Elusive 50s Hat

[Senator Jack]

Finally found some good pics of the hat I can never find. It's a cross between a fedora and a porkpie, and here it is on Gig Young in the film 'Young at Heart'. What I like about this hat is that it sits right at every angle. It seems to be a bit higher than a porkpie, and then there's the diamond crease. Anyone care to make an estimate at dimenstions. I would love to have this hat made in pearl.

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[gekisai29]

Yesss!

 

[Terry Lennox]

Looks like he bashed it himself. I bet any fedora could be shaped that way.

 

[carebear]

Robert Montgomery wore one bashed like that in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith". (it was just on TCM)

 

[feltfan]

Looks like he bashed it himself. I bet any fedora could be shaped that way.

I'd have to agree. I'm guessing you're looking at a
Royal Stetson with a Mode Edge. The crown's not as high
as some, but that's because it was crushed down so much.
I think part of the joke is what he did to a familiar fedora
of its day.

Actually, DanielJones may have your hat:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=10974

 

[matei]

I've got a Royal Stetson Deluxe similar to that - and I could easily get that look if I do the bash myself. Mine doesn't have the mode edge, rather it is bound with a ribbon.

Keep an eye peeled for any Royal Stetson Deluxes on eBay - you see them from time to time from the '50s. The felt is thin and fine enough where you can get that look quite easily.

If it is of any help, the box is a square shape - not the round one like Daniel Jones' hat.

 

[J.B.]

A Similar Look...

Maybe a little shorter brim than Gig's?
A porkpie with the brim snapped down?
Anyway, it's a great look for Deano, too!

(Helluva CD, BTW.) fftopic:

 

[Senator Jack]

The problem with a center crease fedora that fits your head is that when you bash it down to a diamond or teardrop it doesn't fit any more. The hat rides up high on your head.

Any experts care to take a shot a brim width and height?

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[Mr. Rover]

Well both of those hats seem to be riding pretty high on the head. It seems like a stiff breeze would pick either of those hats up quite easily.

 

[Feraud]

Could it be a 2" brim and 4" crown?

 

[Mr. Lucky]

I had a similar hat a few years back - telescopic porkpie with a 21/4 brim. Interesting thing about that hat was that the bow on the two inch band was in the back of the hat, not the side. I can't remember the brand, but it stood up well in the rain! Miller has some similar ones -
http://www.millerhats.com/mporkpie_index/porkpie_1.html

 

[Feraud]

Interesting thing about that hat was that the bow on the two inch band was in the back of the hat, not the side.

That is interesting. I first noticed this when watching The Wolfman...

 

[Senator Jack]

Here's a pic HemJones took of me in my porkpie. It's a 1 7/8" brim with 3 3/4" crown. The crease is the classic porkpie oval, like those offered at Miller. You can see that Gig's is quite different - dressier. I want Gig's hat.:rage:

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[Wolfmanjack]

Any experts care to take a shot a brim width and height?

Assuming the ribbon is 2 in. and extrapolating from there, I reckon the brim at 2 in. and the crown at 3-3/4 to 3-7/8 in. Caveat: I am not by any means an expert.

The problem with a center crease fedora that fits your head is that when you bash it down to a diamond or teardrop it doesn't fit any more. The hat rides up high on your head.

With a crown that low, it is inevitiable that the hat will ride high on the head. Indeed, this is precisely what enables Gig and Dean to wear their hats at such a rakish angle. Not a hat to wear in a fresh breeze.

 

[Feraud]

Here's a pic HemJones took of me in my porkpie. It's a 1 7/8" brim with 3 3/4" crown. The crease is the classic porkpie oval, like those offered at Miller. You can see that Gig's is quite different - dressier. I want Gig's hat.:rage:

Regards,

Senator Jack

Gig's hat looks a bit higher and wider in the crown/brim. The thing that makes his hat dressier is the suit. I am sure if you had on a grey suit jacket and tie that day you would have nailed the look!

 

[Wolfmanjack]

Senator Jack, I think the difference between Gig's hat and the traditional porkpie is that Gig's has a straighter crown and a slightly wider brim (2 in.) This results from reblocking a traditional '50s fedora to a low-crown profile.

 

[Senator Jack]

Yes, it's the straighter crown, isn't it? This morning, I took a late model fedora and bashed it in. I need to steam it to shape to see if it's going to work. Again, the problem is that the whole thing rides up. In order for the hat to look great, I think it has to be measured out and fabricated for this bash.

 

[Senator Jack]

Here's a Stetson i've been working on. I have to steam it out a bit more. Fairly close to Gig's, but I really want to find one similar to the color of my suit.

 

[EvilDmitri]

The Crown is 2x the Ribbon, which is equal to the brim preportionally, so if it's a 2 inch ribbon, it looks like it is indeed a 4 inch crown and 2 inch brim.

Edit: Oh.. Whoops! Sorry. I linked to this thread from a search engine and didn't see that it was really old haha. My mistake >.< (was looking for info on a diamond crease).

 

[Joel Tunnah]

I forgot about this thread. Thanks for bringing it back up!

Deano's hat is deadly.