Conductors Caps Redux

Discussion about the Disneyland Railroad
Post Reply

How many bell crown conductors summer caps would you order?

0
1
5%
1
9
45%
2
8
40%
3
1
5%
4
1
5%
5
0
No votes
6
0
No votes
7
0
No votes
8
0
No votes
More
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 20

User avatar
Pullman
Engineer
Posts: 671
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:31 am
Location: Livermore, CA
Contact:

Conductors Caps Redux

Post by Pullman »

Well, here we are again.

To refresh memories, in 2007, I placed an order for 10 double decker conductors caps with Midway Cap Company, in Chicago. At the time, they would sell the caps to anyone. We were assisted by a wonderful lady, Monica. She retired not long after our order was placed.

And yes, at the same time, you could order the brass Disneyland cap buttons direct from Waterbury Button Company. Somewhere buried, I still have a few.

Since that order, Midway has stopped selling the Disney caps to the public. However, they still make them for the company.

So, I called this morning and asked about a custom order of 25 or 30 hats, using the faux or plastic cane/wicker to reproduce the bell crown caps (as first used by SF&D conductors). As far as they are aware, no one makes the cane/wicker to use for caps. And the supply of plastic is a limited item they purchase in bulk.

I sent them an image of one of the original conductors caps and am waiting on a reply.

No word on what price will be as of yet. But based on what we paid previously, I would not be surprised if such a custom cap will cost more than $100 each.

As well, I have reached out to a custom furniture manufacture to see if they might be able to supply wicker/cane for such a project. Or they may be able to direct me to someone who can do so.

I know this is not going to be a quick project. But I do have hopes that we can produce what we are looking for. With the great hat badges, they need proper hats!

On a side note, although I have not been able to confirm or deny this, I believe the original caps may have been produced by the Lancaster Cap Company of Los Angeles, now out of business. In the late 70's, I purchased a Southern Pacific Summer Conductors cap from Schneider's Hub (also now out of business) in Oakland. They sold SP conductors uniforms for the commute service between San Jose and San Francisco, as well as for Amtrak at the time. I wore it for a long time as part of the Operating department at Rio Vista Junction. Still have it, stored away.



Roger
Last edited by Pullman on Tue Jan 19, 2016 12:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Mongo not know where choo-choo go. Only pawn in game of life."

www.theblueparrot.info

Disney, Pop Culture and Entertainment. 6 Days A Week.
Steve DeGaetano
8000 post Engineer
Posts: 9215
Joined: Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:06 pm
Location: Wake Forest, NC

Re: Conductors Caps Redux

Post by Steve DeGaetano »

I clicked for one, but if they are cheaper, I might be in for two.

We've got some Conductors on our tourist railroad that might be in for some.
Steve

The latest edition of Welcome Aboard the Disneyland Railroad! is now available to pre-order, with a special price for Burnslanders! You can read more about the book and pre-order a copy from http://www.burnsland.com/store/dlrrbook.shtml
User avatar
Pullman
Engineer
Posts: 671
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:31 am
Location: Livermore, CA
Contact:

Re: Conductors Caps Redux

Post by Pullman »

Thanks Steve.

I have a number of caps from over the years and the real wicker one seems the most comfortable in warm weather. It's the cap I took with me to Hawaii. I made a trip aboard the Oahu Railway parlor car 64 wearing it along with a very starched (and surprising comfortable) white jacket, one Sunday between Ewa and Electric Beach.
"Mongo not know where choo-choo go. Only pawn in game of life."

www.theblueparrot.info

Disney, Pop Culture and Entertainment. 6 Days A Week.
Steve DeGaetano
8000 post Engineer
Posts: 9215
Joined: Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:06 pm
Location: Wake Forest, NC

Re: Conductors Caps Redux

Post by Steve DeGaetano »

My wife picked up an older book (maybe from the 1970s) on Wicker/Cane/Rattan furniture. The style of weave on the hats is definitely known as "cane," as opposed to any other name. I'm sure someone must make it, but like I said earlier, I'd be OK if all we could get is plastic. I'm more interested in the design/shape of the hat, and being able to mount some of Bill's badges.
Steve

The latest edition of Welcome Aboard the Disneyland Railroad! is now available to pre-order, with a special price for Burnslanders! You can read more about the book and pre-order a copy from http://www.burnsland.com/store/dlrrbook.shtml
User avatar
IDMT129
3000 post Engineer
Posts: 3048
Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:26 pm
Location: FaceBook, Menlo Park

Re: Conductors Caps Redux

Post by IDMT129 »

I am in for 3. I am assuming the Brakeman hat was identical to the conductor hat.
User avatar
Varnish Car
Brakeman
Posts: 174
Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 10:18 pm
Contact:

Re: Conductors Caps Redux

Post by Varnish Car »

I put in for two. Of course using actual cane wicker would be great, but the plastic is fine if that's all they can work with nowadays. The real wicker has to be painted/stained the dark blue, which is another piece of the process. The plastic is molded in that color. I would think that with the cane, though, you could achieve the classic bell shape through steaming and forming, the material is supple enough in skilled hands. I have a Lancaster Cap in the style of the Disney Motormens Caps, worn by the Streetcar Conductors, and they used the plastic wicker for that. But I think Pullman is correct in suspecting Lancaster produced the original DRR caps. Interestingly, one of the original DRR conductor caps I have seen for sale on the internet had the inscription "Made Exclusively for Disneyland by House of Uniforms- Beverly Hills- Westwood" on the inside head liner. And one in my collection reads "House of Uniforms-Beverley Hills-Westwood", but I suspect that is the vendors name, not the manufacturer.
StartedByAMouse
Site Admin
Posts: 901
Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2004 9:12 pm
Location: Burbank, CA
Contact:

Re: Conductors Caps Redux

Post by StartedByAMouse »

I'm in for one.

Never thought that I would have had a badge to necessitate a hat so I didn't order one the first go-round. After obtaining a hat badge shortly afterward, I was always bummed that I wasn't able to find a hat to go along with it. I'd welcome an opportunity to correct that mistake.

Thanks for getting this going!
Matt
"I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing, that it was all started by a mouse." - Walt Disney
[url=http://www.StartedByAMouse.com]http://www.StartedByAMouse.com[/url]
jbponzi
Brakeman
Posts: 157
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:45 pm
Location: Packerland U.S.A.

Re: Conductors Caps Redux

Post by jbponzi »

I voted, but did not comment. I am in for one.
Justin
Justin
RRX
Passenger
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 5:23 pm

Re: Conductors Caps Redux

Post by RRX »

I voted for one but it would depend on further details regarding the materials/construction to be used (accuracy). I may be interested in more.

Yes, cane webbing is what is used for the construction of the hats. 1/2", I believe, but I would have to look at my notes. I am going to order some for my projects.


KC
Steve DeGaetano
8000 post Engineer
Posts: 9215
Joined: Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:06 pm
Location: Wake Forest, NC

Re: Conductors Caps Redux

Post by Steve DeGaetano »

Hoping to get numbers up, I sent an e-mail to the president of our railroad, so he could pass this on to the conductors/brakemen.
Steve

The latest edition of Welcome Aboard the Disneyland Railroad! is now available to pre-order, with a special price for Burnslanders! You can read more about the book and pre-order a copy from http://www.burnsland.com/store/dlrrbook.shtml
Post Reply