Stormy Kromer cap

The Stormy Kromer cap is a woolen hat manufactured by Stormy Kromer Mercantile.^[1] The hat is popular in the Midwestern United States and with hunters and outdoorsmen.^[2][3] It is named for George "Stormy" Kromer (1876–1970), a semiprofessional baseball player from Kaukauna, Wisconsin, who later worked as a railroad engineer. Kromer lost many hats to the wind while working on trains, and in 1903, he asked his wife Ida (1877–1960) to make him a warm hat that would stay on more securely. She modified a baseball cap^[4] into what became the Stormy Kromer cap by sewing on a pair of ear flaps.^[2] A summer version, made from pillow ticking,^[5] remains in use among modern American train engineers, and variants with red or blue polka dots were formerly popular in the early 20th century.^[6]

Due to popularity with other employees of the railroad, the Kromers formed the Kromer Cap Company in 1903 to produce the caps.^[2][7] In 1919, due to ever increasing demand, the Kromers opened a factory in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.^[3] George Kromer sold the company in 1965 to Richard Grossman.^[8] In 2001, the Kromer Cap Company planned to cease production of Stormy Kromer caps.^[2][9] The rights to the caps were purchased by Bob Jacquart, owner of Jacquart Fabric Products, and production moved to Ironwood, Michigan.^[1] Stormy Kromer Mercantile was formed, increasing production to over 50,000 caps annually from the previous 3000 to 6000 caps.^[1][2]

President Barack Obama was presented with several Stormy Kromer caps when he visited Marquette, Michigan, on February 10, 2011.^[10] It has become a traditional garb in the Upper Peninsula.^{[11][12][dead link][13]}

A version that is a "tip of the hat" to the hat's Wisconsin roots is available in Green Bay Packers green with the team logo and sold through Lambeau Field.^{[14][dead link]}

The hats are unusual in that they carry a lifetime warranty against defects, and a three-year "insurance policy" for events such as loss, once the product is registered.^[15] Versions for women are available, and they are called the "Ida Kromer" or some variant of "Petal Pusher."^[16]