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By the late 17th century, the beaver was virtually extinct in Europe due to the high demand for beaver felt top hats. An alternate source of supply was found in what is now North America. And so the fur trade — and Hudson’s Bay Company — was born!.
Why did people want beaver hats?
Beaver felts were used to make beaver hats. Hats, like other forms of dress, played a large role in reflecting one’s social identity. The shape and style of one’s hat indicated to a passerby one’s profession, wealth, and social rank and position.
Why are beaver hats so expensive?
Since they were individual items being sold to the general public, these were, in fact, retail prices. The “moleskin” hats listed in this ad and the one above were silk hats with a short brushed knap. The lower price may help account for their increasing popularity in this period, over the more expensive beaver hats.
Are beavers killed for hats?
Stretched pelt (60 pelts per pack) Beaver fur was used to make felt hats. Beavers do not hibernate, so their fur gets very thick in the winter to keep them warm. Most of the trapping for beaver was done in the winter. After it was killed, the beaver was skinned and its hide stretched on a willow frame.
Why did beaver hat makers sometimes go mad?
The chemicals used in hat-making included mercurous nitrate, used in curing felt. Prolonged exposure to the mercury vapors caused mercury poisoning.
Are cowboy hats made of beaver?
Modern high end cowboy hats are still made with beaver felt. Just how much beaver fur is in the mix of a modern beaver hat is a trade secret. The Stetson Hat Company may have been the first makers to use an “X” designation to represent felted fur formulas as early as 1904.
Is beaver pelt waterproof?
They produce an oil called castor oil that they rub through their fur with a split toenail called a grooming claw, making their fur water proof. The waterproof fur keeps the skin dry and warm while the beaver is immersed in cold water.
How much is a good beaver pelt worth?
Most beaver will continue to average $10-14 regardless of where they are produced. There is a possibility, however, to see some upside in this market if some of the traditional uses for beaver start to come back in style with fewer ranch mink pelts on the market.
How much does a real cowboy hat cost?
They can cost as low as $20 or as high as $250 and up. Some artisan cowboy hats cost thousands of dollars. The great news is that there is a cowboy hat for every budget! The price range is so wide due to many factors.
How much is a beaver worth?
While beaver pelts themselves aren’t worth much these days, the castor from the animals can be worth up to $70 per pound.
What do you do with beaver hides?
The pelt should be hung up and allowed to dry in a cool area. “Rough skinned” beaver pelts can be frozen and thawed out later to be fleshed and dried. The pelts should be folded over, fur side to fur side, and put into individual plastic bags.
When did beaver hats go out of style?
By the late 17th century, the beaver was virtually extinct in Europe due to the high demand for beaver felt top hats. An alternate source of supply was found in what is now North America.
What do they use beaver pelts for?
The pelts of American beavers are valuable in the fur trade and are largely used in making coats and hats. During the first several centuries of the European colonization of North America, beaver pelts were one of the most important natural resources to be exported from the northern regions of that continent.
What causes Mad Hatter’s disease?
Mad hatter’s disease is caused by chronic mercury poisoning. It is characterized by emotional, mental, and behavioral changes, among other symptoms. A doctor may describe the neurological changes as erethism or mercurial erethism.
Why did hat makers go mad?
The chemicals used in hat-making included mercurous nitrate, used in curing felt. Prolonged exposure to the mercury vapors caused mercury poisoning. Victims developed severe and uncontrollable muscular tremors and twitching limbs, called ‘hatter’s shakes’; other symptoms included distorted vision and confused speech.
Why is 10 6 on the Mad Hatter’s hat?
English illustrator John enniel depicted Hatter wearing a hat with 10/6 written on it. The 10/6 refers to the cost of a hat — 10 shillings and 6 pence, and later became the date and month to celebrate Mad Hatter Day.
What does 5X beaver hat mean?
X Factor Hat Rating was originally determined by the density and shape of the material, and ranged in grade from a low of 1X to a high of 10X. Hats made of material rated below 5X generally contained a poorer grade of fur and little or no beaver fur. A 10X hat was made of 100% beaver fur.
Why are Stetson hats so expensive?
Hat prices are mostly determined by the quality of the hats. Anything from Stetson over a 4X hat has a fur blend to in it and anything below is a wool felt. Recently it seems that many companies are trying to adhere to this “standard” but there are many out there that still deviate.
What does 100X mean in hats?
100X – Starts at $829 Made from 100% Beaver Fur, this is the best hat you can buy today, simple as that. This hat is for the person who really punishes a hat daily and expects it to hold up under the worst conditions; or those who know hats and simply expect the highest quality.
How fast can a beaver swim?
On land, a beaver’s movements are extremely awkward, making them vulnerable to predators. In water, however, beavers can swim up to 6 mph (10 kilometers per hour). Their oversized lungs allow them to stay submerged for up to 15 minutes while traveling over half a mile.
What is a beaver pelt called?
There were two types of beaver pelts: castor gras and castor sec. The term “castor gras” designates pelts taken by the Indians when prime, trimmed into rectangular shape, 5 to 8 of them sewn together and worn with the fur next to the body for 12 to 18 months.
How long can beavers swim underwater?
Aquatic Adaptations These attributes allow beavers to swim at speeds of up to five miles an hour. They can remain underwater for 15 minutes without surfacing, and have a set of transparent eyelids that function much like goggles. Their fur is naturally oily and waterproof.
