Czech Republicans: Tonak, Huckel, no name

[deadlyhandsome]

Tonak actually has better workmanship than Borsalino and at a much lower price point. The ribbon / liner material and sweatband could be upgraded but that would make the hats too expensive for their market.

That’s an eye opener, Steve. Does this go for the current Selentino Tonak hats? The only Selentino Tonaks I’ve owned were the low grade Sterlings and they were not too impressive. I’ve considered trying one of the better (King?) velours or even a Royal Beaver longhair.

Something like this:

And I like this hat, but I don’t think I’d ever wear it:

Too much of a good thing and I’m not sure that it isn’t actually alive.



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[mayserwegener]

That’s an eye opener, Steve. Does this go for the current Selentino Tonak hats? The only Selentino Tonaks I’ve owned were the low grade Sterlings and they were not too impressive. I’ve considered trying one of the better (King?) velours or even a Royal Beaver longhair.

Something like this:

And I like this hat, but I don’t think I’d ever wear it:

Too much of a good thing and I’m not sure that it isn’t actually alive.



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Brent, No it wasn't like either of those. It was more of an Upright "Open" Velour (see below). The first one is close to what would be called Soleil (see below). This is a nice hat but it's machine formed so the felt will be stiff. Tonak can make Open Crown hats to any form and dimension but someone would have to make a special order. The second one is is somewhat like Flamand (see below) but not really sure what to call it. It would be interesting to see what it would like if brushed in one direction.

Daniele has some recent Euro Tonaks that are really nice especially at the price point but they don't have the form people here are looking for. I would have to look for his posts. I don't know how they translate to Selentino models.

Tonak is at the lower price point because they have no brand recognition outside of East Europe. The Hückel trademark was widely known in Germany and Austria up to the 1960s (also the Scandinavian countries) but that was 50 years ago. Today the Hückel trademark still has some recognition in the Orthodox Jewish Market. That is why SELCO still occasionally uses the Hückel trademark. They use Selentino and not Tonak (no recognition) for the their branded business.

(The unclipped (unshorn) velour hair is called “Flamand”, in this case the hair is long, undulated, soft and glossy as it reflects a lot of light. When the tips are clipped off and the hair is ironed all around or from top to bottom one talks about “Soleil”. Most difficult is the production of Upright “Open” Velour because in this case a particular tightness (or density?) and sturdiness of the hair is necessary and it is significantly harder to produce the same amount of gloss as where an entire, smooth surface displays.)

 

[drmaxtejeda]

That’s an eye opener, Steve. Does this go for the current Selentino Tonak hats? The only Selentino Tonaks I’ve owned were the low grade Sterlings and they were not too impressive. I’ve considered trying one of the better (King?) velours or even a Royal Beaver longhair.

Something like this:

And I like this hat, but I don’t think I’d ever wear it:

Too much of a good thing and I’m not sure that it isn’t actually alive.



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LOL!!!

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[deadlyhandsome]

LOL!!!

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Don’t pretend that you don’t want one.


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[drmaxtejeda]

Don’t pretend that you don’t want one.


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It might be alive [emoji2]

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[deadlyhandsome]

Brent, No it wasn't like either of those. It was more of an Upright "Open" Velour (see below). The first one is close to what would be called Soleil (see below). This is a nice hat but it's machine formed so the felt will be stiff. Tonak can make Open Crown hats to any form and dimension but someone would have to make a special order. The second one is is somewhat like Flamand (see below) but not really sure what to call it. It would be interesting to see what it would like if brushed in one direction.

Daniele has some recent Euro Tonaks that are really nice especially at the price point but they don't have the form people here are looking for. I would have to look for his posts. I don't know how they translate to Selentino models.

Tonak is at the lower price point because they have no brand recognition outside of East Europe. The Hückel trademark was widely known in Germany and Austria up to the 1960s (also the Scandinavian countries) but that was 50 years ago. Today the Hückel trademark still has some recognition in the Orthodox Jewish Market. That is why SELCO still occasionally uses the Hückel trademark. They use Selentino and not Tonak (no recognition) for the their branded business.

