What is this for? Spanish American cap

[tyler3]

Sorry if this is the wrong place for this, but I’m pretty sure it’s Spanish American era. What’s the history behind it and what’s it worth? No name sadly. Bottom of the button says IOOF

[iron bender]

Fraternal....IOOF is order of odd fellows

[tyler3]

9 minutes ago, iron bender said:

Fraternal....IOOF is order of odd fellows

Is it a military related cap? And what does the 72 on the front mean?

[268th C.A.]

It's a lodge number. 

[tyler3]

13 minutes ago, 268th C.A. said:

It's a lodge number. 

Thanks, any idea what it’s worth?

[atb]

43 minutes ago, tyler3 said:

Is it a military related cap? And what does the 72 on the front mean?

No, not military related other than the style.

[iron bender]

You can check ebay for realistic pricing. Something similar should pop up. I had some questionable late 19th/early 20th century 'cartridge' boxes on baldrics that were considered as European origin. They were actually IOOF gear and sold for very little to a collector in Colorado. Of course I took a 'best offer' on the lot. Good luck!

[tyler3]

1 hour ago, iron bender said:

You can check ebay for realistic pricing. Something similar should pop up. I had some questionable late 19th/early 20th century 'cartridge' boxes on baldrics that were considered as European origin. They were actually IOOF gear and sold for very little to a collector in Colorado. Of course I took a 'best offer' on the lot. Good luck!

Thanks lol. Yeah I found something like it on etsy i think, New York though for 100, and another one from Ohio on another website for 20 lol. Thought it’d be some like old military hat lmao

[iron bender]

Kinda funny but if this hat were manufactured today in the US as it was then, it would be $1200 new

[tyler3]

Just now, iron bender said:

Kinda funny but if this hat were manufactured today in the US as it was then, it would be $1200 new

What do you mean? Like the materials and stuff? Or is it like hand made or something

[iron bender]

Simply a reference to modern US manufacturing being expensive. I know, I make stuff in the US for a living (although a machine shop and not clothing). The quality of garments produced in the time frame of the above hat would be considered top of top quality today. Materials, stitching, etc. 

[tyler3]

14 minutes ago, iron bender said:

Simply a reference to modern US manufacturing being expensive. I know, I make stuff in the US for a living (although a machine shop and not clothing). The quality of garments produced in the time frame of the above hat would be considered top of top quality today. Materials, stitching, etc. 

Yeah. As the old people say, “They don’t make em like they used to”. A lot of military stuff actually looked better in like ww2-Korea, though we have a lot more protection now with the gear. Just can’t top the m1 helmet lol