Any Info on This Odd Knox Low Topper?

[MattJH]

First and foremost, hey everyone! It's been a while. Sometimes life takes over.

Technically I could've put this in the eBay thread, but I wanted more eyes on this than normal so that I could get some identification help. Anyone see this one? I took a risk and won it based on the circumference being listed as 23.5" and, sure enough, it fits my 7 5/8 LO head! Thing is, I have NO idea what it is! Is it a plantation hat? A riverboat hat? It's basically like a squat top hat. I've a feeling if it was listed properly it would've went much higher.

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[dnjan]

That is a woman's hat, correct?

 

[MattJH]

I thought it could be, except that the bow is on the left, which I thought was a fairly universal hat trait for men's, whereas a woman's hat typically has the bow on the right. Confirm / deny?

I'm also looking for any other information - is this definitely beaver? What time period could it be from? And what is the style called, and where would it have been worn? All that sort of great history stuff people here have a knack for.

 

[dnjan]

Isn't the bow on the right in the pictures?

 

[besdor]

I think this was discussed in a previous thread. I have a similar one from Knox. It could be a womans hat or a pastors hat. In the other thread, someone did figure out what it was for.


Steven
www.bencrafthats.com

 

[MattJH]

Isn't the bow on the right in the pictures?

Ah! I didn't notice, but yes. Nonetheless, when you're holding the hat and looking at the bow in relation to the logo on the inside, and how the hat molds to your head, the bow is 100% positively on the left. It's a man's hat in person; a woman's hat in those photos.

 

[jwalls]

Question

Does the hat have a fabric bottom brim?

 

[MattJH]

Does the hat have a fabric bottom brim?

It sure does. Are you onto something?

 

[jwalls]

The hat appears to be silk plush fabric, not felt. The brim binding is not off set, so it would not be a traditional silk topper. The crown looks to be about 4". This hat is very likely a special run for something like a Livery application? You might want to post this hat to 'Toppers Unite' thread. We have some knowledgable folk who maybe able to add more information.

 

[Cigarband]

This was answered in another thread. Mods please help?
If I remember correctly, it is a hat worn by U.S. Navy Nurses in the 1st World War.

 

[metropd]

IMHO it would not qualify as a top hat. It more closely resembles a boater made out of silk plush instead of straw.

 

[Aerol]

Could it be a WWI "yeomanette" hat?

Look at this photo: http://library.uncg.edu/dp/wv/results167.aspx?i=2937&s=6

It looks like it could be... and there doesn't seem to be a bow on the right side.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Could it be a WWI "yeomanette" hat?

Yes! :eusa_clap


.

 

[besdor]

The hat is too fancy for a Yeomanettes hat. It appears to be more ceremonial. These hats do pop up from time to time on the 'Bay. I thibk the best thing to do is look at my old catalogs to see what exactly it is.



Steven
www.bencrafthats.com

 

[Marc Chevalier]

The hat is too fancy for a Yeomanettes hat.

You're right: a close look at some photos reveals that similar-looking Yeomanette hats were made of black straw.

.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

Could very well be Hansom Carriage driver hat

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

If I remember correctly, it is a hat worn by U.S. Navy Nurses in the 1st World War.

...when I first read this, Cigar, I thought ... you were joking... Talk about the "knowledge base" of this forum!!!!!

Paul

 

[Cigarband]

This is the thread I remembered with a VERY similar hat.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=40632&highlight=world+war+on+navy+nurses

 

[HatRak]

I've seen hats with this profile listed in the late 1890's Sears catalogs as "Railroad hats." They were essentially black felt boaters. The one's I've seen advertised were either nutria or beaver and retailed (at the time, of course!) for between $1.50 - $2.00. Given that it fits a 7 5/8 LO head, I'd be real surprised to find that its a woman's hat.

 

[HatsEnough]

OK, I could not resist buying this odd hat (well, odd to me, anyway). I offered the guy $60 bucks for it and he bit.

It is a Knox and has no sweatband. Instead of a sweat it has a cloth interior that has a drawstring to tighten to make the inside smaller to fit your head.

It is only 4-1/2 tall, it has three (count 'em three) ribbons of 7/8s inches with a back bow on each. It has a flat brim, is obviously beaver, is black felt under the brim.

There are a few rub spots on the top of the brim and the felt is a bit worn on the underside.

This is an odd piece to me. I am not sure what to call it. Is it like a top hat? It is made like one, for sure. Is it a low topper? Anyone know what this is called?

I feel it was made in the late 1800s. Do you think I'm right about that guesstimate?

Anyone have any clue about this thing?

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