USAT Hooker Sailor Cap – Vintage Maritime / Naval Uniform Cap

Offered is an original vintage sailor-style uniform cap bearing the hand-painted designation “U.S.A.T. HOOKER” on the cap tally. The interior is marked J. Appel & Co., Yachting Outfitters, New York, a well-known supplier of maritime and yachting apparel during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The cap is constructed of dark navy wool with a traditional sailor profile and features an embroidered star on the crown. The black cap tally with gold lettering remains present and displays well.

Features:

• Original sailor-style uniform cap
• Cap tally marked “U.S. AT. HOOKER”
• Interior marked:
• J. Appel & Co.
• Yachting Outfitters
• New York
• Dark navy wool construction
• Embroidered star on crown
• Period maritime or naval appearance
• Excellent display piece

Condition:

The cap shows age and service wear throughout. The interior sweatband and liner exhibit deterioration and losses consistent with age. Exterior wool remains generally solid with scattered wear and moth nips. Cap tally remains attached and legible.

The USAT Hooker was a U.S. Army Transport and cable ship with Spanish-American War history. Built in Scotland in 1875 as SS Branksome Hall, she was later renamed SS Panama under Spanish ownership. During the Spanish-American War, she was captured by the U.S. lighthouse tender Mangrove in 1898, then assigned to the U.S. Army as a troop transport. She was converted in Brooklyn for cable-laying work and sent toward the Philippines to support Army communications after the war. In August 1899, while en route near Hong Kong/Manila service, Hooker ran aground and was declared a total loss, though much of her cable equipment was salvaged and later used aboard USAT Burnside.