Note
4x7 in. Wood box, wooden hat stretcher/blocker, copy of patent, photo in shop at Flicker s Hat Works, 441 O Farrell St, attached to steam press, stock certificate.
Flicker's Improved Hat Renovator is a device that uses steam to "block" hats. The hat would be placed around the block, set in a hat receptacle, and hand-shaped while steam from a connected steam press was applied intermittently. Then the hat would be moved to a flange and brims trimmed and reshaped (using steam) and creases created
Among the innovations that Flicker's Improved Hat Renovator featured were the means for whirling the steam to ensure even application throughout the hat, automatic start and stop, and refilling of the steam boiler through a hat receptacle