Hat factory planning

When I decided to build a hat factory I had no idea of what one might look like.  It turns out some hat factories were major facilities.  As usual, my model will be a modest representation.  I am in the process of planning the model.  I did some research to help me in my planning.  Below is a business ad for Lee Hats.  As you can see the factory is quite large.

In my 1939 modeling era and many years preceding men of almost all status wore hats.  Below is an example of a working environment where the workers were wearing hats.

One of the major hat manufacturers was Stetson founded in 1865.  In the 1960's the company was absorbed by a conglomerate.  The hat making processes were interesting.  They used a variety of machinery and materials such as animal hair for felting.  The forming and coloring processes were quite involved.  There were many types of hats.  They used rows of racks and shelves for the hats as they were created.  They usually made their own hat boxes.  They used a variety of fur pelts (frequently Beaver and Nutria).   They had dye vats and stiffening processes.  The many steps were quire complex.

My initial plan for building my model is to use a modified Design Preservations Models kit for the start.  I will see how this works out.  There will be additions to the kit.  More later when I have made some progress.

SS Ltd concrete mixer completed.

I have completed this kit.

I built it as a very used machine.

The chute is in the up position since it will be sitting in the building supply company yard.

Another Aurora Snap-aroo auto kit model.

I also assembled another cheap Auroa auto kit.  Too bad this company went out of business.  As usual  I made many modifications.  The photo shows an original kit beside the finished auto.   I removed the roof and created an interior.

It is all fun!