Alexander Hats

[Frunobulax]

G.W. Alexander Hats Company, Gay Prince Clone, "Clipper."

Still need to work on the brim some, and maybe add a little stiffener. It's fairly incorrigible, and has no snap to it. Thanks to the felt band being thicker than a normal ribbon, my 7 1/4 flange wouldn't fit it. I went up to a 7 3/8 flange, but just couldn't get the wonky out of the brim. So I ironed it flat and tried to shape it the best I could, but it still needs some work.

5 1/2" crown, 2 1/2" brim. It's in very good shape, and I gave it a bath first thing. Maybe one small moth nibble, and the sweatband is in very good condition. Plus, it has "moistrap."

 

[steur]

G.W. Alexander Hats Company, Gay Prince Clone, "Clipper."

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Still need to work on the brim some, and maybe add a little stiffener. It's fairly incorrigible, and has no snap to it. Thanks to the felt band being thicker than a normal ribbon, my 7 1/4 flange wouldn't fit it. I went up to a 7 3/8 flange, but just couldn't get the wonky out of the brim. So I ironed it flat and tried to shape it the best I could, but it still needs some work.

5 1/2" crown, 2 1/2" brim. It's in very good shape, and I gave it a bath first thing. Maybe one small moth nibble, and the sweatband is in very good condition. Plus, it has "moistrap."

Very nice catch, Jim. It's not a low key style though; kind of a flashy hat.

 

[Frunobulax]

Very nice catch, Jim. It's not a low key style though; kind of a flashy hat.

Thanks, Stefan. And yeah, it's a bit different.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[BobHufford]

And yeah, it's a bit different.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that...

 

[Frunobulax]

Not that there’s anything wrong with that...

[emoji16]


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Winston Carter]

G.W. Alexander Hats Company, Gay Prince Clone, "Clipper."

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Still need to work on the brim some, and maybe add a little stiffener. It's fairly incorrigible, and has no snap to it. Thanks to the felt band being thicker than a normal ribbon, my 7 1/4 flange wouldn't fit it. I went up to a 7 3/8 flange, but just couldn't get the wonky out of the brim. So I ironed it flat and tried to shape it the best I could, but it still needs some work.

5 1/2" crown, 2 1/2" brim. It's in very good shape, and I gave it a bath first thing. Maybe one small moth nibble, and the sweatband is in very good condition. Plus, it has "moistrap."

Nice hat. A little work and that hat with the stitching will look fantastic.

 

[Redfokker]

G.W. Alexander Hats Company, Gay Prince Clone, "Clipper."

View attachment 143924 View attachment 143925 View attachment 143926 View attachment 143927 View attachment 143928 View attachment 143929

Still need to work on the brim some, and maybe add a little stiffener. It's fairly incorrigible, and has no snap to it. Thanks to the felt band being thicker than a normal ribbon, my 7 1/4 flange wouldn't fit it. I went up to a 7 3/8 flange, but just couldn't get the wonky out of the brim. So I ironed it flat and tried to shape it the best I could, but it still needs some work.

5 1/2" crown, 2 1/2" brim. It's in very good shape, and I gave it a bath first thing. Maybe one small moth nibble, and the sweatband is in very good condition. Plus, it has "moistrap."

A wonderful, interesting example of 1950s style. I would say this one was worn on "casual" occasions to show some real panache. Moistrap rules!

 

[Frunobulax]

A wonderful, interesting example of 1950s style. I would say this one was worn on "casual" occasions to show some real panache. Moistrap rules!

I believe the Dobbs Gay Prince was introduced in the 30s or 40s, so not certain of the "50s style." I have no real way of estimating a date on this hat, given the paucity of information about this brand.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Frunobulax]

Nice hat. A little work and that hat with the stitching will look fantastic.

As noted in the post, this was after a naphtha bath and extensive reblocking and flanging.

So...thanks.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Winston Carter]

As noted in the post, this was after a naphtha bath and extensive reblocking and flanging.

So...thanks.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

Stiffener will get the steam shape more uniform.

 

[Frunobulax]

Stiffener will get the steam shape more uniform.

It'll cure your asthma, too.



Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Alexander San Fran in the color of squirrel.
3 3/8” wide bound brim in size 7 1/4. The felt reminds me of mid-1960s 3X quality; although, I have no idea when the hat was made.

 

[BobHufford]

Alexander San Fran in the color of squirrel.

Nice hat! The color seems accurate…

 

[MikeinRome]

I bought 2 Alexander hats last year that I gave to my brother in law. Don't have great pics. Both were almost identical, but 1 was gray and the other tan or light brown. They both had the same liner logo. They didn't have that real late mfg tag, but the one that looks like 50's, I think, if they had any tags at all, which they may not have. These hats could be 50's or early 60's. The brims were only about 2 1/4 inches. I think I recall having trouble dating these hats, perhaps because they had no tags. There weren't any plastic liner covers, so I'm still not sure if I'm even close on the dating. My final verdict on dating after research last year was 1940's or 50's, possibly early 60's. That was as close as I could narrow it down. The last hat pic is the same hat as the first pic

 

[MikeinRome]

This G W Alexander hat arrived today. I had guessed it was from the 40's or 50's, but after research, it must be a 1930's hat or 1920's as I explain in following posts. But I'm calling it 1930's for now. Either the sweatband has been replaced or, if original, it never had any writing or logos stamped on it. The sweatband joint isn't stitched. Brim is 4 1/2 inches in front, 4 1/4 on sides and rear. 7 inch open crown. Notice the mtg tag has Style and Block. The last photo shows marking on back of sweatband. The seller said he thinks sweatband is original based on his experience with other hats and had owned this hat for 30 years or so, and had bought it from a New York collector.

 

[MikeinRome]

I've copied 3 Alexander hats from the Internet, the first 2 having the same mtg tag as my hat and being from the 1930's. The third hat is also from the 30's, but the mfg tag only shows Style and doesn't show Block. This became the next type of tag after the earlier type tag. This first hat was said to be from the 1920's, but the sweatband has a Stetson Lot Number 6378 that I believe places this hat in the early 1930's.

 

[MikeinRome]

The next Alexander is a Boy Scout hat having an NRA tag from 1933 to 1935.

 

[MikeinRome]

The next Alexander is a San Fran style, said to be from the 1930's, but it could be later, since I think this style mfg tag probably went into the 40's. It has the later type tag just showing Style and no longer showing Block.

 

[MikeinRome]

Here's a G W Alexander I just bought as I was beginning to post this series of posts tonight, so it hasn't arrived yet. As you see, it also has the same mtg tag from later in the 1930's that only shows Style and doesn't show Block. So this hat is probably from mid to late 30's or sometime in the 1940's or so, as best I can guess at this point. The seller guessed this hat was from the 1970's.

 

[MikeinRome]

A 1929 billhead from G W Alexander. Screenshot of item now for sale on eBay.