Street Railway Conductor's Cap, Middlesex & Boston Street Railway

Description:

This cap was used by the donor, H. Lincoln Harrison, during his career as a street railway conductor for the Middlesex & Boston Street Railway Company. Harrison bought the cap in 1926 and used it into the 1940s while conducting streetcars. The cap is part of a uniform which Harrison donated, including a coat.

The cap's shape became similar as well for street railway conductors, from the beginning of the traditional electric-trolley era in the1880s through to its end in the 1950s. The style of uniform for streetcar motormen and conductors derived directly from the practice on mainline railroads. Whether the transit-company employee was a motorman or conductor was shown by a metal cap badge of brass or nickel plated alloy. There was usually no other ornamentation, other than perhaps a string of braid around the front of the headband.

Location: Currently not on view

Subject: Street RailwaysTransit

Subject:

See more items in: Work and Industry: Transportation, Railroad, Clothing & Accessories, Work, Transportation

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of H. Lincoln Harrison

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: TR.335256.03Accession Number: 316480Catalog Number: 335256.03

Object Name: cap, street railway conductorOther Terms: cap, street railway conductor; Rail

Measurements: overall: 9 1/8 in x 7 3/4 in x 4 1/2 in; 23.1775 cm x 19.685 cm x 11.43 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-aa56-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_761938

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