1934 Dobbs Game Bird with Cronap Edge

[Brad Bowers]

No, I don't have one, but I'm hoping someone out there might have one...Douglas? feltfan? jamespowers?

I have a Dobbs advertisement from 1934 that shows a Game Bird with the "famous Cavanagh Edge" for $10, or a Game Bird with the "new hand-finished Cronap Edge" for $8.50.

My question is, what the heck is a Cronap Edge? It was never trademarked, so that's no help. Dobbs touted the 1932 Improved Cavanagh Edge, so unless they played a name game, I don't think it would be that. New name for the old Cavanagh Edge, as a way to help sell it? Cronap is probably a contraction of Crofut & Knapp, under whom Cavanagh developed the first Cavanagh Edge. Makes sense it would be slightly cheaper, as it was less work. But both were hand-finished edges, so that could be misleading.

I just don't know, so I'm hoping someone out there has a hat marked "Cronap." Any help solving this mystery is greatly appreciated.

Brad

 

[feltfan]

Sorry, Brad. Can't recall ever seeing a Cronap edge
or any reference to it. I agree it sounds like a contraction
of Crofut & Knapp.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Thanks, Feltfan. Anybody else?

I've been going back through every article, every patent, every advertisement, every trademark, trying to put together a timeline that might explain things. What has emerged is that the terms "Cavart" and "Cavart Cavanagh Process" were used to refer to the Improved Cavanagh Edge of 1931, in hat sweatbands and advertisements. Where this gets odd is that I have a Cavanagh hat coming soon that has a "Cavart Edge," though it looks to be just an ordinary overwelt. The hat also looks to be a later hat, so maybe the name was resurrected in the Fifties?

As for Cronap, I can think of two things it might be. Either they used the name for the older Cavanagh Edge, as I mentioned before, or it was the name given for Frank Stack's hidden-stitching welt edge that he developed for Hat Corporation of America in 1932 and was awarded the patent for in 1934. The dates seem to support this idea, though how much of the welt was done by hand seems unclear.

Either way, the Cronap Edge, as a name, doesn't appear to have lasted very long.

Anyone bored with my blathering yet?

Brad

 

[duggap]

Not bored at all, sir, not bored at all. I just wish I had something to contributte to your research but I don't. I do look forward to what ever else is uncovered so good luck with your research.

 

[surely]

It took me a long time to figure out what cravenette meant. Waiting for the next installment.

 

[RBH]

Dont know anything about the Gamebird.... but man... didnt they have great names for fedoras back in the day ????:eusa_clap