• Address: Bell Ridge Rd, Akron, OH 44303 (map)
• Date Posted: 10/30/09

LARGE OVAL MAN'S HAT BOX
CROFUT & KNAPP COMPANY NEW YORK
KNAPP-FELT HATS


James Henry Knapp (1832-1913)

Have you ever seen a hat box as beautiful as this?
Because the retail shop was in New York, I assume that the subject of the panorama is New York City.

This is a beautiful panorama. The first scene is at the beach, the second is waiting to cross a busy intersection, the third is the arrival of a cruise ship, and the fourth is horse riding session in the park.

Two other photos show the top and bottom of the box. Another photo is of the penciled writing on the rim of the hat box.

The scotch tape that was applied many years ago reinforces the seams around the top and bottom. The small amount of fraying seen in the photo of the busy intersection scene is the tape - not the box.

My other observation is of the photographs; the box looks brighter than it actually is. The background tan color shown under the penciled handwriting is closer to the actual color on the box.

MEASUREMENTS:
12.5 inches x 14.5 inches x 8 inches



James Henry Knapp (1832-1913)

James Henry Knapp was the founder of Crofut Knapp Co., a hat company in Stamford, Connecticut.

On January 18, 1885, the hat factory in Norwalk, CT.:
(From the New York Times)


SOUTH NORWALK SHAKEN; A DYNAMITE EXPLOSION IN CROFUT & KNAPP'S FACTORY.THE STRIKING HATTERS PROTEST THAT THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT REWARDS FOR THE PERPETRATORS.