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French Hats and makers.

G_awain

New in Town
Messages
14
Hello,

Here is for my first contribution to this thread (sorry for the low quality picture).
This is a Fléchet which belonged to either my grandfather or my great grandfather. I consequently have a bit of trouble dating it. It was purchased from Sools, which was one of the big hat shops in Paris which closed in the 60's I think.

Unfortunately, the sweatband was disintegrating when I retrieved it from the basement. Pauline Brosset, in Paris replaced it, enlarged the hat a bit and also replaced the gros grain.
20161023_210445.jpg
 
Messages
17,549
Location
Maryland
Thank you for posting the crown tip patch. I can't see the details. Is there more than one address? Unfortunately the patch style itself could be from different time periods.
 

G_awain

New in Town
Messages
14
It says "SOOLS 5 Rue du Havre, 9Bd Poissonnière, 9 Maisons à Paris".
I saw vintage ads (said to be from the 30's) for SOOLS which mention "12 Maisons à Paris" and also indicate another shop adress : Bd Haussmann.

My understanding is that SOOLS closed its last shop in the 60's. So my hat - I would guess - probably is from this latter period when they had to reduce their activity.
 

G_awain

New in Town
Messages
14
Another contribution to this thread. Probably one of the hardest hats to wear nowadays in my collection as formal enough occasions are quite scarce. It was bought at "A l'Herissé" which was another famous hat shop in Paris at the time and belonged to my great grand-father. So it probably dates back to the early decades of the XXth century. But once again, I'm really unsure about a precise date.

How do you call this kind of "hairy" top hat?
IMG_9659.jpg
IMG_9661.jpg
IMG_9658.jpg
IMG_9655.jpg
 
Messages
15,089
Location
Buffalo, NY
Yes... very nice additions to this thread. The top hat material is silk plush. Hard to date accurately unless the store history gives clues. If the height of the hat is 5 1/2 to 6" I would guess 1920s-1930s.
 

G_awain

New in Town
Messages
14
The height of the hat is just under 6". My understanding is that top hats gradually became lower at the turn of the century. Am I right?
 

moehawk

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,847
Location
Northern California
Hey folks!
This Mossant arrived from France yesterday. Not quite minty. Still a bit linty.

d0e9b3bb1acfa915e21dcda2afea496f.jpg
240829c24b41b14654ec9877186ada38.jpg
2305b05d84454994289a2eabbdf7ce62.jpg
3d3261554a83baf779740aa7d906966e.jpg


Tag and stamps

ed613356fda16d2af045bc334a035a79.jpg
39f33e3c35f310e41bafed6ae33d5613.jpg
0899075e5c5b4d407e8c8e7ef7adc34a.jpg


Head shot

559a3d1bfb11184761a5e21c65db25d1.jpg


Seller claimed it was from the 20's. I dont know enough about French hats to confirm or refute that. If I had to guess, I'd say 30's. The condition is good to very good, there were a few small dents that I straightened out, and a few tiny little dimples I left for character. The sweat is a little dry, but not stiff or brittle.
Crown is 5", brim 2 1/8" front, 1 5/8" sides. 154 grams. Looks to me like the crown sticker may have been reglued at some point, as it's upside down and a tad wonky. Or, that could be French quality control. I just don't know. The fit is pretty darn close, enough so that I think it can conform without adjustment.
I think I will be looking for more of this brand in other styles.:)

Sent from thin air using electricity and other wizardry.
 
