Dimensional brims

[Richard Warren]

Just how traditional are they?

 

[Mulceber]

From what I understand, they were somewhat popular in Britain during the Golden Era (which might explain why Indy had one, given that he shopped at Herbert Johnson), but otherwise, they were almost unheard of. I'm far from an expert on this though. -M

 

[Dinerman]

Dimensional brims seem to have been at least slightly popular in the 1920s and early '30s, though it was the back of the brim that was shorter, with the sides and front being the same width.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Both answers are correct Gents. The dimensional brim was considered an option only ( a very remote option) in the 20s and from what I understand was pretty much limited to HJ. Of the thousands of hats that have gone through my hands in the last 20 yrs, not one was a dimensional brim with the sides narrower than the front & back. That is an Indy thing only in my eyes because of this experience.

 

[munchausen]

You want me to do WHAT?

Both answers are correct Gents. The dimensional brim was considered an option only ( a very remote option) in the 20s and from what I understand was pretty much limited to HJ. Of the thousands of hats that have gone through my hands in the last 20 yrs, not one was a dimensional brim with the sides narrower than the front & back. That is an Indy thing only in my eyes because of this experience.

Hi Art

This is completely off topic, but can I ask what your signature is in regards to?

 

[Delthayre]

Oh dear, an idea is bubbling upward

Dimensional brims seem to have been at least slightly popular in the 1920s and early '30s, though it was the back of the brim that was shorter, with the sides and front being the same width.

That's an intriguing proposition. I wonder if there have ever been examples produced or modified to have both the front and back and the brim be narrower than the sides, thus emphasizing width. That might seem stylistically fitting for a lightweight, spring and early summer hat, although I could imagine that it would be awkward.

 

[Tango Yankee]

Hi Art

This is completely off topic, but can I ask what your signature is in regards to?

Continuing fftopic:

I think it could just as easily be "You want it WHEN?!? lol

Cheers,
Tom

 

[Dinerman]

That's an intriguing proposition. I wonder if there have ever been examples produced or modified to have both the front and back and the brim be narrower than the sides, thus emphasizing width. That might seem stylistically fitting for a lightweight, spring and early summer hat, although I could imagine that it would be awkward.

If I remember correctly, I think I've seen an ad for the Lee Trinity that advertised that, though the Trinitys I've owned didn't have that feature.

 

[skyvue]

That is an Indy thing only in my eyes because of this experience.

Art posts for me, which is why I can't quite pull the trigger on a Federation purchase. I avoid all things Indy, and can't get past the dimensional brim (though I'll admit that I've never seen one in person).

 

[Dewhurst]

I have no idea.

 

[tonyb]

An adjustable-foot rounding jack makes short work of cutting a brim with sides wider than the front and back.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Indeed. In a sense, this comes naturally as the jack is pushed away from the band block as the contact points move outward when cutting the side of the brim, due to the length of the band block.

On derbies and some homburgs, this is a necessity, and the thumb screws make the width even greater.

Cutting the front/rear brim:

Cutting the side brim:

Brad

 

[Feraud]

Art posts for me, which is why I can't quite pull the trigger on a Federation purchase. I avoid all things Indy, and can't get past the dimensional brim (though I'll admit that I've never seen one in person).

Having owned a Fed I can say the dimensional cut is basically unnoticable.

 

[tonyb]

I was about to say that it would take me at least a thousand words to describe what a picture of two would make obvious in an instant. And then along comes Brad with a picture or two. Hooray!

 

[MisterGrey]

OK, dumb question time: What's a dimensional brim?

 

[tonyb]

It ain't a dumb question. It just means that the brim is not of equal width all the way around.

 

[tonyb]

Come to think of it, Grey, there could be a clearer term for it.

These days it seems it is mostly used in reference to those Indiana Jones-type hats, with the sides of the brim a tad narrower than the fronts and backs.

As Brad mentioned above, some Homburgs and derbies, with sides that curl upwards more dramatically than their fronts and backs, might require that extra bit of material at the sides to achieve the desired visual effect.

 

[rlk]

There are definitely hats with wider front brims unrelated to HJ or Indy. Most obviously Alpen styles and some Safari styles. Stetson currently lists a couple. I know I ran across a couple 1930's hats as well and a couple of straws where the brim was actually wider on the sides( some may just be blocking errors). I just remembered another, my 1940's Green Suede Finish Sovereign Stetson is full 1/8" wider front and back than the sides(evenly so).

 

[M6Classic]

Between...what?...1970 and 1985 I must have bought seven or eight hats in the Herbert Johnson shop, Grosvenors and Poets. I can't remember anyone ever discussing proportional brims or offering it as an option, even at additional cost.

Buzz

 

[Not-Bogart13]

I think in terms of vintage hats, it's very uncommon. But I have seen ads from the 30's for the typical, so-called Indy cut. I have also seen a couple of actual vintage lids with this feature. So it wasn't pioneered by Indy any more than the center dent was.

I think it's more about combining stye and practicality. The extra width in front and back is more protective, but looking at the wearers face, the hat doesn't seem as big. Just my thought on the matter.

Stetson has servral current models with the standard dimensional cut, as well as a few (though never described that way) have a shorter rear brim as well. The effect is to accentuate the swoopy look from a side view. [huh]