Here’s a short article on the process:
Some photos below.Traditional hat band manufacturer
By: Christian Lövgren | The Armed Forces Technical School – 11 April 2023 at: 15.49
In the middle of the 19th century, round caps with cap bands were introduced to the navy's uniforms. After almost 200 years, the tradition lives on and the sailor cap bands are still manufactured in the same way now as then. Meet Oscar Cederman at FMTS Markverkstad in Stockholm, the Swedish Armed Forces' only cap manufacturer.
Oscar Cederman in his hat band workshop.Oscar brushes off leftover gold leaf from a hat band.Old stencils that are still in Oscar's workshop.
Old stencils that still remain in Oscar's workshop are: Wasa - armored boat 1901, Wrangel - Destroyer 1917, Svalan - Steam sloop 1881, Fylgia - Armored cruiser 1905, Skuld - Gunboat 1879, Oden - Armored boat 1896, by Chapman - Steel full rigger 1888, Walrossen – Submarine 1918, Thule – Armored boat 1893. In 1900, the name of the ship on which the sailors served began to be printed on the cap bands. Previously it read Royal Navy on all bands.
It is usually said that there are many different professions within the Armed Forces. One of the perhaps a little more different is a band maker. Oscar Cederman is the only one who can claim that title in the Swedish Armed Forces.
Oscar started in the Armed Forces in 2011 as a security guard. In 2015 he started working as a ship technician and in 2019 he came to Markverkstad Stockholm and there he quickly took a liking to the small repair detail. On that detail, it's about letting creativity flow; everything from power plants, chainsaws to broken tents is fixed there. There is also both new manufacturing and manufacturing of prototypes in sewing. And that's where hatbands are made.
- When I started, beanie band production had lagged behind for a while and there was a shortage of hat bands. So the entire first year I worked almost exclusively with that production, explains Oscar.
- It's a slightly more fun job that requires a lot of patience and a steady hand, I think that's fun.
A CRAFT
Manufacturing begins with ribbons being cut to the right length. The color that is applied to the tape is then mixed using a stencil. When the paint has dried a little, gold leaf is applied. Leftover gold leaf is then brushed away and usually a little finishing work is required before the cap band is completely clear. The work takes about an hour per mouse band in efficient time.
- After almost four years, I think I've got the technique right. To use the tools in the right way and with the right force, for example. And then it is important to mix the color correctly. If it is mixed incorrectly, it is not noticed until it is too late, says Oscar.
A while ago, Oscar tried to streamline the process by using only gold paint without gold leaf.
- That attempt did not turn out well. The color was completely wrong and I couldn't get it the way I wanted it. The old way still applies, sums up Oscar.
- I have worked as a ship technician in the navy and wore a round cap with a cap band. But then I had no idea about either the tradition, how valuable the hatbands are or how much work is behind them, concludes Oscar, who has now managed to produce around 4,000 hatbands.
