2 Nice Vintage Fedoras

[Marc Chevalier]

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Taking a break from this week's Lounge controversies


Fresh from eBay. The grey one has some nice sweatband stitching, and the sweatband itself is unusual. The other one is literally emerald green -- I've never seen such a deep green color on a hat. The photos don't capture it, unfortunately.


Neither fedora has (or ever had) a lining. My layman's guess is that both are from the 1930s, though the grey one has a somewhat '20s look to it.

 

[ufguy11]

GRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTT FIND!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Thanks very much!

I'm happy when eBay sellers take so-so photos of their hats. I'm a firm believer that good photos make a big difference between expensive and cheap auctions.


The green hat was one of three bundled together in one auction. The other two are also nice, but they have damage issues. The green one has several moth divots in the front of the crown, but they don't bother me. The color is what sold me!


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[DOUGLAS]

Beautiful Marc, I was looking at that trio and was considering a bid but...... It looks great on you. I am happy it is yours:eusa_clap

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Thanks!

If the other two in the trio were in better shape, I'd be an even happier man. I'm debating whether they're worth selling: they are size 7 3/8, which is larger than usual.




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[feltfan]

Nice

I'd guess your Mac Lachlan is from the late 50s to early 60s,
based on that particular design of vented sweatband. Always
seen it on later hats. But clearly made for customers who liked
that older style.

Is the Bates from the Bates hatter of London?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I'd guess your Mac Lachlan is from the late 50s to early 60s, based on that particular design of vented sweatband.
Always seen it on later hats.

Interesting! I believe it. If hats are like suits, there are always stylistic anomalies that harken back to earlier eras. Thanks for the knowledge!


The Bates hat has a sweatband logo on it: two griffins flanking a shield with the letter "B" inside. The words "Extra Quality" are stamped above it. No date of establishment, no country. No paper labels inside the sweatband. The sweatband also has the words "THE IMPERIAL LITE" stamped on it.


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[DOUGLAS]

The 7-3/8 is what stopped me from bidding but the green is tremendous.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

The other two are 7 3/8, but the green one is 7 1/4. Maybe I shouldn't be mentioning that. lol



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[feltfan]

Interesting! I believe it. If hats are like suits, there are always stylistic anomalies that harken back to earlier eras. Thanks for the knowledge!
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I fear that in the hat world the older buyer became
well worth courting by the 50s and 60s. I've seen a
number of later hats from Cavanagh and others in older
styles. Mind you, it's a fine thing- they were still using
good felt and I love those high crown, wide brim hats.
But it can make hat dating difficult. And then there's
Borsalino...

The Bates hat has a sweatband logo on it: two griffins flanking a shield with the letter "B" inside. The words "Extra Quality" are stamped above it. No date of establishment, no country. No paper labels inside the sweatband. The sweatband also has the words "THE IMPERIAL LITE" stamped on it.
.

I visited Bates about 10 years ago. Their hats are not what they
once were. Since they're only a few blocks from Lock, it's hard
to say why they're still in business. But they were once great hatters,
as I understand it (and as you no doubt now understand it better
than me). Hard to believe it's not the same one. 21a Jermyn Street.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

Great hats! I am GREEN with envy! Wish I could pull of the wider brims.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

But it can make hat dating difficult. And then there's Borsalino...

You can say that again. It's pretty easy to date vintage suits, once you get the hang of it. Not so for vintage fedoras ...


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[Marc Chevalier]

I visited Bates about 10 years ago.

I just checked out their website. No pictures of the logo in my hat, unfortunately. However, there is a weird photo of a tophatted, cigarette-puffing stuffed cat. Look at the left side of the link's page:

http://www.bates-hats.co.uk/tweed_hats.html


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[spiridon]

Gotta love that "Air-vac" sweatband. :eusa_clap

 

[Marc Chevalier]

What a name, eh? Makes me think of vacuum cleaners.


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[Pilgrim]

DANG!!!!

They both look nice, but nice green ones are really hard to find!

Well done.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Good catches... very well done.

The sweatbands are amazing.

Will you be wearing a hat to the Oviatt?

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

I saw that auction and was tempted, but I'm trying to stay away from hats that aren't 7-3/8, and anyway I have too damn many right now.

Congrats on a successful eBay dice roll, sometimes those hats in the bad pictures turn out pretty cool!

 

[RBH]

Two very nice hats. you did well !

 

[deanglen]

When better hats are found, Marc will find them! New sub-group and Marc should be the founding member: The Green Party "An emerald isle for the turf toned toppers amongst us"

dean