Hats

Charles

So here's the story: San Francisco's Crocker National Bank merged with First National in 1925 and moved the operations to First National's offices across the street. Big deal, right?

No. The move, though, was what you'd expect for the times—a bunch of guys with dollies, carts and ramps. But the cargo! A hundred million bucks, moving across the street. Never mind the value, folks: $100,000,000 weighs a lot.

So here's the picture from the San Francisco Chronicle, with the execs standing out of the way. Meanwhile, the dozen guys hired to schlep the cash are workin' hard. We historians like to gauge the class distinctions that live in this image, but I prefer to notice what all the men have in common—they are all dressed like it's a wedding or something.

In those days, you wore a necktie to work, be you president or Teamster. Ah, the past...

Fast forward to 1960 and another move. Wells Fargo opened its modern (groovy is a better word for it) round office. It needs a stagecoach, of course, and here come the same people in this project. While the stagecoach moves by crane across San Francisco skies, the execs are out of the way—although they do admire the work. Meanwhile, the four guys hired to schlep the icon around the block are workin' hard.

But they are not wearing suits to move the coach. We historians would celebrate the changes brought about by organized labor, allowing working people to define their own weltanschauung. I, however, prefer to notice what all the men have in common—headgear.

Not much changed in those 40-ish years. While fedoras have gone away, most men still wear billed caps.

In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes. And hats—a historical constant.