Top hat stretcher

This hat stretcher was used by staff at Kirkcaldie & Stains to stretch top hats to fit customers' heads. Hats were steamed first, then reshaped by expanding the two parts of the block until the desired size.

Kirkcaldie & Stains Ltd

'Kirks' was one of New Zealand's most enduring department stores from 1863 to 2016. It was established in Wellington by businessmen John Kirkcaldie and Robert Stains. By the end of its life, it was a beloved institution in an iconic building on Lambton Quay. During its heyday it sold a wide range of high quality goods which were organised into different departments, and featured services such as dressmaking, and facilities such as tearooms. Glamorous window displays attracted customers, and end-of-season sales drew huge crowds.

Kirks survived the advent of shopping malls which opened in late 20th century suburbia, when many department stores came to be seen as old-fashioned and closed down. By 2015, Kirks could no longer compete financially, and closed its doors on 16 January 2016.