(The unclipped (unshorn) velour hair is called “Flamand”, in this case the hair is long, undulated, soft and glossy as it reflects a lot of light. When the tips are clipped off and the hair is ironed all around or from top to bottom one talks about “Soleil”. Most difficult is the production of Upright “Open” Velour because in this case a particular tightness (or density?) and sturdiness of the hair is necessary and it is significantly harder to produce the same amount of gloss as where an entire, smooth surface displays.)

Thank you. It means a lot that you will take the time to explain and educate. I’ll keep an eye ope, but I don’t see many of these hats on eBay etc. and even fewer in 61-62 cm. I’ll keep my eyes open.


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[deadlyhandsome]

It might be alive [emoji2]

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A hat that requires rabies shots and might wonder off on its own. Still, it’s pretty cool. I think I’ll wear my longhair Agnoulita tomorrow.

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[mayserwegener]

Thank you. It means a lot that you will take the time to explain and educate. I’ll keep an eye ope, but I don’t see many of these hats on eBay etc. and even fewer in 61-62 cm. I’ll keep my eyes open.


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Brent, Here are some of Daniele's current Tonak's.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/what-hat-are-you-wearing-today.19520/page-6288#post-2209426

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/what-hat-are-you-wearing-today.19520/page-6335#post-2214014

This Black Velour finish is close to what I had selected but in a shade of gray. Daniele's hat is machine formed but Tonak could make an Open Crown Hat with this Velour felt that would be pliable and dry crease (just have to order 60 of them).

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/what-hat-are-you-wearing-today.94860/page-337#post-2500472

Just look at the bow and binding work. It's better than what you see at a higher price point.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Brent, Here are some of Daniele's current Tonak's.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/what-hat-are-you-wearing-today.19520/page-6288#post-2209426

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/what-hat-are-you-wearing-today.19520/page-6335#post-2214014

This Black Velour finish is close to what I had selected but in a shade of gray. Daniele's hat is machine formed but Tonak could make an Open Crown Hat with this Velour felt that would be pliable and dry crease (just have to order 60 of them).

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/what-hat-are-you-wearing-today.94860/page-337#post-2500472

Just look at the bow and binding work. It's better than what you see at a higher price point.

Thank you, Steve. Those hats are a totally different breed from the Tonak I’ve seen from Selentino/Selco. I’ll keep my eyes open...and if you come across something in 61-62 cm....


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[DaveProc]

Picked up this Selentino Prince relatively cheap. Not thrilled with the crease. I my fairly successful attempt at re-creasing the crown is in the following post.

 

[DaveProc]

Re-creased the Selentino. Much happier with the way it came out.

 

[steur]

I have a confession to make: I generally don't like Tonak hats and I tend to avoid them. I think this has to do with the fact that most of the time I find them they date back to the period from about 1968 to 1990 when their output was geared toward eastern Europa (under communist rule) and their hats display a certain joyless lacklustre quality.
Enter this one: Tonak Antilope in brown. Size 57 with the bound brim at 5,8cm and the crown at 10cm at the center dent. Unlined and a lovely lightweight hat at just 85 grams. The hand of the felt is incredible. Now why is this a size 57? Damn commies!

 

[Giftmacher]

This one looks good. I have a Tonak that was made after the revolution and it's pure disaster. I'm not buying Tonak anymore.

 

[drmaxtejeda]

I have a confession to make: I generally don't like Tonak hats and I tend to avoid them. I think this has to do with the fact that most of the time I find them they date back to the period from about 1968 to 1990 when their output was geared toward eastern Europa (under communist rule) and their hats display a certain joyless lacklustre quality.
Enter this one: Tonak Antilope in brown. Size 57 with the bound brim at 5,8cm and the crown at 10cm at the center dent. Unlined and a lovely lightweight hat at just 85 grams. The hand of the felt is incredible. Now why is this a size 57? Damn commies!

