Stifel “Wabash Stripe”
Stifel Stripe, commonly referred to as “Wabash Stripe”, is a calico print work wear fabric originating in 1835 in West Virginia. 
 
Around the turn of the century many Railroads began standardizing uniforms among their workers. Stifel Stripe became widely preferred across multiple Railroad companies due to its incredible durability and almost formal appearance.  
 
This iconic fabric became especially popular among hard working Americans in many fields of work during the 1890’s-1930’s though it was not uncommon to see Stifel Stripe in limited use throughout the 1940s and early 1950s, until the mill closed in 1956.
 
Today Stifel Stripe is reproduced in small batches with exacting detail to the original fabric. 
 
Availability is very limited. Order your own piece of history while supplies last.
 
“Eastern” Style
As the Railroad Industry continued to evolve over the years, many rail lines particularly in the the eastern United State began to develop two-tone hats, commonly known as “Eastern Style”
 
“Eastern Style” Engineer hats feature a Brim and Band that are a different color from the hats Crown. This was done to help hide dirt on the parts of the hat which are handled the most. This was especially important on coal fired engines during the Age of Steam.
 
The Crown color on Eastern Style hats also had significance, though it varied greatly between Railroad Companies. 
 
While some rail lines were known entirely by one particular crown color, other railroads had specific color code systems denoting each individuals job within the railroad.