Election night photo

M

M. Valdemar

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Everyone had a hat.

Do you think that the temporary looking stairway going up to the shanty is really a projection booth to flash results on the screen hanging to the right on the elevated station in the background? In 1908 lantern slides would have been the high tech way to post wire results as they came in. It is possible, although it's very hard to tell the purpose of the shack.

I believe it must have been shot with flash powder, maybe a big charge in a long tray, pre-setup for that purpose.

http://rleggat.com/photohistory/history/lighting.htm
 
That is an interesting shot. 1908 - so it would have been Taft vs. William Jennings Bryan.

Love all the hats. I did my part and wore a nice fedora to Obama's rally. But I think I was mostly alone in that endeavor.
 
Who would have thought that a few decades later the bowler hat would virtually disappear. In Vienna coachdrivers (for tourists) still wear them.
And a book with collected photos of Imperial Vienna at about 1906-1912 also show a single male person hatless ( a butcherboy) and most of the "bums" wear bowlers
 
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It seems to me that the fedora, along with the derby has been replaced with the baseball cap. I refuse to photograph anyone wearing a baseball cap (unless she is quite goodlooking.).
 
Baseball hats worn backwards are the mark of the imbecile plebe.

Now if I was in a Jack Finney novel I could exit my front door and walk into 1908.
 
Spider67 said:
Who would have thought that a few decades later the bowler hat would virtually disappear. In Vienna coachdrivers (for tourists) still wear them.
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Around here, some chimney cleaners still wear top hats. No, I am not kidding. :)
 
@ Ming and Valdemar .. I'm comfortable in the idea that you won't be taking my photograph anytime soon ;- )

PS, I'd love to wear a nice Fedora, they start at about $100 and decent ones begin at about $150. Save me, send me a grey Borsalino please, I promise to wear it ;D
 
I was thinking of buying a new porkpie this weekend, but maybe I'll see if they have any bowlers in my size.

That 1908 shot is an amazing photo; thanks for posting it.
 
Wow! All that a nonconformist had to do back then was remove one's hat. Some people refer to baseball caps today as ubiquitous. But not like bowlers at turn of the century.
 
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Baseball hats do a nice job of keeping the sun out of your eyes if you don't feel like wearing sunglasses.
 
Despite other's strongly held opinions I like most hats. They are like people some are good and some aren't. While style is important, quality of craftmanship and materials are equally important to me. Maybe I'll change my avatar to prove a point... then again..

BTW and back OT that's a great photograph. Who would take something like that today.
 
IdeaDog said:
Well, my apologies to Jan and iamzip regarding my comments on your baseball caps. I shouldn't take a hoity toity (or fuddy duddy) attitude with old-style hats like fedoras. Baseball caps are smart - packable, crushable, and they keep the sun out of your eyes. Traditional (old men's) hats are often not practical.
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ideadog, the problem with good felt hats (besides the prices) is they don't handle rain well. They can shrink and need a visit to a hatter to have them re blocked. Also the felt can become damaged, I know the 40's movies showed men in pouring rain with snap brims but the rain does a major number on the felt. Finally getting them cleaned and steamed. Few people do this anymore. Hat cleaners are like this photo, a curiosity.

I've about four snap brim fedoras that I haul out on occasion. The rest of the time I pick up a ball hat, toque, or even a Basque beret.

This thread has me thinking ... I should do a selfie wearing one posing with my Graflex press camera! Maybe.. ;D
 
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