Now, now, Stefan. No political commentaries, even if they are self-evident. [emoji846]

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[mayserwegener]

This one looks good. I have a Tonak that was made after the revolution and it's pure disaster. I'm not buying Tonak anymore.

The above hat was made in 1962. At this time Tonak was making good quality hats especially considering their restrictions. The felt quality was better than the components. They still made excellent Velour and Chamois finishes. Early post WWII quality is the finest. In some cases almost matching JHS quality on export models.

 

[Steve1857]

I have a confession to make: I generally don't like Tonak hats and I tend to avoid them. I think this has to do with the fact that most of the time I find them they date back to the period from about 1968 to 1990 when their output was geared toward eastern Europa (under communist rule) and their hats display a certain joyless lacklustre quality.
Enter this one: Tonak Antilope in brown. Size 57 with the bound brim at 5,8cm and the crown at 10cm at the center dent. Unlined and a lovely lightweight hat at just 85 grams. The hand of the felt is incredible. Now why is this a size 57? Damn commies!

I missed that post. Nice find, Stefan. I'm partial to Tonaks, probably because I bought my first Fedora, a Tonak, in Brno back in the early 90s.

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[steur]

Thanks, Steve. I was pleasantly surprised by that one. Can't always find the early ones.

 

[Giftmacher]

https://aukro.cz/stary-pansky-klobouk-huckel-finest-furfelt-cssr-6955451150

 

[steur]

Janyška Gazela chamois in glorious blue. Size 55 (@Hagwood are you paying attention?) with the raw edge brim at 5,5cm and the crown 10cm at the center dent. I think "gazela" refers to the finish (much like "antilope") and the "New Style" on the liner to the model. Janyška was founded in 1921 and got nationalised after the war into Tonak. I don't think they kept the brand name alive after WWII. So they weren't around for long and I can't recall having ever seen one before.
I tend not to bring along hats smaller than my size, but this one is in such a great colour and condition that it had to come. Kind of a funny story actually: I found four (of friday's five hats in total) in the same shop. Appears they have a shop policy though that you can only buy two of the same item (to prevent dealers coming in). I've known about this, but usually the shop help isn't that concerned once I tell them I'm a collector. Not this girl though; she wouldn't budge a millimeter. Well, what to do? I made my choice and paid for two hats. As soon as she was helping other customers I grabbed the two others and trundled down the stairs (the hats are upstairs) and paid for the other two at the downstairs cashier's desk. Felt a bit like I was shoplifting or doing something else illegal, but I got my hats!

 

[TheOldFashioned]

Janyška Gazela chamois in glorious blue. Size 55 (@Hagwood are you paying attention?) with the raw edge brim at 5,5cm and the crown 10cm at the center dent. I think "gazela" refers to the finish (much like "antilope") and the "New Style" on the liner to the model. Janyška was founded in 1921 and got nationalised after the war into Tonak. I don't think they kept the brand name alive after WWII. So they weren't around for long and I can't recall having ever seen one before.
I tend not to bring along hats smaller than my size, but this one is in such a great colour and condition that it had to come. Kind of a funny story actually: I found four (of friday's five hats in total) in the same shop. Appears they have a shop policy though that you can only buy two of the same item (to prevent dealers coming in). I've known about this, but usually the shop help isn't that concerned once I tell them I'm a collector. Not this girl though; she wouldn't budge a millimeter. Well, what to do? I made my choice and paid for two hats. As soon as she was helping other customers I grabbed the two others and trundled down the stairs (the hats are upstairs) and paid for the other two at the downstairs cashier's desk. Felt a bit like I was shoplifting or doing something else illegal, but I got my hats!

I've done something similar at the meat case at a grocery store. This particular store limits you to purchasing 4-lbs of sausage, which clearly is not enough for a summer BBQ with family/friends. I go back after a shift change and get waited on by a different clerk. Sometimes I'll change my hat just for good measure.

Speaking of which, lovely shade of blue on this one.