Opera hat which means hat, and "claque", which means "tap" or "click". The "chapeau claque" is thus a hat that folds with a click, and unfolds likewise. In English the hat model is usually referred to as a "collapsible top-hat", "gibus" or more often "opera hat"- The construction may originally have been inspired by an historical hat model called "chapeau bras" ("arm hat"), made as bicorne or tricorne to be carried folded under the arm On May 5, 1812, a London hatter called Thomas Francis Dollman patented a design for "an elastic round hat" supported by ribs and springs. His patent was
Chapeau d'Espagne over long distances in the north of England. At stud, Doctor Syntax was best known as the sire of the outstanding racemare Beeswing. According to the "New Sporting Magazine" Chapeau d'Espagne's name was pronounced Chapeau Despag-ny, by the "jockey boys". Chapeau d'Espagne raced five times as a two-year-old in 1836, winning twice. She made her first appearance at Goodwood Racecourse on 29 July when she finished third of the four runners in the Molecomb Stakes. She did not appear again until the autumn, when she ran four times at Newmarket. At the Second October meeting she finished second, beaten a