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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.



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Marc Chevalier

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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

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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
 

feltfan

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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

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feltfan said:
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

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

feltfan

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

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...

Marc Chevalier said:
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.
 

Tony in Tarzana

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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! :)
 

deanglen

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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
 

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