DR Ulloa wrote:
This has always been my theory. How can our heads grow that much in such a short period of time. Evolution like that takes hundreds of years. It just makes sense that the more popular sizes (head sizes) were bought up and these never sold, therefore usually in very good condition.
Dave
Not necessarily so, Dave. Over 100 years ago a man described as over 6 feet tall was considered huge. Go back to the mid 1800's, and the same individuals were described as 'giants of men'! A 6 foot tall individual in the past 50 years is now considered 'average'.
It doesn't take 'hundreds of years'....just several generations, so I have no problem regarding the smaller sizes due to smaller men. They WERE smaller, and I've found that to be true over and over again in viewing uniforms and clothing on display in museums.
For example, General Longstreet of the CSA in 1861 was described as being 'a bear of a man', at just under 6 feet and weighing over 180 pounds. 'Bear of a man' using today's standards?

That's a high school sophomore now...and a small one at that!
In my personal case, I have one of my grandpas hats, and it's size 6 1/8 and he stood around 5 feet 7 inches tall and was considered a big man by the family. My Dad, who was over 6 feet 2 inches in his prime, wore a size 6 7/8 hat. I wear a size 7 3/8, and am just shy of 6 feet 2....3 generations.
Regards !Michaelson