out by the station where they were selling souvenirs. Didn't have a manufacturer's name on it, and they were only in general sizes (large, medium, small, etc.) using a hidden elastic band.
Their website is: www.lgsry.com
There's nothing on their website about purchasing merchandise, but at least they have contact info.
One more, Schraders Railroad Catalog
www.railroadcatalog.com
They take all the major credit cards.
LC
Got Schrader's to send a couple for me. Just the job. Thank you to contributors for coming back with the info.
Eightpot.
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