America's hardly ever slouch

[Matt Deckard]

Historically It's interesting to see how european hats are usually slouching more in pictures than those in the US. Could be more rain over there, could be felt quality (less beaver content possibly)

You can also see it in Aussie hats versus US hats.
You see alot of Aussie hats in old pictures of aussie hats just drooping around the wearer, and you see US cowboy's hats from the photos taken over 100 years ago where their hats are beaten up and worn in yet have little to no sag.

You find alot of pics of Akubras in the book
Akubra is Australian for hat
by Grenville Turner

 

[jamespowers]

Originally posted by Matt Deckard
You can also see it in Aussie hats versus US hats.
You see alot of Aussie hats in old pictures of aussie hats just drooping around the wearer, and you see US cowboy's hats from the photos taken over 100 years ago where their hats are beaten up and worn in yet have little to no sag.

Simple---two words---Hat Viagra. LOL

 

[Renderking Fisk]

So what's the story? Why the lack of hat sag in the states?

 

[Andykev]

Maybe more "flair"

Read previous posts....

Naw...I believe the Europeans are more avant garede (spelling???) and Americans are more "stoic"

Like the Italian cut suit vs the Brooks Sack Suit

 

[Matt Deckard]

It's just something that has always struck me funny when watching old movies from europe, and Aussie land.

I think it was matrials, though it could of been them liking the rakish worn in look more than we do.

I'm getting a recovery disc to help my computer so I'll try to post some pics of the Akubra book I mentioned when I can.

 

[fedoralover]

Quote: "Simple---two words---Hat Viagra."

Ah James, that's called "felt stiffner" by hatters.


regards fedoralover

 

[jamespowers]

Originally posted by fedoralover
Ah James, that's called "felt stiffner" by hatters.


regards fedoralover

I actually thought about that after I sent my previous reply along. It could just be that the manufacturers were cheap. Shellac flakes were impossible to get from South America during WWI and WWII so perhaps they just got used to having their hats limp. Americans managed to figure out some other formula of hat stiffner that did not require the stuff from South America by WWII but hats from the WW periods are very sparse in both styling and stiffness due to material shortages---saving supplies for the military.
Another scenario is the fact that the hat industry in Europe suffered after WWII. It was fatal for many companies. There was still a demand for hats but European manufacturers were manufacturing military goods if they even had factories left. South America, parts of Eastern Europe, British colonies and Australia took up the slack and produced hats to fill the need. I am trying to dredge this up from memory so all of it may not be exactly right but these were sometimes subsidiaries of European firms that were supplied with raw materials from Europe. With no supplies coming from Europe, they did what they could on their own. Thus the era of the frumpy looking hat produced for the European market and elsewhere. If I remember right, this is how Akubra got its start. They have come a long way. LOL
After WWII European hat makers wanted to take orders from these countries again but the damage was done the market had dried up for the European hat manufacturers. Hats were now being supplied locally for much less. I think that is the way it panned out in my research anyway. LOL

Regards to all,

J