Messages
10,882
Location
vancouver, canada
Hey folks!
This Mossant arrived from France yesterday. Not quite minty. Still a bit linty.

d0e9b3bb1acfa915e21dcda2afea496f.jpg
240829c24b41b14654ec9877186ada38.jpg
2305b05d84454994289a2eabbdf7ce62.jpg
3d3261554a83baf779740aa7d906966e.jpg


Tag and stamps

ed613356fda16d2af045bc334a035a79.jpg
39f33e3c35f310e41bafed6ae33d5613.jpg
0899075e5c5b4d407e8c8e7ef7adc34a.jpg


Head shot

559a3d1bfb11184761a5e21c65db25d1.jpg


Seller claimed it was from the 20's. I dont know enough about French hats to confirm or refute that. If I had to guess, I'd say 30's. The condition is good to very good, there were a few small dents that I straightened out, and a few tiny little dimples I left for character. The sweat is a little dry, but not stiff or brittle.
Crown is 5", brim 2 1/8" front, 1 5/8" sides. 154 grams. Looks to me like the crown sticker may have been reglued at some point, as it's upside down and a tad wonky. Or, that could be French quality control. I just don't know. The fit is pretty darn close, enough so that I think it can conform without adjustment.
I think I will be looking for more of this brand in other styles.:)

Sent from thin air using electricity and other wizardry.
Hey folks!
This Mossant arrived from France yesterday. Not quite minty. Still a bit linty.

d0e9b3bb1acfa915e21dcda2afea496f.jpg
240829c24b41b14654ec9877186ada38.jpg
2305b05d84454994289a2eabbdf7ce62.jpg
3d3261554a83baf779740aa7d906966e.jpg


Tag and stamps

ed613356fda16d2af045bc334a035a79.jpg
39f33e3c35f310e41bafed6ae33d5613.jpg
0899075e5c5b4d407e8c8e7ef7adc34a.jpg


Head shot

559a3d1bfb11184761a5e21c65db25d1.jpg


Seller claimed it was from the 20's. I dont know enough about French hats to confirm or refute that. If I had to guess, I'd say 30's. The condition is good to very good, there were a few small dents that I straightened out, and a few tiny little dimples I left for character. The sweat is a little dry, but not stiff or brittle.
Crown is 5", brim 2 1/8" front, 1 5/8" sides. 154 grams. Looks to me like the crown sticker may have been reglued at some point, as it's upside down and a tad wonky. Or, that could be French quality control. I just don't know. The fit is pretty darn close, enough so that I think it can conform without adjustment.
I think I will be looking for more of this brand in other styles.:)

Sent from thin air using electricity and other wizardry.
I have a vintage Mossant Hommie in grey of unknown age but the suggestion from the vintage shop was 50's. I love the hat and too am looking to add this brand to the flock. A great hat.
 
Messages
12,384
Location
Albany Oregon
Hey folks!
This Mossant arrived from France yesterday. Not quite minty. Still a bit linty.

d0e9b3bb1acfa915e21dcda2afea496f.jpg
240829c24b41b14654ec9877186ada38.jpg
2305b05d84454994289a2eabbdf7ce62.jpg
3d3261554a83baf779740aa7d906966e.jpg


Tag and stamps

ed613356fda16d2af045bc334a035a79.jpg
39f33e3c35f310e41bafed6ae33d5613.jpg
0899075e5c5b4d407e8c8e7ef7adc34a.jpg


Head shot

559a3d1bfb11184761a5e21c65db25d1.jpg


Seller claimed it was from the 20's. I dont know enough about French hats to confirm or refute that. If I had to guess, I'd say 30's. The condition is good to very good, there were a few small dents that I straightened out, and a few tiny little dimples I left for character. The sweat is a little dry, but not stiff or brittle.
Crown is 5", brim 2 1/8" front, 1 5/8" sides. 154 grams. Looks to me like the crown sticker may have been reglued at some point, as it's upside down and a tad wonky. Or, that could be French quality control. I just don't know. The fit is pretty darn close, enough so that I think it can conform without adjustment.
I think I will be looking for more of this brand in other styles.:)

Sent from thin air using electricity and other wizardry.
Real great Moe! I like the crown shape on this one. The sweat looks really nice in the pics.
 
Messages
17,549
Location
Maryland
Great find! I think your dating guess might be correct. Can you post a close-up of the crown patch? The addresses might help with dating. By the way it could have a liner. Some old Stiff Felts had liners and crown patches.
 
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