Tomorrow is the date for Mother’s Day in Canada and the USA and in a whole lot of countries. Dates for celebration of Mother’s Day vary widely around the world as you can read at this link. It is interesting that in England where I was born Mother’s Day is celebrated in March. Well even if tomorrow is not your day just send Mom a note of appreciation anyway.
My Mother Winifred worked as a hat machinist in my Home Town of Luton where there was extensive hat making. The town’s Football (Soccer) Club is known as the “Hatters”. Luton has grown since I left several years ago and now has a University. Hat manufacturing has declined over the years as the practice of wearing hats has also declined. We are here to change that aren’t we? We all need to do something to bring hat wearing back into style. I used to visit my Mother in the little factories where she worked. There were rooms of machinists – 100% women as I remember- and there was a room for blocking, a steamy sweaty job – this was 100% men. Hat blocking was certainly not considered to be “women’s work”. It was a different time! I got interested in hats from a very young age. It has been too long since hat wearing has died out as a fashion statement for general wear. It’s a great pity for me.
I thought that you would be interested in the picture I am sharing with you today. I bought it on E-Bay. The top left hand corner had been today torn away. I had to do quite a bit or work on it on Photo Shop. On the back is written “Radie and Harold”. Judging by the large size of the hat we are dealing with around 1910, perhaps a few years earlier. I have seen some other material with hats like that from around 1910 (Any other thoughts from my fellow history buffs). I love the Wicker pram (Baby Carriage) and the newborn baby “Harold”, the Mother “Radie” seems so proud. Radie could be your Mother, Grandmother,Great Grandmother or even Great Great Grandmother. Please share this link widely – I think that it will bring a smile to your Mother’s face and of course to all those Great Grandmoms out there!
Remember please share this post with your Mothers and Grandmothers.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
What a lovely photo! The hats are superb! I would also have said circa 1910, 1912, they have a very Edwardian silhouette. I love big brim hats like that! What sort of feathers do you think adorn the hat the lady next to the pram is wearing? Egret? Burnt Ostrich? Hmmm… They are very striking.
Thanks Kelly
It’s quite hard to tell the type of feathers. There was quite a movement at the beginning of the 20th century to ban certain exotic feathers. Could be from an Ostrich hard to tell any opinions?
Darla
Update for Kelly
A reader is writing an article related to these feathers and is quite sure the feathers are Egret. An expert will be looking at the picture to verify this. Please stay tuned. I had no idea it would provoke this degree of interest.