Straw Hats: Their history and manufacture

BLOCKING MACHINE “CARRE VIVE BROCHIER”
Inventors and Makers of other special adjusting, dressing and pressing machines and accessories for the manufacture of STRAW BOATERS of perfect and correct shape
SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME DES ETABLISSEMENTS
J. B. BROCHIER, 8 Rue de la Viabert, LYON
COMFORT IN HATS
Amongst the allied trades associated with the Straw Hat Industry must be included the production of the Pneumatic or Easy-Fitting Sweats or Leathers, which during the last 25 years have been the chief means of establishing the Straw Boater as the most popular Summer Head-wear.
THE HAT MANUFACTURERS’ SUPPLY CO., LTD., of Stockport, England, make claim to be the producers of the best of these kind, and many of their patent productions have a place in the History of the Straw Hat Industry; the following have stood out prominently: “IVY” and “MARVEL,” but apparently the zenith was reached with the production of the World-famed—
Patent “BON-TON IVY”
This patent Comfort Leather is acknowledged as the “LANDMARK” in Head-comfort for any Hat. And considerably over twenty millions have been sold for Straw Hats alone, which fact must undoubtedly prove that this Leather has been greatly instrumental in aiding the progress of the Straw Boater; so much so, that the Patentees have appointed manufacturing agents in various parts of the World to cope with the increasing demand.
The latest production in these Easy-fitting Leathers is the—
( Patent ) “NEW BON-TON IVY” ( introduced 1921 )
which is suitable for any kind of hats and, like its well-known parent patent, guarantees Perfect Fit, Comfort, and Ventilation .