Midway Old School Yachting Caps
I have received a mess of emails lately regarding yachting caps. As you know, Lancaster hat Co. closed it’s doors a year ago and we lost a wonderful resource for the real deal. Lancaster was the hat maker to the stars for close to 80 years. They closed there doors because of California employment laws and over seas competition. Well, now what. Well, turns out Midway hat Company has also been around for a looong time in Chicago. And they make captains hats. They are less expensive and faster delivery. And get this, you can buy them one at a time directly. They are not as high end as the Lancaster caps. But not cheap crap either. Here is the link to there site.
One big difference is that if you want the gold boulion, it has to be done as a patch not directly put on the hat.
Here are some images of the factory in Chicago. Fellow woody Boater Chad Durren went on a Woody Boater tour of the facility.
Nice looking hat! Still very glad I got in on the last order from Lancaster. (even though I’ve not had the guts to wear it in public )
Git it. Wore it. Looked dam spiffy!
GOT it . . . grrrr
I can attest to the quality of Midway caps. I had one custom made for bartender Lily last year.
Will there be a custom official “Woody Boatar” version?
Chad and I have talked about it, the ones they sell are on the low end side, you will need to upgrade yours.. Thats what the woody Boater model would be.
Do these hats expand at all ?
I assume that after I actually launch my boat and the allocades start coming in that my head will swell a bit.
Has anyone experienced this ?
Okay accolades
Yes, but it shrinks seconds after you break down or start leaking and start crying like a little girl
Head becomes absolutely miniscule when the spouse discovers the cost of the new bottom or varnish.
Mark, funny you should ask.
Mayer experienced that when he “won” the Arabian / XK-19 Shootout last December. His hat actually popped off and would no longer fit!
It was soon followed by deflation and a terrible case of the DT’s when he tallied up all those loose bribes and hasty promises he made.
It’s a sad affair. Really it is.
Alex, you are a sad, sad man.
I actually wore my WB hat once while cruising the lake in my Chris Craft and a boat load of kids actually made fun of me. That was a sad day.
PS. But the now-very-stretched-out hat didn’t resume it’s original size. I understand he now uses it to bail out that very Century. So it’s a happy ending after all.
I have been trying to buy this hat for over a year, between the Miller Hat Company/Midway Cap Company,
I could get neither one of them to accept my money,
and send a hat. What has become of American business.?
All I could get at Miller Hat was duck and dodge, and Midway
agreed to sell the hat, but would not answer any more communication, by email and or phone.
What a way to run a business.
What color are you looking for and what size is your head?
Hi Texx,
The color I was looking for was navy, and the size was 7&1/2
Wow people are still reading this article a year later thats amazing.
Hi Texx,
Still here?
I’ll send you an e-mail.
Hi Texx,
Thanks for everything, I think it will last me for years.
The check is in the mail, no really it is.
Again, THANKS for everything.
Samjoe
Your welcome, glad it worked out.
I am sorry you have been having trouble. We sadly lost Lancaster hats to a grand son that was no longer interested in doing the business because of over seas competition and california employment laws. The hats had to retail for close to 200 bucks to make it work. I can not help you with midway because it’s a never ending deal to make these deals happen. I am surprised that for some reason or another they are not communicating with you. Are you in the US? Maybe they do not want to deal outside the US?
Hi Matt,
I’m right here in the good old USA. In fact the middle of Kansas. Heres the one and only email they sent back.
“Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner
Our facility was closed for vacation the first week of July
We can make you a navy yacht cap in a sz 7-1/2
Delivery would be in about 2 weeks
You can pay by credit card when the cap is ready to ship
Please forward exact shipping address for UPS delivery
We will call you for Credit card info when the cap is ready
Cost for cap is $50.00
Plus $15.00 shipping chg
Let us know if you want to proceed with the order
Merle Sbertoli”
According to the website, it was the President himself.
But after that, nothing.Can’t even get a call back from
leaving a message with secretary for anybody to call me back.
800-888-2277 Midway Cap Company
They won’t answer the phone or return my calls. All I want to do is buy a hat.
I called Miller Hats on a Monday, ordered my Midway Yacht cap online on Tuesday and it arrived on Saturday via Priority Mail. I called them first to ask a couple of questions and the guy I spoke to was very helpful.
The current price at Miller is $60 + $7 shipping.
The Midway cap is no Lancaster- but it is MILES ahead of anything else out there and a quality hat, and it’s made right here in the USA. Love it! I wear mine all the time- I only wish they made them in black!
Glen
San Diego, CA
Forgot to mention, I also had absolutely NO luck with Midway directly. No answer to calls, no response to emails. Absolutely no customer service or response of any kind to numerous attempts at contact.
Makes you wonder how much business they are losing a year…
Don’t bother, just got the hat, plastic adjustable hatband, plastic weave frame, and plastic shiny visor. Really just a very expensive costume, your better off getting a cap from the local costume store. It’s not a real hat at all. Quite a disappointment for the price.
On WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2012 you published a link for the Midway Cap Company – http://www.midwaycap.com-
You published the wrong link or it was hijacked…
The correct link is below.. love your website… I am still looking for a reasonably priced quality cap that is easy to order..an elusive process. Thanks WBF
http://www.midwaycapcompany.com
I’d pay the 200.00 for a real yacht hat, if I could find out where to get it.
I thought I’d found the perfect skipper’s hat at West Marine about fifteen years ago. Bought a white one and a blue one. Blue one’s a little worn, so I’m shopping. West’s current line just doesn’t cut it. Can you send me some photos of your hats?
Resend:
I thought I’d found the perfect skipper’s hat at West Marine about fifteen years ago. Bought a white one and a blue one. Blue one’s a little worn, so I’m shopping. West’s current line just doesn’t cut it. Can you send me some photos of your hats?
Our hats sold out years ago. Sorry