Classic Hat Makers List

[johnnyphi]

Adam

The Adam section is a bit misleading. I believe Miller Bros purchased Adam in the late 50's or early 60's, and the labels reflected the change. Also, "Fifth Avenue" was a quality level for Adam hats, but I don't think it was the brand name.

The brand name was Adam. Plain and simple.

 

[mingoslim]

Does this read better?

The Adam section is a bit misleading. I believe Miller Bros purchased Adam in the late 50's or early 60's, and the labels reflected the change. Also, "Fifth Avenue" was a quality level for Adam hats, but I don't think it was the brand name.

The brand name was Adam. Plain and simple.

Adam
Adam Hats were produced as the budget brand of the day. None-the-less, the brand was very popular in the 1940s and 50s. One reason for that popularity was that Adam made a dependable hat for considerably less than the “big name” makers. They also made sure that they copied the styles of the most popular hat makers . . . and the “elite” models of the company, the Executive and the Aristocrat, were of a quality that could compete with Stetson, Knox and company.

They had a famous radio slogan "I love my man who wears an Adam Hat".

The company was acquired by Miller Brothers in the late 1950s or early 60s.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Old BEE HATS building in St. Louis.

 

[Lefty]

What a great photo of a clever architectural detail! :eusa_clap
Were you there, or did you find that one on the web?

 

[texasgirl]

Here is a photo of what is on top of the old Adam Hat Building. You can see it from the freeway, pretty cool. I didn't know it had neon, I guess I haven't been down there at night in awhile.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vescandon/286654072/

 

[Rick Blaine]

What a great photo of a clever architectural detail! :eusa_clap
Were you there, or did you find that one on the web?

Web. I ain't been to St. Louie in years. Pretty cool tho', eh?

 

[carter]

Here is a photo of what is on top of the old Adam Hat Building. You can see it from the freeway, pretty cool. I didn't know it had neon, I guess I haven't been down there at night in awhile.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vescandon/286654072/

The neon was added when the property was converted to lofts. Previously the watertank was black with Adam Hats in white letters on the tank.

 

[Jerekson]

I don't see DeSina listed anywhere. I hardly know anything about them, but they certainly make some interestingly classic looking lids.

 

[Lefty]

How is it that we have almost nothing on Schoble. Johnnyphi has (had) quite a few of these and they seem pretty high end, yet no one seems to know anything about the company. Prior to the big sale, had anyone ever seen a Schoble? Does anyone have any information at all about this one? With so many of them now owned by Loungers, it would be great to learn more.

 

[Lefty]

I checked a bit and found very little. The Schoble name was first used in 1886, and trademarked in 1945. The name, mark, and business were assigned to Joseph Kanner Hat Co., Inc., a Norwalk, Ct. corporation, in 1960. Kanner was bankrupt and well into the process of creditor appeals by 1973.

Oh, and here's a matchbook.

That's all I've got.

 

[Lefty]

There's lots of good info. here on quite a few companies.

 

[spim]

I love it! :eusa_clap

 

[carouselvic]

I think you can add G W Alexander & Co., Inc. in Reading PA.

 

[Lefty]

Yet another for the pile.
Lucien de Brabant et Frere

 

[avedwards]

A few hat makers you missed out (I think):

Dorfman Pacific, opened in 1921, currently holds the rights to the Indiana Jones hats although they have no right to since they had nothing to do with the films and their hats lack the quality and look of a proper Indy fedora

Franz Bittner, based in Austria or Germany, makes Loden hats (specialsed alpine thick water resistant wool felt)

Jaxon, American hat maker, apparently makes fairly good hats for a low price ($68 for pure fur felt)

Wegener Headwear, based in Hessen, Germany, makes good fur and wool hats in a traditional style


I couldn't find these on the amazing list. Incidentally, you spelled Tilley "Tilly" while the correct name is "Tilley".

 

[Lefty]

Here's one for Pablo, a Derbysio made in Belgium.

 

[Lefty]

We should just stick to finding info. on Stetson, because this list will never end.

 

[nickn5]

Tilly a typo?

I notice you await info for the maker 'Tilly'. Is this a typo and should be 'Tilley', maker of the current safari style hats (and a fedora too, now!)?

http://www.tilley.com/detail.asp?catId=13&gender=m&extractBy=CategoryId&id=1&productNo=TF1

Or is there actually a classic 'Tilly' hat maker?

N.

 

[filfoster]

Classic hatmakers

Nice... and interesting to see what happened to some of the brands... (what about those commys at Adam hats).

I wore a vintage Adam brown, snap brim, "Premier" fedora today. Bought it on Ebay. I did think about Eugene V. Debbs.....

 

[Golden Earache]

How is it that we have almost nothing on Schoble. Johnnyphi has (had) quite a few of these and they seem pretty high end, yet no one seems to know anything about the company. Prior to the big sale, had anyone ever seen a Schoble? Does anyone have any information at all about this one? With so many of them now owned by Loungers, it would be great to learn more.

Here is a pic of the Frank Schoble building:

I think I read somewhere that he died after being run over by a horse and buggy. EDIT: he was struck by an automobile in 1933. The article is on the NY Times page, but you have to purchase it.