odd fibres in schirmmuetze - what are these and are these period?

[kaiserwilhelm2]

Hi Guys,

I got in this cap which IMO is a period cap but is has some odd fibres in it which I have not seen in other caps that I have (owned). Are these more frequently found? What is their purpose and are they period features? The fibres are easily removed and when burned they burn normally i.e. clean these are not plastic. The fibres are found on the seam where the top and body of the cap come together - so on the inside of where the piping runs around the top of the cap. The fibres are black, strong but flexible and do not break when folded. Any help is as always appreciated.

Cheers, W

[RGD51]

That's horsehair. Its a stiffener, sometimes actual, sometimes synthetic but still referred to as horsehair.

Robt.

[stonemint]

Ja, Rosshaar....

[kaiserwilhelm2]

Great! Thanks guys.