Britain at Work
A Pictorial Description of Our National Industries

THE STRAW HAT TRADE. 87 which affords material assistance to the operator, and quite a new industry has been created in the preparation of these adjuncts. It will be understood, too, that there is ample room in the ordinary way for the manu- facturer’s material merchant, who provides the various articles used in the formation of a hat, from gelatine and cotton to lining’s, leathers, and bands. Before passing away from the subject of manufacture, let it be said that when sewing- machines were first employed, and the pro- duction of hats began to increase, the hand- sewers prophesied ruin and disaster. Their At the outset the manufacturers made ladies’' hats as well as those for men and boys ; but as the years passed the ladies’ hat trade was transferred to Luton and Dunstable, and St. Albans devoted itself more especially to straw gear for the mere males. It is argued by the merchants in the cathedral city that the St. Albans trade is more reliable and remunerative than that of Luton, though that of Luton is more extensive, and the reason assigned is that masculine hats are not so much affected by fashion as are those for ladies. The St. Albans manu- facturers, by the way, have not quite a Photo: Cassea & Co., Ltd. GEORGE STREET, LUTON : CASES OF GOODS WAITING FOR COLLECTION. prognostications were, fortunately for Luton and the district, proved to be unfounded, and from the time of the introduction of machinery into the work the story of the town has been one of continuous progress; so much so that, whereas in the middle of last century the population stood at only a few thousands, there are to-day close upon 40,000 residents. These are not wholly dependent upon the straw trade, however, for there are various other industries, and the number of these is constantly being increased in consequence of the zeal and enterprise of the leading public men. So far as St. Albans is concerned, it has to be said that the Straw Hat trade was taken up there something like forty years ago and that it has flourished exceedingly. monopoly in the department of men’s and boys’ hats, for at both Luton and Dunstable considerable attention has been devoted to this branch during the last few years, when the hot summers have led to the donning of straw hats by all sorts and conditions of men, and this attention has brought a large increase of trade. There is much force in the suggestion as to the trade of Luton being dependent upon the smile or the frown of Fashion. This fact, coupled with the proximity of the town to London, does not permit of anything being “ behind the fair.” Any review of the straw trade which omitted allusion to the local bleaching and dyeing industry would be incomplete. This has been brought to a high state of perfection